All Shortcut Keys of Windows 8

All Shortcut Keys of Windows 8

We all know that recently Microsoft has released its much hyped product of Windows 8. Day to day large amount of Windows lovers are moving their PC to Windows 8 OS.

So today we’ll have a short look on Windows 8 Shortcut keys. Windows 8 consist large number of shortcuts to make your stuff more easy.

List of Windows 8 Shortcut Keys

Some of the shortcut keys are used on Start screen and some other keys are used in desktop.

Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-) – Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+scroll wheel – Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Windows logo key+C – Open the Charms
Windows logo key+C – Open the commands for the app
Windows logo key+F – Open the Search charm to search files
Windows logo key+H – Open the Share charm
Windows logo key+I – Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key+J – Switch the main app and snapped app
Windows logo key+K – Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key+O – Lock the device orientation
Windows logo key+Q – Open the Search charm to search apps
Windows logo key+V – Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key+Shift+V – Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key+W – Open the Search charm to search settings
Windows logo key+, – Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key+Z – Show the commands available in the app
Windows logo key+spacebar – Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key+Ctrl+spacebar – Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key+Tab – Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab – Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled

Windows logo key+Shift+Tab – Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

Windows logo key+PgUp – Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+PgDown – Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+Shift+period (.) – Snaps an app to the left

Windows logo key+period (.) – Snaps an app to the right

General Key Board Shortcuts

F1 – Display Help
F2 – Rename the selected item
F3 – Search for a file or folder
F4 – Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
F5 – Refresh the active window
F6 – Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 – Activate the menu bar in the active app
Alt+F4 – Close the active item, or exit the active app
Alt+Esc – Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Alt+underlined letter – Perform the command for that letter
Alt+Enter – Display properties for the selected item
Alt+spacebar – Open the shortcut menu for the active window
Alt+left arrow – Back Alt+right arrow – Forward Alt+Page Up – Move up one screen
Alt+Page Down – Move down one screen
Alt+Tab – Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)

Ctrl+F4 – Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

Ctrl+A – Select all items in a document or window
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) – Copy the selected item
Ctrl+R (or F5) – Refresh the active window
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) – Paste the selected item
Ctrl+X – Cut the selected item
Ctrl+Z – Undo an action Ctrl+Y – Redo an action
Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-) – Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+scroll wheel – Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+ mouse scroll wheel – Change the size of desktop icons
Ctrl+right arrow – Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl+left arrow – Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl+down arrow – Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl+up arrow – Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl+Alt+Tab – Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
Ctrl with an arrow key+spacebar – Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key – Select a block of text
Ctrl+Esc – Open the Start screen
Ctrl+Shift+Esc – Open Task Manager
Ctrl+Shift – Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled
Shift+F10 – Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

Shift with any arrow key – Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document

Shift+Delete – Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Right arrow – Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Left arrow – Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
Esc – Cancel the current task

Dialog Box Shortcut Keys

F1 – Display Help
F4 – Display the items in the active list
Ctrl+Tab – Move forward through tabs
Ctrl+Shift+Tab – Move back through tabs
Ctrl+N (Number 1-9) – Move to Nth tab Tab – Move forward through options
Shift+Tab – Move back through options
Alt+underlined letter – Perform the command or select the option for that letter
Enter – Replace clicking the mouse for many selected commands
Spacebar – Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Backspace – Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Opendialog box
Arrow keys – Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

Windows logo Key Shortcut Keys

Windows logo key+F1 – Open Windows Help and Support
Windows logo key – Display or hide the Start menu
Windows logo key+B – Set focus in the notification area
Windows logo key+C – Open the Charms
Windows logo key+C – Open the commands for the app
Windows logo key+D – Display and hides the desktop
Windows logo key+E – Open Computer
Windows logo key+F – Open the Search charm and search file
Windows logo key+G – Cycle through gadgets on the desktop
Windows logo key+H – Open the Share charm
Windows logo key+I – Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key+J – Switch the main app and snapped app
Windows logo key+K – Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key+L – Lock your PC or switch users
Windows logo key+M – Minimize all windows
Windows logo key+O – Lock device orientation
Windows logo key+P – Choose a presentation display mode
Windows logo key+Q – Open the Search charm and search apps
Windows logo key+R – Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+T – Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key+U – Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key+V – Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key+Shift+V – Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key+W – Open the Search charm and search settings
Windows logo key+X – Opens the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key+, – Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key+Z – Show the commands available in the app
Windows logo key+Pause – Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key+Ctrl+F – Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Windows logo key+Shift+M – Restore minimized windows on the desktop
Windows logo key+number – Start the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.
Windows logo key+Shift+number – Start a new instance of the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key+Ctrl+number – Switch to the last active window of the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key+Alt+number – Open the Jump List for the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key+Ctrl+Shift+number – Open a new instance of the desktop app located at the given position on the taskbar as admin
Windows logo key+Tab – Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab – Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled
Windows logo key+Ctrl+B – Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
Windows logo key+up arrow – Maximize the desktop window
Windows logo key+down arrow – Minimize the desktop window
Windows logo key+left arrow – Maximize the desktop window to the left side of the screen
Windows logo key+right arrow – Maximize the desktop window to the right side of the screen
Windows logo key+Home – Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Windows logo key+Shift+up arrow – Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Windows logo key+Shift+down arrow – Restore/ minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Windows logo key+Shift+left arrow or right arrow – Move a window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Windows logo key+spacebar – Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key+Ctrl+spacebar – Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key+Enter – Open Narrator
Windows logo key+PgUp – Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
Windows logo key+PgDown – Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
Windows logo key+Shift+period (.) – Snaps an app to the left
Windows logo key+period (.) – Snaps an app to the right
Windows logo key+Tab – Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key+Shift+Tab – Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab – Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled
Windows logo key+/ – Initiate IME reconversion
Windows logo key+Alt+Enter – Opens Windows Media Center
Windows logo key+plus (+) or minus (-) – Zoom in or out (in Magnifier)
Windows logo key+Esc – Exit Magnifier

File Explorer Shortcut Keys

Alt+D – Select the address bar
Ctrl+E – Select the search box
Ctrl+F – Select the search box
Ctrl+N – Open a new window
Ctrl+W – Close the current window
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel – Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
Ctrl+Shift+E – Display all folders above the selected folder
Ctrl+Shift+N – Create a new folder
Num Lock+Asterisk (*) – Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Num Lock+plus (+) – Display the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock+minus (-) – Collapse the selected folder
Alt+P – Display the preview pane
Alt+Enter – Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
Alt+right arrow – View the next folder
Alt+up arrow – View the parent folder
Alt+left arrow – View the previous folder
Backspace – View the previous folder
Right arrow – Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Left arrow – Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the parent folder
End – Display the bottom of the active window
Home – Display the top of the active window
F11 – Maximize or minimize the active window

Taskbar Shortcut Keys

Shift+click on a taskbar button – Open a app or quickly open another instance of a app
Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar button – Open a app as an administrator
Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button – Show the window menu for the app
Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar button – Show the window menu for the group
Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button – Cycle through the windows of the group

Ease of Access Shortcut Keys

Right Shift for eight seconds – Turn Filter Keys on and off
Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn – Turn High Contrast on or off
Left Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock – Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Shift five times – Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Num Lock for five seconds – Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Windows logo key+U – Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier Shortcut Keys

Windows logo key+plus (+) or minus (-) – Zoom in or out
Ctrl+Alt+spacebar – Preview the desktop in full- screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+D – Switch to docked mode
Ctrl+Alt+F – Switch to full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+I – Invert colors
Ctrl+Alt+L – Switch to lens mode
Ctrl+Alt+R – Resize the lens
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys – Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
Windows logo key+Esc – Exit Magnifier

Narrator Shortcut Keys

Space or Enter – Activate current item
Tab and arrow keys – Move around on the screen
Ctrl – Stop reading
Caps Lock+D – Read item
Caps Lock+M – Start reading
Caps Lock+H – Read document
Caps Lock+V – Repeat phrase
Caps Lock+W – Read window
Caps Lock+Page Up/Down – Increase or decrease the volume of the voice
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-) – Increase or decrease the speed of the voice
Caps Lock+spacebar – Do default action
Caps Lock+left or right arrows – Move to previous/ next item
Caps Lock+F2 – Show commands for current item Press
Caps Lock twice in quick succession – Turn Caps Lock on or off
Caps Lock + Esc – Exit

Narrator Narrator touch Shortcut Keys

Tap once with two fingers – Stop Narrator from reading
Tap three times with four fingers – Show all Narrator commands (including the ones not in this list)
Double-tap – Activate primary action
Triple-tap – Activate secondary action
Touch or drag a single finger – Read what’s under your finger
Flick left/right with one finger – Move to next or previous item
Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers – Scroll
Swipe down with three fingers – Start reading on explorable text