Articles > Use a PC keyboard with your Hackintosh!

In this guide we will show you the best way to use the standard Apple layout, without using third party tools / apps at your standard PC keyboard.

Spot the difference

When you start OS X for the first time, you will see that there are a few keys that perform differently in comparison to Windows. This is cause OS X uses a special layout for Windows buttons, which is different from the Apple keyboard layout.

In the picture above, you can see that the ‘ALT’ and the ‘Windows / Command’ button are positioned differently.

We should first have a look at what button is mapped as your command button. The Windows button is mostly mapped as Command. Try opening the application switcher by the commands: “Windows key + TAB”. When that doesn’t work, try the ALT or Control button. The button (+TAB) that opens the Application Switcher is mapped as the command button.

Application Switcher

When we know what button is mapped as Command button, we need to know what button is mapped as the ‘Control’  button. Press a button + arrow up, when you see Mission Control, that button is the Control button.

Mission Control

And last; Windows uses Control + C and OS X uses Command + C, for example. The Command button in OS X is the ALT button on a Windows keyboard.

Fix the difference in 4 easy steps

I’m going to show you how to setup your keyboard to perform as a Mac keyboard:

Step 1) Open System Preferences and go to Keyboard.

Step 2) choose “Modifier Keys”.

Step 3) You will get a window like image 1, where you can choose what key is mapped for Caps Lock, Control, Option or Command.

Step 4) Example: On my keyboard the “Control” button is mapped correctly. Only the “Command” button and the “ALT” button are switched. Which is easy to fix; just put Command in the Option field. And just put Option in the Command field. It will look like image 2.

Now you can just use your Hackintosh like you would a real Mac! You no longer will be faced with the problem of the position of the “Command” button. Or … if you prefer the Windows layout, you can easily switch the keys back. Use whatever works best for you.

Image 1

Image 2