In the day to day work, we can rely on certain shortcuts that help in increasing productivity and saving time. Keys or combination of keys on the keyboard helps to perform many operations with increased efficiency. In this article, we have covered keyboard shortcuts, which make things simple, easy and quick. Some of these are alternatives to using the mouse and help save time.
Commonly used keyboard shortcut keys (A to Z)
Basic operations like copying, pasting, selecting, and deleting can be performed using keyboard shortcuts. Below are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used instead of the cursor on a daily basis.
| Shortcut keys | Uses of Shortcut keys |
| Alt + F | Opens file menu options in the current program |
| Alt + E | Opens edits options in the current program |
| F1 | Universal help (for any sort of program) |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items in a document or window |
| Ctrl + X | Cuts the selected item |
| Ctrl + Del | Cut selected item |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item |
| Ctrl + Ins(Insert) | Copy the selected item |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the selected item |
| Shift + Ins | Paste the selected item |
| Home | Takes the user to the start of the current line |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the beginning of the document |
| End | Go to the end of the current line |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the end of a document |
| Shift + Home | Highlight from the prevailing position to the start of the line |
| Shift + End | Highlight from the prevailing position to the end of the line |
| Ctrl + (Left arrow) | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
| Ctrl +Z | Undo an action |
| Shift+Del | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first. |
| Right arrow | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. |
| Left arrow | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. |
| Esc | Stop or leave the current task. |
Computer Shortcut keys for windows (A TO Z)
For the Windows operating system below mentioned, keyboard shortcuts can be used to perform operations instead of using the cursor. Below are the computer keyboard shortcuts for the Windows system.
Keyboard shortcuts allow users to give commands using keyboard instead of looking for them through menus
| Shortcut Keys | Uses of Shortcut keys |
| Ctrl + Plus Key | Adjust the widths of all columns automatically in Windows Explorer |
| Alt + Enter | Open the properties window for the selected icon or program |
| Window logo Key + Print Screen | Take a screenshot of the current page. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Reboot/Windows task manager |
| Ctrl + Esc | These keys allow you to activate the start menu |
| F4 | Its purpose in Windows 95 to XP is to open the locate window |
| F5 | Refresh the active window |
| F3 | Search for the file or folder in file explorer |
| Alt + Esc | Switch between desktop applications on the taskbar |
| F2 | Rename the selected icon |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | It allows you to switch back between ongoing applications |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications. |
| Shift + Delete | When you press the Shift and Delete keys together, your program or files will be deleted permanently. |
| Alt + F4 | Used to close the ongoing program |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document. |
| Window Logo key+L | To lock the screen of your pc. |
| Alt+f8 | Show your password on the sign in screen. |
| Alt +Enter | Display properties for the selected item. |
| Alt+Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window. |
| Alt+Left arrow | Go back. |
| Alt+Right arrow | Go forward |
| Ctrl+D | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin. |
| Ctrl+R | Refresh the active page |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps. |
| Windows logo key + Minus (-) | Zoom out in Magnifier. |
| Windows logo key + Plus (+) | Open Magnifier and zoom in. |
| Windows logo key + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout. |
| Windows logo key + E | Opens file Explorer |
| Windows logo key + M | Minimizes all windows |
| Windows logo key + V | Open the clipboard history. |
| Windows logo key + Tab | Open Task view. |
| Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,… | Move to that tab number |
| Alt+D | To select the address bar |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new window |
| Ctrl+T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move to the next tab. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move to the previous tab. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Creates a new folder |
| Windows logo key + Ctrl + D | Add a virtual desktop |
Computer Shortcut keys for Mac OS (A TO Z)
On pressing certain key combinations, you can do things generally accomplished by mouse or other input devices. In the table below, we have covered the computer shortcut keys for Mac OS.
| Shortcut keys | Use of shortcut keys |
| Command-X | Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard. |
| Command-C | Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder. |
| Command-V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder. |
| Command-Z | Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands. |
| Command-A | Select All items. |
| Command-F | Find items in a document or open a Find window. |
| Command-G: | Find Again: Find the next occurrence of the item previously found. To find the previous occurrence, press Shift-Command-G. |
| Command-H | Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Option-Command-H. |
| Command-M | Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Option-Command-M. |
| Command-O | Open the selected item, or open a dialogue to select a file to open. |
| Command-P | Print the current document |
| Command-S | Save the current document |
| Command-T | Open a new tab |
| Command-W | Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Option-Command-W. |
| Option-Command-Esc | Force quit an application. |
| Shift-Command-N | Create a new folder in the Finder. |
| Option–Command–Power button | Put your Mac to sleep. |
| Control-Command-Q | Immediately lock your screen. |
| Shift-Command-Q | Log out of your macOS user account. You will be asked to confirm. To log out immediately without confirming, press Option-Shift-Command-Q. |
| Command-F | Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window. |
| Shift-Command-I | Open iCloud Drive. |
| Shift-Command-N | Create a new folder. |
| Command-N | Open a new Finder window. |
| Command-Delete | Move the selected item to the Trash. |
| Shift-Command-Delete | Empty the Trash. |
| Option-Shift-Command-Delete | Empty the Trash without confirmation dialogue. |
| Command–Up Arrow | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the document. |
| Command–Down Arrow | Move the insertion point to the end of the document. |
| Command–Left Arrow | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the current line. |
| Command–Right Arrow | Move the insertion point to the end of the current line. |
| Shift–Up Arrow | Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line above. |
| Shift–Down Arrow | Extend text selection to the nearest character at the same horizontal location on the line below. |
Computer Shortcut keys for MS Excel (A TO Z)
Editing lengthy excel files can be tedious and time-consuming so to perform operations with ease, we use keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts help users to perform more efficiently. Below are the keyboard shortcuts for the windows operating system to perform operations in Excel. Replace ctrl with Command in Mac OS
| Shortcut Keys | Use of Shortcut keys |
| Ctrl + W | Close a Workbook |
| F4 | Repeat Last Command Actions |
| Alt + F + T | Open Options |
| Ctrl + I | This command is used to Italicize highlighted selection. |
| Ctrl + Space | Use these keys together to select the entire column |
| Shift + Space | Use these keys together to select the entire row |
| Ctrl+Enter | Fills the selected cells with the current entry. |
| Ctrl + Y | With the help of these keys, you can underline highlighted text. |
| Ctrl + Z | With the help of these keys, you can undo the last deleted action |
| Ctrl + F9 | Use these keys to minimize a current window in MS-Excel |
| Ctrl+Tab | Move between two or more opened excel files. |
Computer Shortcut keys for MS word (A TO Z)
MS word is the most fundamental and easy-to-use software. You need to press combinations of keys to perform specific operations in word. In the table below, we have covered the most commonly used MS word shortcuts.
| Shortcut Keys | Use of Shortcut keys |
| Ctrl + O | Open the document |
| Ctrl + N | Creates new document |
| Ctrl+S | Saves the document |
| Ctrl+W | Closes the document |
| Ctrl + B | Apply bold formatting to text. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected text |
| Ctrl + P | Open the print window |
| Ctrl + F | Open find box |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + K | Insert link |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + V | Paste contents of clipboard |
| Ctrl + G | Find and replace options |
| Ctrl + H | Find and replace options |
| Ctrl + J | Justify paragraph alignment |
| Ctrl+E | Centre the text |
| Esc | Cancel a command |
| Ctrl+Alt+Page up | Move the cursor to the top of the screen. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Page down | Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen. |
| Ctrl+End | Move the cursor to the end of the document. |
| Ctrl+Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the document. |
Computer Shortcut keys for PowerPoint (A TO Z)
Below are the keyboard shortcuts to work more efficiently in PowerPoint. keyboard shortcuts can be easier than using the touchscreen and are an essential alternative to using a mouse.
| Shortcut Keys | Use of Shortcut keys |
| Ctrl+N | Create a new presentation. |
| Ctrl+M | Add a new slide. |
| Ctrl+B | Apply bold formatting to the selected text. |
| Ctrl+T | Open the Font dialogue box. |
| Ctrl+X | Cut selected text, object, or slide. |
| CTRL + D | Create a duplicate of your current slide. |
| Esc | Exit the ongoing slideshow, and it will redirect you to the earlier live view. |
| Ctrl+K | When you want to enter a hyperlink, use these keys together. |
| Ctrl+Shift+> | These commands are used to maximize the font size of the selected text by one size. |
| F5 | With the help of F5, you can start the presentation from the initial slide. |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo the last action. |
| Ctrl+S | Save the presentation. |
| Ctrl+Q | Close the presentation |
FAQs
1. What are the common shortcut keys?
The most commonly used shortcut keys are Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V used for copy-pasting, respectively. We have tried to cover all other common shortcut keys are covered in the table above.
2. Why do you need shortcut keys?
Shortcut keys are a good alternative to a mouse or any other input device, which helps to perform tasks with ease in lesser time. Depending on your hardware, shortcut keys vary.
In the above article, we have covered several keyboard shortcuts.
3. Shortcut keys for copy and paste
In windows Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V are used for copy-paste operations, respectively. In Mac OS, Command + C, Command+V performs these operations.