Unsurprisingly, Mac UK keyboard has different layout than standard (Windows) UK keyboard layout for some symbols. Unsurprisingly because Mac keyboard in OSX is not friendly for shortcuts users: copy uses cmd + c, I am totally fine with renaming and reordering, only if it is for better usability, BUTTTT seriously, I could not find any finger combinations that can press cmd which is just below the x key comfortably and press other keys simultaneously.

Anyway, here is my steps to getting a near normal windows keyboard experience with Mac keyboard:

  1. install microsoft keyboard layout creator (MKLC), as there is no Mac keyboard layout in any of its languages.
  2. find and download the layout (a klc file) for your Mac keyboard. I found the UK keyboard from Nick’s post.
  3. open the MKLC and load the file. If it’s all good, build DLL and packages for that.
    • Just a matter of personal preference, I changed the language to EN-US (different from my existing EN-dialect) as the change in language can be done and seen more easily for me. Also because the first time I installed and changed the layout, I think on my subsequent reboot, the layout wasn’t there in the setting menu, but upon reinstallation I got a message saying it is already there. So, the best is either switch your OS, or not fight against it, not like you are gaining anything for uncovering these nonessential bugs.
  4. Click on the installer you just created and there you go!
  5. (my preference) Remap special keys (with PowerToys or something similar).
    • I did not dig too much into the MKLC, but I think MKLC cannot remap special keys like ctrl, win, alt. The Mac keyboard somehow have ctrl-alt-win-space-win-altGr from left to right, whereas I am used to ctrl-win-alt on the left, and prefer a menu key on the right. Only limit: cannot remap fn key at the very corner because windows just does not register that.