Efficiency is crucial in the digital world. If you are a regular typist, learning the keyboard shortcuts is a must. Whether you use laptops for personal or professional purposes, mastering keyboard shortcuts will be a game-changer. So, we have written a comprehensive article on Windows keyboard shortcuts that will save time and improve your productivity. You will learn how to combine different hotkeys to get the desired result.
Why Should You Learn Windows Keyboard Shortcuts?
Before mastering the shortcuts, you must understand the keyboard layout. Make sure you have solid knowledge about the location of each key. From the numeric keypad to the spacebar, you should be familiar with everything to manage your workflow.
Windows keyboard shortcuts involve using 2 or more keys at a time. You can take a particular action when you press multiple keys simultaneously. Using the shortcuts eliminates the need to browse options and menus. From basic copy/paste to Windows management, everything can be done through shortcuts.
Every second matters in a professional world. So, if you can efficiently use the hotkeys, you can accomplish your tasks quickly. For example, hotkeys let you toggle between applications during a slide presentation.
Keyboard shortcuts also allow you to improve accuracy in every action. You do not need to move your focus from the screen to the mouse. You can avoid moving your hands repeatedly to save time.
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Basic Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Navigation
Navigating the interface of the Windows Operating System is easy with fundamental shortcuts.
Keyboard shortcuts to-
Minimize the open windows- Win + D
Switch between applications- Alt + Tab
Open the Start menu- Ctrl + Esc
Lock your PC- Win + L
Close an application- Alt + F4
Keyboard Shortcuts to Manage Files and Folders
A few key combinations will make file management easier.
Remove the selected items without transferring them to the Recycle Bin- Shift + Del
Rename a file- F2
Open a File Explorer and access files- Win + E
Select everything in an active window- Ctrl + A
Undo actions- Ctrl + Z
Redo actions- Ctrl + Y
Copy and paste- Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V
Other Advanced Shortcuts for Windows Users
Access the Run dialog box- Win + R
Create a folder in your chosen directory- Ctrl + Shift + N
System Properties Window- Win + Pause
Task Manager- Ctrl + Esc + Shift
Toggle color filters- Win + Ctrl + C
Quick Settings panel (Windows 11)- Win + A
Access the Settings app- Win + I
Show/hide the desktop- Win + D
Keyboard Shortcuts for Web Browsing
Open a browser tab- Ctrl + T
Close the tab- Ctrl + W
Reload the browser page- Ctrl + R
Zoom in and out (text and image) – Ctrl + Plus Key and Ctrl + Minus Key
Reset zoom- Ctrl + Zero key
Bookmark the site- Ctrl + D
Open the recently closed tab- Ctrl + Shift + T
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for Special Characters
Sometimes, it is time-consuming to find special characters from your keyboard and menu. A combination of keys will help you type those special characters.
©- Copyright symbol- Alt + 0169
¢- Cent symbol- Alt + 0162
¿- An inverted question mark- Alt + 0169
°- The degree symbol- Alt + 0176
™- The trademark symbol- Alt + 0153
€- The euro sign- Alt + 0128
Use Built-In Keyboard Shortcuts
Although we have provided a comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts, many applications with a menu bar layout have built-in keyboard shortcut prompts. You can find these prompts in the File menu bar’s dropdown menus.
For example, if you have opened the File menu in an application, every command like ‘Print’ and Save’ has a related shortcut. It is an intuitive way to remember shortcuts associated with the application.
The application-oriented shortcuts will improve your efficiency in using the program. So, master the system-wide shortcuts for your daily needs. You will find it easy to do various digital tasks.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Emojis
If you like to add emojis during a conversation, use the keyboard shortcuts.
🙂 or :)- A smiling face
🙁 or :(- A sad face
😉 or ;)- Wink
<3- Red heart
:O- Surprise
:-\ or :\- Disappointment
😀 or :D- A big smile
It is easy to add emojis using your smartphone. But, when you use a Windows computer, these keyboard shortcuts will be useful.
Conclusion
You can do a lot of tasks using your keyboard. So, it is important to understand the common Windows keyboard shortcuts to save time and effort. Even when your mouse is not working, you can continue doing your activities with the hotkeys.
However, keyboard shortcuts are not the only way to improve productivity. Your laptop must have a proper setup to make you productive.
