If you’ve recently switched from Windows, you might be wondering where is the Alt key on the Mac. Well, you won’t find the Alt key, as Macs have a different name for it. Since you’ll be using that key for various purposes, you must know how it works in order to take advantage of some useful Mac shortcuts and get the most out of your keyboard. Read on to learn where the Alt key is on a Mac keyboard and how to leverage its full potential. Here you go!
Where is the Alt Key on Mac Keyboard?
Macs do not have an Alt key. Rather, they have an Alt key equivalent key named – “Option”. The Alt key, i.e., the Option key on macOS, is located on both sides of the Space key. Newer Macs have the ⌥ symbol on the Option key, whereas, the older devices have an alt label above the Option key.
What Does Alt Key Do on Mac?
If you’ve been on Windows, you’ll have a habit of using the Alt key combinations to restart, move to the top/bottom of a window, or switch between apps. On Macs, many of these functions are fulfilled by the Command key. So, the Alt key serves a different purpose.
In fact, the Alt (Option) key can perform important functions like inserting special characters & symbols. Also, it offers some really handy shortcuts, for instance, the Option + Shift + K shortcut lets you type the Apple logo on a Mac.
Besides, you can use the Alt key on your Mac keyboard to enter various boot modes. For instance, while selecting a drive in the startup options screen, if you hold down the Option key and choose Always Use, it will be set as your default startup disk. We’ve mentioned some of the most common Alt keyboard shortcuts in the next sections.
Why Are There Two Alt Keys on the Mac?
You might have noticed there are two Option keys on the Mac keyboard, on the left and right of the Space key. This is because the Alt or the Option key is used for several key combinations.
Sometimes, it’s easier to use the one on the left and in some cases, you may wish to use the one on the right. Also, left-handed and right-handed people have different preferences while typing, so two Option keys can accommodate everyone’s needs. Both the Option keys perform the same functions on a Mac.
What About Ctrl + Alt + Del Shortcut?
On Windows computers, people use the Ctrl + Alt + Del shortcut to bring up the Task Manager to force quit an app or check what has slowed down the system. On Macs, there’s no such keyboard shortcut.
That said, Macs have a Task Manager equivalent called Activity Monitor. It’s a built-in macOS utility that offers a detailed look over your Mac’s processes. It lets you force quit apps on your Mac, check the currently running processes & apps, and check their resource consumption in real time. For more details, you can visit our dedicated guide on how to open and use Task Manager on Mac.
Useful Shortcuts with Alt Key
| Shortcuts with Alt Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Option + Volume Up/Down | Opens Sound Preferences |
| Option + Display Brightness Up/Down | Opens Display Preferences |
| Option + Shift + Command + Delete | Empty the Trash Bin |
| Option + Command + Esc | Force Quit Applications |
| Option + Left Arrow | Moves the Mac pointer to the beginning of the current word in a text editor |
| Option + Right Arrow | Moves the Mac pointer to the end of the current word in a text editor |
| Option + Command + Left/Right Arrow | Move left/right through the opened windows in a web browser |
| Option + Delete | Deletes the word to the left of the Mac pointer in a text editor |
| Option + Shift + Command + V | Paste and Match style |
| Option + Command + D | Shows or hides the Dock |
| Option + Command + F | Jump to the address bar in Safari or Google |
| Option + Command + T | Shows or hides the toolbar in Mail, Finder windows, and other apps |
| Option + Command + I | Shows inspector window in Mail, Finder windows, and other apps |
| Option + Shift + K | (Type Apple Logo on Mac) |
| Option + Command + M | Minimizes all windows of the front app |
| Option + Command + N | Creates a new folder in Finder |
| Option + Command + P | Shows or hide Path bar in the Finder Window |
| Option + Command + S | Save As |
| Option + Command + W | Closes all tabs in your browser windows |
Type Special Characters with Option Key
The Alt equivalent key on Mac also lets you insert some special characters and symbols which aren’t readily available on the keyboard. Below are some symbols you can type using the Alt keyboard shortcuts on Mac.
| Shortcuts with Option Key | Special Characters |
|---|---|
| Option + O | ø |
| Option + U | ¨ |
| Option + E | ´ |
| Option + R | ® (Registered Trademark) |
| Option + X | ≈ |
| Option + Z | Ω |
| Option + 4 | ¢, ₹ (only in India Keyboard) |
| Option + 5 | ∞ (Infinity symbol) |
| Option + 0 | º (Degree symbol) |
| Option + 2 | ™ |
| Option + 8 | • |
| Option + = | ≠ |
| Option + E, then E | é |
| Option + A, then A | ā |
| Option + R, then R | r̥ |
| Option + N, then N | ñ |
Putting it simply, the Alt key is called the Option key on Macs. It serves various purposes like typing special characters or opening a sub-menu in the System Settings app. Also, when combined with the Command key, you can perform a ton of other actions with the Alt key equivalent on your Mac.
Option + Return is the Alt-Enter equivalent on a Mac keyboard. You can use this shortcut to start a new line in Excel and other applications.
