How To Enable Ctrl+C & Ctrl+V Keyboard Shortcuts On Mac

Computer users who have used the Windows operating system for a long time before making the switch to Mac need some time to get familiar with macOS.

While the macOS user interface is clean and pretty easy to use, just like Windows OS, the problem is that most of the function buttons are located at places that we Windows users aren’t familiar with. Take, for example, the close, minimize, and maximize buttons that appear on the upper-left corner of a window, whereas in Windows, they appear on the upper-right side.

Windows users who are used to moving the mouse cursor to the upper-right of a window to access the close button need to get used to the new placement after switching to the Mac.

Users who often use keyboard shortcuts to perform common tasks need to unlearn PC keyboard shortcuts first before memorizing Mac keyboard shortcuts. As you likely know, on a Mac keyboard, Option and Command keys are present, whereas Windows and Alt keys are on a standard Windows keyboard. Even though the Control (Ctrl) key is very much present, it can’t be used like in Windows. For instance, we can’t use Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V keys to perform copy and paste operations.

Since most PC users are used to Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V hotkeys, many find it difficult to unlearn those keyboard shortcuts while using a Mac, especially when going back and forth between Windows and Mac.

Luckily, there is an option in all recent versions of the macOS operating system to swap Control and Command keys, allowing users to use many Windows OS keyboard shortcuts on Mac as well. After swapping Control and Command keys, you’ll be able to use Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+T, Ctrl+S, and many other keyboard shortcuts.

If you love the idea of swapping Control and Command keys on a Mac to get Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V on a Mac, please follow the given below instructions.

NOTE: After swapping the Ctrl and Command keys, the Ctrl key will function as the Command key.

Swap Command and Control keys

Step 1: Open System Preferences by clicking the System Settings (previously called System Preferences) icon in the dock. You could also launch System Settings by clicking the Launchpad icon in the dock and then clicking the System Settings icon. Typing System System in the Spotlight search box is another option.

Step 2: In the left pane of System Settings, click Keyboard to open Keyboard settings.

Step 3: Here, click the Keyboard shortcuts button.

Step 4: On the left side of the dialog, click Modifier keys. Now, on the right side, expand the drop-down menu next to the Control key and select Command. Likewise, expand the drop-down menu next to the Command key and select Control key.

Click the Done button. That’s all!