Moving to Windows from Mac? Here is a simple guide

 Here’s a simple guide to using windows for Mac users  

1. Use control (ctrl) instead of command

2. Sometimes you can use alt instead of option 

3. Windows key (looks like a square with 4 partitions) opens the launchpad alternative, known as the Start Menu

4. Windows+tab opens the Mission Control alternative

5. Windows+shift+S replaces command+shift+3, 4, and 5

6. Tap in the bottom right of trackpad or click with two fingers, like Mac, to right click

7. Windows+S instead of command+space to search

8. If the trackpad is hard to click, simply tap with one finger to left click, tap with two fingers to right click, and double tap with one finger for dragging. 

9. Windows+. opens emojis instead of fn

10. File Explorer instead of finder for using files

In file explorer, navigation on the side like finder, file path shown on top. Pretty easy to learn

One major difference is that to move files, use control+x, control+v instead on command+c, option+command+v to move files. Also you cannot click the space bar to quick look a file. 

11: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Touchpad then click on 3 finger gestures. Change the setting next to "Swipes" to "Switch Apps and Show Desktop".

This will allow for Mac-style multitasking on the touchpad 

12. Do control+y instead of command+shift+z for redo, but undo is control+z

13. In windows, backspace and delete are two separate keys (delete button is to the left of the power button, usually), so it’s worth learning the difference 

Like for example use the backspace for deleting text, but in file explorer use delete key to delete a file

14. There is no top navigation bar (menu bar), so navigation is solely based on clicking in the app

15. Taskbar replaces dock

To pin something to taskbar, you can drag into the taskbar or right click and click on pin to taskbar

To remove something from taskbar, right click and say you pin from taskbar

16. For a new window, instead of clicking on file > new window (in the top menu bar), right click on the app icon in the task bar on Windows and click on the name of the app

17. Notifications appear on bottom right of the screen instead of the top right

18. You cannot pin folders to task bar 

19. Full screen does not open a new desktop and there is no way to do that automatically 😭 but you can click windows+tab and drag the full screen app into a new desktop

20. Unlike Mac, you don’t need to be in full screen to multitask, so press windows+z to open up the multitasker and click on where you want the app to be

21. To close a window, click control+w instead of command+q 

22. Most of the things on the right side of the menu bar is on the right side of the taskbar. The app icons on the menu bar are sometimes hidden in an ^ icon in the taskbar. The control center is represented by a wifi sign, speaker sign, and battery sign. The notification center can be accessed by clicking on the date and time as well as a calendar. 

23. Shut down, sleep, restart, etc. are hidden in the start menu (which can be opened by clicking the windows key) instead of the apple logo in the top left. 

That is it for today!