Control features on your Mac

Change Mac Keyboard To Microsoft Settings
Microsoft Keyboard Driver For Mac

By default, the top row of keys on your Apple keyboard control many different features on your Mac. For example, pressing the keys with speaker icons adjusts the volume.

Mar 17, 2016 Over the last few days I’ve been finding myself using a keyboard designed for Windows users on my Mac. The reason behind such a change was that my MacBook Pro’s keyboard was causing wrist pain. How to Change Language in Word for Mac The display and keyboard layout languages used in Office for Mac are the same as the ones for the operating system. You cannot use separate languages for the OS and Office applications.

Feb 06, 2019 This article describes how to change keyboard layouts for the Microsoft keyboards listed in the 'Applies To' section. You can configure your keyboard to use a different language or keyboard layout, such as Canadian Multilingual, Spanish, or United States-Dvorak.

If your Mac has a Touch Bar, learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

Use standard function keys

Standard function keys work differently depending on the app and the keyboard shortcuts that you've set up. Some apps have their own keyboard shortcut preferences that you can customize.

To use the standard function keys, hold the Fn (Function) key when pressing a function key. For example, pressing both Fn and F12 (speaker icon) performs the action assigned to the F12 key instead of raising the volume of your speakers.

If your keyboard doesn’t have an Fn key, try pressing and holding the Control key when pressing a function key.

Change the default function key behavior

If you want to change the top row of keys to work as standard function keys without holding the Fn key, follow these steps:

Change Mac Keyboard To Microsoft Settings

Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences.
Click Keyboard.
Select 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'.

If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys'

If you don't see 'Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys', you might be using a keyboard not made by Apple. These keyboards might need a utility to change the keyboard functions. Check with your keyboard manufacturer for more information.

Learn more

Learn about using function keys on MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.

While MacBook’s chiclet keyboard is probably one of, if not the best keyboard in the ultrabook category, sometimes you might want to use a full-sized keyboard complete with a numeric keypad. After all, it is the ideal setup if you’re typing for long periods of time. If you have an old USB keyboard lying around and gathering dust from your previously discarded desktop, you can actually use it with your Macbook. Just about any type or brand of keyboard will work with your Mac. You don’t have to buy Apple’s expensive keyboard. This post will show you how to configure your USB keyboard so that it works seamlessly with your MacBook.

Once you plug in your keyboard to the USB port, this popup will show.

Click “Continue.” Your Mac will then map out the rest of your keyboard by asking you to hit the keys beside the “Shift” keys.

The last popup will ask you to select your preferred type of keyboard.

This is not the end of the setup, however. There is one more thing you need to configure. If you skip this step, you will have problems using the shortcut keys that you’ve been accustomed to such as “Command + C,” “Command + V” and “Command + X”.

After you’ve chosen the type of keyboard and clicked “Done,” perform these steps:

1. If you’ve closed System Preferences after the last prompt, go back to System Preferences and choose Keyboard.

2. Open “Modifier Keys…” on the bottom right corner. The modifier keys in Mac are the Shift, Control, Option (Alt), Command, and Caps Lock keys.

Microsoft Keyboard Driver For Mac

3. Choose USB Keyboard on the drop-down.

Here you can quickly assign “Command” for the “Control” key. This ensures that the Command shortcuts will work every time. You can leave the rest as it is if you simply use the common Command options. Or you can set more modifier keys depending on the combination of shortcut keys you’re using. Hit “OK” to save your new settings.

After this, you’re all set. Except for the slight difference in the position of keys, your external USB keyboard is going to feel like your regular MacBook keyboard. For instance, if you usually take a screenshot you press “Command + Shift + 3”, now it’s “Control + Shift + 3”.

You can detach your USB keyboard at any time and still have all the settings saved. You’ll only be prompted to configure your keyboard’s settings once you attach a new one.

Using a cheap, external USB keyboard for your MacBook is extremely convenient and more ergonomic. It can make you feel like you’re using a desktop.

To further simulate the feeling of using a desktop, you can elevate your MacBook by placing it on a height-adjustable laptop stand. This way, instead of straining your neck as you look down on a smaller screen, your eyes land directly at the address bar. Add a USB mouse and your MacBook’s transformation to a desktop is complete. When you leave home and need to bring your MacBook in a coffee shop, for instance, you can quickly remove the USB keyboard and mouse.