Forward Delete on a Mac
To delete the character in front of the cursor on a Mac, press Fn + Delete. The Mac Delete key (⌫) deletes backward, like the Windows Backspace key.
| Action | Mac | Windows | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delete backward | Delete (⌫) | Backspace | |
| Delete forward | Fn + Delete | Delete | |
| Delete previous word | ⌥ + Delete | Ctrl + Backspace | |
| Delete to end of line | ⌃ + K | Shift+End then Delete |
Why the Mac Delete key feels backwards
On a Mac laptop the key labelled Delete (⌫) actually erases the character before the cursor — exactly like the Windows Backspace key. Windows users expect a separate forward-delete key.
The forward-delete shortcut
To erase the character after the cursor, press Fn + Delete. On a full-size Apple keyboard there is also a dedicated forward-delete key (labelled ⌦ or Del) that does this without Fn.
Delete by word and line
Hold Option + Delete to remove the whole previous word (Windows: Ctrl+Backspace). In most text fields Control + K deletes from the cursor to the end of the line.
FAQ
How do I forward delete on a MacBook?
Press Fn + Delete. The Fn key turns the backward-delete key into a forward delete that erases the character after the cursor.
Why does the Delete key on a Mac work like Backspace?
Apple labels the backward-erase key Delete. It removes the character before the cursor, the same as Backspace on Windows.
How do I delete a whole word on a Mac?
Press Option + Delete to erase the previous word, the equivalent of Ctrl+Backspace on Windows.