The Alt Codes for uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and keyboard symbols. As I mentioned earlier, you can use Alt codes to type characters you could otherwise type on your keyboard. This is helpful if one of your keyboard keys is non-operational. Alt codes 32 through 126 are dedicated to these keys. And yes, Alt 32 is the space. There are also a few symbols commonly used to refer to the navigation keys. The first four, simple arrows, are intuitive enough: ↑ means Up. But there are four more such symbols, also arrows but used to mean different things entirely: ⇞ means Page Up. ⇟ means Page Down.
What Do The Mac Keyboard Symbols Mean? How to Customize Shortcuts And Change Your Mac Keyboard Layout?
Macs are relatively easy to use and are quite intuitive. Still, as a new Mac user, looking at your Mac's keyboard, you're most likely confused about what most of the symbols mean. And you may wonder why some of them look the way they look.
By living a fast-paced lifestyle, you want to get everything done as fast and as efficiently as you can. That's why knowing the meaning of each symbol is essential as they give you the option to execute a command by using shortcuts. Shortcuts are a specific combination of keys on your keyboard. But before you start using all the fantastic shortcuts that Apple has provided you with, let's get to know the symbols first. You might be overwhelmed by the number of new symbols you have to remember now. But actually, they are not that hard to understand, and by using them every day, you will have them memorized in no time. To make it easier for you to navigate, all Apple keyboards made after 2012 have a key label next to the symbol.
Apple has made many changes throughout the years to accommodate different languages and cultures. Keyboard symbols may look slightly different and be labeled differently depending on the layout, age, or region the Apple keyboard comes from. For example, the keyboard manufactured for the United Kingdom may differ from the keyboard manufactured for the United States. That's because different countries use different symbols. For instance, while the U.K. keyboard layout has symbols (§) and (±) under the escape key, the German keyboard layout has symbols (º) and (^). And some international keyboards can have alt written instead of the ⌘ symbol on the command key. So don't be confused if you're in a situation when you can't find a specific key on another keyboard.
The two most essential modifier keys are the Command (⌘) key and the Option (⌥) key.
You'll find the Command keys at the bottom of your keyboard, on both the left and right sides of the space bar. It's the main modifier key you hold down along another key to execute a shortcut. The main purpose of the key is to let you use your computer without a mouse. It can be labeled as 'command' or 'cmd' depending on the keyboard region. Before the symbol (⌘) was introduced, the command icon was the Apple logo. Steve Jobs decided that the Apple logo was overused as it was everywhere. Thus the new symbol was assigned to the command key. The pretzel-shaped design is a symbol used in Nordic countries to indicate a campground on a map.
The Option keys are located next to the Command keys. It's typically used for typing special and accented characters such as (©)=Option+G and (µ)=Option+M. The Option key can confuse users as different keyboards have different indications. Some regions have a symbol (⌥) next to the label, and others have Alt and Option written on them and don't have the symbol. If you have an older keyboard, it can only have the symbol on it without the label.
Bellow, you'll find all Mac keyboard symbols and their meanings.
Table of Contents:
The List of Mac's Keyboard Symbols
⌘ - command
⌥ - option
⌃ - control
⇧ - shift
⇪ - caps lock
◄ - left arrow
► - right arrow
▲ - up arrow
▼ - down arrow
⇥ - tab
⌫ - delete
↩︎ - return
␣ - space
⎋ - escape
The above list is the keys that are most commonly used and are essentially on all keyboards. The list below is an additional list of symbols mostly you see in menus.
⇤ - backtab
⌤ - enter
⌦ - forward delete
⇞ - page up
⇟ - page down
↖︎ - home
↘︎ - end
⌧ - clear
⏏ - eject
Function key symbols:
F1 - Screen brightness down
F2 - Screen brightness up
F3 - Launches mission control
F4 - Launches dashboard
F7 - Rewind
F8 - Play / Pause
F9 - Fast forward
F10 - Mute sound
F11 - Sound volume down
F12 - Sound volume up
§ Symbol Meaning
Many users have expressed the frustration behind this symbol as they're having a problem identifying it. It is not specific to Apple, and you should not worry too much about it if you're not using it frequently.
§ is a section mark. It's usually used to indicate a section of a book.
Rearrange Key Positions on Your Keyboard
If you want to rearrange the key positions on your keyboard, follow the steps below:
1. In the upper menu bar, click on the Apple logo.
2. Go to 'System Preferences'.
3. Find and open 'Keyboard' settings.
4. Go to the 'Input Sources' tab.
5. Click on the + icon at the bottom and select a language you want to add.
You can change keyboard languages any time by clicking on the country flag in the upper bar right corner.
Modifier Keys
If you just recently switched from a Windows computer to a Mac, you probably have difficulty adapting to the position of the command button. Fortunately, Mac lets you can change the position of all modifier keys.
1. In the upper menu bar, click on the Apple logo.
2. Go to 'System Preferences'.
3. Find and open 'Keyboard' settings.
4. In the 'Keyboard' tab, click on the 'Modifier Keys' button.
5. Switch modifiers places as you prefer.
6. Then click on 'OK'.
For example, you want the Command key to be the Control key on your keyboard. Then you need to click on the drop-down menu next to the Control key and select Command.
Customizing Shortcuts
Now that you know the meaning of your keyboard symbols and know how to change the keyboard layout, you can start using shortcuts. They are a great way to minimize your time executing a command.
You can use already existing shortcuts or customize them the way that's more convenient for you.
To change or add new shortcuts, follow the steps below:
1. In the upper menu bar, click on the Apple logo.
2. Go to 'System Preferences'.
3. Find and open 'Keyboard' settings.
4. Go to the 'Shortcuts' tab.
5. In the left sidebar, you can choose which menu shortcuts you can change. You can go through all of them one by one and change individual shortcuts.
6. When you have selected a menu, click on a specific shortcut.
7. When the shortcut is highlighted, click on the key combo.
8. When the key combo is selected, hold down the modifier and the new key. The new key combo should appear instead of the old one.
Suppose you see an exclamation point in a yellow triangle next to the key combo. In that case, your change is conflicting with another shortcut that has the same key combination. It's best to use a sequence that's not already in use or change the conflicting shortcut.
Universal shortcuts that are already built-in into the system can't be changed. Still, some of them you can change per application.
1. In 'System Preferences', open 'Keyboard' settings.
2. Go to the 'Shortcuts' tab and select 'App Shortcuts'.
3. Click on the + icon at the bottom.
4. In the drop-down bar, choose an app for which you want to create a shortcut.
5. In the 'Menu Title' bar, write the exact command.
6. In the 'Keyboard Shortcut' bar, type the key combination you want to use for the shortcut.
7. Click on the 'Add' button.
Once you go to the app menu, you'll see the new shortcut.
Text Shortcuts
If you use a lot of word or sentence abbreviations, you should check the Text tab in your keyboard settings. This function will automatically change your abbreviations to full words or sentences.
Click on the + icon and in the 'Replace' tab write your abbreviations, and in the 'With' tab, write the full word or sentence.
In the same tab, you can also turn off autocorrect.
Video On How to Customize Shortcuts And Change Your Mac Keyboard Layout
Airplane Mode is on. Wireless features are off until you turn this setting off. You can still use other features on your watch. When you turn Airplane Mode off on your watch, Airplane Mode stays turned on for your iPhone.
Do Not Disturb is on. Calls and alerts won’t ring or light up the screen until you turn this setting off. Alarms will still sound.
Theater Mode, or Theatre Mode, is on. Silent Mode is also on, and the screen stays dark until you tap the screen, press a button, or turn the Digital Crown. This mode also keeps the screen dark even when you use the Always On feature. To turn Theater Mode off, open Control Center and tap the icon.
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Your Apple Watch isn't connected to your iPhone. Move your devices closer together or turn off Airplane Mode.
Your Apple Watch with GPS + Cellular has lost connection to the cellular network.
Apple Keyboard Symbol Meaning Dictionary
Water Lock is on, and the screen won't respond to taps. Turn the Digital Crown to unlock your Apple Watch. The water drop icon appears only on Apple Watch Series 2 or later and Apple Watch SE. Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch (1st generation) aren't suitable for swimming. Learn about water resistance on your Apple Watch.
You received a notification. Swipe down on the watch face to read it.
Tap the audio output button to switch the audio output between paired Bluetooth headsets, speakers, and accessories.
An app on your Apple Watch has used location services.
Your Apple Watch is locked. Tap to enter the passcode.
Your Apple Watch is in Sleep mode. To exit Sleep mode, swipe up to the Control Center and tap the Sleep icon.
Icons for active apps
Apple Keyboard Symbol Meaning Symbols
With watchOS 5 and later, your Apple Watch shows active apps, like Walkie-Talkie or Phone , at the top of your watch face. Tap the icon to open the app. For example, if you're getting directions in Maps , the icon will appear at the top of the screen.
This appears when you use Workout. If you still see the Workout icon after you end your workout, restart your watch.
Tap to open Walkie-Talkie, where you can get in touch with friends instantly.
While audio plays, the Now Playing icon appears at the top of the screen.
This appears when you navigate with a third-party app. If you still see the navigation icon after you end your navigation, restart your watch.
With watchOS 7, the microphone icon means your Apple Watch mic is listening. It appears when you're talking to Siri, recording a voice memo, or using any app that activates the microphone, such as Handwashing or Walkie-Talkie.
Apple Keyboard Symbol Meaning Definitions
If you're trying to pair your Apple Watch and iPhone again and the Apple Watch app on your iPhone asks you to tap the Info button , you need to connect your devices again. Manually pairing won't connect your devices again.