How to remap Command to Control on a Magic Keyboard on Windows
Mac shortcuts such as Cmd+C and Cmd+V stop working when you use a Magic Keyboard on Windows. This guide covers two ways to remap Command to Control: a free system-wide swap with PowerToys, and a swap that applies to the Magic Keyboard only.
Why Cmd shortcuts break on Windows
Windows uses Ctrl where macOS uses Command for copy, paste, save, and most other shortcuts. On Windows, the Magic Keyboard's Command key registers as the Windows key, so Cmd+C sends Win+C instead of a copy command. Remapping Command to Control restores the Mac shortcut layout.
Option 1: PowerToys Keyboard Manager (free)
Microsoft's free PowerToys can remap keys system-wide:
- Install Microsoft PowerToys from the Microsoft Store or GitHub.
- Open Keyboard Manager → Remap a key.
- Map the Windows key (the Magic Keyboard's Command key) to Ctrl. For a full swap, also map Ctrl to the Windows key.
- Click OK to apply. Cmd+C now sends Ctrl+C in every app.
The limitation is that the swap applies to every keyboard attached to the PC. If you also type on a laptop's built-in keyboard, its Windows key becomes Ctrl too — which is usually not what you want.
Option 2: swap it on the Magic Keyboard only
Tenon, which is in development, does the swap inside the Magic Keyboard's own driver rather than system-wide. Because the driver binds to that one device, Cmd+C sends Ctrl+C when you type on the Magic Keyboard, and every other keyboard on the machine keeps the behavior it has now. The same driver handles the function row, so you set both in one place.
Frequently asked
How do I swap Command and Control on Windows?
Microsoft PowerToys Keyboard Manager remaps the keys for free, but the swap applies to every keyboard on the PC. If you want it to apply to the Magic Keyboard only, and to leave your laptop keyboard alone, that is what Tenon (in development) does in the keyboard driver itself.
Can I make Mac keyboard shortcuts work on Windows?
Mostly, yes. Remapping Command to Control restores copy, paste, save, and most other common shortcuts. The trade-off is what else the remap touches: PowerToys changes every keyboard, while Tenon changes only the Magic Keyboard.