keyboard shortcuts

 

🔹 General Shortcuts

  • Ctrl + C → Copy

  • Ctrl + X → Cut

  • Ctrl + V → Paste

  • Ctrl + Z → Undo

  • Ctrl + Y → Redo

  • Ctrl + A → Select all

  • Alt + Tab → Switch between open apps

  • Alt + F4 → Close current window/app

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager

🔹 Windows Key Shortcuts

  • Win + D → Show desktop / minimize all

  • Win + E → Open File Explorer

  • Win + L → Lock computer

  • Win + R → Run dialog box

  • Win + S → Search

  • Win + I → Open Settings

  • Win + Tab → Task View (see all open windows)

  • Win + Ctrl + D → Create new virtual desktop

  • Win + Ctrl + Left/Right → Switch between virtual desktops

  • Win + Arrow Keys → Snap windows (split screen multitasking)

🔹 File Explorer

  • Alt + Enter → Properties of selected file/folder

  • F2 → Rename selected file/folder

  • Ctrl + Shift + N → New folder

  • Backspace / Alt + Left Arrow → Go back

  • Alt + Up Arrow → Go to parent folder

🔹 Browser (Chrome/Edge/Firefox)

  • Ctrl + T → New tab

  • Ctrl + Shift + T → Reopen last closed tab

  • Ctrl + Tab → Switch tabs

  • Ctrl + W → Close current tab

  • Ctrl + L → Focus on address bar

  • Ctrl + D → Bookmark page

🔹 Power User

  • Win + X → Quick menu (Device Manager, Disk Management, etc.)

  • Win + Pause/Break → System properties

  • Win + Shift + S → Screenshot snip tool

  • Win + G → Xbox Game Bar (screen recording)

  • Win + P → Switch display/projector mode


🔹 Command & Terminal Power

  • Win + R → cmd → Open Command Prompt fast

  • Win + X, C → Open Command Prompt (Admin)

  • Ctrl + Shift + Enter (on Run dialog) → Run as Admin

  • F7 (in cmd) → Show history of commands

  • Alt + Enter (in cmd) → Full-screen terminal

  • Win + R → powershell → Open PowerShell

  • Win + R → wt → Open Windows Terminal

🔹 Navigation Without Mouse

  • Win + T → Cycle through taskbar apps

  • Win + 1/2/3... → Open app pinned to taskbar (by position)

  • Alt + D (File Explorer/Browser) → Jump to address bar

  • Tab + Arrow Keys → Move around menus without mouse

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Task Manager (kill apps like a hacker)

  • Alt + Space → Window menu (move, resize, minimize, etc.)

🔹 Windows Ninja Tricks

  • Win + Ctrl + Shift + B → Restart GPU driver (fix screen freeze without reboot)

  • Ctrl + Shift + N → Create new folder instantly

  • Shift + Delete → Permanently delete (bypass Recycle Bin)

  • Shift + Right Click (on file/folder) → “Open command window here” / hidden options

  • Win + Pause/Break → System properties (check specs super quick)

  • Win + R → msconfig → Boot/Startup settings

  • Win + R → regedit → Registry Editor (be careful ⚡)

  • Win + R → services.msc → Manage background services

🔹 Window / Multi-Tasking Control

  • Win + Arrow Keys → Snap window left/right/top/bottom

  • Win + Shift + Arrow Keys → Move window to another monitor

  • Win + Ctrl + Left/Right → Switch virtual desktops

  • Win + Ctrl + D → New virtual desktop

  • Win + Ctrl + F4 → Close virtual desktop

🔹 Stealth / Hacker Vibes

  • Win + L → Lock PC instantly when leaving desk

  • Ctrl + Alt + Del → Emergency security screen

  • Alt + F4 (on desktop) → Shutdown dialog (old school hacker move)

  • Win + G → Screen recording (Game Bar)

  • Win + Shift + S → Screenshot snip tool (copy to clipboard silently)

🔹 Pro Tip

Combine Run dialog (Win + R) with commands like:

  • cmd, powershell, wt → Terminals

  • taskmgr → Task Manager

  • compmgmt.msc → Computer Management

  • gpedit.msc → Group Policy Editor

  • eventvwr → Event Viewer

  • ncpa.cpl → Network connections

  • devmgmt.msc → Device Manager




Key Typical Action (Text Editing) Typical Action (Web / File Lists)
Home Moves the text cursor to the start of the current line. Scrolls/ jumps to the top of a page or list.
End Moves the text cursor to the end of the current line. Scrolls/ jumps to the bottom of a page or list.

Common Shortcuts with Home & End

  • Ctrl + Home → Go to the start of the document.
  • Ctrl + End → Go to the end of the document.
  • Shift + Home → Select text from the cursor to the start of the line.
  • Shift + End → Select text from the cursor to the end of the line.
  • Ctrl + Shift + Home / End → Select text to the start / end of the document.

On Laptops (without dedicated keys)

Some laptops share Home/End with other keys. You may need to press Fn + ← (Home) or Fn + → (End) depending on the keyboard layout.

Here are some “quiet but powerful” keys and combinations many people overlook—these don’t type letters, but they save time every day when you get used to them:

🔑 Navigation & Editing

Key / Combo Typical Effect Where It Helps
Ctrl + ← / → Jump one word left/right Writing, coding, docs
Ctrl + ↑ / ↓ Jump one paragraph up/down Long text editing
Ctrl + Backspace Delete the whole word left of cursor Fast text cleanup
Ctrl + Delete Delete the whole word right of cursor Draft editing
Shift + ← / → Select text by character Any editor
Ctrl + Shift + ← / → Select text word by word Highlighting chunks quickly
Ctrl + A Select All text/items Docs, folders
Ctrl + Home / End Jump to top/bottom of document Large files

📄 System & Window Management

Key / Combo Effect Notes
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps Hold Alt, tap Tab repeatedly
Win + Tab See all desktops / task view (Windows) Better overview than Alt+Tab
Win + D Show / hide desktop instantly Clean screen fast
Win + E Open File Explorer Quick file access
Win + Arrow Keys Snap windows left/right/up/down Side-by-side multitasking
Alt + F4 Close current window / app Faster than clicking X
Win + L Lock your PC Perfect when stepping away

🔍 Search & Shortcuts

Combo Effect
Win + S Open search instantly
Ctrl + F Find text in most apps & browsers
Ctrl + H Replace text (Word, editors)
Ctrl + Shift + T Re-open last closed tab in a browser
Ctrl + T New browser tab

💡 Mouse-Free Tricks

  • Space → Scrolls down a page; Shift + Space → Scrolls up.
  • Alt + Enter (File Explorer) → Open selected file’s properties.
  • F2 → Rename selected file/folder.
  • F5 → Refresh (browser, Explorer).