Computer Shortcut keys, also known as keyboard shortcuts, are key combinations that allow you to perform actions quickly. Instead of clicking through menus with your mouse, you can press a few keys to achieve the same result. This not only saves time but can also reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries from extensive mouse use. In this article, we’ll explore some of the most useful computer shortcut keys for the Windows operating system, helping you to streamline your work and enhance your computing experience.
Why Use Shortcut Keys?
Using computer shortcut keys is a smart way to make your computer work faster and more smoothly. They help you complete tasks quickly, like copying text with Ctrl + C instead of right-clicking and selecting “Copy.” This makes your work more efficient because you can avoid the extra steps of navigating menus. Shortcuts also help you be more productive by letting you perform actions with just a few key presses. They reduce the need to use a mouse or touchpad, which can be easier on your hands and wrists. Overall, shortcut keys save you time and effort, making your computer experience better and more comfortable.
Common Shortcut Keys and Their Uses
Here’s a list of common computer shortcut keys and their uses, which can help you navigate and perform tasks more efficiently on a Windows operating system:
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected item or text. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste copied or cut item or text. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected item or text. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo the last undone action. |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items or text. |
| Ctrl + S | Save the current document or file. |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current document or file. |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new document or window. |
| Ctrl + O | Open an existing document or file. |
| Ctrl + F | Open the find dialog to search text. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold the selected text. |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize the selected text. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline the selected text. |
| Ctrl + E | Center align the text. |
| Ctrl + L | Left align the text. |
| Ctrl + R | Right align the text. |
| Ctrl + D | Open the font dialog box. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink. |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + R | Refresh the current webpage. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Open a new incognito window in web browsers. |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications. |
| Alt + F4 | Close the current window or application. |
| Windows Key + D | Show or hide the desktop. |
| Windows Key + E | Open File Explorer. |
| Windows Key + L | Lock your computer. |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize all open windows. |
| Windows Key + R | Open the Run dialog box. |
| Windows Key + S | Open the search bar. |
| Windows Key + P | Open the display projection options. |
| Windows Key + I | Open the Settings app. |
| Windows Key + X | Open the Quick Link menu. |
| Windows Key + U | Open the Ease of Access settings. |
| Windows Key + Shift + S | Take a screenshot and open the Snipping Tool. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager. |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab in web browsers. |
| F2 | Rename the selected file or folder. |
| F5 | Refresh the current window or webpage. |
| F11 | Toggle full-screen mode in web browsers. |
| Esc | Cancel the current task or close a menu. |
| Alt + Enter | Open the properties of the selected item. |
| Alt + Space | Open the window menu (minimize, maximize, close). |
| Shift + Delete | Permanently delete the selected item (bypasses Recycle Bin). |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Expand all folders in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Mouse Scroll | Zoom in or out on a webpage or document. |
| Ctrl + 1 | Switch to the first tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + 2 | Switch to the second tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Open the security options screen (lock, switch user, sign out). |
| Alt + F | Open the File menu in applications. |
| Alt + E | Open the Edit menu in applications. |
| Alt + V | Open the View menu in applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Tab | View all open applications in Task View. |
| Windows Key + Arrow Up | Maximize the current window. |
| Windows Key + Arrow Down | Minimize or restore the current window. |
| Windows Key + Arrow Left | Snap the current window to the left side of the screen. |
| Windows Key + Arrow Right | Snap the current window to the right side of the screen. |
| Windows Key + Plus (+) | Zoom in using the Magnifier. |
| Windows Key + Minus (-) | Zoom out using the Magnifier. |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste without formatting (in some applications). |
| Ctrl + J | Open the Downloads folder in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + H | Open the history page in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current page or document. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open a new private browsing window in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + U | View the source code of a webpage in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Add bullet points in a document. |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase the font size of selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease the font size of selected text. |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the current document or tab in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + F4 | Close all open windows. |
| Ctrl + Alt + I | Open the Inspect Element tool in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Alt + D | Show or hide the desktop (similar to Windows Key + D). |
| Ctrl + 0 (zero) | Reset zoom level to default in web browsers. |
| Alt + Home | Go to the home page in web browsers. |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Go back to the previous page in web browsers. |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Go forward to the next page in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink in many applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy formatting of selected text (in some applications). |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste formatting of copied text (in some applications). |
| Windows Key + G | Open the Xbox Game Bar. |
| Windows Key + K | Open the Connect pane for connecting to wireless devices. |
| Windows Key + H | Open the Dictation feature. |
| Windows Key + T | Cycle through open taskbar apps. |
| Windows Key + Number Key (1-9) | Open the app pinned to the taskbar in that position. |
| Windows Key + C | Open Cortana (if enabled). |
| Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow | Rotate screen left (if supported). |
| Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow | Rotate screen right (if supported). |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow | Rotate screen to normal (if supported). |
| Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow | Rotate screen upside down (if supported). |
| Windows Key + V | Open the clipboard history (if enabled). |
| Ctrl + Shift + Escape | Open Task Manager directly. |
| Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open documents in an application. |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Switch backward through open applications. |
| Alt + Shift | Change the input language or keyboard layout. |
| Ctrl + Alt + R | Start or stop recording (in some applications or tools). |
| Ctrl + Alt + S | Open the save dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open the print preview window in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | Open the save as dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + E | Open the search bar in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Open the advanced find dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + D | Open the bookmark dialog in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + H | Open the history menu in some applications. |
| Ctrl + G | Open the go-to dialog in some applications. |
| Alt + Shift + F | Open the formatting toolbar in some applications. |
| Windows Key + N | Open the Action Center. |
| Ctrl + E | Focus the search box in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab in Windows Explorer. |
| Alt + F10 | Open the menu bar in some applications. |
| Ctrl + M | Minimize all windows except the active one. |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy formatting in Office applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste formatting in Office applications. |
| Ctrl + Q | Open the Quick Access menu in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow | Move to the previous folder in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow | Move to the next folder in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Expand all folders in Windows Explorer. |
| Alt + Enter | Open the properties of the selected item. |
| Ctrl + P | Open the print dialog in Windows applications. |
| Alt + F | Open the file menu in Windows applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + M | Open the Windows Mobility Center. |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Shift + G | Open the go-to dialog box in some applications. |
| Windows Key + E | Open File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + E | Focus the search bar in File Explorer. |
| Ctrl + F | Open the find dialog in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl + I | Open the insert dialog in some applications. |
| Alt + Shift + P | Open the properties dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + R | Start or stop recording in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + S | Open the save dialog in some applications. |
| Alt + F11 | Toggle the full screen in some applications. |
| Alt + F12 | Open the function key menu in some applications. |
| Windows Key + P | Open the display projection menu. |
| Ctrl + Alt + F | Open the full-screen mode in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + H | Open the help menu in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + I | Open the inspect tool in web browsers. |
| Windows Key + S | Open the search function in Windows. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Q | Open the quick access menu in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + R | Refresh the page in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen the last closed tab in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Shift + W | Close all tabs in some web browsers. |
| Windows Key + Q | Open the Cortana search box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Open the bookmark manager in web browsers. |
| Ctrl + Shift + U | Open the URL address bar in web browsers. |
| Windows Key + L | Lock the computer. |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Open the hyperlink dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + C | Copy the text formatting in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + F | Open the full-screen mode in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S | Save all open documents in some applications. |
| Windows Key + R | Open the Run dialog box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder. |
| Alt + F10 | Open the menu bar in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + W | Open the window menu in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + X | Open the document properties in some applications. |
| Windows Key + G | Open the Xbox Game Bar. |
| Ctrl + Alt + E | Expand all folders in Windows Explorer. |
| Alt + Shift + S | Open the save as dialog in some applications. |
| Ctrl + Shift + H | Open the history menu in some applications. |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize all windows. |
| Windows Key + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows. |
| Alt + F5 | Restore the window to its original size. |
| Alt + F4 | Close the current window or application. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Delete | Open the security options screen. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Esc | Open Task Manager directly. |
| Windows Key + U | Open Ease of Access settings. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open the print preview dialog. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Q | Log out of the current user account. |
| Ctrl + F | Open the find dialog box. |
| Windows Key + X | Open the Quick Link menu. |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Open the inspect tool in web browsers. |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications. |
| Windows Key + Shift + V | Open the clipboard history. |
| Alt + F | Open the file menu in applications. |
| Ctrl + Alt + N | Open the new folder dialog. |
| Windows Key + D | Show or hide the desktop. |
| Alt + F4 | Close the current window or application. |
| Windows Key + P | Open the display projection options. |
| Ctrl + Alt + R | Start or stop recording in some applications. |
| Windows Key + C | Open Cortana (if enabled). |
| Ctrl + Alt + F4 | Close all open windows. |
| Ctrl + Alt + D | Show or hide the desktop. |
| Ctrl + Alt + M | Open the Windows Mobility Center. |
| Alt + Shift + N | Open the new folder dialog in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl + Alt + X | Open the document properties in some applications. |
| Windows Key + S | Open the search bar in Windows. |
| Alt + Shift + M | Minimize all windows except the active one. |
| Ctrl + Alt + U | Open the ease of access settings. |
| Windows Key + V | Open the clipboard history (if enabled). |
Conclusion
Computer shortcut keys are a powerful tool for enhancing productivity and efficiency. By learning and using these shortcuts, you can perform tasks more quickly and reduce the need for repetitive mouse movements. From basic commands like copy and paste to application-specific functions, shortcut keys streamline your work and help you get more done in less time. With practice and customization, you can make the most of these shortcuts and improve your overall computer experience.
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