Let your fingers do the copying

There are some great keyboard tricks to use to navigate Windows, and some other common ones that work with many of your favorite apps. The mouse is great and all, but sometimes these are faster. Give them a try!

Common Windows keyboard shortcuts

Keystroke

What it does

Windows logo key   + R

Opens the Run command

Windows logo key   + S

Opens Search

Windows logo key   + E

Opens File Explorer

Alt + Tab

Opens Task Switcher, moving forward with each press of Tab, switching to that window on release

Shift + Alt + Tab

Opens Task Switcher, moving backward with each press of Tab, switching to that window on release

Windows logo key   + Tab

Switches to Task View, selected window will return with focus

Windows logo key   + Up arrow

Moves up through the sequence of Minimized > Windowed > Maximized for the focused window

Windows logo key   + Down arrow

Moves down through the sequence of Maximized > Windowed > Minimized for the focused window

Windows logo key   + M

Minimizes all windows

Windows logo key   + D

Hides or unhide the desktop

Windows logo key   + I

Opens Settings

 

Common app shortcuts

Note: These are common shortcuts that work most of the time, but they may not work in every single app. Check the documentation for your app if you have further questions.

Keystroke

What it does

Ctrl + X

Cut

Ctrl + C

Copy

Ctrl + V

Paste

Ctrl + A

Select all

F1

Help

Ctrl + N

New document

Ctrl + P

Print

Ctrl + Z

Undo

Alt + F4

Close program