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What’s the better way to use PC Keyboard on macOS?

Camilo Martinez on September 23, 2018

I have been working all my life on PC/Linux, now I’m working with macOS due to Xcode dependency for iPhone compilation. In the beginning, it’s rea...
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equiman profile image
Camilo Martinez • Edited

That's why I love Dev community. I have tested with Ukelele but it's complicated, now
I know about Karabiner and works like a charm.

Thanks @rhymes and @titonobre !

Post updated with Karabiner configuration.

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Templar++

Everyone (in EU), who accidentally purchased a Macbook with the obnoxious US-Intl keyboard quickly finds out about Karabiner... at least it took me only 3h to find it and relieve the pain...

It was either this or $1000 to replace the keyboard, trackpad and upper panel (apparently they go together).. that was for the late 2012 model...

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douglasdc

I just don`t understand shortcut on macos, in PC (win / linux) they are so much instinctive. Ctrl = command in application scope, Alt = command in System scop. At macos the keys make a mess to do something, combine two keys to do what only two are capible to do on PC.

One month using macos and i don`t make that work well yet.

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Trung Ly

Does anyone know how to make this happen but for MacOS layout in Windows without using AutoHotKey? I managed to remapping the Windows and alt keys but still struggling between ctrl and cmd as it is not a to one-on-one relationship.

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Camilo Martinez

Maybe remapping keys with PowerToys.

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Rodrigo Figueiredo

LOL
I have no doubt you write this post for me!! I have the same keyborad and mac you have; and came from the same PC/linux env kkkk
I would never consider removing the keys like that !!
Thank you dude

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Camilo Martinez

You welcome. There are more like us out there... jajajaja.

Did you know that on login, Bloq Num key can turn on or off the screen?

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Tito

I started to do this with my keyboard but then I switched to Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard which has keys with different shapes.

After this I took some time to map all the necessary keys with Karabiner to the correct layout.
Since I had to rewire the brain to work with the split keyboard I just don't look at the keys.

As a bonus: no more keyboard hijacking from colleagues.

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rhymes

Ahahah love the hack. I didn't hack my Microsoft keyboard, just remapped the keys with Karabiner

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Valentin Baca

This is exactly what I do with my "PC" mechanical keyboard when I use it with my Mac.

I also go super petty and take a Sharpie to the Windows logo on the key.

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Chinmay Joshi

DAYUM.
BRILLIANT.

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Daniel Pinyol

Hi,
thanks for the article. saved my day!

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Wilbur Suero

Oh, that's great. I will do this tomorrow.