Switch Function Key Mac Per App

 

The Mac offers several ways to switch between accounts. The most straightforward way is to log out of one account and then log in to a different account. A faster and more convenient way is to use Fast User Switching, which essentially lets you switch accounts without having to log out of one account first.

To log out of an account, simply choose Command→Log Out. After you log out, the login window appears, listing the names and user icons of all accounts. At this time, you can click a different account name to log in to that account.

The app switcher stays open as long as Command remains held. The second app in the list (the one used prior to what you’re currently using) is selected by default. Release Command and you switch to that app. If you want to select a different app, each press of Tab when Command is held moves the selection box rightwards one slot. Apple's Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn't function like the Control key on Windows. Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C to copy text won't work. The Command Key functions of Mac. The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. It's a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications. Nov 13, 2019  Hold down the Function key on your keyboard, and the function keys appear. You can also use the Windows on-screen keyboard to access function keys: From the Windows menu, select the Windows Ease of Access menu item. Click On-Screen Keyboard. Click the fn key. The function keys appear in the on-screen keyboard. Jan 22, 2018 Without a taskbar, it can be difficult for ex-Windows users to discern which programs are open on a Mac and how to switch between them. Thankfully, Apple provides a number of keyboard shortcuts. Mar 19, 2020 To use the standard function keys, hold the Fn (Function) key when pressing a function key. For example, pressing both Fn and F12 (speaker icon) performs the action assigned to the F12 key instead of raising the volume of your speakers. If your keyboard doesn’t have an Fn key, try pressing and holding the Control key when pressing a function key.

Before you can log out, a confirmation dialog appears, as shown in this figure. Your open files and apps will be closed before logging out. Select the Reopen Windows When Logging Back In check box so when you log in, your Mac looks just like how you left it when you logged out.

Mac users know keyboard shortcuts are the way to go in OS X. Using the keyboard to perform routine and repetitive tasks is a great timesaver and really ups your skill level, but did you know you can add or even customize keyboard shortcuts? Controlling your Mac with the keyboard is no small part of OS X’s (and earlier versions as well) DNA.

Hold the Option key while logging out to avoid the confirmation dialog.

If you use Fast User Switching, you won’t have to bother with any of that because Fast User Switching gives the illusion of putting the currently active account in “suspended animation” mode while your Mac opens another account.

Function

Enable Fast User Switching on your Mac

Before you can use Fast User Switching, you have to turn on this feature. Log in as Administrator and then follow these steps:

  1. Choose Command→System Preferences, and then click the Users & Groups icon.

    If the lock icon in the lower-left corner of the preferences window is locked, click to unlock it and then type your password in the dialog that appears. Press Return to unlock your Mac’s user account details.

  2. Click the Login Options icon at the bottom of the list of users on the left side of the pane to display the Login Options pane, as shown in this figure.

    Software

  3. Select the Show Fast User Switching Menu As check box, open the pop-up menu, and choose how you want to display the Fast User Switching Menu: Full Name, Short Name, or Icon.

    These options display what appears on the menulet. Full Name displays full account names, Short Name displays abbreviated account names, and Icon displays a generic icon that takes up the least amount of space in the menu bar.

  4. Select other Login Options:

    • Automatic Login: Leave this option Off or choose one user who will be automatically logged in when you restart your Mac, which is handy if you’re the only user and your Mac is always in a safe place.

    • Display Login Window As: Choose List of Users (from which you click a user and then type in the password) or Name and Password (which requires you to enter both your user name and password).

    • Show the Sleep, Restart, and Shut Down Buttons: Select this if you want to see these buttons on the login screen.

    • Show Input Menu in Login Window: Allows users to choose the language they want to use when logging in.

    • Show Password Hints: Users can click the question mark on the login screen to see a password hint, which you set up when you created the user account name and password.

    • Use VoiceOver in the Login Window: Select this if you want VoiceOver to work during login.

  5. Click the Close button to close the Users & Groups preferences pane.

Mac Function Key Lock

Change accounts with Fast User Switching

When you enable Fast User Switching, the Fast User Switching menulet appears in the right side of the menu bar, as shown in this figure. The menulet displays the names of accounts you can choose.

Switch Function Key Mac Per App

To switch to a different account at any time, follow these steps:

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  1. Click the Fast User Switching menulet on the right side of the menu bar and then click the account name you want to use.

  2. Type the account password in the dialog that appears and press Return.

    Your Mac switches you to your chosen account.

You might think that juggling multiple Mac applications will lead to confusion, but luckily, Mac OS X Snow Leopard makes it easy to jump between programs that are running on your Mac. Use any of these methods to move among open applications:

  • Click anywhere in the desired window to make it the active window.

  • Click the application icon on the Dock. All applications that are running have an icon on the Dock, and the icon will have a shiny dot beneath it to indicate that the application is open.

  • Press Command+Tab. If you have a dozen windows open, this can get a bit tedious, which leads you to one of Snow Leopard’s sassiest features, brazenly named Exposé.

    Exotic Exposé displays thumbnails on all open windows in your current desktop.
  • Press F9 (or F3, depending on your keyboard) to show all open application windows using Exposé; then click the one you want. The cursor changes into the gloved hand. Move the cursor on top of the window you want to activate — the window turns blue when it’s selected — and click once to switch to that window. You can specify which keys you want to use to control Exposé within System Preferences.

  • Press F10 (or Control+F3, depending on your keyboard) to show all open windows from the application that you’re currently using; then click the one that you want to activate.

Besides the F9/F3 and F10/Control+F3 hot keys, Exposé provides one more nifty function: Press F11 (or Command+F3), and all your open windows scurry to the side of the screen. Now you can work with drives, files, and aliases on your Desktop, and when you’re ready to confront those dozen application windows again, just press the keyboard shortcut a second time.

Ah, but what if you want to switch to an entirely different set of applications? For example, let’s suppose that you’re designing a magazine cover with Pages. Your page design desktop also includes Photoshop and Aperture, which you switch between often. Suddenly, however, you realize you need to schedule a meeting with others in your office using iCal, and you want to check your e-mail in Apple Mail.

Well, you could certainly launch those two applications on top of your graphics applications, and then minimize or close them . . . but with Snow Leopard’s Spaces feature, you can press Control+left arrow or Control+right arrow to switch to a completely different “communications” desktop, with iCal and Apple Mail windows already open and in your favorite positions!

After you’re done setting up your meeting and answering any important e-mail, simply press Control+left arrow or Control+right arrow again to switch back to your “graphics” desktop, where all your work is exactly as you left it!

Switch Function Key Mac Per App For Pc

In contrast to Exposé, Spaces has to be enabled and configured within System Preferences before you can use it. You can create new desktops, customize your desktops, and even choose a different set of key sequences to activate Spaces.