In this article, we will introduce some of the most useful and common keyboard shortcuts for Windows, from A to Z. We will also provide a PDF file that you can download and print for your reference. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, you will find some shortcuts that you may not know or have forgotten.
Basic Computer Shortcut Keys (A to Z)
These are some of the basic shortcuts that you can use in any Windows program or app. They are mostly related to editing, navigating, and managing your files and windows.
| Shortcuts | Uses of Shortcut keys |
| Alt + E | It Edits options in the current program. |
| Alt+Tab | This is used to switch between the open windows. |
| Alt + F | Shows file menu options in the current program. |
| Alt + F4 | This closes the current window. |
| Alt + Page Up | It scrolls up the Entire Screen. |
| Alt + Page Down | It scrolls down the Entire Screen. |
| Alt + Left Arrow | It shows the previous history if it is present in Bowser. |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Go forward in the browser window. |
| Alt + Enter | It shows the property of the selected item. |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window. |
| Ctrl + A | It is used to select all text. |
| Ctrl + X | It cuts the selected item. |
| Ctrl + Del | It deletes selected items. |
| Ctrl + C / Ctrl+Ins | Used to copy the selected item. |
| Ctrl + V / Shift + Ins | Used to paste the selected item. |
| Ctrl + Home | It is used to go to the beginning of the document. |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the end of a document |
| Ctrl + S | Open the save as a dialogue box. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Opens Windows task manager. |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new window/document. |
| Ctrl+H | Open the history tab/bar. |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time). |
| Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys | Select a block of text. |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open Start. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager. |
| Ctrl + Shift | Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available. |
| Ctrl + Spacebar | Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off. |
| Shift + F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. |
Windows Logo Key Shortcuts
The Windows logo key, also known as the Win key, is located on the bottom left of your keyboard, next to the Ctrl key. It can be used to perform various tasks related to the Windows system, such as opening the Start menu, locking your PC, opening Settings, and more. Here are some of the most useful Win key shortcuts:
| Shortcuts | Uses of Shortcut keys |
| Win | Open or close the Start menu. |
| Win + D | Display and hide the desktop. |
| Win + E | Open File Explorer. |
| Win + L | Lock your PC. |
| Win + I | Open Settings. |
| Win + Shift + S | Take a screenshot using Snip & Sketch. |
| Win + A | Open Action Center. |
| Win + C | Open Cortana in listening mode. |
| Win + G | Open Game bar. |
| Win + H | Open dictation. |
| Win + K | Open Connect. |
| Win + M | Minimize all windows. |
| Win + P | Choose a presentation display mode. |
| Win + R | Open Run dialog box. |
| Win + S | Open Search. |
| Win + U | Open Ease of Access Center. |
| Win + V | Open Clipboard history. |
| Win + X | Open Quick Link menu. |
| Win + Z | Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode. |
| Win + , | Peek at the desktop. |
| Win + . | Open emoji panel. |
| Win + ; | Open emoji panel. |
| Win + Pause | Display the System Properties dialog box. |
| Win + Tab | Open Task View. |
| Win + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout. |
| Win + Ctrl + Spacebar | Change to a previously selected input. |
| Win + Ctrl + Enter | Turn on Narrator. |
| Win + Plus (+) | Open Magnifier and zoom in. |
| Win + Minus (-) | Zoom out in Magnifier. |
| Win + Esc | Close Magnifier. |
Microsoft Office Shortcut Keys
Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity software that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. If you use these programs frequently, you may want to learn some of the keyboard shortcuts that can help you perform common tasks faster and easier. Here are some of the most useful Microsoft Office shortcuts:
| Shortcuts | Uses of Shortcut keys |
| Ctrl + N | Create a new document. |
| Ctrl + O | Open an existing document. |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current document. |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current document. |
| Ctrl + F | Find text or other content in the document. |
| Ctrl + H | Replace text or other content in the document. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert a hyperlink. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold the selected text. |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize the selected text. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline the selected text. |
| Ctrl + = | Apply subscript formatting to the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + = | Apply superscript formatting to the selected text. |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease the font size of the selected text. |
| Ctrl + ] | Increase the font size of the selected text. |
| Ctrl + E | Center the selected text. |
| Ctrl + J | Justify the selected text. |
| Ctrl + L | Align the selected text to the left. |
| Ctrl + R | Align the selected text to the right. |
| Ctrl + 1 | Single-space the selected text. |
| Ctrl + 2 | Double-space the selected text. |
| Ctrl + 5 | Set 1.5-line spacing for the selected text. |
| Ctrl + M | Indent the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + M | Remove the indent from the selected text.Remove the indent from the selected text. |
| Ctrl + T | Create a hanging indent. |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Remove a hanging indent. |
| Ctrl + Q | Remove paragraph formatting from the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo the last action. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Open the Font dialog box. |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open the Font size list. |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy the formatting of the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste the formatting to the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Apply the Normal style to the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + L | Apply the List style to the selected text. |
| Ctrl + Shift + S | |
| Ctrl + Shift + SCtrl + Shift + S | Open the Apply Styles task pane. |
| Alt + Ctrl + K | Insert a bookmark. |
| Alt + Ctrl + I | Switch to print preview. |
| Alt + Ctrl + F | Insert a footnote. |
| Alt + Ctrl + D | Insert an endnote. |
| Alt + Shift + D | Insert the current date. |
| Alt + Shift + T | Insert the current time. |
| Alt + Shift + C | Insert a copyright symbol. |
| Alt + Shift + P | Insert a page number field. |
| Alt + Shift + O | Mark a table of contents entry. |
| Alt + Shift + X | Mark an index entry. |
| Alt + Shift + H | Go to the beginning of the document. |
| Alt + Shift + N | Go to the end of the document. |
| Alt + Shift + Up arrow | Move the selected paragraph up. |
| Alt + Shift + Down arrow | Move the selected paragraph down. |
| F1 | Open Help. |
| F2 | Move text or graphics. |
| F3 | Insert an AutoText entry. |
| F4 | Repeat the last action. |
| F5 | Open the Go To dialog box. |
| F6 | Go to the next pane or frame. |
| F7 | Check spelling and grammar. |
| F8 | Extend a selection. |
| F9 | Update the selected fields. |
| F10 | Activate the Menu bar. |
| F11 | Go to the next field. |
| F12 | Open the Save As dialog box. |
Download Computer Shortcut Keys PDF
If you want to have a handy reference of all the computer shortcut keys that we have covered in this article, you can download the PDF file from the link below. The PDF file contains a list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows, Microsoft Office, and other common programs and apps. You can print it
Source:
(1) Top 100+ Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys List (A to Z), PDF Available. https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/computer-shortcut-keys/.
(2) Keyboard shortcuts in Windows - Microsoft Support. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec.
(3) Computer Shortcut Keys: Keyboard Shortcut Keys of Computer A to Z PDF. https://www.adda247.com/school/computer-shortcut-keys-list/.
(4) Control Keys in Computer A-Z Control Key Shortcuts - Advance Africa. https://www.advance-africa.com/control-keys-in-computer-az-control-key-shortcuts.html.