Windows keyboard shortcuts

Using a computer would not be nearly as easy as it is today without Douglas Engelbert’s most famous invention: the mouse.

We take for granted today how much more intuitive computers are because of the mouse. It was a remarkable invention.

Nevertheless, for certain tasks it’s still quicker to just use a keyboard, thanks to keyboard shortcuts.

Below I’ve compiled a list of the most common and helpful keyboard shortcuts for Windows. Feel free to print out this list, or copy it to a document on your computer for easy access. Once you start using the shortcuts more often, you’ll begin to memorize them, and that’s when you’ll really start to be able to work more quickly.

By the way, “Windows logo key” refers to the key pictured to the right. Unless otherwise noted, press all keys in the combination at the same time.

Note: This list applies to Windows 8. Most of the shortcuts apply to previous versions as well, but if you use Windows 7 you may appreciate this list specifically for your version.

Common commands

• F1   —–>   Show Help menu
• Ctrl + X   —–>   Cut the selected item
• Ctrl + C   —–>   Copy the selected item
• Ctrl + V   —–>   Paste the selected item
• Ctrl + Z   —–>   Undo an action
• Ctrl + Y   —–>   Redo an action
• Alt + Tab   —–> Switch between open apps
• Alt + F4   —–>   Close the current item or page
• Windows logo key + D   —–> Show the desktop
• Windows logo key   —–>   Show/hide the start screen

Working with files

• Windows logo key, then start typing   —–> search your computer
• F3   —–>   Search for a file or folder
• Ctrl + A   —–> Select all items (or all text if in a document)
• F2   —–>   Rename selected item
• Click an item, then hold Shift and click another item   —–>   Select all items in between the two you clicked
• Click an item, then hold Ctrl and click other items   —–>   Select all items clicked

Give some of these a try, and I bet you’ll find you can save some time on the computer. If this list whets your appetite for keyboard shortcuts, check out Microsoft’s full list. Mac users: don’t fret; your list is coming next week.

UPDATE: A reader let me know that F11 will take an Internet browser fullscreen without having to find the little “Maximize” button in the corner. Handy!

Do you have any favorite shortcuts I’ve missed? Let me know below.

-Paul