If you own a Mac PC are willing to run Mac OS and Windows in one system, then it is possible. Sometimes, it is even possible to run Windows on a Mac PC with some limitations. There are lots of differences when you run a Mac at home and Windows PC at your office or vice-versa. Moreover, doing similar things or running the same applications seem to be different on both Operating Systems. Thus, switching between Mac OS and Windows PC might be frustrating for you. But, we have some tricks on how to switch between Windows and Mac OS.
Methods for How to Switch Between Windows and Mac OS:
The process will be a lot easier for you if you follow the methods that are given below.
Method 1. Use Keyboard Shortcuts
A lot of keyboard shortcuts that you use on your Mac do not work on Windows PC. It happens because there is a Command key for most of the common shortcuts on Mac. Whereas, a Windows PC lacks a Command key on the keyboard it uses. Thus, you need to use either the Control Panel or Windows keys as shortcuts. But, you can replicate the shortcuts using the Command key on Mac on a Windows PC. For example, the shortcut for copy and paste is ‘Command+C’ on Mac and ‘Control+V’ on Windows. So you can try the same shortcut of Mac OS on Windows by replacing the Command key with the Control key.
Method 2. Application Windows
On Mac, you can close the Application Windows by clicking on the red button at the top-right corner of the window. But, the application remains open even if you have closed all the windows. While on Windows, you can directly close all the corresponding windows by clicking the red button at the top-right corner of the last window. As a result, the entire application quits from the PC. Therefore, keep a window open if you want to close the application on a Mac OS.
Method 3. System Fonts
Mac OS and Windows use different except for a few ones that are common to both of them. For instance, there is Calibri on Windows and Helvetica Nuene on Mac. Thus, choose a font such as Arial that is available on both Mac and Windows so that a particular document looks the same on both Windows and Mac device.
Method 4. File Explorer vs Finder
File Explorer and Finder perform same functions like organizing, opening, moving, and removing files in different ways. Besides this, you can drag or drop a file from one folder to another in both File Explorer and Finder. Furthermore, it allows you to create shortcuts to folders present in File Explorer as well as Finder. You will need to use the tools in the toolbar for copying, pasting, and moving files. Whereas, use a keyboard shortcut or select a file and choose the particular option for copying, pasting or moving the file from its drop-down menu.
Method 5. Backslash and Forward Slash
Both Mac OS and Windows use the same SMB protocol for connecting to servers. Hence, you can use the SMB protocol for connecting to the same server on Mac OS as well as Windows. To do so, copy and paste the SMB address from File Explorer to the Finder’s Connect to server window. Only you will need to do one important change for using the same protocol. Directories on servers are separated by a backslash on Windows and a forward slash on Mac. Thus, swap the backslash for forwarding slash while copying the server addresses from Windows PC to Mac. In the same way, swap the forward slash for backslash in order to copy the server address from a Mac to Windows OS. This method will surely help you in knowing how to switch between Windows and Mac OS.
Method 6. Uninstalling Applications
Most of the applications on Mac does not come with an inbuilt uninstaller for uninstalling them. Thus, you need to drag the particular application to the Trash folder and select all the associated files. Then, delete these files manually in order to uninstall the application on your PC. Else, you can download a proper uninstaller and install it on your PC to remove the application automatically. Whereas, the uninstallation of an application is not that difficult for Windows users. It’s because most of the Windows app come with their own uninstaller. So, you need to right-click on an app and choose the ‘Uninstallation’ option for running the uninstaller.
Thus, it’s not necessary to track down the files associated with the app and delete them manually. However, these uninstallers always do not track down and remove the associated files. Furthermore, it is difficult to uninstall the apps downloaded from the Windows Store. But, you can solve this issue by downloading and installing a multi uninstaller tool on your PC.
Method 7. Startup Programs Management
Some applications launch and run at the startup by default on Windows and Mac OS. As a result, your PC takes more time to start and delay all your work. To stop applications running at the startup on Mac, go to the Apple menu and choose ‘System Preferences.’ Click ‘Users and Groups’ and tap the ‘Login Items’ tab. Among the list of items available, choose those programs you want to disable from running at the startup. After that, press the ‘-’ key to stop the selected programs from running at the OS startup.
Windows users can use ‘CleanMyPC,’ an autorun module of Windows to prevent unwanted programs from running at the Windows startup. So, turn on your PC, click the Start menu and search for the Control Panel. Then, choose ‘CleanMyPC’ on the Control Panel window and select the ‘Autorun Utility.’ Find those applications and move the toggle next to them to the off position to prevent autorunning.
These are the seven ways for how to switch between Windows and Mac OS. You can perform this task with third-party applications but we haven’t discussed them to prevent damages to your PC. If you want, then you can use them at your own risk. If you find this article useful or want to give suggestions, then you can leave your valuable feedback in the comment section below.
