Windows is full of various keyboard shortcuts that you can use with keys like Ctrl, Alt and Shift in combination with the various letters on your keyboard to do common tasks quickly and improve your productivity with relative ease. In today's edition of ExpressBasics, we will look at all the common keyboard shortcuts that you can use across Windows 10, Windows 11 and even some older versions. Many of these will also be helpful in Microsoft Office programs and may also be used in third-party programs that you use. Ctrl shortcuts Ctrl+A = Select All Ctrl+B = Bold Ctrl+C = Copy Ctrl+D = Duplicate Ctrl+E = Centre alignment Ctrl+F = Find Ctrl+G = Go to Ctrl+H = Replace Ctrl+I = Italic Ctrl+J = Justify Ctrl+K = Hyperlink Ctrl+L = Left alignment Ctrl+M = New Slide Ctrl+N = New Page Ctrl+O = Open Ctrl+P = Print Ctrl+Q = Remove paragraph formatting Ctrl+R = Right alignment Ctrl+S = Save Ctrl+T = Adjust tabs/Open new tab Ctrl+U = Underline Ctrl+V = Paste Ctrl+W = Close open tab/ Word document Ctrl+X = Cut Ctrl+Y = Redo Ctrl+Z = Undo Ctrl + Home = Move cursor to top of Document Ctrl + End = Move cursor to end of document Ctrl + Esc = Open Windows Start menu Ctrl + Tab = Switch between open tabs Ctrl + Shift + Tab = Switch between open tabs (reverse) Ctrl + Shift = Superscript Ctrl + Page Up/Down = Next/Previous tab Ctrl + Left arrow key = previous word Ctrl + Right arrow key = next word Ctrl + Del = Delete next word Ctrl + Backspace = Delete previous word Ctrl + Alt + Left/Right/Upward/Downward arrow = Rotate screen Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Open Task Manager Ctrl + Alt + Delete = Open session options/ Task Manager (Older Windows versions) Windows Keys Win key = Open/Close Start menu Win + A = Open Windows Action Center Win + C = Open Cortana in listening Win + D = Display/Hide desktop Win + E = Open File Explorer Win + G = Open Windows Game Bar Win + H = Open Share Charm Win + I = Open Settings Win + K = Open Connect Quick action Win + L = Lock your PC Win + M = Minimise all windows Win + R = Open the 'Run' dialogue box Win + S = Open Search Win + U = Open Ease of Access Centre Win + X = Open quick link menu Win + (num keys) = Open pinned apps on Taskbar Win + Left/ Right/ Up/ Down arrow = Snap app windows Win + , = Peek at Desktop Win + Ctrl + D = Add virtual desktop Win + Ctrl + Left/Right = Switch between virtual desktops Win + Ctrl + F = Close current virtual desktop Win + Enter = Open Narrator Win + Home = Minimise all except active app window Win + PrintScreen = Capture screenshot and save Win + Shift + Up = Stretch desktop window to top and bottom of screen Win + Tab = Open Task View Win + [Plus key or Minus key (+ or -)] = Zoom In/Out Also note that a number of symbols can be entered even if your keyboard doesn't support them via Alt shortcuts. For instance, Alt + 0191 is the upside down question mark, while Alt + 251 is the square root symbol. You can check a list of all Alt codes at (www.alt-codes.net) To use Alt shortcuts, users must press Num Lock (if necessary) and use the number keys on the Numpad while holding down Alt.
