Must Use Computer Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows PC

Want to do your work fastly on Windows PC? In order to do work fastly, you need to use some shortcuts on your computer. Computer keyboard shortcuts for windows pc are very useful for laptop users. These shortcuts will work for almost all Windows versions like Windows 7,8,8.1, and 10. Computer Keyboard shortcuts for improving typing skills and useful for concentration on typing.

Usually, the laptop does not have a mouse. If you want, you can connect a mouse. Many people do not like using the touchpad of the laptop. If you learn Computer keyboard shortcuts, you need not connect the mouse to your laptop.

Using computer keyboard shortcuts improves the speed.

In this article, I give commonly used computer keyboard shortcuts for windows pc.

Computer keyboard shortcuts

F1Display Help
F2Rename the selected item
F3Search for a file or folder
F4Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5Refresh the active window
F6Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10Activate the Menu bar in the active app
ALT + F4Close the active item, or exit the active app
ALT + ESCCycle through items in the order in which they were opened
ALT + Underlined Letter in menus and dialog box optionsPerform the command for that letter
ALT + ENTERDisplay properties for the selected item
ALT + SPACEBAROpen the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT + LEFT ARROW Back
ALT + RIGHT ARROWForward
ALT + PAGE DOWNMove down one screen
ALT + PAGE UPMove up one screen
ALT + TAB Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)
CTRL + F4 Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
CTRL + ASelect all items in a document or window
CTRL + BMakes the selected text in bold letters
CTRL + C or CTRL + INSERTCopy the selected item
CTRL + D / DELETE DELETE the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
CTRL + R or F5Refresh the active window
CTRL + V or SHIFT + INSERTPaste the selected item
CTRL + X Cut the selected item
CTRL + Y Redo an action
CTRL + ZUndo an action
CTRL + + or CTRL + – Zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
CTRL + mouse scroll wheelChange the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
CTRL + LEFT ARROWMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL + DOWN ARROW Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL + UP ARROWMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
CTRL + ALT + TAB Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
CTRL + ARROW + SPACEBAR Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
CTRL + SHIFT + ARROWSelect a block of text
CTRL + ESCOpen the Start screen
CTRL + SHIFT + ESCOpen Task Manager
CTRL + SHIFT Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
CTRL + SPACEBARTurn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
SHIFT + F10Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
SHIFT + ARROWSelect more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
SHIFT + DELETEDelete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
RIGHT ARROWOpen the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
LEFT ARROWOpen the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
ESCStop or leave the current task

Windows key Shortcuts

Let’s check the keyboard shortcuts that help for quick access.

Win + F1 Open Windows Help and support
Win Display or hide the Start screen
Win + BSet focus in the notification area
Win + COpen Charms
Win + DDisplay and hide the desktop
Win + EOpen File Explorer
Win + FOpen the Search charm and search for files
Win + HOpen the Share charm
Win + IOpen the Settings charm
Win + KOpen the Devices charm
Win + LLock your PC or switch people
Win + MMinimize all windows
Win + OLock device orientation
Win + P Choose a presentation display mode
Win + QOpen the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)
Win + ROpen the Run dialog box
Win + SOpen the Search charm to search Windows and the web
Win + TCycle through apps on the taskbar
Win + UOpen Ease of Access Center
Win + VCycle through notifications
Win + SHIFT + VCycle through notifications in reverse order
Win + WOpen the Search charm and search for settings
Win + XOpen the Quick Link menu
Win + ZShow the commands available in the app
Win + , Temporarily peek at the desktop
Win + PAUSEDisplay the System Properties dialog box
Win + CTRL + FSearch for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Win + SHIFT + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop
Win + (NUMBER 1-9) Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, it switches to that app
Win + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + ALT + (NUMBER 1-9)Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + CTRL + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator
Win + TABCycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + CTRL + TABCycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + SHIFT + TABCycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Win + CTRL + B Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
Win + UP ARROWMaximize the window
Win + DOWN ARROWRemove the current app from the screen or minimize the desktop window
Win + LEFT ARROWMaximize the app or desktop window to the LEFT side of the screen
Win + RIGHT ARROWMaximize the app or desktop window to the RIGHT side of the screen
Win + HOMEMinimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on the second stroke)
Win + SHIFT + UP ARROWStretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROWRestore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Win + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROWMove an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Win + SPACEBARSwitch input language and keyboard layout
Win + CTRL + SPACEBARChange to a previously selected input
Win + SHIFT + . Cycle through open apps
Win + ENTER Open Narrator
Win + .Cycle through open apps
Win + /Initiate IME reconversion
Win + ALT + ENTER Initiate IME reconversion
Win + +/- Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Win + ESC Exit Magnifier

These are the shortcut using with the combination of Windows key.

Dialog box Shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used in dialog boxes.

F1Display Help
F4 Display the items in the active list
TAB Move forward through options
CTRL + TAB Move forward through tabs
CTRL + SHIFT + TABMove back through tabs
CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)Move to nth tab
SHIFT + TABMove back through options
ALT + Underlined Letter in menus and dialog box optionsPerform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
SPACEBARSelect or clear the checkbox if the active option is a checkbox
ARROW keysSelect a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
BACKSPACEOpen a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

File explorer Shortcuts

The shortcuts that can be used to work with File Explorer’s windows or folders.

ALT + DSelect the address bar
CTRL + ESelect the search box
CTRL + FSelect the search box
CTRL + N Open a new window
CTRL + WClose the current window
CTRL + mouse scroll wheelChange the size and appearance of file and folder icons
CTRL + SHIFT + EDisplay all folders above the selected folder
CTRL + SHIFT + NCreate a new folder
NUM LOCK + *Display all subfolders under the selected folder
NUM LOCK + +Display the contents of the selected folder
ALT + ENTER Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
ALT + PDisplay the preview pane
ALT + RIGHT ARROWView the next folder
NUM LOCK + –Collapse the selected folder
ALT + UP ARROWView the folder that the folder was in
ALT + LEFT ARROWView the previous folder
BACKSPACEView the previous folder
RIGHT ARROWDisplay the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
LEFT ARROWCollapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
ENDDisplay the bottom of the active window
HOMEDisplay the top of the active window
F11 Maximize or minimize the active window

Taskbar Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts to work with items on the Desktop’s taskbar.

CTRL + Click a Grouped Taskbar ButtonCycle through the windows of the group
SHIFT + Right-click a Grouped Taskbar ButtonShow the window menu for the group
SHIFT + Right-click a Taskbar ButtonShow the window menu for the app
CTRL + SHIFT + Click a Taskbar ButtonOpen an app as an administrator
SHIFT + Click a Taskbar ButtonOpen an app or quickly open another instance of an app

Ease of access Shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts to help you use your computer easily.

Hold RIGHT SHIFT for eight secondsTurn Filter Keys on and off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN Turn High Contrast on or off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + NUM LOCKTurn Mouse Keys on or off
Press SHIFT five timesTurn Sticky Keys on or off
Press NUM LOCK for five secondsTurn Toggle Keys on or off
Win + U Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts to help you use Magnifier.

Win + + Zoom in
Win + – Zoom out
CTRL + ALT + SPACEBARPreview the desktop in full-screen mode
CTRL + ALT + DSwitch to docked mode
CTRL + ALT + FSwitch to full-screen mode
CTRL + ALT + IInvert colors
CTRL + ALT + LSwitch to lens mode
CTRL + ALT + RResize the lens
CTRL + ALT + ARROW keysPan in the direction of the ARROW keys
Win + ESCExit Magnifier

Narrator Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts to help you use Narrator.

SPACEBAR or ENTERActivate current item
TAB + ARROW KeysMove around on the screen
CTRLStop reading
CAPS LOCK + DRead item
CAPS LOCK + MStart reading
CAPS LOCK + HRead document
CAPS LOCK + V Repeat phrase
CAPS LOCK + WRead window
CAPS LOCK + PAGE UP or PAGE DOWNIncrease or decrease the volume of the voice
CAPS LOCK + +/- Increase or decrease the speed of the voice
CAPS LOCK + SPACEBAR Do default action
Caps + ESCExit Narrator
CAPS LOCK + F2Show commands for the current item
CAPS LOCK + LEFT or RIGHT ARROWMove to previous/next item

Help viewer Shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used with the help viewer.

ALT + RIGHT ARROWMove to the next (previously viewed) topic
ALT + LEFT ARROWMove back to the previously viewed topic
ENDMove to the end of a topic
F3 Move the cursor to the search box
F10Display the Options menu
ALT + CDisplay the Table of ContentsDisplay the Table of Contents
HOMEMove to the beginning of a topic
ALT + NDisplay the Connection Settings menu
CTRL + FSearch the current topic
CTRL + PPrint a topic
ALT + HOMEDisplay the Help and Support home page
ALT + A Display the customer support page

For more computer keyboard shortcuts, you can see Microsoft’s computer keyboard shortcuts article.

Thanks for reading my article about Computer keyboard shortcuts for windows PC. If you like this article do me a favor by sharing it with your friends and follow WhatVwant on Facebook and Twitter for more tips. Subscribe to whatVwant channel on YouTube for regular updates.

Leave a Comment