Coming from Windows, or just tired of hitting Caps Lock by accident? macOS lets you reassign the four modifier keys — Caps Lock, Control, Option, and Command — in about 15 seconds, no apps required. Here is the exact panel, the swaps most people want, and when you need a third-party tool.
The built-in way: System Settings > Keyboard > Modifier Keys
- Open System Settings (Apple menu > System Settings).
- Click Keyboard in the sidebar.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts…, then select Modifier Keys in the left list.
- If you have more than one keyboard, pick it from the Select keyboard menu at the top (each keyboard is remapped separately).
- Use the drop-downs to reassign any of: Caps Lock, Control, Option, Command, Function (fn/Globe). Pick a new action or No Action to disable the key entirely.
- Click Done. The change is instant — no restart.
These remaps are per-keyboard and stored in your user account, so a second person logging in keeps the stock layout.
The three swaps people actually want
1. Turn Caps Lock into Control (or Escape)
The classic. In the Modifier Keys panel, set Caps Lock Key → Control. Developers who miss the old Escape placement often set Caps Lock → Escape instead. Set it to No Action if you only want to stop the accidental all-caps.
2. Swap Command and Control (Windows keyboard muscle memory)
On a Mac, Command does what Ctrl does on Windows (copy is Command-C, not Ctrl-C). If you use a PC keyboard or just want Ctrl to copy, set Command Key → Control and Control Key → Command. Now the key in the Ctrl position runs your Windows-style shortcuts. New to the platform? Our switching from Windows to Mac guide covers the rest of the muscle-memory changes.
3. Fix a Windows keyboard’s Alt and Windows keys
Plug in a PC keyboard and the keys are physically in the wrong order: the Alt key sits where Command should be, and the Windows key where Option should be. In Modifier Keys, set Option Key → Command and Command Key → Option for that keyboard so the physical layout matches what macOS expects.
When you need Karabiner-Elements
The built-in panel only reassigns whole modifier keys to other modifiers. For anything more — remapping letter keys, making one key do different things on tap vs. hold, per-app rules, or turning Caps Lock into a “hyper” key — install the free, open-source Karabiner-Elements. It runs at a lower level than System Settings and stacks on top of your built-in remaps, so decide which layer owns each key to avoid conflicts.
Troubleshooting
- The remap did nothing: you likely changed the wrong keyboard in the Select keyboard menu. Each connected keyboard is remapped on its own.
- Caps Lock feels broken after remapping: if you set it to No Action or Control and now think the key is dead, that is expected. See Caps Lock not working to tell a remap apart from a real hardware fault.
- Shortcuts print the wrong symbols: that is a keyboard input source (language layout) issue, not a modifier remap — check Keyboard > Input Sources.
FAQ
Does remapping modifier keys need admin access or an app?
No. The Modifier Keys panel is built into every modern macOS and works on a standard user account.
Do my remaps sync across Macs?
No. Modifier Key mappings are per-Mac and per-keyboard. Set them again on each machine.
Can I swap Fn/Globe too?
Yes — the Function (fn/Globe) key appears in the same Modifier Keys list and can be reassigned like the others.
Will this help me switch from a PC?
A lot. Remapping Command↔Control and Option↔Command is the single biggest comfort win for PC switchers. If you are shopping, a clean, tested refurbished Mac from us ships ready to customize — Mac minis from $599 and MacBook Pros from $1,099.
Questions about a specific model or keyboard? Text us at (740) 223-5530 and we will point you to the right setting.