Windows Shortcut keys, also known as keyboard shortcut ke, are combinations of keys that are used to perform specific actions on a computer or a laptop. These actions can range from simple tasks such as copying and pasting to more complex actions such as opening a specific program or navigating through a website.
The main purpose of shortcut keys is to save time and make working on a computer more efficient. And we will be focusing on some of the common and advanced Windows shortcut keys.
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This article is mainly for new Windows users, but it can also be useful for professionals who want to improve their efficiency in using Windows 11 (learn how to install and activate windows 11 for free). You’ll be also able to learn the basics of Windows shortcut keys and a guide to fix every Windows problem.
Whether you are a student, a professional, or just someone who wants to save time, this article will provide you with the knowledge you need to work more efficiently on your computer.
What are windows shortcut keys?
Windows Shortcut Keys are basically keyboard combinations, that allow users to perform specific tasks or commands quickly in a Windows-based operating system.
These keyboard shortcuts provide a faster and more efficient way to navigate and interact with the operating system, various applications, and programs. Knowing these shortcuts can greatly improve your productivity and efficiency while using a Windows-based computer.
So, whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, learning these keyboard shortcuts, tips, and trucks can save you time and make using your computer easier and more enjoyable.
Types of Windows Shortcut Keys
Windows shortcut keys make your computer faster and more efficient by allowing you to perform common tasks with just a few keystrokes, without the need to use a mouse or other pointing device. And there are several types of Windows shortcut keys, including:
- Basic Windows Shortcut Keys: These keys perform basic Windows-related tasks such as opening the start menu, opening the task manager, and closing the current window.
- Navigation Keyboard Shortcut Keys: These keys are used for navigation tasks, such as moving between tabs, moving to the beginning or end of a document, or moving between workspaces.
- File Management Shortcut Keys: These keys help you manage your files and folders, such as copying, pasting, deleting, and renaming files.
- System Keyboard Shortcut Keys: These keys help you manage the system, such as opening the control panel, shutting down or restarting the computer, and switching between users.
- Text Editing Shortcut Keys: These keys are used for text editing tasks, such as copying, cutting, pasting, and undoing.
- Internet Browsing Shortcut Keys: These keys are used for internet browsing, such as opening a new tab, closing a tab, and switching between tabs.
- Application-Specific Shortcut Keys: These keys are specific to an application and can be used to perform tasks specific to that application. For example, in Microsoft Word, you can use shortcut keys to format text, insert symbols, and save a document.
Basic Windows Shortcut Keys
Basic Windows Shortcut Keys are keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform various basic tasks in Windows more quickly and efficiently. Some of the most common basic Windows Shortcut Keys with the benefits of using them –
- Ctrl+C – Copy selected text or item.
- Ctrl+V – Paste copied text or item
- Ctrl+X – Cut selected text or item
- Ctrl+Z – Undo the last action
- Ctrl+A – Select all items in a document or folder
- Ctrl+F – Open the Find function
- Ctrl+P – Open the Print function
- Ctrl+S – Save the current document
- Ctrl+N – Open a new document or window
- Ctrl+Tab – Switch between open tabs in a program or application
- Ctrl+Esc – Open the Start menu
Navigation Shortcut Keys
A Navigation Shortcut Key is a key combination used to quickly navigate through the user interface of an operating system or application.
These keys are designed to help users move quickly and efficiently between different areas of the software. You can open and close menus, switch between open windows, and move the cursor. Some of the most common Navigation Shortcut Keys are:
- Alt + Tab: Switches between open windows
- Windows Key + D: Shows the desktop
- Windows Key + E: Opens File Explorer
- Windows Key + L: Locks the computer
- Windows Key + R: Opens the Run dialog box
- Windows Key + Tab: Opens Task View and allows you to switch between open windows
- Ctrl + Alt + Del: Opens the Security options screen
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens Task Manager
- Windows Key + Ctrl + D: Creates a new virtual desktop
File Management Shortcut Keys
File Management Shortcut Keys are keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform file management tasks, such as creating, copying, moving, transferring data, and deleting files, on your computer more efficiently.
They can help you save time by allowing you to quickly access common file management tasks without having to use the mouse. Examples of File Management Shortcut Keys include:
- Ctrl + N: Open a new window
- Ctrl + W: Close the current window
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open windows
- Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the last closed tab in web browsers
- Ctrl + D: Delete the selected file or folder
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder
- F2: Rename a file or folder
- Alt + Enter: Open the Properties of a selected file or folder
System Shortcut Keys
A System Shortcut Key is a keyboard shortcut that allows you to quickly access various system-level functions in Windows. These shortcuts typically involve the Windows key or the Ctrl, Alt, and Shift keys in combination with other keys.
These shortcuts are designed to help you save time and streamline your workflow, making it easier to manage and access important system functions. Some examples of System Shortcut Keys include:
- Windows Key + L: Lock the computer screen.
- Windows Key + R: Open the Run dialog box.
- Windows Key + I: Open the Windows Settings app.
- Windows Key + X: Open the Quick Link menu.
- Windows Key + E: Open File Explorer.
- Windows Key + S: Open the Search bar.
- Windows Key + Tab: Open the Task View to switch between open windows.
- Windows Key + D: Show the Desktop.
- Windows Key + Ctrl + D: Create a new virtual desktop.
- Windows Key + Ctrl + Right Arrow or Left Arrow: Move between virtual desktops.
- Windows Key + Ctrl + F4: Close the current virtual desktop.
Text Editing Shortcut Keys
Text Editing Keyboard Shortcut Keys are combinations that help you perform common text-editing tasks more efficiently. These keyboard shortcuts are designed to save time and effort compared to performing the same tasks using the mouse or touchpad. Some of the text editing shortcut keys include:
- Ctrl + A: Select all text
- Ctrl + C: Copy the selected text
- Ctrl + V: Paste the copied text
- Ctrl + X: Cut the selected text
- Ctrl + Z: Undo the last action
- Ctrl + Y: Redo the last undone action
- Ctrl + F: Find text within a document or webpage
- Ctrl + Home: Move the cursor to the beginning of a document
- Ctrl + End: Move the cursor to the end of a document
- Ctrl + Left Arrow: Move the cursor one word to the left
- Ctrl + Right Arrow: Move the cursor one word to the right
- Ctrl + Backspace: Delete the previous word
- Ctrl + Del: Delete the next word
- Ctrl + B: Bold selected text
- Ctrl + I: Italicize the selected text
- Ctrl + U: Underline selected text
Internet Browsing Shortcut Keys
Internet Browsing Keyboard Shortcut keys allow users to perform specific actions while using an Web Browser, such as navigating between tabs, refreshing a page, navigating to the home page, and so on.
These shortcuts can help to quickly access specific functions and navigate their browser with ease. Some commonly used Internet Browsing Shortcut keys are:
- Ctrl + T: Open a new tab
- Ctrl + Tab: Switch between open tabs
- Ctrl + W: Close the current tab
- Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the last closed tab
- Ctrl + L: Select the address bar in the web browser
- F5: Refresh the current page
- Ctrl + +: Zoom in
- Ctrl + -: Zoom out
- Alt + Left Arrow: Go back to the previous page
- Alt + Right Arrow: Go to the next page
- F11: Enter or exit full-screen mode
- Esc: Stop the page from loading
- Ctrl + F: Find text on the page
- Ctrl + H: Open the browsing history
- Ctrl + J: Open the download history.
Application-Specific Shortcut Keys
Application-Specific Computer Shortcut Keys is designed to perform specific actions or tasks within a particular application, any note-taking app, any project management software or any productivity software program.
These keys vary from program to program and can range from basic commands like copy, paste, and save, to more complex tasks such as opening a specific file, executing a macro, or even launching the application itself. Here are some of those:
- Microsoft Office Suite: Ctrl + C for copy, Ctrl + V for paste, Ctrl + B for bold, Ctrl + U for underline, Ctrl + I for italic, etc.
- Adobe Photoshop: Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new layer, Ctrl + Alt + Shift + E to merge visible layers, Ctrl + Shift + W to close the active document window, etc.
- Google Chrome: Ctrl + T to open a new tab, Ctrl + Shift + T to open the last closed tab, Ctrl + L to select the address bar, etc.
- Visual Studio Code: Ctrl + Shift + P to open the command palette, Ctrl + Shift + D to duplicate the current line or selection, Ctrl + ] to indent code, etc.
These are just a few examples, and the specific application-specific shortcut keys will vary based on the software you are using. It is recommended to consult the software documentation or help resources for a complete list of available shortcuts.
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered the basics of Windows shortcut keys and explored the different types of computer shortcut keys available. We discussed the most frequently used keyboard shortcut keys.
We also explored some of the less commonly used shortcut keys and discussed how they can be used to boost productivity. Additionally, we looked at how to customize shortcut keys, whether it’s using built-in settings or third-party software.
Using shortcut keys can greatly enhance your productivity by allowing you to quickly access and execute commands without having to use your mouse. By familiarizing yourself with these shortcut keys, you can save time and effort, and streamline your workflow.
To get the most out of using windows shortcut keys, it’s important to keep practicing and experimenting with different combinations. It may take some time to memorize the keys, but with regular use, they will soon become second nature.
So, keep practicing and experimenting with different shortcut keys to boost your productivity and work more efficiently in Windows.
