How to Use Common Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows

Need to use keyboard shortcuts in Windows? You’ll get your work done faster and be more efficient when you use keyboard shortcuts. Follow these steps to take advantage of the most common shortcuts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Review some of the most common keyboard shortcuts below, and pick a few that you’ll use often. For example, try using the copy and paste (or cut and paste) shortcuts to reorganize text or manage computer files.

2. Some shortcuts use only one key and other use two keys. When using any shortcut with two keys, press the first key and while holding the first key down, press the second key.

3. To copy and paste some text, first copy the text. Select the text (in any program like a document or email) by highlighting the words with the mouse, and then pressing "Ctrl C" (to copy).

4. To paste the text, click onto another area where you’d like to paste the information, and press "Ctrl V."

5. Practice common shortcuts that will be useful such as these:Ctrl A - Select AllCtrl C - CopyCtrl X - CutCtrl V - PasteCtrl Z - UndoF5 - Refresh Ctrl S - SaveCtrl B - BoldAlt F4 - Close the active program or popup windowHome - Go to the beginning of the lineEnd - Go to the end of the line

Tips & Warnings

• To select multiple files at once, press "Shift," and select the first and last file to select them all. To choose individual files, hold down the "Ctrl" key, and click on each file to select.

Resources

• Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows