10 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

There are 1,000s of keyboard shortcuts that can be used when using Windows to do a lot of very cool things.

Lots of people use keyboard keystrokes for a variety of reasons. People who are blind use these keystrokes to use the computer completely without a mouse. People with repetitive strain injuries use keyboard keystrokes & keyboard only based navigation as an alternative method of controlling their computer. Some people use keyboard keystrokes & keyboard based navigation as a preventative approach to avoid future mouse related injuries. All in all, regardless of your motivation or need, keyboard shortcuts are simply a much faster and more productive way to do a lot of things on your PC.

What are the top 10 keystrokes everyone should know when working in Windows?

There are the tried and true keystrokes like cut (Ctrl+X), Copy (Ctrl+C) & paste (Ctrl+V). There are the essential navigation keys like Move to next window (Alt+Tab), move to previous window (Alt+Shift+Tab), close current window (Alt+F4), move to next field (Tab) and move to previous field (Shift+Tab).  There is the F6 key which moves between sections of the windows UI (i.e. in Powerpoint the F6 key moves between the slide list, the slide view and the notes section of the PowerPoint screen).   There are a lot of new keystrokes in Windows 7 that do some cool things like Maximize the current window (Windows Key+Up Arrow) or Restore the current window (Windows Key+Down Arrow). There is the key for accessing the ribbon in the office suite (F10).

Microsoft publishes lists of all the hotkeys that are available in their products, here is a good starting place to learn more about the keyboard keystrokes available: Microsoft Windows 7 Hotkey List http://goo.gl/jif3

Which keys do you consider the most useful keys that everyone should know?
 

By Jeffrey

Developer, teacher, techie, Twit Jeffrey Is A Firm believer in the 3 Ts to happiness: 1) Tools 2) Toys 3) Tech. Interests: IT, mobile devices, assistive/adaptive technology, accessibility and inclusive technology.

2 comments

  1. It is frustrating that just when I think I have mastered several essential keystrokes to perform a task, Microsoft goes and update its program so that the keystrokes I know well don’t work anymore.For instance,in Word7 to make the screed larger, it’s Windows key and up arrow to name one change. The same thing can be said for many other programs in Word or Excell.But these keystrokes are just what I have been looking for since I first laid hands on a computer. I can ramble on for world without end but who wants to listen to my effusive comments?

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