Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Summary
Did you know that there are numerous keyboard shortcuts you can use to increase productivity and reduce errors? The best part is that using these shortcuts becomes muscle memory after you begin to use them!
Basic Shortcuts:
Ctrl + A: Select-all. This will select all text and/or images on a document, website, & other programs.
Ctrl + C: Copy. This copies the highlighted or selected items to a virtual ‘clipboard’. The clipboard is hidden so be careful, if you copy something else, it will override the original clip.
Ctrl + V: Paste. This will place the copied text/images to whatever application you would like.
Ctrl + X: Cut. Like Copy, however this removes the file/text/image from one location to wherever you paste.
Ctrl + Z: Undo. This is great for undoing errors while typing up documents or working through spreadsheets.
Ctrl + Y: Redo. Undo the undo.
Ctrl + P: Print. This will bring up a print menu for whatever browser/app/etc. you are viewing (if compatible).
Ctrl + F: Find. This can be used in a variety of applications. Browsers, documents, spreadsheets. It brings up a search bar where you can then type in what you are looking for in the file.
Ctrl + S: Save what you are currently working on.
Alt + Tab: Tab through apps you have open on your computer.
Alt + F4: Force Close an app that may be acting up.
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + F (Chrome Browser):
Ctrl + F (Microsoft Word):
Alt + Tab:
Windows OS:
Windows + L: Lock. This will instantly lock your computer & is extremely useful for when you step away from your workstation.
Windows + D: Desktop. This will minimize all your windows and reveal your desktop. Press the key combo again to pull up all your windows that were minimized.
Windows + Up Arrow: Maximize a window.
Windows + Down Arrow: Restore previous size of a window.
Windows + Shift + S: Windows Snip. Allows you to select a portion of your screen and then copies it to your clipboard so you can easily paste the screen snip to whatever you are working on. The screen will look dark until you click and drag your mouse cursor to select the area you want to snip.
Shift+ Windows + S:
Ctrl + V:
Browsers:
Ctrl + N: Open a new browser window.
Ctrl + T: Open a new tab.
Ctrl + W: Close the tab you are viewing.
Ctrl + Tab: Cycle through tabs on your browser.
Ctrl + R: Reload the tab you are viewing.
Ctrl + D: Bookmark the page you are viewing.
Ctrl + F: Search current page.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Switch to the previous tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T: Open recently closed tabs.
Ctrl + + : Zoom in.
Ctrl + - : Zoom out.
Ctrl + 0: Reset the zoom to 100%.
Home: Instantly navigate to the top of the page.
End: Instantly navigate to the bottom of the page.
Page Up: Scroll up on a page.
Page Down: Scroll down on a page.
macOS:
Command instead of Ctrl: Many of the basic keyboard shortcuts listed above can also be used on Macs! Supplement the Ctrl key for Command and test it out.
Command + M: minimize to the dock.
Option + Command + Esc: Force quit an app.
Command + Spacebar: Search in the Spotlight search field. (Image below.)
Conclusion
There are loads of keyboard (and mouse!) shortcuts out there. Many of them make working in this technological day and age much easier. Try one out sometime; you will not regret it.