Swap @ and " keys

TheGamingGeneral · 9 Aug 2025 at 21:24

Hello, I have a Windows PC and Mac mini hybrid set up where I use the same peripherals for both. Largely working a treat, but the keyboard @ and " are swapped to the (presumably) US style. I've been hunting in the settings off and on for weeks/months, but I can't find a way to fix it. As far as I can tell, the system is configured for British/UK, and there are no other English language options selected, but it still won't change. I'm thinking maybe it's the keyboard but that comes up as ''ISO International'' not the US type.

Is there a way for me to force a swap of the keys? I see text input and text replacement, but I don't think that's quite what I am looking for. I've tried it, doesn't work.

Any suggestions welcome, many thanks

alex24 · 9 Aug 2025 at 21:50

I noticed this too and UK MacBooks and keyboards also have these keys (and others) in a different layout.

You could try something like Karabiner to remap the keys.

brendy · 9 Aug 2025 at 22:41

You need to change all of the region settings, there's three iirc.

Cromulent · 10 Aug 2025 at 09:27

Yeah. Mac and Windows UK layout is swapped for some reason. You get used to it though.

JollyJamma · 17 Aug 2025 at 09:29

TheGamingGeneral said:
Hello, I have a Windows PC and Mac mini hybrid set up where I use the same peripherals for both. Largely working a treat, but the keyboard @ and " are swapped to the (presumably) US style. I've been hunting in the settings off and on for weeks/months, but I can't find a way to fix it. As far as I can tell, the system is configured for British/UK, and there are no other English language options selected, but it still won't change. I'm thinking maybe it's the keyboard but that comes up as ''ISO International'' not the US type.

Is there a way for me to force a swap of the keys? I see text input and text replacement, but I don't think that's quite what I am looking for. I've tried it, doesn't work.

Any suggestions welcome, many thanks

AFAIK, OSX is dumb and won’t let you have different keyboard and global settings.

I have several keyboards including UK and US format and OSX hates it and won’t let me remap my Nuphy Halo 65 as it’s ANSI when I’ve got UK local settings.

Windows at at least allows you to have multiple languages and keyboards and global settings at once.

There may be an app to force OSX to listen.

whitecrook · 4 Dec 2025 at 16:02

Just change your keymap to British - PC it's under Text input under Keyboard. While you are they enable the option have it in menu bar. Then you can just choose what you need as you need it.

kar · 8 Dec 2025 at 10:10

As above ue the keymap, I use a US keymap personally even with a UK keyboard. Karabiner Elements for anything else the keymap can't handle!

Hugest_UK · 27 Dec 2025 at 21:44

kar said:
As above ue the keymap, I use a US keymap personally even with a UK keyboard. Karabiner Elements for anything else the keymap can't handle!

Thanks for that might prove useful.

Gourlish · 28 Dec 2025 at 19:38

The swapped "/@ keys were one of the first things I noticed when I first got a MacBook last year. The UK Apple Keyboard layout uses the US "/@ configuration (despite having a British/European enter key and the £ on the 3 key). To be honest after getting used to it, I feel the US "/@ locations make more sense, but PC keyboards sold in the UK show them in their inverted Windows positions. MacOS is quite customisable with its Unix terminal, so there are almost certainly ways to modify the key mapping even without a built in option in the system settings menu.

Feek · 29 Dec 2025 at 17:33

I haven't bothered. My brain seems to know if I'm using a Mac or Windows PC and just goes for the correct keys automatically.

squerble · Tuesday at 18:41

Yep I've always just left it alone, now used to it. I manage Windows server estate with a Mac, and even can deal with the @/" being re-swapped back when I'm in a Remote Desktop session