Introduction
In this post, we will discuss various keyboard shortcuts in Windows or combinations of keys used on a day-to-day basis on the Windows Operating System. People and professionals generally don’t use these shortcuts regular basis but believe me they are worth using. They play a significant role in the day-to-day life of both general users and professionals. They also provide a faster and more efficient way to perform various tasks, saving time and improving productivity. I personally prefer and love using shortcut keys on a daily basis during my tasks.
Below are the tables based on their categories:
Keyboard shortcuts involving Control & Shift Keys
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| Ctrl + A | Select all the items on the window |
| Ctrl + B | Mark the selected content as bold. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item(s). |
| Ctrl + D | Delete the selected item(s) and move them to the recycle bin. |
| Ctrl + E | Open the Search option in most of the applications |
| Ctrl + F | Open the search dialog box. |
| Ctrl + H | Open History (mostly in the browsers). |
| Ctrl + I | Mark the selected content in italic. |
| Ctrl + J | Open the download progress window (mostly in the browsers). |
| Ctrl + L | Select the content in the address bar (mostly in the browsers). |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new file or window |
| Ctrl + O | Open file explorer to select/upload file(s) to the browser. |
| Ctrl + P | Open the print dialog window. |
| Ctrl + R | Reload or Refresh the browser window. |
| Ctrl + S | Save the file/content of the file. |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab (mostly in the browser) |
| Ctrl + U | Mark the selected content underline. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the copied item(s). |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current tab |
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item(s). |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo the change(s). |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the change(s). |
| Ctrl + Insert | Copy the selected item(s). |
| Shift + Insert | Paste the copied item(s). |
| Ctrl + Home | Move the cursor to the start of the line. |
| Ctrl + End | Move the cursor to the end of the line. |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move the cursor at the beginning of the next word. |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word. |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph. |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow | Select the next entire word. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow | Select the previous entire word. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move to the next tab (mostly in the browsers) |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move to the previous tab (mostly in the browsers) |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Open the closed tab or window (mostly in the browser) |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Entirely deletes the previous word. |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Move to the previous tab (mostly in the browsers and code editors) |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Move to the next tab (mostly in the browsers and code editors) |
| Ctrl + Plus (+) | Zoom in the page (in browsers) and increase the fonts (in editors) |
| Ctrl + Minus (-) | Zoom out the page (in browsers) and decrease the fonts (in editors) |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open Start Menu. |
| Ctrl + Shift | Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available. |
| Ctrl + Shift + B | Show bookmark bar (mostly in browsers) |
| Shift + Delete | Permanently deletes the selected item(s). |
| Shift + Right Arrow | Select the next single character. |
| Shift + Left Arrow | Select the previous single character. |
| Shift + Up Arrow | Select multiple lines upward. |
| Shift + Down Arrow | Select multiple lines downward. |
Keyboard shortcuts involving Windows key
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| Windows | Open or close Start Menu. |
| Win + A | Open Quick Settings. (Windows 11 and higher) |
| Win + B | Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner. |
| Win + C | Open Chat from Microsoft Teams. (Windows 11 and higher) |
| Win + D | Display and hide the desktop. |
| Win + E | Open the File Explorer |
| Win + F | Open Feedback Hub |
| Win + G | Open Xbox Game Bar when any game is open. |
| Win + H | Launch the voice typing option. (Windows 11 and higher) |
| Win + I | Open the Settings |
| Win + J | Set the focus to a Windows tip when it’s available. |
| Win + K | Open the Cast from Quick Setting |
| Win + L | Lock your computer or switch to a different user account. |
| Win + M | Minimize the open windows. |
| Win + N | Open OneNote |
| Win + O | Lock the orientation of the device. |
| Win + P | Choose a presentation display mode or connect to a wireless display |
| Win + R | Open the Run Dialog window. |
| Win + S | Open the Search |
| Win + T | Loop through all open or pinned applications on the taskbar. |
| Win + U | Open Display Settings |
| Win + V | Open Clipboard History |
| Win + W | Open the widgets |
| Win + X | Open quick Link Menu |
| Win + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop. |
| Win + Z | Open the snap layouts. |
| Win + Shift + S | Take a snapshot of your screen. |
| Win + , | Temporarily peek at the desktop. |
| Win + ; | Open the Emoji Panel. |
| Win + . | Open the Emoji Panel. |
| Win + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows on the desktop. |
| Win + Tab | Open the Task View. |
| Win + Up Arrow | Maximize the window or application. |
| Win + Down Arrow | Minimize the window or application. |
| Win + Right Arrow | Move the window or application to the right of the screen. |
| Win + Left Arrow | Move the window or application to the left of the screen. |
| Win + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout. |
| Win + number (1, 2, 3….9) | Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. |
| Win + Plus (+) | Open Magnifier application. |
| Alt + X + U + I | Sign Out from your account. |
| Alt + X + U + S | Sleep your computer. |
| Alt + X + U + U | Shut Down your computer. |
| Alt + X + U + R | Restart your computer. |
| Alt + X + T | Open the Task Manager. |
Keyboard shortcuts involving Alt key
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| Alt + Tab | Switch to the different applications. |
| Alt + A | Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested Actions menu. |
| Alt + D | Select the address bar in the browser. |
| Alt + E | Open Setting Menu in the browser. |
| Alt + F | Open Setting Menu in the browser. |
| Alt + P | Display the preview panel. |
| Alt + Esc | Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened. |
| Alt + Enter | Display the properties for the selected item. |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window. |
| Alt + Left arrow | Go back (mostly in the browsers) |
| Alt + Right arrow | Go forward (mostly in the browsers) |
| Alt + Page Up | Move up one screen. |
| Alt + Page Down | Move down one screen. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Tab | Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps. |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active application. |
| Alt + F4 | If you are on the desktop, it would bring shutdown options. |
| Alt + F8 | Show the password on the sign-in screen (mostly in the browsers). |
Keyboard shortcuts involving Function Key
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| F1 | Open Help Page. |
| F2 | Rename the selected item. |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. |
| F4 | Display the address bar list in File Explorer. |
| F5 | Refresh the active window. |
| F5 | Step into the function (in code editors). |
| F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. |
| F6 | Step over the command (in code editors). |
| F7 | Step Return to the function (in code editors). |
| F10 | Activate the Menu bar in the active app. |
| F11 | Make your window to the full screen. |
| F12 | Open Developer Tool in the browsers. |
Keyboard shortcuts Shortcuts in Youtube
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| K | To Play & Pause your video. |
| M | To Mute your video. |
| I | Turn your video screen into Mini-player. |
| T | Turn your video into Cinema Mode. |
| F | Turn your video into Full Screen. |
| Spacebar | Pause and Play your video. |
| Right Arrow | Forward your video for 5 seconds. |
| Left Arrow | Rewind your video for 5 seconds. |
Shortcuts in MS Excel
| Shortcut Keys | Actions |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Move to the last cell of the column having any content. |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Move to the first cell of the column having any content. |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move to the last cell of the row having any content. |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move to the first cell of the row having any content. |
| Tab | Move to the next cell in a row. |
| Shift + Tab | Move to the previous cell in a row. |
| Enter | Move to the next cell in a column. |
| Shift + Enter | Move to the previous cell in a column. |
| Shift + Spacebar | Select the entire row. |
| Ctrl + Spacebar | Select the entire column. |
| Ctrl + Minus (-) + R + Enter | Delete the entire row. |
| Ctrl + Minus (-) + C + Enter | Delete the entire column. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Plus (+) + R + Enter | Insert a row. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Plus (+) + C + Enter | Insert a column. |
| Ctrl + 0 | Hide the column. |
| Ctrl + 9 | Hide the row. |
| Alt + 1 | Toggle the Auto Save option. |
| Alt + 2 | Save the Excel file. |
| Alt + 3 | Undo Typing in the selected cell. |
| Alt + 4 | Undo Delete in the selected cell. |
| Alt + B | Check the file details. |
| Alt + Q | Search in the active sheet of the Excel file. |
| Alt + F | Open File Menu. |
| Alt + H | Open Home Menu. |
| Alt + N | Open Insert Menu. |
| Alt + P | Open Page Layout Menu. |
| Alt + M | Open Formula Menu. |
| Alt + A | Open Data Menu. |
| Alt + R | Open Review Menu. |
| Alt + W | Open View Menu. |
| Alt + Y1 | Open Automate Menu. |
| Alt + Y2 | Open Help Menu. |
| F2 | Start editing the selected cell. |
| Shift + F11 | Insert a new sheet in an Excel file. |
| Alt + H + D + S | Delete the current sheet of an Excel file. |
| Ctrl + Page Down | Move to the next sheet of an Excel file. |
| Ctrl + Page Up | Move to the previous sheet of an Excel file. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Open Format Cell Window. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Toggle Filter Option. |
Conclusion
So in this article, we have discussed various Keyboard Shortcuts in the Windows operating system. Overall, whether you’re a general user or a professional, incorporating keyboard shortcuts into your day-to-day tasks would significantly enhance your efficiency, save time, and make using the software more comfortable and accessible. It is worth investing time in learning and utilizing shortcut keys for the applications you frequently use to maximize your productivity.