Mastering Windows Keyboard Shortcuts: Boost Your Productivity and Efficiency

Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Keyboard shortcuts are a great way to increase your productivity and save time while using your computer. In this tutorial, we’ll guide you through the basics of Windows keyboard shortcuts, as well as some tips and tricks to help you use them more efficiently.

Step 1:

Get familiar with the Windows key The Windows key is a key on your keyboard that is often overlooked, but it’s essential for many Windows keyboard shortcuts. The key looks like the Windows logo, and it’s usually located on the bottom row of your keyboard, between the Ctrl and Alt keys.

Step 2:

Learn some basic Windows keyboard shortcuts Here are some basic Windows keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate your computer more efficiently:

Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl + X	Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)	Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)	Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Z	Undo an action.
Alt + Tab	Switch between open apps.
Alt + F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Windows logo key  + L	Lock your PC.
Windows logo key  + D	Display and hide the desktop.
F2	Rename the selected item.
F3	Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.
F4	Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
F5	Refresh the active window.
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F10	Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
Alt + F8	Show your password on the sign-in screen.
Alt + Esc	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter	Perform the command for that letter.
Alt + Enter	Display properties for the selected item.
Alt + Spacebar	Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Left arrow	Go back.
Alt + Right arrow	Go forward.
Alt + Page Up	Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down	Move down one screen.
Ctrl + F4	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
Ctrl + A	Select all items in a document or window.
Ctrl + D (or Delete)	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5)	Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y	Redo an action.
Ctrl + Right arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Left arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab	Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys	When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys	When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys	Resize the Start menu when it’s open.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Spacebar	Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key	Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc	Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Ctrl + Spacebar	Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.
Shift + F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Shift with any arrow key	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Delete	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Right arrow	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
Left arrow	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
Esc	Stop or leave the current task.
PrtScn	Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard.

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)	Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)	Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + M	Enter Mark mode.
Alt + selection key	Begin selection in block mode.
Arrow keys	Move the cursor in the direction specified.
Page up	Move the cursor by one page up.
Page down	Move the cursor by one page down.
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)	Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)	Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
Ctrl + Up arrow	Move up one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Down arrow	Move down one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Home (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

F4	Display the items in the active list.
Ctrl + Tab	Move forward through tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Move back through tabs.
Ctrl + number (number 1–9)	Move to nth tab.
Tab	Move forward through options.
Shift + Tab	Move back through options.
Alt + underlined letter	Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter.
Spacebar	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Backspace	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Arrow keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Alt + D	Select the address bar.
Ctrl + E	Select the search box.
Ctrl + F	Select the search box.
Ctrl + N	Open a new window.
Ctrl + W	Close the active window.
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Ctrl + Shift + E	Display all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N	Create a new folder.
Num Lock + asterisk (*)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
Num Lock + plus (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + minus (-)	Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P	Display the preview panel.
Alt + Enter	Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item.
Alt + Right arrow	View the next folder.
Alt + Up arrow	View the folder that the folder was in.
Alt + Left arrow	View the previous folder.
Backspace	View the previous folder.
Right arrow	Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
Left arrow	Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.
End	Display the bottom of the active window.
Home	Display the top of the active window.
F11	Maximize or minimize the active window.

Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts

Windows logo key  + Tab	Open Task view.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + D	Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Right arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F4	Close the virtual desktop you’re using.

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

Shift + click a taskbar button	Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app.
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button	Open an app as an administrator.
Shift + right-click a taskbar button	Show the window menu for the app.
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar button	Show the window menu for the group.
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button	Cycle through the windows of the group.

Settings keyboard shortcuts

Windows logo key  + I	Open settings.
Backspace	Go back to the settings home page.
Type on any page with search box	Search settings.

Step 3:

Customize your own Windows keyboard shortcuts You can also create your own custom keyboard shortcuts for Windows functions or third-party applications. Here’s how:

• Right-click on the shortcut or program icon that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to.
• Click on “Properties”.
• Click on the “Shortcut” tab.
• Click on the “Shortcut key” field and press the key or key combination that you want to assign to the shortcut.
• Click on “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.

Step 4:

Use third-party tools to learn and customize Windows keyboard shortcuts There are many third-party tools available that can help you learn and customize Windows keyboard shortcuts. Here are some examples:

• Shortcut Mapper: This tool lets you view and customize the keyboard shortcuts for any program on your computer.
• AutoHotkey: This tool allows you to create your own keyboard shortcuts for Windows functions or third-party applications.
• SharpKeys: This tool lets you remap keys on your keyboard to different functions or keystrokes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Windows keyboard shortcuts are a powerful tool that can help you navigate your computer more efficiently and save time. With the help of this tutorial, you should now have a basic understanding of how to use Windows keyboard shortcuts. Remember to practice regularly and seek out additional resources and support as needed.

But before we end, I do understand that learning new things can be challenging. However, I encourage you to keep going, even if it feels difficult at first. With practice and determination, you will become a Windows keyboard shortcut master in no time! And remember that every mistake is an opportunity to learn and improve. Good luck!

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Keywords: Windows, Keyboard Shortcuts, Productivity, Efficiency, Tips, Tricks, Computer, Software, Time-saving

Tags: Windows, Keyboard Shortcuts, Productivity, Efficiency, Tips, Tricks, Computer, Software, Time-saving, Windows 10, Windows 11, Microsoft