Hey, you just got a new fancy keyboard for your Mac, but there’s one problem – it has a Windows layout. It’s like wearing a left shoe on your right foot, it just doesn’t feel right. Or maybe you want to use the same keyboard for both Mac and Windows, but you don’t want to confuse your keyboard’s identity. It’s like trying to juggle two different relationships at once, it’s a recipe for disaster.
But the real kicker is the bottom row modifier keys. On Windows, they have Ctrl, Win, and Alt, while Macs have Control, Option, and Command. It’s like trying to speak two different languages at once, you just end up speaking gibberish.
Sure, you could try to train your brain to remember which finger goes where, but who has time for that? We’re not robots, we’re not programmed to switch between two different keyboard layouts. So, that’s where remapping your keyboard comes in. It’s like giving your keyboard a facelift, but for your fingers. So why settle for a confusing keyboard layout when you can make it feel like home sweet home?
How to remap modifier keys in macOS Ventura or Monterey
If you just want to put the modifier keys where your fingers expect them to be, you can do that within macOS.
If you’re using macOS Ventura:
- Open System Settings, scroll to Keyboard, and select Keyboard Shortcuts.
- Hit Modifier Keys at the bottom of the left menu pane.
- Select your keyboard from the dropdown menu.
If you’re using macOS Monterey:
- Open System Preferences and select Keyboard.
- Hit the Modifier Keys at the button on the lower right.
- Select your keyboard from the dropdown menu.
Here you can swap the locations of Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, and Function (or Globe) keys.
Remap your entire keyboard in macOS using Karabiner Elements
For more complex modifications or to remap other keys, you can use a free program called Karabiner Elements.
With Karabiner, you can remap almost any key to any other key. Want to make your “Delete” key type “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that?” Go ahead, give it a try.
It can also do more than just switch up key positions. You can reprogram your function keys to launch your favourite programs, turn your Caps Lock key into a shortcut for all the most-used keystrokes, and even assign different functions to your keys based on whether you tap them or hold them down. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for a keyboard.
And if you’re feeling extra adventurous, it can even let you control your mouse cursor with your keyboard. It’s like having a mini magic show right on your desktop.
Cool huh? So why settle for a boring keyboard when you can turn it into a customised, personalised tool?
