Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Top 20 Keyboard Shortcut on Windows/Mac

Keyboard shortcuts are a powerful tool that can dramatically streamline your workflow and save you valuable time. Whether you're a seasoned computer user or just starting out, mastering these shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to the most common and useful keyboard shortcuts across Windows and MacOS operating systems. We'll break down the shortcuts into categories to help you easily navigate and find what you need.

Navigating Your Computer

Windows:

  • Ctrl + C: Copies the selected text or object to the clipboard.

  • Ctrl + X: Cuts the selected text or object to the clipboard.

  • Ctrl + V: Pastes the copied or cut content from the clipboard.

  • Ctrl + Z: Undoes the last action performed.

  • Ctrl + Y: Redoes the last undone action.

  • Ctrl + S: Saves the current document or file.

  • Ctrl + N: Opens a new window in the active application.

  • Ctrl + O: Opens an existing file.

  • Ctrl + P: Prints the active document.

  • Ctrl + A: Selects all the text or objects in the active window or page.

  • Ctrl + F: Opens the search bar to find text within a document or webpage.

  • Ctrl + W: Closes the active window or tab.

  • Ctrl + Tab: Switches between open tabs or windows in the active application.

  • Alt + Tab: Switches between running applications.

  • Alt + F4: Closes the active window or application.

  • Windows Key: Opens or closes the Start menu.

  • Windows Key + D: Minimizes or maximizes all windows.

  • Windows Key + E: Opens Windows Explorer.

  • Windows Key + L: Locks the computer.

  • Windows Key + R: Opens the "Run" dialog box for executing commands.

  • Windows Key + S: Opens Windows search.

  • Windows Key + X: Opens the context menu on the Start menu.

  • Windows Key + Pause/Break: Opens computer system information.

  • Alt + Enter: Toggles full-screen mode in applications.

  • Alt + Space: Opens the window menu (title bar) of an application.

  • Ctrl + Esc: Opens the Start menu if there's no Windows key on the keyboard.

  • Shift + Delete: Deletes a file permanently without moving it to the Recycle Bin.

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens Task Manager to manage processes and applications.

  • Alt + Enter (on a file): Opens the properties of a file or folder.

  • Alt + Print Screen: Takes a screenshot of the active window.

  • Ctrl + Plus (+) or Ctrl + Minus (-): Zooms in or out of a webpage.

  • Ctrl + 0 (zero): Resets the webpage to its original size.

  • Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopens the last closed tab in a web browser.

  • Alt + F8: Opens the "Recovery" dialog box for unresponsive applications.

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens Task Manager directly.

  • Windows Key + M: Minimizes all open windows.

  • Windows Key + Shift + M: Restores minimized windows.

  • Windows Key + U: Opens Ease of Access Center for accessibility settings.

  • Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Opens the security menu with options like changing passwords or locking the computer.

  • Windows Key + 1, Windows Key + 2, etc.: Opens applications on the Taskbar in the specified order.

  • Ctrl + Shift + N: Creates a new folder in Windows Explorer (File Explorer).

  • Alt + Enter (on a shortcut): Opens the shortcut properties.

  • Alt + Left Arrow or Alt + Right Arrow: Navigates back or forward in a web browser.

  • F2: Renames the selected file or folder.

  • F5: Refreshes the active window or page.

  • Ctrl + Backspace: Deletes the word before the cursor.

  • Ctrl + Delete: Deletes the word after the cursor.

  • Ctrl + Esc or Windows Key: Opens or closes the Start menu.

  • Ctrl + Shift: Holding the Shift key for a few seconds prevents automatic startup programs from running (disables Sticky Keys).

  • Ctrl + Alt + Del: Opens Task Manager.

MacOS:

  • Command + C: Copies the selected text or object to the clipboard.

  • Command + X: Cuts the selected text or object to the clipboard.

  • Command + V: Pastes the copied or cut content from the clipboard.

  • Command + Z: Undoes the last action performed.

  • Command + Y: Redoes the last undone action.

  • Command + S: Saves the current document or file.

  • Command + N: Opens a new window in the active application.

  • Command + O: Opens an existing file.

  • Command + P: Prints the active document.

  • Command + A: Selects all the text or objects in the active window or page.

  • Command + F: Opens the search bar to find text within a document or webpage.

  • Command + W: Closes the active window or tab.

  • Command + Q: Quits the active application.

  • Command + Tab: Switches between running applications.

  • Command + Space: Opens Spotlight for searching files, applications, and information.

  • Command + Option + Escape: Force quits an unresponsive application.

  • Command + H: Hides the active window to the background.

  • Command + M: Minimizes the active window.

  • Command + Shift + 3: Takes a screenshot of the entire screen.

  • Command + Shift + 4: Takes a screenshot of a selected area.

  • Command + Shift + 4 + Space: Takes a screenshot of the active window.

  • Command + Koma (,): Opens the preferences of the active application.

  • Command + Tilde (~): Switches between open windows in the active application.

  • Command + N: Opens a new Finder window.

  • Command + Delete: Deletes the selected file or folder.

  • Command + Option + D: Shows or hides the Dock.

  • Command + Option + Esc: Opens Force Quit to terminate an application.

  • Command + Option + Shift + Esc: Opens Force Quit without confirmation.

  • Command + Space + Command + F: Opens the search bar in Finder.

  • Command + Option + Space: Opens Thesaurus.

  • Command + Option + Control + Power: Shuts down or restarts the computer.

  • Command + Control + D: Displays the definition of a word in a text application or web browser.

  • Command + Control + F: Provides full-screen viewing options for specific applications.

  • Command + Left Arrow or Right Arrow: Switches between desktops (if using virtual desktops).

  • Command + Shift + H: Opens the user's Home folder.

  • Command + Option + H: Hides all applications except the active one.

  • Command + Option + P + R: Resets PRAM/NVRAM settings during boot.

  • Command + Option + Control + T: Opens or closes the Text Transfer panel in Terminal.

  • Command + Control + Space: Opens the Character Viewer for special characters.

  • Command + Option + I: Opens the Inspector in an application.

  • Command + Option + Esc: Opens the Force Quit Applications window.

  • Command + Option + Y: Opens Dictionary.

  • Command + Shift + 5: Opens the Screenshot and Screen Recording Tool.

  • Command + Option + C: Copies text as source code in TextEdit.

  • Command + Option + Eject: Ejects an external disk.

  • Command + Option + Shift + Q: Logs out of the user account.

  • Command + Shift + U: Opens the Utilities folder in Finder.

  • Command + Option + Control + Delete: Deletes an item from the selected menu.

  • Command + Option + P: Shows or hides the Path bar in Finder.

  • Command + Option + R: Opens the Recent folder in Finder.

Productivity Boosters

Windows:

  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens Task Manager directly.

  • Windows Key + M: Minimizes all open windows.

  • Windows Key + Shift + M: Restores minimized windows.

  • Windows Key + U: Opens Ease of Access Center for accessibility settings.

  • Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Opens the security menu with options like changing passwords or locking the computer.

  • Windows Key + 1, Windows Key + 2, etc.: Opens applications on the Taskbar in the specified order.

  • Ctrl + Shift + N: Creates a new folder in Windows Explorer (File Explorer).

  • Alt + Enter (on a shortcut): Opens the shortcut properties.

MacOS:

  • Command + Option + D: Shows or hides the Dock.

  • Command + Option + Esc: Opens Force Quit to terminate an application.

  • Command + Option + Shift + Esc: Opens Force Quit without confirmation.

  • Command + Space + Command + F: Opens the search bar in Finder.

  • Command + Option + Space: Opens Thesaurus.

  • Command + Option + Control + Power: Shuts down or restarts the computer.

  • Command + Control + D: Displays the definition of a word in a text application or web browser.

  • Command + Control + F: Provides full-screen viewing options for specific applications.

  • Command + Left Arrow or Right Arrow: Switches between desktops (if using virtual desktops).

  • Command + Shift + H: Opens the user's Home folder.

  • Command + Option + H: Hides all applications except the active one.

  • Command + Option + P + R: Resets PRAM/NVRAM settings during boot.

  • Command + Option + Control + T: Opens or closes the Text Transfer panel in Terminal.

  • Command + Control + Space: Opens the Character Viewer for special characters.

  • Command + Option + I: Opens the Inspector in an application.

  • Command + Option + Esc: Opens the Force Quit Applications window.

  • Command + Option + Y: Opens Dictionary.

  • Command + Shift + 5: Opens the Screenshot and Screen Recording Tool.

  • Command + Option + C: Copies text as source code in TextEdit.

  • Command + Option + Eject: Ejects an external disk.

  • Command + Option + Shift + Q: Logs out of the user account.

  • Command + Shift + U: Opens the Utilities folder in Finder.

  • Command + Option + Control + Delete: Deletes an item from the selected menu.

  • Command + Option + P: Shows or hides the Path bar in Finder.

  • Command + Option + R: Opens the Recent folder in Finder.

Web Browsing

Windows:

  • Ctrl + Plus (+) or Ctrl + Minus (-): Zooms in or out of a webpage.

  • Ctrl + 0 (zero): Resets the webpage to its original size.

  • Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopens the last closed tab in a web browser.

  • Alt + Left Arrow or Alt + Right Arrow: Navigates back or forward in a web browser.

MacOS:

  • Command + Left Arrow or Right Arrow: Navigates back or forward in a web browser.

The Power of Keyboard Shortcuts

By incorporating these shortcuts into your daily routine, you can unlock a whole new level of efficiency. The key to success is practice and repetition. Start by using the shortcuts you encounter most frequently and gradually expand your repertoire. Remember, each shortcut is designed to save you time and effort, making your computer interactions smoother and more enjoyable.

As you become more familiar with the shortcuts, you'll be amazed at how much faster and more fluid your workflow becomes. You'll be able to navigate your computer with ease, complete tasks with speed, and ultimately enhance your overall productivity. So, embrace the power of keyboard shortcuts and watch your digital efficiency skyrocket!

0 comments:

Post a Comment