Windows 10 has come a long way in terms of features, performance, and overall stability. However if you want to take full advantage of Windows 10 you need to learn inbuilt keyboard shortcuts that can improve your workflow efficiently. The Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts are great and provide a number of crucial ways that can save you time and a lot of laborious clicks. In this article, we are going to share all the useful Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts including some new and interesting ones. So having said, let us begin with the best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts you should be using right now.
In this article, we are going to learn all kinds of Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. First, we will begin with some new keyboard shortcuts which are quite interesting and can improve your workflow. After that, we will go through all the commonly used keyboard shortcuts so that you can breeze through Windows 10 efficiently. Having said that, let’s begin with the list of best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts.
New and Interesting Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Open Emoji Keyboard
Shortcut Key: Windows + . (the period key)
2. Access Clipboard History
Shortcut Key: Windows + V
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Windows + Shift + B
4. Quickly Open a Program as an Administrator
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Shift + Click on Taskbar Program
Shortcut Key: Windows + K
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Click on Grouped Programs on Taskbar
This shortcut is seriously for multitaskers. If you want to efficiently wade through multiple active windows of an app, just use this shortcut and you will be on the run.
Shortcut Key: Windows + X
Shortcut Key: Windows + A
You want to quickly check notifications on your Windows PC? Just press Windows and A keys and voila, you can go through all your notifications in Action Center.
Shortcut Key: Windows + Left/Right/Up/Down Arrow
Shortcut Key: Windows + Shift + S
11. Summon Cortana
Shortcut Key: Windows + C
Shortcut Key: Windows + I
13. Record Your Gaming Session
Shortcut Key: Windows + Alt + R
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Y
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Shift + N
This is a really handy shortcut if you deal with local folders regularly. I love this shortcut because it makes my workflow easier and faster. The window menu is too late to show up so this one saves my day.
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Shift + V
Shortcut Key: Windows + G
18. Launch Programs in Your Taskbar
Shortcut Key: Windows + 1/2/3…
Shortcut Key: Windows + Space
Shortcut Key: Windows + F2
One tiny feature that I love on macOS and wanted on Windows was an easy way to rename files. Well, that was when I didn’t know this cool shortcut. Next time you want to change a file name, select it and hit this keyboard shortcut. Your name selection field will open up.
Windows Key Shortcuts
1. Lock Your PC or Switch to a Different Account
Shortcut Key: Windows + L
Shortcut Key: Windows + P
3. Open Run Window
Shortcut Key: Windows + R
Shortcut Key: Windows + D
Shortcut Key: Windows + Alt + D
Windows 10 has this new shortcut which lets you check Calendar without jumping through hoops. Users were requesting for this shortcut for a long time and Microsoft has brought it. Rejoice!
Shortcut Key: Windows + , (Comma key)
Shortcut Key: Windows + M
8. Bring Back Minimize Apps
Shortcut Key: Windows + Shift + M
Shortcut Key: Windows + Shift + [Left][Right]
File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Open File Explorer
Shortcut Key: Windows + E
You can directly open File Explorer without moving to Desktop and opening “This PC”. This shortcut helps me quickly find files and folders without losing any moment. You can use this shortcut to improve your workflow.
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + F
Shortcut Key: Backspace
4. Preview an Image
Shortcut Key: Alt + P
Shortcut Key: Alt + Enter
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel
If you want to change the icon size without touching the View panel, this shortcut is the fastest way to do it. Just press and hold the Ctrl key and scroll the mouse wheel. There you have it.
1. Open a Duplicate Program
Shortcut Key: Shift + Click on Taskbar Program
Shortcut Key: Windows + Number based on the position of the App
3. Cycle Through Different Apps on Taskbar
Shortcut Key: Windows + T
Virtual Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Open Task View
Shortcut Key: Windows + Tab
Shortcut Key: Windows + Ctrl + D
Adding a new virtual desktop through Task View is really laborious on Windows 10. Instead of that, you can use this simple shortcut to create a new Virtual Desktop without wasting any time.
Shortcut Key: Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow
Shortcut Key: Windows + Ctrl + F4
Windows 10 Browser Shortcuts
Go Back One Page
Shortcut Key: Alt + Left Arrow
Windows 10 Browser Shortcuts
Go Back One Page
Shortcut Key: Alt + Right Arrow
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + 1/2/3/4…
You can easily move between tabs using this shortcut. The “Ctrl+1” keyboard shortcut will take you to the first tab and you can ascend the numbers to get to subsequent tabs.
Windows Terminal and Command Prompt Shortcuts
In the latest version of Windows 10, Microsoft has removed all the limitations of command-line editing on both Command Prompt and the recently launched, Windows Terminal. You can use the standard text editing shortcuts to copy, paste and edit right into the Terminal window.
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + A
3. Select Block of Texts in the Terminal Window
Shortcut Key: Shift + Left/Right Arrow Keys
Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Enable Sticky Keys
Shortcut Key: Press the Shift key five times continuously
Shortcut Key: Windows + U
3. Open Magnifier
Shortcut Key: Windows + Plus key (+)
Shortcut Key: Windows + H
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Windows + Enter
The Narrator on Windows 10 can read aloud texts from the screen. You can also select the content window from where it will read and relay the information to you. This feature can help visually impaired users.
Basic Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts
Here, we have included the most basic Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts which are commonly used. If you are new to the Windows ecosystem, you can go through this section and get acquainted with the basics.
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X and Ctrl + V
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + A
Shortcut Key: Alt + Tab
4. Select a Block of Text
Shortcut Key: Shift + Left/Right/Up/Down Arrow Key
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Z
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow Key
Shortcut Key: Alt + F4
Shortcut Key: F5
9. Delete Without Moving to Recycle Bin
Shortcut Key: Shift + Delete
Shortcut Key: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
In the above sections, we talked about the predefined keyboard shortcuts that ships with Windows 10. But what if we can customize the keyboard shortcuts to our preference? Well, here I am going to share two easy ways to personalize Windows 10 Keyboard shortcuts. So without further ado, let’s begin with the native method first.
With the native way, you can assign your preferred keyboard shortcut for various apps. Whenever you press the assigned key combination, the specific app will open up. To assign shortcut keys, follow these steps.
WinHotKey is a third-party app which lets you create system-wide hotkeys. It basically means that you can create a shortcut which can trigger an action from any app or environment. WinHotKey lets you create multiple keyboard shortcuts to launch applications, open a document, folder or quickly type some text in the background. You can use various combinations of Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Windows, numbers, and letters to create a unique shortcut key. Overall, it’s a powerhouse of an app. If you want to dive deep and customize Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts at length, WinHotKey is highly recommended.
