Work smarter, not harder, with keyboard shortcuts that work like secret cheat codes for your computer. They help you get things done faster, cleaner, and with way fewer clicks. So, whether you’re editing documents, navigating files, or multitasking across apps, knowing the top shortcut on keyboard shortcuts can seriously level up your workflow. Let’s get started!
Top Keyboard Shortcuts Lists
Whether you’re a coder, designer, or office pro, here are all the shortcuts from universal tricks to niche power moves.
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + A: Select All
- Ctrl + N: Open new window
- Ctrl + P: Print
- Ctrl + F: Find
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open applications
- Windows + D: Show desktop
- Windows + L: Lock your PC
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
- Windows + Print Screen: Take a full screenshot
Hotkeys for Typing on Windows
These are some of the shortcut combos that will come in handy when you’re typing in a document or app:
- Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Navigate through text word-by-word
- Ctrl + B/I/U: Apply bold, italics, or underline formatting
- Shift + Arrow keys: Highlight text character-by-character
- Ctrl + Delete: Remove the following word
- Ctrl + Home/End: Instantly go to the document start or finish
- Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Arrow: Select entire words at once
- Ctrl + Backspace: Erase the preceding word
Browser Shortcuts for Windows
Here are some shortcut keys to make your browsing easier:
Tab Management
- Ctrl+Shift+T (Chrome/Edge/Opera): Restore accidentally closed tabs
- Command+W (Safari): Instantly close the current browsing tab
- Ctrl+Tab (Chrome): Cycle forward through open tabs
Navigation Essentials
- Ctrl+L (Edge): Jump directly to URL bar
- Command+Option+F (Safari): Activate page search instantly
- Ctrl+R (Edge): Refresh current webpage
Privacy Features
- Ctrl+Shift+N (Chrome/Opera): Launch a stealth browsing session
- Ctrl+Shift+P (Edge): Open private browsing window
Content Interaction
- Ctrl+F (Edge/Opera): Search page content
- Command+T (Safari): Create a fresh browsing tab
Quick Access
- Ctrl+T (Chrome): Open a new tab immediately
- Ctrl+W (Chrome/Opera): Close active tab
Function Key Shortcuts
The function keys also have their own features, such as:
- F1: Open Help
- F2: Rename a file or folder
- F5: Refresh the page or document
- F11: Toggle full-screen mode
Shortcut on Keyboard for Computer Apps and System
Different key combinations also open various apps on your desktop:
- Windows + D: Show or hide desktop
- Windows + L: Lock your screen
- Alt + F4: Close the active window
- Windows + E: Open File Explorer
- Windows + Tab: Open Task View
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
- Alt + Enter: Show file or folder properties
- Windows + Arrow keys: Snap windows to sides or corners
- Windows + I: Open Settings.
- Windows + S: Open Search.
- Windows + X: Open the Quick Link menu (context menu with common tools).
- Windows + R: Open the Run dialog box.
- Fn + F1–F12: Adjust volume, brightness, keyboard backlight, or media playback (varies by model)
File Explorer Shortcuts
There are some shortcuts within the File Explorer for users to use:
- Windows + E: Open File Explorer
- F2: Rename any selected item
- Alt + D: Select the address bar
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Make a new folder
- Ctrl + N: Open a new File Explorer window
Keyboard Shortcuts for Special Characters
You can also use some special symbols with a combination of keys:
- Alt + 0153: Insert trademark symbol (™)
- Win + .: Open emoji/symbol picker
- Alt + 0169: Create copyright symbol (©)
- Alt + 0176: Type degree symbol (°)
- Alt + 251: Insert square root symbol (√)
- Alt + 168: Type inverted question mark (¿)
- Alt + 0162: Insert cent symbol (¢)
- Alt + 0128: Type euro currency symbol (€)
Window Management Shortcuts
Now let’s take a look at some shortcuts that work on your Windows:
- Windows + Right Arrow: Dock window to the right half of the screen
- Windows + Tab: View all open windows and virtual desktops
- Windows + Down Arrow: Restore or minimize the current window
- Windows + D: Toggle desktop view (hide/show all windows)
- Windows + Left Arrow: Align window to left screen edge
- Windows + Up Arrow: Expand window to full screen
Virtual desktops Shortcuts
Even using a virtual desktop comes with its own shortcut keys:
- Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow: Move to previous workspace
- Windows + Ctrl + F4: Terminate current virtual desktop
- Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow: Jump to next workspace
- Windows + Ctrl + D: Create a fresh virtual desktop
Accessibility Shortcuts
Take a look at some accessibility shortcuts:
- Windows + A: Access quick settings panel
- Windows + Minus (-): Reduce magnification level
- Windows + L: Secure your workstation instantly
- Windows + Plus (+): Launch screen magnifier tool
Widgets and Miscellaneous Shortcuts
Follow these key combos to open these functions:
- Windows + H: Activate voice typing
- Windows + Shift + S: Capture screenshot with Snip & Sketch
- Windows + W: Open Widgets panel
- Windows + K: Connect to wireless displays
CTRL Shortcuts
The control key holds the power to open tens of programs and format shortcuts when used properly. Check out CTRL Commands and Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10/11 to take an in-depth understanding of all keys.
Shortcuts for Taking Screenshots
If you are interested in knowing all possible screenshot shortcuts, check out Windows 11 Screenshot Shortcuts: Everything You Should Know.
Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts
Knowing these top Word shortcuts can save you a ton of time:
General shortcuts
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + A: Select all
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Ctrl + S: Save
- Ctrl + O: Open an existing document
- Ctrl + P: Print
Paragraph formatting
- Ctrl + R: Right-align text
- Ctrl + 1: Single-line spacing
- Ctrl + L: Left-align text
- Ctrl + J: Justify text
- Ctrl + 5: 1.5-line spacing
- Ctrl + E: Center align text
- Ctrl + 2: Double-line spacing
- Ctrl + M: Indent a paragraph
- Ctrl + Shift + M: Remove paragraph indent
Text formatting
- Ctrl + U: Underline the text
- Ctrl + Shift + >: Increase font size
- Ctrl + I: Italicize text
- Ctrl + =: Subscript
- Ctrl + Shift + K: Convert text to small caps
- Ctrl + B: Bold text
- Ctrl + Shift + =: Superscript
- Ctrl + Shift + <: Reduce font size
Document navigation
- Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Navigate through text word-by-word
- Ctrl + G: Jump to a specific location in document
- Ctrl + F: Launch text search function
- Ctrl + Home: Return to document start
- Ctrl + H: Open find-and-replace utility
- Ctrl + End: Skip to document conclusion
Selection shortcuts
Microsoft Excel Keyboard Shortcuts
Check out this guide on 350+ Top Excel Shortcut Keys and Hotkeys to do the same.
Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts
Now, let’s look at the basic Gmail shortcuts to get you through the platform easily:
Composition Tools
- C: Start new email
- Ctrl + B: Apply bold formatting
- Ctrl + I: Use italic text style
- Ctrl + U: Add underline to text
- Ctrl + K: Insert web link
- Shift + Tab: Navigate backward in compose form
Message Actions
- R: Respond to sender
- A: Reply to all recipients
- F: Forward selected message
- E: Archive current conversation
- #: Delete selected email
- Y: Remove from current folder
- M: Silence conversation notifications
- Shift + U: Mark as unread
- Shift + I: Mark conversation as read
- L: Apply label to conversation
Navigation Shortcuts
- G + D: Access your draft emails
- J: Jump to newer conversation
- K: Move to older conversation
- G + I: Return to main inbox
- P: View previous message in thread
- N: Advance to next message in thread
- G + S: View starred conversations
Utility Shortcuts
- /: Initiate mail search
- Z: Reverse last action
- .: Show additional options menu
Also Read: CTRL Commands and Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10/11
Now you will no longer have a difficult time figuring keyboard shortcuts after following this guide. For more helpful tips and tricks, stay tuned, and feel free to share your suggestions in the comments below.
