The Windows operating system is so ubiquitous now that it’s hard to believe the technology is only 30 years old. From its most basic beginnings as a computing interface, the Windows operating system has changed the way the world works.
What began as a very basic set of commands has evolved into a variety of functions available to the average user. But many of these functions lie buried in the menus of these programs, and some users aren’t inclined to drill down through the menus in order to be able to use all the functions. Ever helpful, the software designers at Microsoft have developed keyboard shortcuts in order to circumvent the sometimes laborious process of drilling down through menus to find a function.
The staff here at Lieberman Technologies has compiled a list of our favorite keyboard shortcuts to help you get the most from your Windows programs. All that’s required is to have some familiarity with the CTRL, ALT, and WIN keys.
Ready?
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl + S — Save current document
- Ctrl + O — Open a new document
- Ctrl + Z — Undo the last thing you did
- Alt + Backspace — Undo the last thing you did
- Ctrl + Y — Redo the last Undo
- Ctrl + A — Select the entire document
- Ctrl + X — Cut the selection and move it to the Clipboard
- Ctrl + C — Copy selection to Clipboard
- Ctrl + V — Paste from clipboard
- Ctrl + P — Open the print dialog box
- Ctrl + I — Toggle italics
- Ctrl + B — Toggle Bold
- Ctrl + U — Toggle underline
- Ctrl + F — Launch the search tool
- Ctrl + Home — Move to cursor to beginning of document
- Ctrl + End — Move cursor to end of document
- Shift + F10 — Open the right-click menu
- Alt + Tab — Cycles through open windows/desktop
- Win + Tab — Cycles through open windows/desktop in a 3D view
- Ctrl + Shift +Esc — Opens task manager
- Win + Space — Activates the aero desktop peek feature in Windows 7
- Win + D — Shows the desktop (minimizes all windows)
- Win + [0-9] — Toggles visibility of application in the taskbar (number correlates to order in taskbar)
- Win + M — Minimizes all windows on active monitor
- Win + D — Minimizes all windows on all monitors
- Win + [Left or Right arrow key] — Snaps active window to edge of screen in Windows 7
- Win + Down arrow key — Unsnaps the active window or minimizes it
- Ctrl + Alt + [arrow key] — Rotates screen orientation (support dependent on graphics card driver)
- Win + R — Opens a Run box
- Win + E — Opens Windows File Explorer
- Win + Up arrow key — Maximizes the active window
- Win + B — Moves focus to system tray
- Win + L — Locks the computer
- Win + F — Opens the search/find dialog window
- Win + P — Opens dual monitor configuration
- F1 — Opens Help in almost every Windows program
- Alt + Enter — Display the properties of the selected item
- F3 — Search for a file or folder
- Ctrl + Esc — Opens the Start Menu
- Win — Opens the Start Menu
- Alt + F4 — Closes the current window / application
Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
- Alt + D — Go to the Address bar
- Ctrl + Enter — Add www. before and .com after what you’re typing in the Address bar and go to that site
- F5 or Ctrl + R — Refresh Current webpage
- Ctrl + F5 — Refresh current webpage and clears browser cache
- Esc — Stop downloading a webpage
- F3 — Show or hide the Search bar
- Ctrl + F — Open the Find dialog box
- Ctrl + G — Show or hide the feed bar
- Ctrl + H — Show or hide the history bar
- Ctrl – I — Show of hide the favorites bar
- F11 — Toggle full screen mode
- Ctrl + N — Open a new browser window
- Alt + Home — Go to your home page
- Ctrl + O — Open the open dialog box to go to another website
- Ctrl + L — Highlight the URL in the address bar
- Ctrl + W — Closes the current tab
Outlook 2010 Keyboard Shortcuts
- Alt + N, then A, F — Opens attach file dialog for the message
- Alt + N, then A, S — Add Signature to the message
There you have it, our favorite keyboard shortcuts here at Lieberman Technologies. Of course, what’s a list of shortcuts without a little instruction for playing a nifty prank on your less tech-savvy coworkers? Pressing the CTRL + ALT + down arrow keys will turn the screen orientation upside down. Once you’ve had a good chuckle at the shock on a coworker’s face when they see their screen upside down, the CTRL + ALT + up arrow keys will turn the screen orientation right side up again.
After all, even though keyboard shortcuts can help you to work more quickly and efficiently, there should be some room in the workplace for humor.
Do you have a favorite keyboard shortcut that we didn’t include? Please share it in the comments below.