Read about doing a “Control-click”? Curious what the “Control” key does on a Mac? Find out here where the Mac “Control” (“Ctrl”) key is on any keyboard (Mac, PC and Unix) and what you can do with it.
First, a Scent of Chlorine in the Pool
The whiff of chlorine you sense in the pool—is probably not chlorine.
The chlorine used for sanitation does practically not smell. If it gets in contact with urea, though (from, e.g., skin), it reacts to form trichloramine with its typically pungent scent.
One way to get rid of the smell, of course, is to remove urea from the equation. That’s one reason showering before heading for a chlorinated pool is commendable: it washes off most of the urea.
Now that we’ve controlled scents in pools, how about taking control of a Mac’s keyboard?
Where to Find the Mac Control (Ctrl) Key on Any Keyboard
To find the Control key for use in macOS keyboard shortcuts on your physical keyboard, look for any of the following.
Mac Keyboard
On a Mac keyboard, you will typically see the Control key labeled with both its name (or an abbreviation) and a symbol.
- Captions: control, ctrl, kntrl
- Symbol: ^, *
The Control key is typically the third key to the left of the Space bar; it is to the left of the Option key.
Exception: On the Japanese keyboard layout, the Control key is above the left Shift key.
Windows Keyboard
On a Windows keyboard, the key that works as the Control key (if the keyboard is connected to a Mac) has an even more diverse appearance. Typically, it is only labeled with its name.
- Captions: Control, Ctrl, Ctl
- Symbol: ^
On a PC keyboard, the Control key is usually the third key to the left of the Space bar; it is to the left of the Windows key.
Exception: Some keyboards switch the places of the Fn and the Ctrl key, making Ctrl the leftmost key in the bottom row.
Unix: On Unix keyboards, the Ctrl key is often found above the left Shift key.
Overview
| Keyboard | Captions | Symbols |
|---|---|---|
| Mac | control ctrl kntrl | ⎈ ⌃ |
| PC | Control Ctrl Ctl Strg | ⌃ |
| Unix | Ctrl Ctl | ^ |
Where to Find the Mac Control (Ctrl) Key on Any Keyboard: FAQ
Find the Mac Command (Cmd) Key on Any Keyboard
Where the Mac Option Key Is on Any Keyboard
Is “Control” translated on international keyboards?
No. On Mac keyboards, “control” is generally either written in full or abbreviated (depending on key size), not translated.
On PC keyboards, Ctrl is also typically not translated with a few exceptions—among them German keyboards with Strg (“Steuerung”) in its place.
What is the function of the Control key?
The Control key has several functions, though it is not a primary function key on a Mac.
It is primarily used to
- turn a mouse click into a secondary (right) click and
- as part of certain keyboard shortcuts (e.g., Command Control F to enter full screen mode).
Can I make a different key the Control key on my keyboard?
Yes.
To change the mapping of your function keys with macOS:
- Open System Settings on the Mac.
Here’s how: Select (Apple logo) | System Settings… from the menu bar, for example. - Open the Keyboard section.
- Click Keyboard Shortcuts….
macOS Monterey and earlier: Go to the Keyboard tab. - Click Modifier Keys….
- Choose ^ Control for the modifier key you want to use in place of the Control key.
- Click Done (or OK).
(Where the Mac Control (Ctrl) key is on any keyboard tested with macOS Sonoma 14.2, Ventura 13.3, Monterey 12.4 and Big Sur 11.5; updated February 2024)