Sequoia broke switching Microsoft keyboards to Mac formatting

I just upgraded from Sonora to Sequoia when I upgraded to a new Mac. I use a Microsoft Ergonomic keyboard to avoid strain on my wrists, and Sonora, like earlier versions of the MacOS had an option that allowed me to switch the control keys at the lower left of the Microsoft keyboard to the Apple format. Now when I try to do a COMMANDV for paste or COMMAND C for copy, the Mac inserts odd characters from the Keyboard. Was that function moved somewhere or lost and how can we get it back?

Mac mini, macOS 15.6

Posted on Sep 13, 2025 2:50 PM

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Posted on Sep 13, 2025 7:05 PM

I have a tentative solution, which I found by searching under system settings for keyboard which led me to instructions by Chris Vec from 2016. https://chrissvec.com/configuring-microsoft-sculpt-keyboard-for-mac/ He specifically wrote the instructions for the Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard, but when tested them they seem to fix the problems apparently introduced by Sequoia. The problem is the modifier keys at the lower left side of the keyboard. They are not mentioned in the main Keyboard section, but if you search for "Modifier Keys" you will find where you need to make the changes, now listed under "Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard." Vec's instructions show to change the Command Key to Option and the Option key to Command. I did it and so far it works. Thanks to Chris Vec for his original instructions and for your comments that encouraged me to dig around and realizing that the Vec's early instructions would work for newer Microsoft keyboards.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 13, 2025 7:05 PM in response to fiberhome

I have a tentative solution, which I found by searching under system settings for keyboard which led me to instructions by Chris Vec from 2016. https://chrissvec.com/configuring-microsoft-sculpt-keyboard-for-mac/ He specifically wrote the instructions for the Microsoft Sculpt Keyboard, but when tested them they seem to fix the problems apparently introduced by Sequoia. The problem is the modifier keys at the lower left side of the keyboard. They are not mentioned in the main Keyboard section, but if you search for "Modifier Keys" you will find where you need to make the changes, now listed under "Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard." Vec's instructions show to change the Command Key to Option and the Option key to Command. I did it and so far it works. Thanks to Chris Vec for his original instructions and for your comments that encouraged me to dig around and realizing that the Vec's early instructions would work for newer Microsoft keyboards.

Sep 13, 2025 5:47 PM in response to fiberhome

fiberhome wrote:

When I try to type CommandC I get ç
When I try to type a bold B I get ∫
When I try to type COMMAND V (paste) I get √

Those are just the standard macOS outputs for option/alt c, option/alt b, and option/alt v . So the machine thinks you are pressing option when you think you are pressing command. Nothing to do with Keyboard Type as far as I can see.

Sep 13, 2025 5:07 PM in response to fiberhome

When I try to type CommandC I get ç

When I try to type a bold B I get ∫

When I try to type COMMAND V (paste) I get √

Trying to do a screen shot gives me a ›

When I go to software settings/Keyboard/ and click on Change Keyboard Type, it asks me to type what is at the right of left SHIFT key and I type Z. Then it asks me to type what is at the left of the right SHIFT key and I type / (lowercase on the ?)

This produces three options: ANSI (US), JIS (Japan) and ISO (international) ISO/IEC 9995 All three give me the same results when I try to do things like COMMAND V, so I cannot type commands. However, some of the Japenese results are different.


I'm wondering if I screwed something up or the Microsoft keyboard is whacky, but this worked under Sonora.



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Sequoia broke switching Microsoft keyboards to Mac formatting

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