Keep your hands on your keyboard and get more efficient with your computer by learning a few simple key combination shortcuts!
The Basics
CTRL-C / CTRL-V: Let's start off with the most basic basics: CTRL-C copies whatever you have selected in your program and CTRL-V pastes it back in. Simple as that.
ALT-PRINTSCREEN: Saves a screenshot of your current computer screen into your clipboard so the next time you hit CTRL-V you'll paste a spitting image of your screen.
CTRL-Z / CTRL-Y: These keyboard combinations allow you to undo and redo your last action(s) on the computer. Useful for those DOH moments when you accidentally type over something important or make a mistake and want to go back a few iterations. As long as you don't interrupt, you can keep going backwards and forwards for quite a bit.
CTRL-S: Instead of trudging your mouse all the way up to the file menu and selecting the menu option to save your file, you can just hit CTRL-S to do the same. It's so quick and easy you should actually make it a habit to constantly hit CTRL-S to save your work.
CTRL-N: You might be well aware that in your web browser this key combination will bring up a new window, but did you know this works the same in Windows Explorer? Hit CTRL-N to open up a new instance of your file system browser in the same spot you're in now. In Outlook this combination opens up a new e-mail message.
Advanced Users
WINDOWS-E: Opens up a copy of Windows Explorer.
WINDOWS-D / WINDOWS-M: Minimizes all open windows and shows your desktop. Quick for hiding that game you're playing instead of working when the boss pops his head into the office. Or for other unnamed activities.
WINDOWS-R: Opens up the run dialog box for quick access to the command line.
CTRL-ALT-DEL: It's not that this command itself is an advanced combination, but opening up the task manager other than for a reboot is usually for those who understand how to find and kill open processes, etc.
WINDOWS-L: If you're stepping away from your computer and want to keep your system safeguarded from Facebook bombers, simply hit WINDOWS-L to lock your system and bring up the Windows login screen.
MORE WINDOWS & OS XKEYBOARD SHORTCUTS ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
• CheatSheet: The Instant Refresher Course For Keyboard Shortcuts
• Keyboard Shortcut Cheat Sheets That Add to Your Decor
• How to Operate Your Computer Without a Mouse
• Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts to Save Time
• How to... Customize Your Own Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
(Images: Bard30000/Shutterstock, Radu Razvan/Shutterstock)
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Well, I learned something today! The WINDOWS+ commands were largely new to me! Being of the green-screen/DOS/dir *.* generation, I know CTRL commands very well, and I'm surprised when the 20-somethings in the office don't know those, OR the function key commands that are common to all Microsoft products (F4=save, for example).
F4=Save? Thanks @THERESE Z! I knew all of the shortcuts in the AT post but I love keyboard shortcuts. I'm hoping the other AT comments share even more.
Alt+Tab is another one of my favorites for skipping the mouse.
Here's another great one that I use every day: CTRL+Enter to send an email in Outlook.
When I'm typing a document in Word and want to switch to bold font, I use CTRL + b. I often miss the "b," though, and type CTRL + n, which brings up a new, blank document - d'oh! I used to have to reach for themouse and "X" out of that new doc. Finally found out, though, that CTRL + W closes it!
CTRL + W also closes the one you're currently working on, though if you you haven't saved it (CTRL + S), you'll get a dialog box about that. But in the same way that WINDOWS-d OR -M minimizes your solitaire game when the boss comes around, CTRL + W hides a document that you might not want someone to see over your shoulder.
Oh, and on a web page, if you're looking for a specific term, CTRL + F brings up the search box. Same in a Word doc.
Cntl + Shift + ESC is a quick way to open the task manager.
Loving these! Thanks!
If you're using two screens, ALT+SHIFT+PrtScn will print only the screen your cursor last touched.
Ctrl+R will copy all the text in a document at once and make it useful to paste into a spreadsheet format without lots of annoying blanks and spaces.
More old F keys = F6 is next, F5 is previous. F3 is search (works in more than just Microsoft products).
These are fantastic, keep sharing!
When viewing a list, Click / Control-Click to select multiple single items; Click / Shift-click to select a portion of the list.
Ctrl+ Scrolling up/down with your mouse wheel will make the font size in your browser larger/smaller.
My favorites:
CTRL + A: select all
CTRL + X: cut a selection (instead of copy)
CTRL + F: find
CTRL + T: open new browser tab
And for formatting text,
CTRL + B: bold
CTRL + I: italics
CTRL + U: underline
I think I use all of these daily! Basically if I find myself clicking something on a menu over and over, I look to see if there's a keyboard shortcut and I memorize it to save time. I'm learning some new tricks from these comments too!
Things I use regularly and figured out through trial and error:
Alt+Tab to switch between windows/programs, Alft+Shift+Tab to go backwards; Alt+F4 to quit/close. (Windows+Tab is not nearly as useful IMO, at least not on XP; maybe it's different in Vista/7.)
Crtl+Tab to switch between tabs, Crtl+Shift+Tab to go backwards; Ctrl+F4 to quit/close.
When you have a highlighted file and you want to rename it, hit F2.
If you have something you want to highlight or already have highlighted, if you hold Ctrl+Shift and then left/right arrow you can highlight/unhighlight "words" instead of individual characters (useful if you want to keep part of a filename/url/whatever); try it in your address bar to see what I mean, I guess?
If you are in a windows folder, Alt+Left/Right arrow will you move you back and forth wherever you came from. Ditto with some browsers.
If you are in a windows folder, Backspace should bump you back up a directory.
I haven't used a mouse in ages; keyboard shortcuts and the touchpad are more than sufficient.
To go with the ctrl+shift+left/right arrows, try this also with just ctrl+arrows, and shift+arrows, to see the difference. All 3 can be useful. (Can also be used in documents, I guess.)
this is just giving me flashbacks to watching my mom use the computer, and having to subdue to urge to yank the keyboard and mouse out of her fumbling hands so that googling "cat video" doesn't take like 20 minutes. hopefully this post helps people out to not have impatient assholes like me breathing down their necks, eyes bulging, practically mumbling aloud OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS YOU ARE SERIOUSLY DRAGGING YOUR CURSOR SLOWLY OVER THIS ENTIRE PARAGRAPH OF TEXT AND THEN RIGHT CLICKING AND CAREFULLY SELECTING "COPY," METICULOUS HITTING THE DOWNSIZE BUTTON, UPSIZING YOUR OTHER PROGRAM, AND THEN RIGHT CLICKING AND CAREFULLY SELECTING "PASTE?" PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE NOT DOING THIS.
Keyboard shortcuts should be everyone's best friend. Know them. Use them.
<patpats @holler >
I try not to watch my mother use technology too often. Just found out recently that my sister didn't really understand what a program vs. a file was. It's not like she doesn't know how to use Word and browsers and stuff, just weird the blind spots ppl develop. orz