Using keyboard shortcuts is often very helpful in performing tasks faster and easier. Indeed, on several occasions, you have used the famous “Ctrl + c” and “Ctrl + v” in your school or university work to optimize your time.
But did you know that there are other keyboard shortcuts that you can use to perform many more functions? You will see that it is not necessary to spend long hours in front of the computer to deliver a good job, with the combinations that we will present to you, you will be able to optimize your time and work.
Another point to keep in mind is that not all keyboard combinations work for the same applications. For example, some Photoshop shortcuts may not work in Word or other apps. Likewise, several others can be considered universal since they work on most platforms. Identify these shortcuts and get the most out of your keyboard!
Location of the most common keys
We know that your main interest is to know the keyboard shortcuts with Windows. However, for you to use the commands we will share with you in this article, you must know the location of the most used keys for the shortcuts.
Below, we will show you where the most used keys for keyboard shortcuts are located:
Alt: It is located to the left side of the space bar.
Alt Gr: Although its name is similar to the previous key, it cannot be used for the same purposes. This is located to the right side of the space bar.
Ctrl: This is one of the most used keys for the shortcuts we will present. It is usually located in the lower-left corner of the keyboard.
Enter: This is a very popular and frequently used key. It is usually located in the center section of the keyboard.
Shift: This key allows you to place or remove capital letters and can be found at the right-center of the keyboard.
Tab: This key can be found just above “shift” in the left-center section.
Shift: Another of the most used shortcut keys, you can find it just below the “enter” key. It is also located in the center section of the keyboard.
Windows: This key can be found quickly since it has the Windows logo and enters the main menu. It is located at the bottom left of the keyboard, very close to the space bar.
Keyboard shortcuts using Windows + “letters.”
Indeed, there are many keyboard shortcuts that we can use to reduce the work time and optimize the tasks that we do on our computers. For this reason, so that you can learn them in a faster way, we will first introduce you to the commands that use Windows + “letters.”
Windows + A: This keyboard shortcut will allow you to access the activity center.
Windows + B: The focus will be taken to the system tray using this command.
Windows + C: It is used to access the Cortana voice assistant.
Windows + D: This keyboard command is used to view the desktop.
Windows + E: It is used to open the file explorer.
Windows + F: This command is used to enter the opinion center.
Windows + G: With this keyboard shortcut, you will open the game bar.
Windows + H: It is used to initiate the dictation.
Windows + I: It is used to enter the section of Configuration.
Windows + J: It is used to enter Windows suggestions.
Windows + K: With this shortcut of the keyboard, you will be able to accede to the connecting panel.
Windows + L: Use this command to block the equipment.
Windows + M: When using this combination of the keyboard, you will minimize the windows you are using.
Windows + P: With this command, you will navigate by diverse visualization modes on a second screen.
Windows + R: This command allows you to access the Run dialog box.
Windows + S: With this shortcut of the keyboard, you will enter the searches.
Windows + T: When using these keys, you will be able to move by the applications of the taskbar.
Windows + U: This shortcut is used to access the accessibility center.
Windows + V: This command is used to open the Clipboard.
Windows + X: This shortcut is used to open the link menu.
Windows + Z: With this shortcut, you will see available commands on full screen.
Keyboard shortcuts using Windows + “Ctrl.”
Great, now that you know the functions performed by keyboard shortcuts using Windows + “letters,” we will show you other very popular commands that also employ the Windows key, but add the “ctrl” key. Do you want to know them? We will introduce them to you.
Windows + Ctrl + Enter: Using this command, you will activate the Narrator option.
Windows + Ctrl + F4: This keyboard shortcut is used to close the active virtual desktop.
Windows + Ctrl + D: It is used to open another virtual desktop.
Windows + Ctrl + F: This command allows you to search for computers.
Windows + Ctrl + Q: It is used to access quick assistance.
Windows + Ctrl + cursor Left: You use this command to move to the left desktop.
Windows + Ctrl + cursor Right: With this keyboard shortcut, you can move to the right desktop.
Other keyboard shortcuts with the Windows key
As you may have noticed, there are a lot of keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows key to access various functions in a faster way. But, although we have already introduced you to several of them, there are still more, which are not so common, but very useful.
Windows + Alt + D: This command displays the calendar.
Windows + Alt + G: With this keyboard shortcut, you can start screen recording.
Windows + Alt + R: This is used to stop screen recording.
Windows + Shift + S: This keyboard shortcut lets you take screenshots of a certain area.
Windows + cursor up: Used to split the screen.
Windows + cursor down: You use this command to minimize the window.
Windows + left cursor: With this shortcut, you will split the window to the left side.
Windows + cursor right: The window will be moved to the right side when using this command.
Windows + Shift + M: This combination will allow you to restore the minimized windows.
Windows + Shift + S: It is used to take screenshots of a window section.
Windows + Shift + V: It is used to access the notifications.
Windows + Shift + cursor down: This command allows you to minimize the open windows on the desktop.
Windows + “+”: By using this combination, you will be able to zoom in with the magnifying glass.
Windows + “.”: This keyboard shortcut is used to access the emoji panel.
Windows + “,”: This command will allow you to see the desktop.
Windows + “-“: It allows you to zoom out with the magnifying glass.
Windows + Tab: It is used to access the task center.
Windows + space bar: It allows you to change the language.
Windows + Print Screen: Used to print screens.
Additional keyboard shortcuts
Possibly there are more keyboard shortcuts with the Windows key, but, definitively, you already know the great majority. However, you should keep in mind that not all keyboard shortcuts require the Windows key, as others start using the “alt,” “ctrl,” etc., key.
As I have shown in the previous sections, these commands will help you reduce the time you need to execute some functions necessary for your work or tasks, so do not miss the list of additional keyboard shortcuts that we will show you below. As a free essay writer, I use the whole set of these combinations regularly, just as I use the combinations for Word. But that’s a topic for another article.
An additional fact to consider before presenting the key combinations is that there are countless combinations, and each application has its own. Therefore, the same combination can perform different functions depending on where it is applied.
This means that not all the shortcuts presented will serve in the same way in the different applications where you use them.
Alt + D: With this keyboard command, you can select the URL found in the address bar.
Alt + P: This shortcut displays the preview pane.
Alt + tab: Used to move to another application or window.
Alt + F4: Used to close the active window.
Alt + Esc: Allows you to move through the active windows.
Alt + Enter: This keyboard shortcut is used to view properties.
Alt + Spacebar: Allows you to access the contextual menu.
Ctrl + A: This combination is used to make a general selection.
Ctrl + C: It is very popular and is used to make copies of texts, images, etc.
Ctrl + D: It is used to send to the recycle garbage can.
Ctrl + E: Used to select the search box.
Ctrl + N: This command is used to open a new window.
Ctrl + V: This is another popular command used to paste the copied content with the shortcut “ctrl+c.”
Ctrl + W: It is used to close the active window.
Ctrl + X: Used to cut the content.
Ctrl + Y: Allows you to redo the last changes.
Ctrl + Z: With this command, you can undo the last change.
Ctrl + Esc: Used to access Home.
Ctrl + Shift + E: This keyboard shortcut displays the subfolders.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: It is used to open the task manager.
Ctrl + Shift + N: This command creates a new folder.
F2: Allows you to modify the name of an element.
F3: It is used to search for content in the file explorer.
F4: This command is used to view the list in the explorer address bar.
F5: This command is used to update the active windows.
F6: It allows to move through the elements of the screen.
F10: Used to activate the menu bar.
Shift + Delete: Used when you delete a file without sending it to the recycle garbage can.
Super! You already know a lot of keyboard shortcuts that will allow you to work more optimally and help you get the most out of the keyboard so that you do not load all the work to the mouse.
