From the beginning of Windows OS, it has remained a very versatile OS that almost covers every age segment. Also, it makes the use of your PC/Notebook very easy as its working is relatively easy to understand. It provides ease of use in different ways, one of which is keyboard shortcuts.
Generally, keyboard shortcuts are usually keys or key combinations that provide an alternate way to do a task that you typically do with the mouse. In simple words, these keys or key combinations eliminate the use of a mouse and are a quick method to navigate and execute programs in Windows OS.
Common Computer keyboard shortcut keys
| Shortcut Keys | Function | Description |
| Ctrl + C | Copy | For copying files, words, or anything in Windows. It would duplicate the file. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut | For moving a file from one place to another. It would delete the file from the existing location. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste | For pasting the copied (or cut) file or object to a specific place. |
| F11 or Windows Key + Up Arrow | Maximize Window | It would maximize the Window of the currently open application or folder. |
| Windows Key + Down Arrow | Minimize Window | It would minimize the Window of the currently open application or folder. |
| Alt + Spacebar | Window Menu | On pressing these keys, a menu will appear that lets you move, maximize, minimize, and close the current windows. |
| Windows Key + Tab | Opens Task View | Task View is a task switcher, allowing a user to quickly locate an open window, hide all windows and show the desktop. |
| Windows Key + D | Display or Hide Desktop | Pressing this key combination while in a window will display the desktop. On the desktop, pressing these keys will take you back to the window. |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open apps | On pressing these keys together, the Switcher UI pops up, letting you switch between opened windows. |
| Windows Key + X | Open Quick Link Menu | A brief menu will open in which some advanced system tools like event viewer, device manager, disk management, computer management, and task manager are listed. |
| Windows Key + L | Lock the Windows | It would lock your notebook/PC. Enter your password to log in to Windows. |
| Alt + F | Open File Menu | These shortcut keys will open the File menu of the current application (primarily found in Office applications) will appear, which allows you to open, save and close a document or image. It also consists of printing and many related options. |
| Alt + E | Open Edit Menu | Edit menu usually consists of standard editing tasks, including cutting, copying, and pasting text and images and undoing or redoing changes. |
| F1 | Open Help Window | Pressing this key in a program will open the Help window, containing information on how to use that specific application and its function. |
| F2 | Rename File or Folder | By pressing this key, you can rename the selected file or folder. |
| F5 | Refresh Window | Pressing this key will refresh the current program window. |
| Ctrl + D | Bookmark the Current Page | Pressing this key combination will bookmark the current page in the Browser. |
| Ctrl + N | New/Blank Document or New Tab | A new and blank document will open in Office applications by pressing these keys. In browsers, the new Tab will open by pressing these keys. |
| Ctrl + O | Open File | The Open File dialog box will appear in a program. |
| Ctrl + A | Select All Text or File/Folder in a Window | It will select all the text in Office applications. In a Window, it will select all the files or folders. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold Text | It will change the selected text to be bold in the document. |
| Ctrl + I | Italic Text | It will change the selected text to be Italics in the document. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline Text | It will underline the selected text in the document. |
| Ctrl + F | Find Window | It will open the Find Window for the current document or window. |
| Ctrl + S | Save File | It will save the current document file. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the Action | You can undo the last action you did on Window through this key combo. |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo the Action | This key combination restores any actions that were previously undone using an undo. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert Hyperlink in Text | It will insert a hyperlink on selected text in a document. |
| Ctrl + P | Print Page or Document | It will print the current page or document. |
| Home | Beginning of Current Line | This will take the text cursor to the beginning of the current line. |
| End | End of Current Line | This will take the text cursor to the end of the current line. |
| Ctrl + Home | Beginning of Document | Takes the text cursor to the start of the document. |
| Ctrl + End | End of Document | Takes the text cursor to the end of the document. |
| Shift + Home | Highlight Text to Line Beginning | Highlight the text from the current position (of text cursor) to the existing line’s beginning. |
| Shift + End | Highlight Text to Line End | Highlight the text from the current position (of text cursor) to the existing line’s end. |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move Text Cursor to Left | Move the Text Cursor one word to the left at a time. |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move Text Cursor to Right | Move the Text Cursor one word to the right at a time. |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open Start Menu | Pressing these keys together will open the Start Menu. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager | Pressing these keys together will open the Task Manager. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Esc | Lock, Switch User, and Task Manager menu | A menu will appear in which you have the following options: Lock, Switch User, Task Manager |
| Alt + F4 | Close the Window | It will close the currently opened Window. |
| Alt + Enter | Open Properties Menu of File/Folder | A properties menu will pop up for the selected file or folder. |
| Windows Key + A | Notification Bar | Notification Bar will appear on the right side |
| Windows Key + W | Windows Ink Work-space | Windows Ink Workspace will be open on pressing these keys together |
| Windows Key + I | Windows Setting | Windows settings will open when pressing these keys. |
| Ctrl + Plus (+) | Zoom In | It will zoom in on the currently open document, image, or webpage. |
| Ctrl + Minus (-) | Zoom Out | It will zoom out the currently open document, image, or webpage. |
| Ctrl + L | Enter URL or File Path in Browser | By pressing this key combination, you can enter the URL or File’s Path in the browser. |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize All Windows | It will minimize all the currently opened Windows |
| Windows Key + Shift + M | Undo Minimize All Windows | It will undo all the minimized windows. |
