Remapping the Caps Lock key in macOS Big Sur

Photo by Raphael Nogueira on Unsplash
I’ve been using the Happy Hacking Keyboard (HHKB) for a few years now, and it’s been a game-changer. One of its standout features is replacing the Caps Lock key with a Control key, a small change that makes a huge difference for my workflow.
The problem? Switching to my MacBook keyboard always felt jarring because the Control key wasn’t in the same place. But there’s good news: macOS lets you remap keys natively, and it’s super easy to do.
Here’s how you can remap the Caps Lock key to Control on macOS:
- Open System Preferences and click on Keyboard.
- Click on Modifier Keys… in the bottom-right corner.
- For the Caps Lock (⇪) Key, choose ^ Control from the dropdown menu.
- Click OK to save your changes.
That’s it! Now your Mac keyboard will behave just like your HHKB, keeping things consistent and ergonomic.
Don’t Trust Me — Seriously
The author takes no responsibility for any mishaps, broken servers, or existential crises caused by following this information.
If you spot a mistake, have a better way of doing things, or just want to chat about tech, feel free to reach out.
Also, this isn’t an ad — unless my enthusiasm and advocacy for cool stuff count as advertising.