20 Handy Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Arthur Smalley
|
September 20, 2021

Picking up some Windows keyboard shortcuts can be a real gamechanger. They

may seem like small changes to make, but given how much time we spend on
computers the difference can really add up. You’ll soon wonder how you spent so
long without them.
Forget scrolling around with your mouse for everything. Windows keyboard
shortcuts are much more convenient, saving time and improving your work
productivity. Plus, they’re simple to pick up. It only takes using them a couple of
times, and before you know it, Windows keyboard shortcuts become second
nature.
A lot of people may know some basic Windows shortcuts. You might have picked
up these, for example.
 Ctrl C for copying
 Ctrl V for pasting
 Ctrl Z for undoing a mistake

But there are a considerable number of Windows hotkeys out there that will
transform how you use your computer. And Microsoft is continually adding new
Windows keyboard shortcuts with each update. As a result, there are many more
Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts with every new OS compared to previous
operating systems.
Here are our favourite 20 handy Windows keyboard shortcuts you can start using
today.

Navigation shortcuts
1. Alt + Tab – Switch apps
We’ll start with a classic that’s been around since Windows 2.0 in 1987. Alt +
Tab allows you to switch between your open windows quickly. One press, and you
can switch back and forth between your two most recently used windows. Holding
Alt and hitting Tab multiple times allows you to cycle through all your open
windows. Alt + Tab is extremely helpful when running multiple applications – not
just for quickly switching back to your work when your boss walks into the office.
2. Win + D – Show/hide the desktop
Use the Windows logo key (Win) + D to minimize all your windows and go
straight to your desktop. Pressing it a 2nd time restores your windows to open or
full screen. If you launch apps from your desktop a lot, this provides quick access
to save you time, rather than having to minimize all your open windows to get
back to the desktop.
3. Win + left arrow or Win + right arrow – Snap windows
Being able to snap windows and divide up your monitor space is a great Windows
feature. It allows you to make the most of your monitor, viewing multiple apps at
the same time. Instead of dragging windows into the side of your monitor, you can
simplify the process with Win + left arrow or Win + right arrow keys,
depending on which side of your monitor you want to snap to. This is especially
helpful when using multiple monitors that can prevent snapping using the mouse,
since in that case dragging to the side moves the window onto a different monitor.
4. Win + Tab – Open Task View
Windows Task View can improve efficiency while working with multiple apps
open, allowing you to switch between apps and spread across separate desktops. So
why not get even more efficient by opening it with the Windows 10 shortcut, Win
+ Tab.

Opening and closing application shortcuts

5. Alt + F4 – Close current app
Instead of scrolling your mouse up to the top right corner, you can quickly close
your active window using Alt + F4. This is good when you want to close multiple
apps in quick succession, saving you from scrolling around to close each app.
It is also helpful for forcing an unresponsive program to close. Don’t worry about
losing unsaved work; you still get a prompt to save your documents before closing.
On many keyboards, you will have to use the Fn key to access function keys
like F4.
6. Win + I – Open settings
Need to adjust your settings? Win + I takes you straight to the Settings dialogue
window.
7. Win + A – Open Action Centre
On a similar theme Win + A will take you directly to the Action Centre window.
8. Win + S – Open search
Often it is quicker to find a file or application by typing into the Windows search
bar. With Win + S, you don’t have to take a hand off the keyboard, just use the
Windows hotkey and type what you are searching for.
9. Ctrl + Esc – Open the Task Manager
The Task Manager shows you everything running on your computer. It can be a
godsend to understanding your computer and why it might be running more slowly
than usual. Often it is used to end an unresponsive application and make your
computer usable again.
Ctrl + Esc is extra valuable for these situations, taking you straight to the Task
Manager. For an unresponsive computer, the added layer of using Ctrl + Alt + Del
to get to the Task Manager can add considerable time and frustration.
10. Win + E – Launch File Explorer
Useful for people who take advantage of the File Explorer quick access page. Win
+ E launches File Explorer, showing you your recent files and frequent folders.
11. Win + X – Open the quick link menu
A lot of people may not know about the quick link menu. It is a pop-up menu from
the Start button that includes shortcuts to crucial areas of your system. Press Win +
X right now and take a look; it gives quick access to common management,
configuration, and other Windows tools.

Other Windows shortcuts

12. Ctrl + A – Select all
Whether you want to copy or adjust formatting, Ctrl + A saves significant time
when you want to select all the content in a given window. Instead of dragging and
clicking your mouse, this selects all the text in a document or all the files in a
folder.
13. F2 – Rename
When you right-click on a file, the menu seems to get longer every time you see it.
With this Windows keyboard shortcut, you no longer have to scan around to find
“Rename”. Instead, just highlight your file and hit F2.
14. F5 – Refresh
You can refresh your browser or File Explorer by pressing F5.
15. Win + L – Lock your computer
Locking your computer when you step away is an excellent practice to increase
security. A lot of businesses make this part of company policy. It keeps your
computer’s content safe from any potential bad actors. Most people who lock their
computers take the scenic route, using Ctrl + Alt + Del and selecting Lock. It’s
much faster with the Win + L shortcut.
16. Win + PrtSc – Save screenshot
Screenshots are great, but after hitting PrtSc, you have to open another tool to save
or use it. With Win + PrtSc, the screenshot gets saved directly to the screenshots
folder in your computer’s Pictures folder. Great when you are in a rush and want to
take a screenshot for later use quickly.
17. Alt + PrtSc – Copies current window to clipboard
Alt + PrtSc takes a screenshot of just your active window rather than your whole
desktop. This even works on a multiple monitor set up, or with the window
hanging off the side or spread across multiple monitors. Unfortunately, it only
copies the screenshot to your clipboard, so you must use another tool to save it.
18. Ctrl + P – Print
We may be moving more and more towards a paperless society, but many people
still like or even require printouts. Ctrl + P brings up the print dialogue box so you
can choose which printer to use.
19. Win + C – Start talking to Cortana
Cortana is Microsoft’s virtual assistant for searching or opening apps, among other
things. Win + C puts Cortana in listening mode so you can start talking to it. You
do, however, need to activate this shortcut. From the Cortana taskbar search box,
hit the cog icon and turn on this keyboard shortcut.
20. Shift + Del – Permanently deletes a file
The Windows Recycling Bin has saved many accidental deletions. But, if you are
100% sure you want to delete a file, Shift + Del will bypass the recycling bin and
get rid of a file for good. Maybe you desperately want the hard drive space right
now or just don’t want to have to empty your recycling bin continually.

Summary
There are lots of handy Windows keyboard shortcuts out there that improve your
computer use. Whether you end up picking up a couple of helpful hotkeys or try to
learn them all, you’ll barely have to touch your mouse again. There is real value in
Windows keyboard shortcuts.
If this whets your appetite, there are plenty more keyboard shortcuts to investigate.
Look into shortcuts for specific web browsers like Chrome and Firefox or
commonly used programs like MS Office and Google Docs.

Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts

GOAL SHORTCUT

Open a new tab Hold Command and press T

Close the current tab Hold Command and press W

Reopen last tab closed Hold Command and Shift, then press T

Hold Command and Option, then press the

View next tab right arrow key

Hold Command and Option, then press the

View previous tab left arrow key

Hold Command and select the appropriate

Jump to a specific tab number

Open a hyperlink in a new tab Hold Command and click the link

Open a link in a new window Hold Shift and click the link

Put a cursor in the search bar Hold Command and press L

Erase the current search Hold Command and press delete

Highlight the next word in Hold Shift and Option, then press the right
search arrow key
Highlight the last word in a Hold Shift and Option, then press the left
search arrow key

Go back to the previous page Press delete

Go forward to the next page Hold Shift and press delete

Reload the current page Hold Command and press R

Open the find bar Hold Command and press F

Scroll to the next keywords in

find bar Press Enter

Scroll to previous keywords in

the find bar Hold Shift and press Enter

Save the current page as a

bookmark Hold Command and press D

Open the settings page Hold Command and press the Comma key

Open the downloads page Hold Command and Shift, then press J

Open a new window Hold Command and press N

Drag a tab out of your window Click the tab and drag it downwards

Close the current window Hold Command and Shift, then press W

Minimize the current window Hold Command and press M

Maximize the current window Hold Control and Command, then press F

Scroll down the web page Tap the Space Bar

Quit Google Chrome Hold Command and press Q

Jump to the last tab Hold Command and press the number nine

Hide Google Chrome Hold Command and press H

Log in as a different user Hold Command and press Shift and N

Clear browsing data Hold Command and press Shift and Delete

Search for selected text Hold Command and press E

The key is to not waste time learning all of them because

you likely won't use them all on a daily basis. But it's worth
memorizing shortcuts for the Google Chrome tasks you
perform every day.

The best part? They only take two minutes to learn. Try them out as
you read along.