Question: Q: where is the delete button on the mac pro book
just move to apple mac from windows can someone point to the delete button on the keyboard
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012), Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Posted on Jul 1, 2012 2:07 PM
It’s the one labeled delete.
Not necesarily. On mine the delete key has a left-pointing arrow.
Posted on Jul 1, 2012 4:17 PM
Helpful answers
The Delete key opn Mac does and doesn’t act the same way as the Backspace and Delete keys on a PC. Normally hitting Delete on a Mac will work as a Backspace key. To Forward Delete, normal action of the Delete key on a PC, you have to hold down the fn key and then hit the Delete key. To Delete a File or something once selected sometimes the Mac Delete keys Deletes it and at other times it does nothing other then give you a Chime/Sound no matter what other key you hold down. This is the case with deleting files in Finder. As in Windows the delete key actually deletes whatever is selected all the time.
It’s the one labeled delete.
To forward-delete, hold down the fn key and press delete.
The delete key is at the top right 2nd button down.
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It’s the one labeled delete.
To forward-delete, hold down the fn key and press delete.
The delete key is at the top right 2nd button down.
The Delete key opn Mac does and doesn’t act the same way as the Backspace and Delete keys on a PC. Normally hitting Delete on a Mac will work as a Backspace key. To Forward Delete, normal action of the Delete key on a PC, you have to hold down the fn key and then hit the Delete key. To Delete a File or something once selected sometimes the Mac Delete keys Deletes it and at other times it does nothing other then give you a Chime/Sound no matter what other key you hold down. This is the case with deleting files in Finder. As in Windows the delete key actually deletes whatever is selected all the time.
Using the Delete Key on a Mac & Adding a Forward Delete Button
The delete key on a Mac keyboard functions like a backspace key on a Windows/PC keyboard, deleting a character a time backwards from where the cursor is located. Pretty straightforward, but many newcomers to the Mac platform are confused as to why there isn’t a forward delete key… well it turns out there is forward delete and it’s actually the same button, flipped to remove characters forward by holding a modifier key.
While the Mac Delete Key is super easy to use, we’ll also show you how to add a physical forward DEL button which won’t require the modifier key, and we’ll also cover a couple extra common Mac delete key functions too.
Forward Delete in Mac OS X, like the Windows “DEL” Key
- Hold down the “fn” (function) key then press the “delete” key
Relatively unknown to many Mac OS X users, this ranks among the most commonly asked questions for Windows & PC converts that have come to the Mac platform.
If you’d rather not use a modifier shortcut and would prefer a dedicated forward delete key on the Mac, you can use a free tool to remap the seldom used Power button on Mac keyboards to function as a PC style DEL button.
How to Remap the Power Key to Become a Delete Key
Rather have a physical DEL key? A free third party utility called “PowerKey” lets you reassign the Power key on Macs to function as a forward delete button, just like how the DEL key works in the PC world. Technically PowerKey has other options and can remap the key to perform other functions too, but the Delete option is the most relevant to our needs here.
Uncompress the folder, open the “Release” directory as the other folders contain source code, then right-click on the Powerkey.app and choose “Open” to get around the Gatekeeper ‘unidentified developer’ limitation (assuming it’s enabled to be restrictive). Choose to run at login or in the background, and enjoy your new forward delete key. The power functions are still accessible either by holding down the power key to shut down the Mac without warning, or by hitting Function+Power to access the power options menu for sleep, restart, and shut down as would be normally summoned by just tapping the key itself.
While we’re on the topic of delete functions, let’s cover two other helpful tricks:
Delete Entire Words
Delete an Entire Line of Text
These two functions will work in just about every Mac OS X app, whether it’s a word processor, text editor, browser, terminal, or whatever else you’re using. Take the time to memorize all these simple delete functions and your workflow is sure to improve.
Optionally: Use a Full-Sized Apple Keyboard for a Physical DEL Key
Though this won’t be applicable to all users, if you’d rather not remap a key or use a special function to forward DEL, you can always use a full sized Apple keyboard instead. The full sized keyboards feature the “DEL” button along with page up/page down, and many other buttons that are not present on the Apple Wireless Keyboard or the MacBook keyboards.
If you have any other helpful tips or tricks about Delete and Forward Delete on the Mac, share with us!
The Mac OS X Delete Key: It Goes Both Ways
One of the biggest pet peeves for users who switch to Mac from Windows is the Delete key, because it feels backwards. To make matters worse, the vast majority of Mac users don’t use the full-size keyboard (which has Delete keys for both directions). Here are a few quick shortcuts to set the matter straight for everyone, but especially for those macbook users out there. Photo by Matt McGee .
- Deleting text in front of the cursor with the regular Delete key can be done by holding down the Function, or fn key while pressing it.
- You can also do this by pressing Control + D.
- You can delete the entire word behind the cursor by pressing Control + Delete or Option + Delete.
- You can delete the entire line of text or paragraph behind the cursor by pressing Command + Delete.
There you have it! Even on a laptop keyboard, you don’t have to feel constrained by Apple’s seemingly draconian Delete key—if you know the right way to use it.
Shortcut of the Day highlights a great shortcut on various platforms from the desktop to mobile devices to the web. You can find more shortcuts here .
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DISCUSSION
Wait — why does it feel backwards? Because key labeled delete performs the delete function on an Apple Laptop in the backspace position? Or because it’s in the right space, performing the same function but labeled differently? I doubt that most people who are aware of the difference between delete and backspace are going to be non-touch typists. Therefore, most people use the laptop as designed without issue.
How to forward-delete on a MacBook
MacBooks don’t have a forward-delete button. Here’s how to replicate that button with a simple keyboard shortcut
By David Price, Editor 
| 09 Aug 17
On some smaller Mac keyboards, including the built-in keyboard on the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, there’s no forward-delete (or Delete) key; the keys stop at the Backspace/Return/right-Shift column. (They also miss out on the separate number pad that would ordinarily sit on the right.)
In this article we answer two main questions: why is there no Delete key on your MacBook, and how can you forward-delete without it? Read next: How to fix a broken Mac keyboard
What’s the difference between Backspace and Delete?
Backspace (the button at the top right marked with a straight left-facing arrow) deletes the character to the left of the text cursor; Delete (or Forward-Del, as we tend to think of it) deletes the character to the right.
In most situations Backspace is more useful, because you’re deleting whatever you just wrote, but when editing a complete set of text you may find forward-deleting more useful.
Why are there no Delete keys on MacBooks?
To save space and make the laptop smaller. And also because, as explained above, the Delete key tends to be used less than the similar Backspace key.
How to forward-delete without the Delete key
On your MacBook keyboard, hold down the Fn button (you’ll find it at the bottom left of the keyboard layout) and then press Backspace. It will do a forward-delete instead of its default backwards-delete. Read next: Best Mac shortcuts
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Author: David Price, Editor
David has loved the iPhone since covering the original 2007 launch; later his obsession expanded to include iPad and Apple Watch. He offers advice to owners (and prospective owners) of these devices.