The Option and Alt key on a Mac: where it is and what it does

The Option key (⌥) is the Mac's Alt key. On older keyboards it also says "alt". It sits to the left and right of the Command keys, close to the space bar. On its own it does nothing, but together with other keys it opens special characters, hidden menus and extra functions. This article lists the handiest ones.

Blue Apple repairs MacBooks in Amsterdam. If your Option key no longer works, see the end of this article.

Typing special characters

With Option you type characters that are not on your keyboard. On an American keyboard (ABC or U.S. layout, the standard in the Netherlands):

• Option + Shift + 2: € (more in how to type the euro sign on a Mac).
• Option + G: ©. Option + 2: ™. Option + R: ®.
• Option + 8: • (bullet).
• Option + E, then the letter: an acute accent, for example é.
• Option + U, then the letter: an umlaut, for example ë or ü.
• Option + `, then the letter: a grave accent, for example è.
• Option + hyphen: an en dash (–).

Another way for accents: hold a letter down briefly and a small menu with variants appears.

Hidden options in menus

• Option + click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar: you see extra information about your connection, such as the IP address and signal strength.
• Option + click the battery icon: sometimes extra information about the battery's condition.
• Option held in the Apple menu: "About This Mac" becomes "System Information".
• Option held in the Finder's Go menu: the hidden Library folder appears.
• Option + click File in many apps: "Save As" appears.

Handy combinations

• Option + drag in the Finder: the file is copied instead of moved.
• Option + Command + Esc: force quit apps (see Ctrl-Alt-Delete on a Mac).
• Option + Delete: delete a whole word.
• Option + a volume or brightness key: opens the sound or display settings straight away.
• Option at startup of an Intel Mac: you choose which drive it starts from. On a Mac with an Apple chip you hold the power button for that.

Option as a "shortcut booster"

Many ordinary shortcuts gain an extra function with Option added. Command + W closes one window; Option + Command + W closes all windows of that app. Command + H hides the app in front; Option + Command + H hides all the other apps instead. And if you hold Option while a menu is open, some items change name, such as "Close" into "Close All". Try it in the Finder or Safari menus.

A Windows keyboard on your Mac

On a Windows keyboard the Alt key is the Option key and the Windows key is the Command key. Because they sit in a different order, you can swap them in System Settings, Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, under Modifier Keys.

The Option key does not work

1. Test both Option keys: left and right.
2. Check under Modifier Keys (see above) that the key is not mapped to another function.
3. Turn off Mouse Keys in System Settings, Accessibility; it uses Option to toggle the mouse.
4. Test in TextEdit with Option + G: if © appears, the key works.

If it responds nowhere, or falters together with other keys, there is probably something wrong with the keyboard. Read MacBook keyboard not working.

What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam

For a broken key we check whether just the key or the mechanism underneath can be replaced. If the keyboard itself is faulty, we replace it. You hear beforehand what that means for your model. More on our page about MacBook keyboard repair.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Option key the same as Alt?

Yes. On the Mac it is called Option (⌥), on Windows keyboards Alt.

Where is the AltGr key on a Mac?

A Mac has none. Characters you type with AltGr on Windows are usually typed with Option on the Mac.

How do I type é on a MacBook?

Press Option + E and then e. Or hold the e down briefly and choose é.