Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Action	Description
<kbd>F10</kbd>	Activate the Menu bar in the active app.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>D</kbd>	Add a virtual desktop.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + forward slash (<kbd>/</kbd>)	Begin IME reconversion.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + selection key	Begin selection in block mode.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Space</kbd>	Change to a previously selected input.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd>	Choose a presentation display mode.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Esc</kbd>	Close Magnifier.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>F4</kbd>	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>F4</kbd>	Close the active item, or exit the active app.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>F4</kbd>	Close the virtual desktop you're using.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>W</kbd>	Closes the active tab. Closes the window if there is only one tab open.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-left"></i></kbd>	Collapse the current selection (if its expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.	Not available
<kbd>Num Lock</kbd> + minus (<kbd>-</kbd>)	Collapse the selected folder.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> (or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Insert</kbd>)	Copy the selected item.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> (or <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Insert</kbd>)	Copy the selected text.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>N</kbd>	Create a new folder.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>X</kbd>	Cut the selected item.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Space</kbd>	Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>T</kbd>	Cycle through apps on the taskbar.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Esc</kbd>	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.	Not available
<kbd>F6</kbd>	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + click a grouped taskbar button	Cycle through the windows of the group.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>D</kbd>(or <kbd>Delete</kbd>)	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.	Not available
<kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Delete</kbd>	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> +<kbd> Shift</kbd> + <kbd>E</kbd>	Display all folders above the selected folder.	Not available
<kbd><kbd>Num Lock</kbd></kbd> + asterisk (<kbd>*</kbd>)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>D</kbd>	Display and hide the desktop.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>D</kbd>	Display and hide the desktop.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Enter</kbd>	Display properties for the selected item.	Not available
<kbd>F4</kbd>	Display the address bar list in File Explorer.	Not available
<kbd>End</kbd>	Display the bottom of the active window.	Not available
<kbd>Num Lock</kbd> + plus (<kbd>+</kbd>)	Display the contents of the selected folder.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></kbd>	Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder.	Not available
<kbd>F4</kbd>	Display the items in the active list.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>P</kbd>	Display the preview panel.	Not available
<kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>F10</kbd>	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.	Not available
<kbd>Home</kbd>	Display the top of the active window.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>M</kbd>	Enter Mark mode.	Not available
<kbd>Backspace</kbd>	Go back to the settings home page.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd><kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-left"></i></kbd></kbd>	Go back.	Not available
<kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd><kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></kbd></kbd>	Go forward.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>End</kbd> (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.	Not available
<kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Home</kbd> (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>H</kbd>	Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>O</kbd>	Lock device orientation.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>L</kbd>	Lock your PC or switch accounts.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>L</kbd>	Lock your PC.	Not available
<kbd>F11</kbd>	Maximize or minimize the active window.	Not available
<kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-left"></i></kbd>	Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.	Not available