Computer Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows & Mac)

This tutorial will give you the list of useful Computer keyboard shortcuts for Windows users and Mac OS users.

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Computer keyboard shortcuts (macOS)

Apple Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts play a key role in saving your valuable time. Instead of moving the hand to the mouse and placing the cursor position at a specific point, all the tasks can be done just with the help of keyboard shortcuts.

Command	Description
Control + Media Eject/Eject	Opens the dialog with Restart/Sleep/Shut Down options
Shift + Control + Eject	All your displays will be put in to sleep
Command + Alt + Eject	Put computer in sleep mode
Command + Control + Eject	Restarts Mac after saving / Quitting applications
Command + Alt + Control + Eject	Quit all applications then shuts down the Mac
Command + Shift	Log out from your user account after your confirmation
Command + Shift + Alt + Q	Log out of your OS X user account immediately (you won’t be asked to confirm action)
Command + Shift + Question Mark (?)	Opens the help
Command + Shift + Delete	Empty the Trash contents

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Note: The following shortcut commands primarily applies to the Microsoft 365 applications for Mac:

Command	Description
Command + A	Selects all the content in the app
Command + B	Makes the font bold
Command + C	Copy the selected content
Command + D	Font changes
Command + E	Aligns the center
Command + F	Find in the app
Command + G	Find next
Command + H	Replaces the content
Command + I	Italic font
Command + J	Justifies
Command + L	Aligns the left
Command + M	Minimize
Command + N	New document
Command + O	Open file
Command + P	Print the file
Command + Q	Quit the document
Command + R	Aligns the right
Command + S	Save the changes
Command + T	Indent will be hanged
Command + U	Underlines
Command + V	Paste
Command + X	Cut
Command + Y	Redo the changes done
Command + Z	Undo the changes done

Command	Description
Command + Option + Esc	Force quit window will open and choose the application to forcibly quit that
Command + Shift + Option + Esc	Force the front application to quit by pressing these keys and holding for three seconds
Command + tab	Runs through the Open applications, switches to the application used mostly
Command + Shift + Tilde (~)	Switch to the window of the applications used mostly
Command + Shift + 4	Take the screenshot of selected area
Command + Shift + 3	Take the screenshot of entire screen
Command + Spacebar	Open the spotlight search
Command + comma (,)	Front app preferences will be opened
Command + control + Media Eject	Front app preferences will be opened
Command + shift +:	Displays the window that has spelling and grammar
Command +;	Find misspelled words in the document
Spacebar	Quick look
Command + Up Arrow	Insertion point will be moved to the document beginning
Command + Down Arrow	Insertion point will be moved to the document end
Command + Left Arrow	Insertion point will be moved to the current line beginning
Command + Right Arrow	Insertion point will be moved to the current line end
Option + Left Arrow	The insertion point will be moved to the previous word beginning
Option + Right Arrow	Insertion point will be moved to the next word end

Command	Description
Shift + tab	Moves the cursor backward
Shift + Page up/Up Arrow	Moves cursor position to the beginning of the file
Shift + Page down/down Arrow	Moves cursor position to the end of the file

Windows OS Computer keyboard shortcuts

F1	Display Help
F2	Rename the selected item
F3	Search for a file or folder
F4	Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5	Refresh the active window
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10	Activate the Menu bar in the active app
ALT + F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app
ALT + ESC	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
ALT + Underlined Letter in menus and dialog box options	Perform the command for that letter
ALT + ENTER	Display properties for the selected item
ALT + SPACEBAR	Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT + LEFT ARROW	Back
ALT + RIGHT ARROW	Forward
ALT + PAGE DOWN	Move down one screen
ALT + PAGE UP	Move 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 + A	Select all items in a document or window
CTRL + B	Makes the selected text in bold letters
CTRL + C or CTRL + INSERT	Copy the selected item
CTRL + D / DELETE	DELETE the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
CTRL + R or F5	Refresh the active window
CTRL + V or SHIFT + INSERT	Paste the selected item
CTRL + X	Cut the selected item
CTRL + Y	Redo an action
CTRL + Z	Undo 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 wheel	Change 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 ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL + DOWN ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL + UP ARROW	Move 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 + ARROW	Select a block of text
CTRL + ESC	Open the Start screen
CTRL + SHIFT + ESC	Open Task Manager
CTRL + SHIFT	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
CTRL + SPACEBAR	Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
SHIFT + F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
SHIFT + ARROW	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
SHIFT + DELETE	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
RIGHT ARROW	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
LEFT ARROW	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
ESC	Stop 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 + B	Set focus in the notification area
Win + C	Open Charms
Win + D	Display and hide the desktop
Win + E	Open File Explorer
Win + F	Open the Search charm and search for files
Win + H	Open the Share charm
Win + I	Open the Settings charm
Win + K	Open the Devices charm
Win + L	Lock your PC or switch people
Win + M	Minimize all windows
Win + O	Lock device orientation
Win + P	Choose a presentation display mode
Win + Q	Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)
Win + R	Open the Run dialog box
Win + S	Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web
Win + T	Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Win + U	Open Ease of Access Center
Win + V	Cycle through notifications
Win + SHIFT + V	Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Win + W	Open the Search charm and search for settings
Win + X	Open the Quick Link menu
Win + Z	Show the commands available in the app
Win + ,	Temporarily peek at the desktop
Win + PAUSE	Display the System Properties dialog box
Win + CTRL + F	Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Win + SHIFT + M	Restore 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 + TAB	Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + CTRL + TAB	Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + SHIFT + TAB	Cycle 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 ARROW	Maximize the window
Win + DOWN ARROW	Remove the current app from the screen or minimize the desktop window
Win + LEFT ARROW	Maximize the app or desktop window to the LEFT side of the screen
Win + RIGHT ARROW	Maximize the app or desktop window to the RIGHT side of the screen
Win + HOME	Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on the second stroke)
Win + SHIFT + UP ARROW	Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW	Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Win + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW	Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Win + SPACEBAR	Switch input language and keyboard layout
Win + CTRL + SPACEBAR	Change 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

Dialog box Shortcuts

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

F1	Display Help
F4	Display the items in the active list
TAB	Move forward through options
CTRL + TAB	Move forward through tabs
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB	Move back through tabs
CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)	Move to nth tab
SHIFT + TAB	Move back through options
ALT + Underlined Letter in menus and dialog box options	Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the checkbox if the active option is a checkbox
ARROW keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
BACKSPACE	Open 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 + D	Select the address bar
CTRL + E	Select the search box
CTRL + F	Select the search box
CTRL + N	Open a new window
CTRL + W	Close the current window
CTRL + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
CTRL + SHIFT + E	Display all folders above the selected folder
CTRL + SHIFT + N	Create 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 + P	Display the preview pane
ALT + RIGHT ARROW	View the next folder
NUM LOCK + –	Collapse the selected folder
ALT + UP ARROW	View the folder that the folder was in
ALT + LEFT ARROW	View the previous folder
BACKSPACE	View the previous folder
RIGHT ARROW	Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
LEFT ARROW	Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
END	Display the bottom of the active window
HOME	Display 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 Button	Cycle through the windows of the group
SHIFT + Right-click a Grouped Taskbar Button	Show the window menu for the group
SHIFT + Right-click a Taskbar Button	Show the window menu for the app
CTRL + SHIFT + Click a Taskbar Button	Open an app as an administrator
SHIFT + Click a Taskbar Button	Open 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 seconds	Turn Filter Keys on and off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN	Turn High Contrast on or off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + NUM LOCK	Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Press SHIFT five times	Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Press NUM LOCK for five seconds	Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Win + U	Open the Ease of Access Center

Ease of access Shortcuts

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

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

Ease of access Shortcuts

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

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

Help viewer Shortcuts

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

ALT + RIGHT ARROW	Move to the next (previously viewed) topic
ALT + LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic
END	Move to the end of a topic
F3	Move the cursor to the search box
F10	Display the Options menu
ALT + C	Display the Table of ContentsDisplay the Table of Contents
HOME	Move to the beginning of a topic
ALT + N	Display the Connection Settings menu
CTRL + F	Search the current topic
CTRL + P	Print a topic
ALT + HOME	Display the Help and Support home page
ALT + A	Display the customer support page

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