The best Windows keyboard shortcuts save time as they let you ignore having to reach for your mouse or looking through a menu just to attain something basic. Below is a sheet for all the necessary Windows keyboard shortcuts you must be using, plus others that are supportful for some specific circumstances.
Table of Contents
Best Windows Shortcuts on Your Keyboard
There are certain categories below to organize the shortcuts on this page, but this first set is called out as the best keyboard shortcuts as you’ll explore yourself using them frequently. These could be considered the more universal shortcuts as they work not only within the Windows operating system but also in most software programing.
• Ctrl+C: Copy selected content. (Ctrl+C can also abort commands)
• Ctrl+V: Paste copied content.
• Ctrl+Shift + V: Paste unformatted content.
• Ctrl+X: Delete and copy selected content. (awesome for moving text, files, etc.)
• Ctrl+A: Select all available content in focus.
• Ctrl+Z: Undo the previous action.
• Ctrl+Y: Redo the previous action.
• Ctrl+S: Save what you’re working on.
• Ctrl+O: Open a new file.
• Ctrl+P: Open the print dialog box.
• Ctrl+F: Open the search tool to explore something on the page.
• Ctrl+R: Refresh the contents on the screen. (only F5 works in some cases)
• Alt+F4: Close the active program.
• F11: Enter full-screen mode.
• Esc: Stop or close a process or prompt.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Screenshots
You can utilize the print screen (PrtScn) button to take a full screenshot of everything on your screen(s) or utilize these keyboard shortcuts for much more control.
• Alt+PrtScn: Screenshot is just the active window.
• Win+PrtScn: Auto-save full-screen screenshot to Pictures > Screenshots.
• Win+Shift+S: Select a chunk of the screen to make a screenshot.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Special Characters
Some symbols aren’t on the keyboard but are instead activated only through a keyboard combination or special tool. This is the case for many alt codes that works in Windows.
• Alt+0169: Type ©, the copyright symbol.
• Alt+168: Type ¿, an inverted questioning mark.
• Alt+0176: Type °, the degree symbol.
• Alt+0162: Type ¢, the cent symbol.
• Alt+0128: Type €, the euro sign.
• Alt+0153: Type ™, the trademark symbol.
• Alt+251: Type √, the radical signing (square root symbol).
• Win+.: Access the built-in emoji tool.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Text Manipulation
Most text input fields, includes word processors such as MS Word, accepting a handful of selection-related keyboard, formatting, and navigation shortcuts.
• Ctrl+B: Bold the selected text.
• Ctrl+i: Italicize the selected text.
• Ctrl+U: Underlining the selected text.
• Ctrl+K: Insert a hyperlink into the selected text.
• Ctrl+H: Open the Find and Replace tool. (confirming in Google Docs and MS Word)
• Shift+Ctrl+[Arrow]: Picking an arrow key with this shortcut to quick manner highlight a complete paragraph or word.
• Shift+[Home or End]: Highlighting everything from the cursor to the beginning or end of the line.
• Ctrl+Del: Delete the word to the cursor right.
Keyboard Shortcuts to Navigate Windows
Whether it’s opening advanced tools or move through folders, these keyboard shortcuts primarily applied to the Windows operating system itself.
• Win+L: Lock up your user account.
• Win+E: Opening File Explorer.
• Win+i: Opening Windows’ Settings.
• Alt+D: Move aim to the navigation bar to copy or edit the folder path.
• Alt+Up: Go to the folder the present folder is stored in.
• Alt+F8: Showing your password on the sign-in screen.
• Win+R: Opening the Run dialog box to run commands.
• Win+D: Quick way switch to the desktop.
• Alt+[Enter or double-click]: Opening the selected item’s Properties window.
• Win+Ctrl+D: Adding a virtual desktop.
• Win+Ctrl+[Left or Right]: Switching to the virtual desktop on the left or right.
• Ctrl+Click: Select non-contiguous items. (like files or folders)
• Win+Ctrl+Shift+B: A possible fix for when your screen is real black.
• Shift+Click: Select every item between the last and first select items.
• Shift+Del: Permanently deleting a folder or file. (it skips the Recycle Bin)
• Alt+Tab: Switching to the last used window.
• Win+[Arrow]: Snapping the active window to one side of the screen.
• F2: Renaming the selected folder or file.
• Win+X: Opening the Power User Menu.
• Shift+Click Taskbar Icon: Opening a new instance of that app.
• Ctrl+Shift+N: Making a new folder.
• Win+Pause: Opening the Windows About page.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Web Browsers
If you spend most of the time in a web browser, you’ll appreciate these keyboard shortcuts that support speed up your overall web browsing experience.
• Ctrl+T: Opening a new tab.
• Ctrl+Shift+T: Reopening the most recently closed tab.
• Ctrl+W: Closing the active tab.
• Ctrl+[Link]: Opening the link in a new tab.
• Ctrl+H: View your web browsing history.
• Ctrl+J: active downloads or View recent.
• Ctrl+E: Start a search utilizing the default search engine.
• Ctrl+[number]: Jumping to the tab in that position from the left. (e.g., Ctrl+4)
• Ctrl+Shift+Del: Open the options to deleting browsing data.
• Alt+[Left or Right]: Go back or forwarding a page.
App-specific Keyboard Shortcuts
Although there is some overlap in certain cases, different apps can utilize their own set of keyboard shortcuts. For example, check out the list of the best Gmail keyboard shortcuts and tips for utilizing iTunes fast with shortcut keys, plus Excel shortcuts, Google Docs shortcuts, and PowerPoint shortcuts.
Leave a Reply