These Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Will Save You Clicks
Any time you can hit a key combination instead of rolling your mouse pointer across the screen, you save a lot of time. Windows 10 has a long list of keyboard shortcuts that help you launch new features such as Cortana, navigate around the OS or organize your desktop layout with ease. While you might know some of the traditional Windows keyboard shortcuts, you will be surprised to find some new tricks below.
Cortana Shortcuts
Windows + Q: Opens Cortana’s Home View, enables search by speech or keyboard input.
Windows + C: Opens Cortana’s speech prompt
New in Windows 10
Windows Key + A: Opens Windows 10 notifications
Windows Key + I: Opens Windows 10 settings
Windows Key + Ctrl + D: Creates new virtual desktop
Windows Key + Ctrl + F4: Closes current virtual desktop
Windows Key + Ctrl + Left or Right: Switches between virtual desktops
Windows Key + F1: Opens Edge and Searches «How do I get help in Windows 10» with Bing (formerly opens Help)
Windows Key + Print Screen Key: Creates a screenshot of the whole screen in the Photos app. More screenshot key commands can be found here.
Windows Standards
Windows Key: Shows the Windows 10 Start Menu
Windows Key + L: Locks your Windows 10 device
Windows Key + Tab: Launches Windows 10 Task View
Windows Key + Enter: Opens Narrator, a program that reads text for you and shows you tips.
Desktop Commands
Windows Key + X: Opens Start button context menu
Windows Key + Left, Right, Up or Down: Moves the active window around on your screen. Left and Right snap the window to either side so it takes up half of the screen, Up and Down shrink the window to a quarter-size and move it to that corner. Once you have used Windows Key + Up to place it in the top corner, pressing that command again makes the window take up your whole screen. If you have hit Windows Key + Down to place a window in the bottom corner, hitting that command again minimizes the window.
Windows Key + D: Show Windows desktop (also available with Windows Key + M)
Windows Key + ,: Temporarily show desktop
Connecting and Sharing
Windows Key + H: Share content (if supported by current app)
Windows Key + K: Connect to wireless displays and audio devices
Windows Key + E: Open Windows Explorer
Traditional Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows Key + Space: Switch keyboard input language (if you have added at least a second one)
Windows Key + Shift + Left or Right: Move current Window from one monitor to another (when using a multiple monitor setup)
Windows Key + 1, 2, 3 and so on: Open programs that are pinned to task bar
Windows Key + R: Run a command
Windows Key + P: Project a screen
Alt + Tab: Switch to previous window
Windows Key + T = Cycle through screenshots of open apps
Alt + F4: Close current window, but if you perform this combination when viewing the desktop, you open Power dialogue to shut down or restart Windows, put your device in sleep mode, sign out or switch the current user.
Windows 10 Basics
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How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10
Any time you open a Windows app by rolling your mouse pointer over to an icon or lift your finger up and tapping on a tile, you’re wasting time and putting unnecessary strain on your shoulder. The fastest and least physically-taxing way to launch any program is with a keyboard shortcut you can hit without even lifting your hands off of the homerow. Windows 10 allows you to create custom shortcuts for any program, whether it’s a traditional «desktop» app, a new-fangled «universal app» or one of Windows 8’s «metro apps.» Here’s how.
Method 1: Create a Desktop Shortcut
1. Open a command prompt window. You can get there by typing «cmd» into the Cortana / Search box and then right clicking on Command Prompt and selecting «Run as administrator.»
2. Type «explorer shell:AppsFolder» (without quotes) at the command prompt and hit Enter. A window with a list of all your apps appears.
3. Right click on an app and select Create shortcut. It may be easier to find your app if you change the view setting to «detailed list» so you can see all the icons in a single column.
4. Click Yes when asked if you want the shortcut on the desktop. A new shortcut icon appears on your desktop.
5. Right click on the new shortcut icon and select Properties.
6. Enter a key combination in the Shortcut key field. The combination must be CTRL + ALT + a letter / number.
7. Click OK.
Note: Remember not to use the same key combination twice. Also note that some programs use CTRL + ALT + keyboard shortcuts that would also launch if you were in their windows. For example, in Photoshop Elements, CTRL + ALT + I brings up the resize menu.
Method 2: Use the Start Menu
If you’re creating a keyboard shortcut for a «desktop app,» any application that installs via direct download rather than Windows Store alone, you can create the shortcut directly from the Start Menu. By using this method, you can avoid creating a separate shortcut icon on the desktop.
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Navigate to the icon or tile for the app you want. If the app is not pinned as a tile, you can find it by clicking on the All apps and scrolling through the alphabetical list.
3. Right click and select Open file location. A window opens with a shortcut icon. If Open file location doesn’t appear on the menu, this is a modern or universal app and you’ll have to follow method 1 above.
4. Right click on the shortcut icon and select Properties.
5. Enter a key combination in the «Shortcut key» box.