Starting Windows software which is kept well under several layers of Start menus is a tiresome task. Let’s say, Windows Explorer. Thanks go to Windows shortcuts. I can start it by pressing the “Windows key” and hitting the “E” key from the keyboard.
Does it not save time? Yes, it saves time and boosts our performance. The number of shortcuts Microsoft offers to Windows 10 users that memorizing all of them is a huge task, but, hey don’t be panicked, ’cause you won’t need all of them.
Take a glance at them and decide which ones you need most and start using them. You will be amazed at how useful they are.
For convenience, I have tried to group these shortcuts by their working nature.
Windows key + Another key
| Keyboard shortcuts | Action |
| Windows Key | Open/Close Start Menu |
| Windows Key + A | Open “Action Center” |
| Windows Key + B | Take you to the Task Bar icons (refer to Pic-1 at the end of this article) |
| Windows Key + D | Toggle display and hide the “Desktop” |
| Windows Key + E | Opens “File Explorer” |
| Windows Key + G | Opens “Game Bar” when a Game is open |
| Windows Key + H | Opens “Share” sidebar (on the right side) |
| Windows Key + I | Opens “Settings” |
| Windows Key + K | Opens the “Connect” sidebar (on the right side) |
| Windows Key + L | Locks your PC |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize all windows opened at the same time |
| Windows Key + R | Opens the “Run” dialog box |
| Windows Key + S | Opens “Search Windows” dialog box |
| Windows Key + U | Open “Ease of Access Center” |
| Windows Key + X | Open the “Quick Link” menu |
| Windows key + Enter | Open Narrator |
| Windows key + Home | Minimize all but the active app window. Pressing the same buttons combinations restores all windows |
| Windows key + Prt Scn | Capture a screenshot and save it in the Screenshots folder (Libraries > Pictures > Pictures > Screenshots folder) |
| Windows key + Shift + Up arrow | Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
| Windows key + Tab | Open Task view |
| Windows key + “+” key | Zoom in using the magnifier |
| Windows key + “-” key | Zoom out using the magnifier |
| Ctrl + Alt +Tab | View open apps |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open apps |
| Alt + Left arrow key | Go back |
| Alt + Right arrow key | Go forward |
| Alt + Page Up | Move up one screen |
| Alt + Page down | Move down one screen |
Windows Key + Number
Open the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. For example, Calculator or Notepad will run when “Windows Key + 1” or “Windows Key + 2” are pressed.
Windows Snapping
| Keyboard shortcuts | Action |
| Windows Key + Left Arrow Key | Snap the app window left (this key combination will snap the window on the left, center, and right side as you keep pressing) |
| Windows Key + Right Arrow Key | Snap app window left |
| Windows Key + Up Arrow key | Maximize App window |
| Windows Key + Down Arrow key | Minimize (restore) the App window |
Virtual Desktop
| Keyboard shortcuts | Action |
| Windows Key + Ctrl + D | Add a virtual desktop |
| Windows key + Ctrl + Left / Right arrow | Switch between virtual desktops |
| Windows key + Ctrl + F4 | Close current virtual desktop |
Some common keyboard shortcuts
| Keyboard shortcuts | Action |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected items to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected items |
| Ctrl + V | Paste content from the clipboard |
| Ctrl + A | Select all content |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo an action |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo an action |
| Ctrl + D | Delete the selected item and move it directly to the Recycle Bin |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open the Start Menu |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active window |
Pic-1: Task Bar icons. Use the L/R arrow keys to navigate and press Enter key to select
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