Applies to: anyone who uses a computer or a laptop with a keyboard.

I use Keyboard shortcuts every day at work, most of them I use without even thinking about them. But it occurred to me the other day that there must be quite a few useful ones that I don’t know about. So I’ve decided to put together a list of some that I currently use and some that I’ve found that could be really useful:

(Most of these shortcuts can be used in any program but watch out – if you’re trying one in a program for the first time, it might not do what you expect it to!)

Ctrl + Z = Undo

Ctrl + X = Cut

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + V = Paste

__________________________________________________

Ctrl + B = Makes the highlighted text Bold

Ctrl + I = Makes the highlighted text Italic

Ctrl + U = Makes the highlighted text Underlined

Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow = Moves the cursor forward or back one word.

Ctrl + Up or Down Arrow = Moves the cursor forward or back one paragraph.

__________________________________________________

Ctrl + N = Opens a new document or web browser window

Ctrl + A = Selects all the text or all the pictures or files in a folder

Ctrl + S = Saves the document or photo you’ve been editing, saves a link to the webpage you’re looking at

Ctrl + P = Opens the print options box

__________________________________________________

Ctrl + D = bookmarks the current web page in Chrome and Firefox, saves the current web page as a Favourite in Edge

Ctrl + F = brings up a little search box so you can search for a specific word in a document or on a webpage

Ctrl + G = does the same as Ctrl + F

Ctrl + H = opens up your browsing history (web browsers only)

Ctrl + J = opens your downloads folder (web browsers only)

Ctrl + K = This one does a couple of different things, depending on the program or app you’re in. In a document or email, it creates a link. Or in a web browser, it opens up a quick Google search box in the address bar.

Ctrl + L = highlights the web address in all web browsers

Ctrl + R = refreshes the web page

Ctrl + T = opens a new tab in all web browsers

Ctrl + Shift + N = opens a private web browser window in Chrome and Edge

__________________________________________________

Windows key + I = opens the Settings app in Windows 10

Windows key + E = opens File Explorer in Windows 10

Alt + Tab = switches between open programs

Ctrl + Shift + Esc = opens Task Manager

Windows Key + F = opens search for files and folders

Alt + Esc = switches between apps and programs in the order they were opened

Ctrl + Esc = opens the Start menu

Windows Key + Up Arrow = maximizes the current window

Windows Key + M = minimizes all windows

Shift + Windows Key + M = restores the windows that were minimized with the previous shortcut

Windows + F1 = opens Windows Help and Support

Windows + Tab = opens Task View

Windows + .   (the full stop button) = gives emojis 😎 and symbols ®. (Windows 10 only)

OK I got a bit carried away… sorry!

These are just a few of the ones that you might need, please feel free to add any in the comments below and I’ll update the list to include them.

Thanks

Jess 🙂

PS. there are loads more here, including lots of program-specific ones.

You may also like: