Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts for beginners

We have become so addicted to the mouse, that we do not realize how much it disrupts our workflow. Every time you reach out for it, you're losing a tiny bit of focus and time. And have you ever accidentally knocked something over while trying to get hold of your mouse? 

The keyboard, on the other hand, is far more powerful than we know. And don't we have our hands all over it anyway? There are a few cool keyboard tricks that can help you save time and make you more productive and effective.

File Explorer shortcuts

Alt + D – Select the address bar.

Ctrl + E – Select the search bar.

Ctrl + N – Open new window.

Ctrl + W – Close selected window.

Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel – Change Size and look of file and folder icons/thumbnails.

Ctrl + Shift + E – Show all the folders about the highlighted folder.

Ctrl + Shift + N – Make a new folder.

Num Lock + * – Show all the subfolders of the highlighted folder.

Num Lock + + – Show the contents of the highlighted folder.

Alt + P – Show the preview pane.

Backspace – Go to the previous folder.

Alt + Up Arrow – View the folder that the current folder was in.

Alt + Left Arrow – Show the previous folder.

End – Show the bottom of the currently open window. (If applicable).

Home – Display the top of the currently open window. (If applicable).

Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Alt + Tab – Switch between open windows.

Alt + Enter – Display properties for the highlighted item, similar to Right-Click Options.

Alt + Spacebar – Display shortcut menu for the currently open window.

Alt + Left Arrow – Go back if there is a previous history in the window, in programs such as browsers.

Alt + Right Arrow – Go Forward, again useful in browsers.

Alt + Page up – Scroll up an entire screen length.

Alt + Page down – Scroll down an entire screen length.

Ctrl + C – Copy what is highlighted currently.

Ctrl + V – Paste what is on the clipboard, or what has been recently copied.

Ctrl + X – Cut what is highlighted currently.

Ctrl + A – Select everything in an open document or current window.

Ctrl + D – Delete what is currently selected.

Alt + F4 – Close Open Window.

Ctrl + Z – Undo the last action.

Ctrl + Y – Redo an action.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab – With the aid of some of the arrow keys, you can select from all open windows.

F1 – Display the help menu.

F2 – Rename what is currently highlighted.

F3 – Search for a certain file or folder.

F4 – Show address bar list in File Explorer.

F5 – Refresh the window that is open currently.

F6 – Toggle different screen elements/keyboard shortcuts related to the program currently open.

F10 – Show the menu bar in the application that is currently open.

Ctrl + + – Zoom in on multiple items.

Ctrl + – – Zoom out on multiple items.

Shift + 10 – Show shortcuts menu for the selected item.

Esc – Stop or leave the current action.

Shift + Delete – Delete the highlighted item, without having it go to the recycle bin first.

SHIFT + ALT + PRINT – In its default setting, this shortcut opens a warning window before applying any changes. Click Yes or simply hit Return to switch to the high contrast setting. This will enlarge the font on all open windows and change colors to high contrast. Clicking the same key combination again reverts the changes.

CTRL + ALT + UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT Arrow  – 2 Rotate Screen:

Browser Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl + D – Bookmark the current web address that is open in your browser.

Ctrl + I – View the saved favorites window.

Ctrl + J – View the browser downloads window.

Ctrl + H – Show browser history window.

Windows Key Shortcuts

Windows + L – Lock the computer, requiring the user to input login details before unlocking.

 

Windows + D – Switch between the currently open window and showing the desktop.

 

Windows + F1 – Opens the Windows help and support menu.

Windows – Open/Close the start menu.

Windows + B – Highlight the notification area.

Windows + F – Open the Feedback Hub window.

Windows + I – Open the settings window.

Windows + K – Open the connect/stream to devices bar.

Windows + M – Minimise all currently open windows.

Windows + Shift + M – Re-open all minimized windows.

Windows + P – Opens Display mode menu.

Windows + Q – Open Cortana Search menu.

Windows + R – Open the Run window.

Windows + T – Cycle through the apps that are currently on the taskbar.

 Windows + V – Rotate through the notifications.

Windows + , – Take a brief look at the desktop (as long as it is held down).

Windows + Z – Shows all the commands that can be used in the currently open window.

Windows + 1 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the first position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 2 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the second position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 3 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the third position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 4 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the fourth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 5 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the fifth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 6 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the sixth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 7 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the seventh position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 8 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the eighth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + 9 – Start the application pinned to the start bar in the ninth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 1 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the first position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 2 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the second position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 3 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the third position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 4 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the fourth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 5 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the fifth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 6 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the sixth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 7 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the seventh position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 8 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the eighth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Shift + 9 – Start a new window/instance of the application pinned to the start bar in the ninth position, if already open, it switches to that window.

Windows + Alt + 1 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the first position.

Windows + Alt + 2 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the second position.

Windows + Alt + 3 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the third position.

Windows + Alt + 4 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the fourth position.

Windows + Alt + 5 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the fifth position.

Windows + Alt + 6 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the sixth position.

Windows + Alt + 7 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the seventh position.

Windows + Alt + 8 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the eighth position.

Windows + Alt + 9 – Open the action bar settings list for the application pinned to the start bar in the ninth position.

Windows + Tab – Cycle through recently open or used applications/windows.

Windows + Ctrl + B – Switch to the application/window that showed a notification.

Windows + Up Arrow – Maximise the current window.

Windows + Down Arrow – Minimise the current window.

Windows + Left Arrow – (if Split) Maximise the window that is being displayed on the left side of the screen.

Windows + Right Arrow – (if Split) Maximise the window that is being displayed on the right side of the screen.

Windows + Home – Minimise all but the currently active window.

Windows + Spacebar – Choose language and keyboard layout options.

Windows + Ctrl + Spacebar – Choose a previous selection option for language and keyboard layout.

Windows Key + X, U, I / U / R / H / S Shut Down Windows

You can shut Windows down with a few button clicks. It all starts with Windows key + X to open the Quick Access Menu, followed by the U key to expand the Shutdown or sign out options. Finally, press I to sign out, U to shut down, R to restart, H to hibernate, and S to sleep.

Google Chrome & Mozilla Firefox Shortcuts

CTRL + [Tab #1-9] – Jump To Open Tabs

CTRL + TAB Or CTRL + SHIFT + TAB – Move Through Tabs

CTRL + F4 - Close Tab. A quick, mouseless way to close a tab.

CTRL + SHIFT + T - Open Closed Tab/S. Did you accidentally close that tab? Restore it using this key combination.

SPACEBAR Or SHIFT + SPACEBAR - Scroll PageDown Or PageUpGive your mouse wheel a break and use the spacebar to move up and down a website.

F11 - Toggle Full Screen. Quickly change into full-screen mode

PowerPoint

Alt + H, F, S - Change the font size for selected text

ALT + N, P - Insert a picture

ALT + H, S, H - Insert a shape

ALT + G, H - Select a theme

ALT + H, L - Select a slide layout

OneNote

CTRL + M - Open a new OneNote window

CTRL + ALT + D - Dock the OneNote windows

SHIFT + F10 - Bring up the context menu for anything currently in focus

Outlook

CTRL + SHIFT + M - New message

ALT + H, R, P - Reply

ALT + H, F, W - Forward

ALT + S - Send

ALT + N, A, F - Insert File

Word

CTRL + W - Close active window or document

CTRL + SHIFT + A - Format all letters as capitals

ALT, F, A - Save as

ALT, S, T, I - Insert Table of Contents

ALT, W, F - Full-Screen Mode

Create Your Own Desktop Keyboard Trick

Are there folders or applications you need a lot? Why not create your own keyboard shortcut to quickly access these tools.

Note: This will only work for shortcuts located on your desktop!

First, you need to create an actual desktop shortcut. In Windows 10, this has become a little more tricks. Right-click on the application in its program folder or send it from the Start Menu to the Taskbar and SHIFT + right-click its Taskbar icon, then select Create Shortcut from the context menu.

Make sure the shortcut sits on your desktop. Now right-click the shortcut and select Properties. You should see a line that says Shortcut Key: None. Click that line and then click a letter on your keyboard, for example, P. This will create a shortcut, here CTRL + ALT + P.

 

And there you go, now you have your own personal shortcut key.