If you are a computer geek and pro at your work but still fail to accomplish more tasks in less time and increase productivity, what could be the reason behind it? Do you feel multitasking becomes problematic for you? Go back to basics, then. Encourage yourself to replace or at least reduce mouse habits and start using shortcut keys extensively.
You will feel the difference definitely, as Keyboard shortcuts can speed up even the most mundane tasks. Start learning them so you can make your PC experience faster, more efficient, and in some cases, even more enjoyable.
Windows 10 is not just for touchscreen users; the framework supports a lot of built-in keyboard shortcuts for its keyboard users. Also, some new easy shortcuts have additionally been added.
Following are the handiest and helpful keyboard shortcuts.
Table of Contents
Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
The Essentials
- Ctrl + A: It is to select all items in a window.
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy selected (e.g. text, images, etc.)
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste selected.
- Ctrl + X: Cut selected.
- Ctrl + Z: Undo any of the previous actions.
- Ctrl + Y: Redo any of the actions.
- Ctrl + N: When the File Explorer is your current window, it opens a new File Explorer window. Its folder has the same path as the currently active window.
- Windows key + F1: It opens “how to get help in Windows 10.” Bing search will appear in your default browser window.
- Alt + F4: It closes the current application or active window.
- Alt + Tab: It helps in switching between open applications or windows.
- Shift + Delete: It deletes the selected item permanently (skipping the Recycle Bin part).
Short-cuts for Launching, Closing, Moving Around, Selecting, & Manipulating the Command Prompt
These are keyboard shortcuts that are inside the Windows 10 Command Prompt.
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: It copy selects text to the clipboard.
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: It Paste copied text inside the Command Prompt.
- Ctrl + A: It selects all text on the current line. (If the current line has no text, then all the text which is inside the Command Prompt will be selected.)
- Ctrl + Up or Down: It moves the screen to one line up or down.
- Ctrl + F: It searches the Command Prompt via Find window.
- Ctrl + M: It enters into the Mark mode (allows you to select text with the help of a mouse). Once the Mark mode is enabled, you can use the arrow keys to move the cursor around.
- Shift + Up or Down: Move the cursor up or down one line and select text.
- Shift + Left or Right: Move the cursor left or right one character and select text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Left or Right: Move the cursor left or right one word and select text.
- Shift + Page Up or Page Down: Move the cursor up or down one screen and select text.
- Shift + Home or End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line and select text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Home/End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer and select text and start or end of Command Prompt’s output.
Shortcuts for operating the Windows Start Menu and Taskbar
Use the following shortcuts to open, close, and control the Start menu and the taskbar.
- Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: It opens the Start menu.
- Windows key + X: It opens the secret Start menu.
- Windows key + T: It cycles through the application on the taskbar.
- Windows key + [Number]: It opens the application pinned in the [specific number], i.e., a particular position placed on the taskbar.
For instance, if you have an Edge pinned at the first position on the taskbar and click Windows key + 1, the Edge will open.
- Windows key + Alt + [Number]: It opens the right-click menu for the application pinned in the [specific number] position on the taskbar.
- Windows key + D: Show or hide desktop.
These short-cuts manage how separate windows act on your desktop, including the remote desktops.
- Windows key + M: It minimizes all open windows.
- Windows key + Shift + M: It restores minimized windows.
- Windows key + Home: It minimizes all windows except the selected or currently active window.
- Windows key + Up arrow: It maximizes the selected window.
- Windows key + Shift + Up arrow: It maximizes the active window vertically while maintaining its actual width.
- Windows key + Down arrow: It minimizes the selected active window.
- Windows key + Left arrow or Right arrow: It snap selects window to the left or right half of the screen.
- Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow: It moves the selected window to the left or right monitor.
- Windows key + Tab: It opens the Task view (virtual desktops).
- Windows key + Ctrl + D: It adds a new virtual desktop.
- Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow: It moves to the next virtual desktop (to the right).
- Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow: It moves to the previous virtual desktop (to the left).
- Windows key + Ctrl + F4: It closes the active virtual desktop.
Shortcuts by incorporating the Windows key
Below are the shortcuts that use the Windows logo key for different tasks. It includes starting Windows and also third-party applications, etc.
- Windows key + A: It opens the Action Center.
- Windows key + S: It opens Cortana in text mode so that you can type in the search bar.
- Windows key + C: It opens Cortana in listening mode (similar to saying “Hey, Cortana”).
- Windows key + E: It opens the File Explorer.
- Windows key + F: It opens the Windows 10 Feedback Hub.
- Windows key + Ctrl + F: It searches for PCs on a network.
- Windows key + G: It opens the Game bar.
- Windows key + H: It opens the Share sidebar.
- Windows key + I: It opens the Settings menu.
- Windows key + K: It opens the Connect sidebar (for connecting to new Bluetooth devices or Miracast).
- Windows key + L: It locks your computer.
- Windows key + O: It locks screen orientation.
- Windows key + P: It opens the presentation or projection sidebar.
- Windows key + R: It opens the Run window.
- Windows key + U: It opens the Ease of Access center.
- Windows key + W: It opens the Windows Ink Workspace for doodling/ scribbling on tablets or touchscreen laptops.
- Windows key + Print Screen: It takes a screenshot of the full desktop and saves it to the Screenshots folder in the Pictures folder.
- Windows key + (+) or (-): It zooms in and out with a magnifier.
- Windows key + Esc: Exit magnifier.
The above-given shortcuts are going to be your all-weather friends, and you’d be better off learning these useful shortcuts to perform your routine tasks. No one likes to waste even a second of his time, especially at work. There are a lot of other shortcuts in Windows; however, these are the most commonly used ones.
