Mac keyboard guide

Remap a Windows keyboard on Mac: Command and Option

To change how an external keyboard’s Command, Option, or Control modifiers behave on a Mac, start with the controls built into macOS. The setting is made on the Mac, not written to the keyboard.

Change the modifier-key assignments

1. Connect the external keyboard and open Apple menu → System Settings.
2. Select Keyboard in the sidebar. Open Keyboard Shortcuts, then choose Modifier Keys.
3. If a keyboard selector is shown, choose the external keyboard you want to configure.
4. Set Command (⌘) Key to Option (⌥), and set Option (⌥) Key to Command (⌘). Keep Control (⌃) as Control if that is what you want.
5. Close Settings and test the key positions in an app. For example, confirm that the key you intend to use for Command triggers a familiar Command shortcut.

Apple’s Modifier Keys instructions describe the same settings path and note that you can choose the action for each modifier or select Restore Defaults to return keys to their original settings.

What the swap changes—and what it doesn’t

This changes which macOS modifier action a physical key sends. It does not change the printed keycap, the order of keys, or every shortcut independently. A Command/Option swap also does not change Control. The Modifier Keys panel assigns behavior by modifier category; if your macOS version does not offer separate left/right choices, it cannot remap only one side. If you want Caps Lock or another modifier to act as Control, configure that key separately in the same panel.

The preference is handled by macOS. It does not edit the keyboard’s onboard profile, so do not expect the mapping to follow the keyboard to a different computer. If the setting seems to have no effect, check that you selected the right external keyboard (when a selector is present), then test again.

Restore the original behavior

Return to System Settings → Keyboard → Keyboard Shortcuts → Modifier Keys, choose the same keyboard if needed, and click Restore Defaults. Test Command and Option again in an app.

When to use a keyboard configurator instead

Use macOS’s own controls for a Mac-only modifier change. A device configurator is a different approach: it may store a mapping in the keyboard, and support depends on the exact hardware. Keycurio is limited to identified CHERRY wired models; its experimental models have only two unverified keymap presets and can replace the full profile-0 key table. Read the CHERRY web configurator support and safety guide before considering that route.