"Survival Guide for 'Switching' from Windows to Mac"

Introduction

I've compiled a simple summary of the initial confusing points developers face when migrating from Windows to MacBook.

This is a quick reference guide + introduction to useful tools to solve "How do I do that shortcut on Mac?"

1. Keyboard "Translation"

When replacing familiar Windows operations on Mac, they correspond as follows:

On Mac, many shortcuts use the Cmd key instead of Ctrl. Getting used to this feeling is the first hurdle.

2. Browser & Development Tools

Shortcuts web developers use daily.

Also, Spotlight Search (Cmd + Space) allows you to launch apps instantly by just typing "Terminal" or "VS Code". It feels similar to Windows Start menu search.

3. Screenshots (PrintScreen key alternative)

Mac's screenshot functionality is extremely powerful out of the box. You can select areas or specify windows without third-party tools.

Captured screenshots are saved to the desktop by default.

Pressing Cmd + Shift + 5 allows you to change options like save location or timer.

Taking screenshots to both "save" and "copy to clipboard" simultaneously

In macOS, screenshot "save to disk" and "copy to clipboard" are mutually exclusive by default. Cmd + Shift + 4 saves to file, adding Ctrl copies to clipboard only. If you want to do both simultaneously, here are some methods:

Method 1: Use thumbnail preview (no setup required)

1. Take a screenshot as usual with Cmd + Shift + 4 (or 3 / 5)
2. Click on the thumbnail preview that appears in the bottom right corner
3. Press Cmd + C in the markup screen to copy to clipboard
4. Click Done

This saves the file and copies to clipboard simultaneously.

Method 2: Automate with Shottr (recommended)

For seriously streamlining screenshot workflows, Shottr is optimal. It's free, lightweight, and operates faster than native macOS tools.

Shottr Features:

• Save + Copy simultaneously: Press a key to complete both file saving and clipboard copying in one go
• Custom file names: Set a filename template to maintain the same naming convention as macOS standard
• Fast operation: As a compiled native app, it responds faster than the Shortcuts app or system standard tools

Setup Steps:

1. Download and install from Shottr official site
2. Open Shottr settings

4. Navigate to the Hotkeys tab and press the "Open System Settings" button

6. Uncheck all options as we'll override the existing behavior

8. Return to settings and set hotkeys to Cmd + Shift + 3 and Cmd + Shift + 4

10. Navigate to the Hotkeys tab and check both Copy and Save under After Screenshot

4. Enhance Clipboard History with Raycast

If you're used to Windows' Win + V (clipboard history), Mac's "only saves one item" default can be frustrating. To solve this, many engineers use external tools.

My personal recommendation is Raycast.

• What can it do?: Beyond clipboard history, it accelerates app launching, calculations, window resizing, and all kinds of operations
• Shortcut Example: Cmd + Space (Launch Raycast) → Search for "clipboard History" and right-click to select Configure Command

Author's Configuration Example:
I've assigned clipboard history to Cmd + Option + V. This lets me access previous copy contents with the same feeling as Windows' Win + V.

Also, pasting from Raycast's clipboard history defaults to plain text (without formatting). This is very convenient for situations where you want to paste text copied from web pages or documents without extra fonts, colors, or sizes. With standard macOS Cmd + V, content is pasted with formatting, requiring Cmd + Option + Shift + V for plain text pasting, but with Raycast you don't need to worry about this.

5. Multi-monitor Management with Raycast

Setup is easy - just enable the Window Management extension (a core extension that's pre-installed).

Assigning a Shortcut to "Next Display"

To move windows to adjacent displays, use the "Next Display" command. Here's how to set up the shortcut:

1. Launch Raycast (default is Option + Space)
2. Type "Extensions" and press Enter

4. Search for Next Display

6. Click the Hotkey field to register a shortcut

Recommendation: Setting it to Cmd + → creates a feel similar to Windows operations.

Creating Window Layouts

If you use the same window arrangement daily (e.g., Slack on left screen, browser on right), Raycast's "Create Window Layout" command is handy.

• Position all windows to preferred locations and sizes
• Save as a layout
• From then on, a single Raycast command will automatically position all apps to specified screens and sizes

6. Helpful Tips to Know

The Enter Key Trap

When selecting a file in Finder and pressing Enter, it renames the file rather than opening it. To open files, use Cmd + O. This is a common pitfall for Windows users.

Window Switching

• App-level switching: Cmd + Tab (similar to Windows' Alt + Tab but app-based)
• Window switching within the same app: Cmd + ~ (backtick)

While Windows' Alt + Tab switches between windows, Mac's Cmd + Tab switches between apps. To switch between multiple windows of the same app, you need to use Cmd + ~.

Copying Folder Paths from Finder

Press Cmd + Option + C in Finder to copy the folder path.

Hidden Files (Dot Files) Not Visible

In macOS, files and folders beginning with a dot (.) (so-called "dot files") are hidden by default. This prevents accidental deletion or movement of configuration files like .env or .git.

There are two ways to show them:

Keyboard Shortcut (Fastest)

Simply press the following shortcut in a Finder window:

• Cmd + Shift + . (period)

Press once to show hidden files semi-transparently, press again to hide them.

Terminal Command for Permanent Setting

If shortcuts don't work or you prefer command line configuration:

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool true
killall Finder

To revert: Use the same command but change true to false.

Accessing the "Library" Folder

The ~/Library folder is also hidden by default but isn't a dot file. In Finder's menu bar, click Go and hold the Option key to see "Library" appear as an option.

Showing Hidden Files in File Selection Dialogs

Even if you've configured Finder to show hidden files, they might not appear in file upload dialogs in browsers.

Solution: Use the shortcut within the dialog

While the file selection window is active, press Cmd + Shift + .. macOS remembers this setting for each dialog, so files will remain visible in future instances.

Conclusion

While transitioning from Windows to Mac might be confusing at first, it becomes surprisingly smooth once you grasp the basic shortcut "translations". Focus on these points to make it easier:

1. Train yourself to replace Ctrl with Cmd
2. Accelerate app launching with Spotlight (or Raycast)
3. Adopt a clipboard history tool early
4. Remember Cmd + Shift + . to display hidden files
5. Utilize tools like Shottr if you need save + copy for screenshots

I hope this article helps alleviate that "I don't know anything" feeling on your first day of Mac migration.