Try These Handy Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10

Personally, I prefer to use the keyboard whenever I can, instead of reaching for the mouse and clicking. For me, it's just faster and more natural. But keyboard shortcuts can also be important if you're prone to repetitive stress syndrome or have tendonitis (like me). Visually impaired users may find keyboard shortcuts easier than tracking the position of a mouse cursor and reading tiny print on submenus or tabs. And more than once, I've found myself trying to navigate Windows on a computer where the mouse was missing, broken or wouldn't work due to a software driver problem.

There are 100 or more Windows keyboard shortcuts built into the operating system. They’re also available in Windows accessory programs such as Paint, Notes, Wordpad, and third party web browsers and office software. Below are some of the most useful Windows keyboard shortcuts. If you try each one, I'm sure you'll find a few that you'll want to commit to memory as time-savers! If you print them and keep a list near your computer, you can train yourself to use them. Let's dig in...

Shortcuts for Select, Copy & Paste

• Ctrl+A: selects all items in a document or window
• Ctrl+C: or Ctrl+Insert copies the selected item(s) to the Clipboard while leaving them in place
• Ctrl+X: cuts the selected items and copies them to the Clipboard
• Ctrl+V: or Shift-Insert pastes the contents of the Clipboard into the current document at the cursor's current location

Shortcuts for Cursor Positioning

Press the Ctrl key all by itself (once or several times) and a circular indicator will appear on the screen where the mouse cursor is positioned. I use this ALL THE TIME, because I'm always losing track of the mouse curcor. If this doesn't work, see this page to enable this feature.

• Ctrl+right-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word in a document
• Ctrl+left-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word in a document
• Ctrl+down-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
• Ctrl+up-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
• Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the top of a document or web page.
• Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the bottom of a document or web page.
• Ctrl+F moves the cursor to the Find input box
• Ctrl+H opens the Find/Replace dialog box (word processors only)
• Alt+D moves the cursor to the address bar (web browsers only)
• TAB key moves the cursor to the next field in a web form

Shortcuts for Selecting Items

• Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key selects a block of text one word at a time
• Shift with an arrow key lets you select individual items at random
• Delete key or Ctrl+D deletes the selected item(s) to the Recycle Bin
• Shift+Delete deletes the selected item(s) without moving them to the Recycle Bin

Shortcuts for Undo and Redo

• Ctrl+Z: undoes the last action
• Ctrl+Y: redoes the last undone action

Shortcuts for Function Keys

• F1: displays context-sensitive Help files and opens the Search Help dialogue box.
• F2: renames the current item
• F3: opens the Search dialogue to find a file or folder
• Shift+F3: will toggle selected text between all capitals or first letter capitals (word processor)
• Ctrl+F4: will close current tab
• Alt+F4: will close current program
• F5: will refresh the page (browser only)
• Ctrl+F5: force refresh the page (browser only)
• F11: Enter/exit full-screen mode in most browsers.

Miscellaneous Useful Shortcuts

• Alt+Tab: cycles through the open applications
• Alt+Enter: displays the Properties of a selected item
• Alt+F4: closes the current application or window
• Alt+Spacebar: opens the shortcut menu for the active window, i. e., Restore, Minimize, Close...
• Ctrl+Shift+Esc: opens the Windows Task Manager
• Ctrl+Mouse Wheel: changes the zoom level

Windows Logo Key Shortcuts

Few users know the function of the Windows Logo key (also called the Start button), which bears the four-part Windows logo. It actually activates a whole new set of keyboard shortcuts:

• Windows key opens the Start menu
• Windows key + A: open the Action Center.
• Windows key + D: displays the desktop
• Windows key + E: opens File Explorer
• Windows key + I: Open the Settings menu.
• Windows key + L: locks your computer or lets you switch users
• Windows key + M: minimizes all open windows
• Windows key + Shift + M: restores all minimized windows
• Windows key + Ctrl + M: open the Magnifier app
• Windows key + R: open the Run dialogue box
• Windows key + U: open the Ease Of Access Center
• Windows key + V: open the Clipboard app
• Windows key + X: open the secret Start menu. (Try it!)
• Windows key + .: open the Emojis window
• Windows key + Up Arrow: maximize selected window.
• Windows key + Down Arrow: minimize selected window.
• Windows key + Pause key: display the System Properties dialogue box
• Windows key + PrtScn: take a screenshot
• Windows key + Shift + S: open the Snip and Sketch tool

Do you have a keyboard shortcut to share? Post your comment or question below…