If you are a frequent computer user like I am, your fingers spend a lot of time on a keyboard. And in this article, I'll show you some helpful keyboard shortcuts that will make you you more productive.

What are Keyboard Shortcuts?

Keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time, and they are often used in modern operating systems and computer software packages. You can use them simply by invoking commands and a few keystrokes. This saves you from having to use mouse alone to access menu items and so on.

Here is a list of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts – and I've also included a few lesser-known ones.

Even though some of these shortcuts work on Mac, the keyboard layout for Mac is a bit different. So I'll focus on the correct key combinations for a Windows computer.

Let's get started

First lets begin with the functional keys so we can see their roles:

Functional Key Shortcuts

KeyFunction
F1Display Help
F2Rename selected item
F3Search for file or folder
F4Display the address bar list in file explorer
F5Refresh the active window
F6Cycle through screen elements in a window
F10Activate the Menu bar in the current app
F12Save as (in a Word document)

Other Keyboard Shortcuts

==Alt key== combinations:

You can use the below combinations with the Alt key to perform the functions described: | Key| Function | | :------------- | :----------: | | Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications | | Alt + Shift + Tab | Switch backward between open applications | | Alt + F4 | Close the current open program | | Alt + F | File menu options in current program | | Alt + E | Edit options in current program |

==Ctrl key== Combinations:

You can use the below combinations with the Ctrl key to perform the functions described: | Key| Function | | :------------- | :----------: | | Ctrl + F4 | Close the current open window | | Ctrl + Esc | Open the start menu | | Ctrl + Alt + Del | Reboot/Open task manager | | Ctrl + Plus key | Adjust width of columns in window explorer | | Ctrl + C | Copy selected text | | Ctrl + V | Paste the copied text | | Ctrl + X | Cut selected text | | Ctrl + Ins | Copy selected item | | Ctrl + A | Select all text | | Ctrl + Home | Go to the beginning of the content | | Ctrl + End | Go to the end of the document | | Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move one word to the left at a time | | Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move one word to the right | | Ctrl + F | Search for a file in desktop, my computer, or explorer | | Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action | | Ctrl + Y | Redo an action | | Ctrl + Del | Delete file, text, or folder | | Ctrl + Shift | Switch keyboard layout | | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open task manager | | Ctrl + (+)/Ctrl + (-) | Zoom in and out, respectively | | Ctrl + R | Refresh active window |

==Shift key== Combinations:

You can use the below combinations with the Shift key to perform the functions described: | Key| Function | | :------------- | :----------: | | Shift + Del | Delete selected item without moving it to Recycle Bin | | Shift + Arrow | Select items | | Shift + F10 | Dispaly shortcut menu | | Shift + Ins | Paste selected item | | Shift + Home | Highlight from current position to beginning of line | | Shift + End | Highlight from current position to end of line |

==Windows key== Combinations

Now let's check the keyboard shortcuts involving the Windows logo key: | Key| Function | | :------------- | :----------: | | Win + Spacebar | Change input language and Keyboard layout | | Win + V | Open the clipboard history | | Win + E | Launch file explorer | | Win + plus+ | Open the magnifier tool | | Win + Enter | Launch the narrator | | Win + I | Open the settings in Windows | | Win + D | Minimize all open windows | | Win + Tab | Switch between open programs in the taskbar | | Win + R | Open the run window | | Win + L | Lock the computer |

The above listed shortcuts will work on any Windows computer, no matter the program you have open. There are other shortcuts that will work on specific programs like MS Word, Excel, and so on – but those are for another article.

Let's have a look at some helpful shortcuts for a few commonly used programs.

Microsoft Word keyboard shortcuts:

KeyFunction
Ctrl + ASelect all contents of a page
Ctrl + BBold highligted section
Ctrl + CCopy selected text
Ctrl + VPaste copied text
Ctrl + XCut selected text
Ctrl + SSave
Ctrl + WClose document
Ctrl + NOpen new/blank document
Ctrl + UUnderline selected text
Ctrl + IItalicize selected text
Ctrl + ZUndo last action
Ctrl + YRedo last action
Ctrl + POpen print window
Ctrl + KInsert link
Ctrl + GFind and replace option
Ctrl + JJustify paragraph alighnment
Ctrl + DOpen font options
Ctrl + THanging indent
Ctrl + MIndent paragraph
Ctrl + RAlign selected line to right
Ctrl + EAlign to the center
Ctrl + Q/LAlign to the left
Ctrl + Shift + *View/Hide non printing characters
Ctrl + 1Single space lines
Ctrl + 2Double space lines
Alt + Shift + DInsert the cureent date
Alt + Shift + TInsert current time
F7Spell check the document

Microsoft Excel keyboard shortcuts:

Most of the key functions between MS Word and Excel are similar. So to avoid repetition of the same function keys, I will only list the ones which are not shared between the two applications:

KeyFunction
F2Edit selected cell
F5Go to a specific cell
F11Create a chart
Ctrl + Shift + ;Enter current time
Ctrl + ;Enter current date
Alt + Shift + F1Insert a new worksheet
Shift + F3Open the Excel formula window
Shift + F5Bring up the search box
Ctrl + 5Strike through highlighted selection
Ctrl + XCut selected text
Ctrl + Tabmove between two or more open Excel tabs
Alt + =Create the formula to sum all of the above cells
Ctrl + Shift + !Format number in comma format
Ctrl + Shift + $Format number in currency format
Ctrl + Shift + #Format number in date format
Alt+H/BAdd borders

The above listed keys are just a few of the most commonly used combinations. Hopefully from that list you will be able to figure out a new helpful shortcut which you didn't already know.

The list is quite long and I appreciate you reading through it.

If you have read this far, thank you!

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