The world moves fast, and technology moves even faster. If seconds are valuable to you, then using these quick and easy keyboard shortcuts may be helpful! Suggestion from DP: Make an easy access list of the shortcuts you think that you’ll use the most, and print them out for a quick look.

GENERAL KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

ALT + F4 – Quit an active program / Shut down Windows

ALT + TAB – Hold down the ALT key and hit tab to cycle through open windows.

CTL + SHIFT + ESC – Bring up the Windows Task Manager

CTL + ESCAPE – Display the Start menu

CTL + ALT + DEL – Change password, Task Manager, depends on which version of Windows is running

SHIFT + TAB – tab backwards through a form

CTRL + C – Copy

CTRL + X – Cut

CTRL + V – Paste

CTRL + Z – Undo

F1 – Help menu

CRTL+TAB – Navigate tabs on a tabbed screen

FILE & DESKTOP SHORTCUTS

Hold SHIFT while inserting a CD – Prevents the CD from “auto running”

If an item is selected:

CTRL while dragging a file – Copies the file

CTRL + SHIFT while dragging a file – Creates a shortcut to the file

SHIFT + DELETE – Deletes an item without sending it to the recycle bin.

ALT + ENTER – Display a file’s properties.

F2 – To rename the file

In Windows Explorer:

LEFT ARROW – Collapse the current selection if it is expanded

NUM LOCK + MINUS SIGN (-) – Collapse the selected folder

RIGHT ARROW – Expand the current selection if it is collapsed -Or- Select the first subfolder

NUM LOCK + * – Expand all folders below the current selection

NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN (+) – Expand the selected folder

F6 – Switch between left and right panes

BACKSPACE – View the folder one level up

ALT + RIGHT ARROW – Move forward to a previous view

ALT + LEFT ARROW – Move backward to a previous view

WINDOWS KEY SHORTCUTS

The Windows key can be used with other keys to act as a keyboard shortcut for faster access to menu commands.

Win key + R will open the Start menu’s Run box

Win key + F will open the Start menu’s Find window

Win key + E will quickly launch Explorer

Win key + Pause/Break will open the System Properties window

Win key + M will Minimize all windows

Win key + Shift + M will undo Minimize all windows

Win key + D will switch between minimizing all open programs and showing them all

Win key + Tab will cycle through items on the taskbar

Win key by itself will open the Start menu