Microsoft Natural Keyboard 4000 on Mac OS X 10.11: Alt/Windows key no longer swapped

Due to the security changes in El Capitan, the MS Intellitype drivers don't work. There is no workaround. MS is finally going to have to update the software, which hasn't changed since Lion's release.

You'll notice almost none of the special keys work, either.

Yes, that's about all you can do for now. It does leave the right side of the spacebar in an odd manner. The Alt key does also switch to Command, but the Windows menu key doesn't do anything. That's not a big deal for most right handed users. You typically always have your right hand on the mouse, and the left hand is doing all of the Command or Option key combinations.

It is a bit of a bother though in some apps where it is faster at times to use the right hand Command or Option keys. If you install the free Karabiner keyboard remapping software, you can get the Command / Options keys on both sides of the spacebar working as you expect them to on a Mac.

My Microsoft Natural 4000 keyboard did not work after the upgrade.

I tried various things to fix it none of which worked and I called Apple support. They told me what George V. Reilly said above: "Someone suggested that I go into System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys. I swapped the Option and Command keys"

I did this and it fixed my problem. However, I only used the intellitype software to make switch the command and options keys so your mileage may vary.

Since this fixed the problem, I then uninstalled the Microsoft drivers for the keyboard and the mouse because I figured I didn't need them anymore and sooner or later they were going to cause problems. I did the uninstall and everything works fine. One amusing note: My intellitype drive was from 2003! I've had Macs with Microsoft keyboards for a long time!

"Someone suggested that I go into System Preferences > Keyboard > Modifier Keys. I swapped the Option and Command keys"

Yes, that is the simplest solution to get the adjoining keys to behave in their Mac positions. The real loss is the use of all the special keys.

Whoops, I didn't notice that this thread was about Yosemite because I had searched for El Capitan and the link came up. I was talking about my El Capitan upgrade.