Mac Keyboard Symbols

What it's for

Translate keyboard shortcuts between the ways they’re written: Apple’s symbols (⇧⌘4), Apple’s words (Shift-Command-4), the usual Windows version, and the codes macOS’s App Shortcuts setting and AppleScript use. The table below explains every symbol.

When you’re…

• writing instructions for Mac users and want the shortcut in Apple’s symbols or wording;
• following a Windows guide on a Mac, and need Ctrl+Alt+Del as Mac keys;
• setting a custom App Shortcut with defaults write … NSUserKeyEquivalents, or sending keys from AppleScript.

How to use it

Type shortcuts one a line, in any style: cmd+shift+4, Command-Option-Esc, ⌃⌘F, Cmd++ (Command and plus), or the App Shortcuts code @$4. Or click the box at the top and press the shortcut to record it; Tab still moves on unless you hold a modifier with it.

Written for says whose keyboard the shortcut came from (remembered in this browser). For Windows or Linux, Ctrl becomes ⌘, Alt becomes ⌥ and the Windows key becomes ⌃, and Delete means the Mac’s Forward Delete.

Each shortcut gets its symbols, words, Windows version, App Shortcuts code, AppleScript command and HTML, each with a Copy button.

Example

Press Try an example. For cmd+shift+4 you get ⇧⌘4, Shift-Command-4, Ctrl+Shift+4, the App Shortcuts code $@4 and:

tell application "System Events" to keystroke "4" using {shift down, command down}

Option-Command-Esc becomes ⌥⌘⎋, App Shortcuts code ~@\U001B, and AppleScript key code 53.

Good to know

The Windows version is the usual match, not a rule: apps differ, and Mac shortcuts that use both ⌃ and ⌘ have no clear Windows equal. Fn can’t be written as an App Shortcut or pressed from AppleScript. Recorded keys are named by their position on a US keyboard, so they stay the same whatever Option produces.