Everything you know from Windows has a Mac equivalent. Here is the translation.
☰Start Menu
→
Apple Menu Top-left corner of screen
▬Taskbar
→
⬤Dock Row of icons at screen bottom
📁File Explorer
→
📎Finder Smiley-face icon in Dock
🗑Recycle Bin
→
🗑Trash Right end of the Dock
⚙Control Panel
→
⚙System Settings Apple menu > System Settings
📊Task Manager
→
📊Activity Monitor Applications > Utilities
💾.exe Installers
→
📦.app / .dmg / .pkg Apps live in /Applications
💻C: Drive
→
💻Macintosh HD No drive letters on Mac
📄My Documents
→
📄Documents In Finder sidebar
✂Snipping Tool
→
📷Screenshot Cmd+Shift+5 for toolbar
🔄Windows Update
→
🔄Software Update System Settings > General > Software Update
⌨CMD / PowerShell
→
⌨Terminal Applications > Utilities
🖱Right-Click
→
✋Two-Finger Tap / Ctrl+Click Or secondary click on trackpad
🔍Windows Search
→
🔍Spotlight Cmd+Space to open
📋Notification Area / Tray
→
📋Menu Bar Top-right icons (Wi-Fi, battery, etc.)
Keyboard Shortcuts Comparison
The biggest change: replace Ctrl with ⌘ Cmd for most shortcuts. Search below to find any shortcut fast.
ActionWindowsMac
CopyCtrl+C⌘+C
PasteCtrl+V⌘+V
CutCtrl+X⌘+X
UndoCtrl+Z⌘+Z
RedoCtrl+Y⌘+Shift+Z
SaveCtrl+S⌘+S
PrintCtrl+P⌘+P
FindCtrl+F⌘+F
Select AllCtrl+A⌘+A
New WindowCtrl+N⌘+N
Close WindowAlt+F4⌘+W
Quit AppAlt+F4⌘+Q
Switch AppsAlt+Tab⌘+Tab
Lock ScreenWin+L⌃ Ctrl+⌘+Q
Screenshot (Full)PrtScn⌘+Shift+3
Screenshot (Area)Win+Shift+S⌘+Shift+4
Spotlight / SearchWin key⌘+Space
Delete ForwardDeleteFn+⌫
Rename FileF2Enter
Refresh PageF5⌘+R
Address BarCtrl+L⌘+L
New TabCtrl+T⌘+T
Close TabCtrl+W⌘+W
Reopen Closed TabCtrl+Shift+T⌘+Shift+T
Force QuitCtrl+Alt+Del⌘+⌥ Opt+Esc
How Do I...?
Click any card to reveal the Mac answer. These are the most common questions from new Mac users.
How do I right-click?
Two-finger tap on the trackpad, or hold Control and click. You can also set up the bottom-right corner of your trackpad as a right-click zone in System Settings > Trackpad.
How do I take a screenshot?
Full screen:⌘+Shift+3 Select area:⌘+Shift+4 then drag Screenshot toolbar:⌘+Shift+5 for all options including screen recording. Screenshots save to your Desktop by default.
How do I force quit a frozen app?
Press ⌘+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit window. Select the frozen app and click Force Quit. You can also right-click the app's Dock icon while holding Option and choose "Force Quit."
How do I see all open windows?
Swipe up with three fingers on the trackpad to enter Mission Control. This shows all open windows across every app. You can also press ⌃ Control+↑ (up arrow). To see only the current app's windows, swipe down with three fingers.
How do I install software?
At Mercury, most software comes through Self Service (managed by IT). For other apps: download a .dmg file, open it, and drag the app icon to the Applications folder. Some apps use .pkg installers that walk you through a wizard, just like Windows.
How do I find my files?
Click the Finder icon (smiley face) in the Dock. Your Documents, Downloads, and Desktop folders are in the sidebar. For fast searching, press ⌘+Space to open Spotlight and start typing the file name -- it finds anything instantly.
How do I rename a file?
Select the file in Finder, then press Enter (Return). The filename becomes editable. Type the new name and press Enter again. This is the opposite of Windows, where Enter opens the file and F2 renames it!
How do I lock my screen?
Press ⌃ Control+⌘+Q to instantly lock. You can also click the Apple menu and choose Lock Screen, or simply close the laptop lid. At Mercury, your Mac will auto-lock after a period of inactivity per company policy.
How do I uninstall an app?
Open Finder > Applications, find the app, and drag it to the Trash. Or right-click the app and choose "Move to Trash." Then empty the Trash. Some apps from the App Store can be removed by holding Option in Launchpad and clicking the X.
How do I cut and paste files?
This one trips up everyone! Copy the file with ⌘+C, then move it with ⌘+Option+V. The Option key turns "Paste" into "Move." There is no direct ⌘+X for files in Finder.
Key Differences Explained
These are the behaviors that surprise Windows users most. Click each card to read the full explanation.
❌
Closing a Window Does NOT Quit the App
▼
This is the #1 surprise for Windows switchers. On Mac, the red X button closes the window, but the app keeps running in the background. You will see a small dot under the app's Dock icon when it is still active.
WindowsClicking the red X closes the window AND quits the program.
macOS TahoeClicking the red X closes the window only. Press ⌘+Q to fully quit, or right-click the Dock icon and choose Quit.
☰
The Menu Bar Lives at the Top of the Screen
▼
On Windows, each app window has its own menu bar (File, Edit, View...). On Mac, there is a single menu bar fixed at the very top of the screen. It changes automatically depending on which app is in focus.
WindowsMenu bar is inside each window: File | Edit | View | Help
macOS TahoeOne global menu bar at the top of the screen. It updates based on the active app. Always look UP for menus.
⌫
Delete Key Works Backwards (Backspace)
▼
The Mac keyboard's Delete key works like Backspace on Windows -- it deletes the character to the left of the cursor. To delete forward (like the Windows Delete key), press Fn+Delete.
WindowsBackspace = delete left. Delete = delete right. Two separate keys.
macOS TahoeDelete = delete left (like Backspace). Fn+Delete = delete right. In Finder, Cmd+Delete moves files to Trash.
🖱
Right-Click Uses Two Fingers or Control+Click
▼
Mac trackpads do not have a separate right-click button. Instead, tap with two fingers simultaneously to get the context menu. You can also hold Control and click. In System Settings > Trackpad, you can customize this to use the bottom-right corner if you prefer.
WindowsDedicated right-click button on mouse/trackpad, or right side of trackpad.
macOS TahoeTwo-finger tap on trackpad, or Control+Click. Customizable in System Settings > Trackpad > Secondary Click.
📂
File Paths Use Forward Slashes
▼
Mac uses forward slashes (/) in file paths, not backslashes (\). There are no drive letters like C: or D: -- everything starts from the root /. Your home folder is at /Users/yourusername/.
WindowsC:\Users\scabrera\Documents\report.docx
macOS Tahoe/Users/scabrera/Documents/report.docx
🏠
Home and End Keys Behave Differently
▼
On Windows, Home/End go to the beginning/end of a line. On Mac, they scroll to the top/bottom of the document. To go to the beginning or end of a line on Mac, use ⌘+← and ⌘+→.
WindowsHome = start of line. End = end of line. Ctrl+Home = top of document.
macOS TahoeHome/End = top/bottom of document. Cmd+Left Arrow = start of line. Cmd+Right Arrow = end of line.
📦
Installing Apps is Completely Different
▼
There is no "setup.exe" on Mac. Instead, you get .dmg files (disk images) that you open, then drag the app into Applications. Some apps use .pkg installers with a wizard. At Mercury, most apps come through Self Service, which handles installation for you automatically.
WindowsDownload .exe or .msi, run installer wizard, click Next repeatedly, choose install location.
macOS TahoeDownload .dmg, open it, drag app to Applications. Or use Self Service for Mercury-approved apps. No registry, no installer wizards for most apps.
🏆
You Have Completed the Mercury Mac User Guide!
Bookmark this cheat sheet and come back anytime you need a quick refresher. The shortcuts and tips here will become second nature before you know it.
All 10 lessons are always available from the home page. If you need hands-on help, contact the IT Service Desk.