When buying an Apple computer for the first time, you’ll notice that a few buttons function a little differently than Windows devices. One of the most important buttons to know is the Alt key, labeled Option on some models.
Since you’ll probably use this key a lot, knowing how it works is essential to maximizing your Mac experience. So, what is Alt on a Mac? What can you use it for? And what is the Windows equivalent?
Keep reading to uncover the answer to each of these questions.
What Else Is the Alt Key on Mac Known As?
Depending on the computer you have or the Apple keyboard you use, the Alt key might not seem so easy to find to begin with.
Instead of clearly saying Alt, some keyboards have the ⌥ key instead—and some have both. However, many Apple keyboards have neither; when this is the case, you’ll see a button called Option.
Rest assured, all of these buttons perform exactly the same functions.
The Alt Key on Mac: What Are Its Main Functions?
It doesn’t matter if you have the Alt key on your Mac or if your keyboard says ⌥ or Option instead. All of them work identically.
As the name suggests, you’ll use this button when modifying (or alternating) another button’s function. For example, holding Alt and the number two (2) will type the Euro symbol (€).
You can also use the Alt key with the Tab button on Mac to switch between open apps, which is easier than searching for or clicking through your computer to find them. This key is also helpful for entering a selection of macOS boot modes.
Which Common Shortcuts Use the Alt Key on Mac?
So, now you know how the Alt key on your Mac works and why it exists. We’ve already given a couple of examples for when you’d use it, but it’s a good idea to keep in mind some of the other most common uses.
Below are three common shortcuts for using the Alt key on your Mac.
Foreign Letter Accents
If you have a keyboard suited for English, using the Alt key on your Mac will save you a lot of time typing accented letters.
Examples of foreign letters and symbols you can use the Alt key for include:
- The Scandinavian Ø: Alt + O.
- The Umlaut (Ü): Alt + U (You will then need to type the letter you want under the umlaut).
- The Cedilla (Ç): Alt + C.
Accessing Your Mac’s Sound Settings
If you want to adjust specific sound settings on your computer, you can press Alt + any of the volume symbols (F10, F11, or F12).
In the Sound section, you can adjust your Mac’s alert volume—along with the sound your computer makes when receiving an alert.
Other useful things you can do here include:
- Choosing a device for your sound output
- Tweaking your headphone’s sound balance
- Picking the right place for sound input
Changing Your Keyboard Settings
To toggle your computer’s keyboard settings, hold Alt + F5 at the same time.
When the Keyboard window opens, you can toggle various settings. Some of these include:
- Adding shortcuts for when you type (e.g., omw! = on my way!)
- Adjusting your keyboard brightness for low-light settings
- Altering the function of the fn key
Where Is Alt on Mac?
Finding the Alt key on a Mac is pretty simple. Your computer has two of these buttons, both toward the bottom of your keyboard.
Each Alt button is next to Cmd (or ⌘), which sits on either side of your space bar. The layout is the same regardless of what your button is called.
Does Windows Have an Equivalent to the Alt Key on Mac?
If you were previously a Windows user, before migrating to Mac, you might have noticed that your old computer had a key called Alt. This works the same as its Apple namesake.
The only significant difference might be where the key is located. For some Windows keyboards, Alt is right next to the space bar—though this isn’t the case for all of them.
Alt on the Mac Is a Handy Little Button
The Alt key on a Mac helps make sure that your experience is smoother while using your computer. You can use it to access alternative characters, and opening apps and settings also become much easier.
Even if you’ve got no previous experience using an Apple computer, it won’t take long to get used to how its keyboard works.
