What’s it called on my Mac?
If you’re not sure what something is called on a Mac, here’s a list of Windows and Mac terms to help you find what you’re looking for.
Note: On a Mac notebook computer, you must press and hold the Fn key before pressing the other keys of a shortcut; for example, press Fn-Control-F2.
Windows term | Mac term | Description |
|---|---|---|
Alt key | Option key | To enter special characters, press and hold the Option key in combination with letter keys. For example, to enter é, press Option-E, then press the E key again. |
Alt key | Control-F2 | To use the keyboard to open menus in the menu bar at the top of the screen, press Control-F2, then use the arrow keys to select a menu. Press Return to open the selected menu, then use the arrow and Return keys again to choose menu options. |
Alt-Tab | Command-Tab | To switch between open apps, press Command-Tab. Release the keys when the app you want is selected. |
Alt-Tab | Exposé | To see all the open windows in the current app, press and hold its icon in the Dock. Release the trackpad or mouse when thumbnail images of the windows appear. To see another app’s windows, press Tab. |
Close button | Close button | To close a window, click the red Close button |
Control key | Command key | To perform actions or shortcuts, use the Command key with keyboard combinations. For example, pressing Command-S usually saves a document or file. |
Control Panel | System Preferences | To customize your Mac, choose Apple menu You can set options to, for example, change the size and location of the Dock, apply a light or dark appearance, use a different desktop picture, and more. |
Cortana | Siri | Siri can do things like open files or apps for you, or find things on your Mac or on the internet. See Use Siri. |
Device Manager | System Information | The System Information app gives you detailed information about your Mac hardware and software. Choose Apple menu > About This Mac. |
Disk drive eject button | Media Eject key | To open and close the optical drive, press the Media Eject key ⏏ on your keyboard. To eject disks in other types of drives (or if your keyboard doesn’t have the Media Eject key), select the disk in the Finder, then choose File > Eject. |
Exit | Quit | To exit from an app, choose Quit from the app menu. (The app menu is labeled with the app’s name; for example, Safari or Mail.) |
Flip 3D | Mission Control | To see all open windows in Mission Control, press Control-Up Arrow (or use the Control Strip). |
Gadgets | Widgets | Notification Center offers widgets you can use to do things like monitor stocks and show the weather. See Use Notification Center. To open Notification Center, click the date and time in the menu bar. |
Microsoft Photo Editor | Photos | Use the Photos app to import photos (and videos) from an iOS or iPadOS device or a camera, view and edit your photos, share your photos, and more. |
Mouse | Mouse (one-button) | If you have a one-button mouse and want to open a shortcuts menu, press and hold the Control key as you click. |
Mouse | Magic Mouse or Apple Mouse | If you have a Magic Mouse or other multiple-button mouse, you can customize the buttons by choosing Apple menu > System Preferences, then clicking Mouse. |
My Computer, This PC | In the Finder, choose Go > Computer | You see disks connected to your Mac, CDs and DVDs inserted in your optical disc drive, network volumes you’re connected to, and any disk partitions you have. |
My Documents, Documents folder | Documents folder | To store a document, use the Documents folder. To see your Documents folder, open a Finder window, then click Documents in the sidebar. |
My Pictures, Pictures folder | Pictures folder | The Pictures folder is located in your home folder. In the Finder, choose Go > Home. |
My Recent Documents | Recent Items | As you open apps and files, their names are kept in the Recent Items list in the Apple menu. You can use Recent Items to quickly reopen apps and documents. Many apps include an Open Recent command in the File menu that lists documents you worked on recently. |
Network Connections | Network preferences | To configure network settings, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Network. Open Network preferences for me You can use Wireless Diagnostics to solve problems with a network you’ve already set up. |
On-Screen Keyboard (OSK) | Keyboard Viewer | To open the Keyboard Viewer, in the menu bar click the Input menu (identified by the Show Emoji & Symbols icon If you don’t see the menu, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Keyboard, click Input Sources, then select “Show Input menu in menu bar.” |
Performance Monitor | Activity Monitor | To see how your Mac is performing and which processes it’s running, open the Activity Monitor app (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder). |
Print Screen | Shift-Command-3 Shift-Command-4 | To take a picture of the entire screen, press Shift-Command-3. To take a picture of part of the screen, press Shift-Command-4, then drag the pointer to select an area. To open Screenshot for more options when taking screenshots or screen recordings, press Shift-Command-5. |
Printers & scanners | Printers & Scanners preferences | To select and set up printers, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Printers & Scanners. |
Properties | Get Info | To see information about a file, folder, disk, server, or other item, select it in the Finder, then choose File > Get Info. In the Info window, you can set ownership and permissions for the item. For files, you can select the app that you want to open the file. |
Recycle Bin | Trash | To delete files and folders, drag them to the Trash in the Dock. To permanently delete the files, choose File > Empty Trash. |
Search | Spotlight | Find files, email, and other items. See Search with Spotlight. Many apps, such as the Finder, Mail, and Contacts, provide a search field in the toolbar where you can quickly search for items in the app. |
Shortcuts | Alias | To make an alias, select the file or app, then choose File > Make Alias. |
Snipping Tool | Screenshot | Press Shift-Command-5 to display Screenshot and take screenshots or screen recordings of windows, the whole screen, or a portion of the screen. |
Standby or Sleep | Sleep | Sleep is a low-power mode. To put your computer to sleep, choose Apple menu > Sleep. |
Start menu | Launchpad | For quick access to all your apps and utilities, click the Launchpad icon |
Start menu and Task bar | Dock | Use the Dock to open your favorite apps, files, folders, and websites. By default, the Dock appears at the bottom of the screen. To add a file or folder to the Dock, drag it to the right of the Dock’s separator line. |
System Tray | Status menus | Status menus appear as icons in the right half of the menu bar. Use status menus to connect to a wireless network, check the battery status of your Mac notebook computer, and more. Use Dock & Menu Bar preferences to change which status menus appear in the menu bar. |
Task Manager | Activity Monitor | To see how your Mac is performing and which processes it’s running, open the Activity Monitor app (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder). |
Windows Explorer | Finder | To organize files, folders, and apps, use the Finder. To open a Finder window, click the desktop, then choose File > New Finder Window. |
Windows Media Player | QuickTime Player Music | To play movies and music, use the QuickTime Player app. To listen to music CDs, purchase music from the iTunes Store, and create your personal digital music library, use the Music app. |
Windows MovieMaker | iMovie | To download video from your digital video camera and create your own movies, use the iMovie app. |
in the top-left corner of the window.
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in the Dock (or use the Control Strip).