What Is the Command Key on Mac? How It Compares to Ctrl on Windows

Quick Answer

If you are switching from Windows to Mac, start with this simple idea:

Windows	Mac
Ctrl	Command
Alt	Option
Windows key	Command in some situations
Right-click	Control-click or two-finger tap

For most everyday shortcuts, the Command key is the most important key on Mac.

What is the Command key?

The Command key is the main shortcut key on Mac. Its symbol is:

⌘

You will see it in many common shortcuts, such as:

• Command + C: Copy
• Command + V: Paste
• Command + X: Cut
• Command + Z: Undo
• Command + S: Save
• Command + Q: Quit an app

Command vs Ctrl: the biggest difference

Many Windows users see the Control key on a Mac keyboard and assume it works like Ctrl on Windows.

In most everyday shortcuts, it does not.

On Mac, Command is usually the key that replaces Windows Ctrl.

Common shortcut comparison

Action	Windows	Mac
Copy	Ctrl + C	Command + C
Paste	Ctrl + V	Command + V
Cut	Ctrl + X	Command + X
Undo	Ctrl + Z	Command + Z
Save	Ctrl + S	Command + S
Select all	Ctrl + A	Command + A
Find	Ctrl + F	Command + F
New tab	Ctrl + T	Command + T
Close tab/window	Ctrl + W	Command + W

What is the Control key used for on Mac?

The Control key on Mac is often used for secondary actions.

The most common example is:

Control + Click

This works like a right-click.

If you use a MacBook trackpad, you can also use a two-finger tap as right-click.

What is the Option key?

The Option key is similar to Alt on Windows, but it is not exactly the same.

It is often used to:

• Type special characters
• Reveal hidden menu options
• Modify keyboard shortcuts
• Access advanced controls

Summary

If you are switching from Windows to Mac, remember this first:

Most shortcuts that used Ctrl on Windows use Command on Mac.

Once you learn Command+C, Command+V, Command+Tab, and Command+Space, Mac will start to feel much more familiar.