Keyboard Tips
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or key combinations that you can use on the keyboard of your computer to quickly complete a number of different activities. Using a shortcut instead of a mouse allows you to keep both hands on the keyboard, which often results in speedier work completion. Additionally, keyboard shortcuts are universal, so you may use many of the same shortcuts in a number of programs after you've learned them. For instance, you may accomplish the same actions in email, Facebook, and your blog by using the shortcuts that copy and paste text in word processor applications.
How to Perform Keyboard Shortcuts
A lot of keyboard shortcuts call for the sequential pressing of two or more keys.
How to Find Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are frequently located adjacent to menu items in apps. Sometimes you have to hover over a button to see its keyboard shortcut in programs like Microsoft Word.
Common Keyboard Shortcuts
See the following infographic to discover some of the most popular keyboard shortcuts:
CTRL + X = Cut
CTRL + C = Copy
CTRL + V = Paste
CTRL + A = Select All Text
CTRL + Z = Undo Action
CTRL + F = Find Word
CTRL + ALT + DEL = Quit frozen app
Windows Shortcuts
When working with text, files, apps, and the Internet, keyboard shortcuts can be useful. For the majority of keyboard shortcuts in Windows, utilize the Ctrl (Control) or Alt key.
Working with text
When working with text in word processors, email, and social networking apps (like Twitter), these keyboard shortcuts come in handy. They can assist you in carrying out frequently done actions, such as text bolding or copying and pasting.
Ctrl+X: Cut the selected text.
Ctrl+C: Copy the selected text.
Ctrl+V: Paste the copied or cut text.
Ctrl+A: Select all text on the page or in the active window.
Ctrl+B: Bold the selected text.
Ctrl+I: Italicize the selected text.
Ctrl+U: Underline the selected text.
Home: Skip to the beginning of the current line.
End: Skip to the end of the current line.
Ctrl+right arrow: Skip to the beginning of the next word. You can press the right arrow multiple times to skip several words.
Ctrl+left arrow: Skip to the beginning of the previous word. You can press the left arrow multiple times to skip several words.
Ctrl+Shift+right arrow: Select the next word.
Ctrl+Shift+left arrow: Select the previous word.
Working With Files and Applications
Keyboard shortcuts can be used to switch between apps and open them. With a file (such as a Microsoft Word document), shortcut keys can be used to locate words, make new files, and print.
Ctrl+Alt+Delete: Quit a frozen application. This keyboard shortcut opens the Task Manager. You can then select the unresponsive application and end it.
Delete: Send a selected file to the Recycle Bin.
Enter: Open a selected application or file.
Ctrl+N: Create a new file.
Ctrl+O: Open an existing file.
Ctrl+P: Print an open file.
Ctrl+S: Save the current file.
Ctrl+Z: Undo the previous action. If you'd like to redo the action, press Ctrl+Y.
Ctrl+F: Find a word or phrase in the current file. This shortcut will make a search box appear. You can then type the text you wish to find. If the word or phrase appears more than once, press Enter to move to the next instance.
Ctrl+- (Ctrl+dash key): Zoom out. When viewing a photo in an application like Windows Photo Viewer, this shortcut will make the image appear smaller.
Ctrl+= (Ctrl+equal key): Zoom in. When viewing a photo in an application like Windows Photo Viewer, this shortcut will make the image appear larger.
Alt+F4: Quit the current application.
Windows key: Open the Start menu.
Alt+Tab: Switch between open windows. This shortcut opens the Task Switcher. While continuing to hold the Alt key, you can then use the left and right arrows (or press Tab) to move between open windows.
Internet shortcuts
You can also use keyboard shortcuts to move across your web browser. The shortcuts for choosing, copying, and pasting text into the address bar of your web browser are just a few of the Working with Text shortcuts that come in handy when browsing the internet. Certain shortcuts may get different results than others because every browser is unique.
Ctrl+F: Find a word or phrase in the current webpage. This shortcut opens the Find toolbar. You can then type the text you wish to find. If the word or phrase appears more than once, press Enter to move to the next instance.
Ctrl+T: Open a new browser tab.
Ctrl+N: Open a new browser window.
Ctrl+R: Reload the current browser page.
Tab: Skip to the next field in a web form. For example, when filling in your address on a web form, pressing tab will move the cursor to the next field. For more information, check out our article Speed Up Your Workflow with the Tab Key.
Ctrl+D: Bookmark the current page.
Ctrl+B: View bookmarks.
Ctrl+H: View browsing history.
Ctrl+J: View downloads.
Home: Scroll to the top of the webpage.
End: Scroll to the bottom of the webpage.
Using the Alt key to Navigate Menus
You can access every menu in the open application by pressing the Alt key. This implies that you can use your keyboard to accomplish nearly any task. For instance, to end a program, press Alt+F+X. You won't need to hold down the Alt key to use these shortcuts.
Consider utilizing keyboard shortcuts for the following actions:
Get the Start Menu open.
Open a word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
Launch the application and enter a few text lines.
Pick out a couple of the terms. Italicize and bold the chosen text.
Reverse the formatting of the italics.
Look up a word or phrase in the written work.
Conserve the file.
Shut down the program.
In your web browser, try utilizing keyboard shortcuts to complete the following tasks:
Launch a new tab in your web browser.
Navigate to the address bar on the webpage.
After navigating to the bottom of the page, scroll back up to the top.
Put the website in your favorites.
Make a copy of the website address.
Paste the URL in a new tab in your web browser.
Paste the copied link into the address bar of a new tab in your browser.
Shut down the internet browser.
Mac Shortcuts
Windows shortcuts and macOS keyboard shortcuts are similar in many ways. Nevertheless, Mac keyboards contain Control, Option, and Command keys in place of Ctrl and Alt.
You might not have the Command or Option keys if your keyboard is not a Mac. Some keyboard shortcuts require you to experiment with key combinations.
Working With Text
When working with text in word processors, email, and social networking apps (like Twitter), these keyboard shortcuts come in handy. They can assist you in carrying out frequently done actions, such as text bolding or copying and pasting.
Command+X: Cut the selected text.
Command+C: Copy the selected text.
Command+V: Paste the copied or cut text.
Command+A: Select all text on the page or in the active window.
Command+B: Bold the selected text.
Command+I: Italicize the selected text.
Command+U: Underline the selected text.
Command+left arrow: Skip to the beginning of the current line.
Command+right arrow: Skip to the end of the current line.
Option+right arrow: Skip to the beginning of the next word. You can press the right arrow multiple times to skip several words.
Option+left arrow: Skip to the beginning of the previous word. You can press the left arrow multiple times to skip several words.
Shift+Option+right arrow: Select the next word.
Shift+Option+left arrow: Select the previous word.
Working With Files and Applications
Keyboard shortcuts can be used on your desktop and in the Finder to launch, quit, and switch between apps. With a file (such as a Microsoft Word document), shortcut keys can be used to locate words, make new files, and print.
Option+Command+Esc: Quit a frozen application. This shortcut opens the Force Quit dialog box. You can then select an application and quit it.
Command+Delete: Send a selected file to the Trash.
Command+Down Arrow (or Command+O): Open a selected application or file.
Command+N: Create a new file.
Command+O: Open an existing file.
Command+P: Print an open file.
Command+S: Save the current file.
Command+Z: (or Shift+Command+Z): Undo the previous action. If you'd like to redo the action, press Command+Y.
Command+F: Find a word or phrase in the current page. This shortcut will make a search box appear. You can then type the text you wish to find. If the word or phrase appears more than once, press Enter to move to the next instance.
Command+- (Command+dash key): Zoom out. When viewing a photo in an application like iPhoto, this shortcut will make the image appear smaller.
Command+= (Command+equal key): Zoom in. When viewing a photo in an application like iPhoto, this shortcut will make the image appear larger.
Command+Q: Quit the current application.
Command+W: Close the current file or window.
Command+Tab: Switch between open applications. This shortcut opens the Application Switcher. While continuing to press the Command key, you can then press Tab again to move between open applications.
Internet Shortcuts
The purpose of these shortcuts is to help you navigate your web browser. Many of the shortcuts for working with text can also be used online. For example, you can use the shortcuts to select, copy, and paste text into the address bar of your web browser. The usefulness of some of these shortcuts may differ because every web browser is unique.
Command+F: Find a word or phrase in the current webpage. This shortcut opens the Find toolbar. You can then type the text you wish to find. If the word or phrase appears more than once, press Enter to move to the next instance.
Command+T: Open a new browser tab.
Command+N: Open a new browser window.
Command+R: Reload the current browser page.
Tab: Skip to the next field in a web form. For example, when filling in your address on a web form, pressing tab will move the cursor to the next field. For more information, check out our article Speed Up Your Workflow with the Tab Key.
Command+D: Bookmark the current page.
Command+B: View bookmarks.
Home: Scroll to the top of the webpage.
End: Scroll to the bottom of the webpage.
Type a few lines of text in a word processor such as TextEdit or Microsoft Word. Consider utilizing keyboard shortcuts for the following actions:
Pick out a couple of the terms. Make the chosen text bold.
Revert the text altering and make the chosen words bold instead of normal.
Look up a word or phrase in the written work.
Conserve the file.
Shut down the program.
Try utilizing keyboard shortcuts to complete the following online browser tasks.
Launch a new tab in your web browser.
Navigate the webpage until you reach the address bar.
Enter the URL of your preferred website. Try typing www.pinterest.com, for instance.
After navigating to the bottom of the page, scroll back up to the top.
Put the website in your favorites.
Make a copy of the website address.
Paste the copied link into the address bar of a new tab in your browser.
Shut down the internet browser.