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Step 1
The first type of shortcut keys this article will cover are for text manipulation. First, to select text you'd like to manipulate, try these keys:
When your cursor is in a text editing window, hold Shift and push the Left or Right Arrow Keys to select text character by character. Holding Shift while pushing the Up or Down Arrow Keys allows you to select text line by line.
To select text more rapidly, hold Ctrl + Shift and tap any of the Arrow Keys.
Finally, to select all text in a document, push Ctrl + A. -
Step 2
Once text is selected, the most basic shortcut keys to manipulate it are those for Copying, Cutting, and Pasting text. These shortcuts are listed below. (Alternates are in parentheses.)
Ctrl + C to Copy highlighted text (Ctrl + Insert)
Ctrl + X to Cut highlighted text (Shift + Delete)
Ctrl + V to Paste the last segment of text you copied or cut (Shift + Insert) -
Step 3
When filling out several text fields in succession (such as when registering for an account online), Tab can be used to move to the next input field. Shift + Tab will move backwards to the last input field. If the form involves radio buttons or check boxes, you can use Spacebar to activate or deactivate those buttons.
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Step 4
Within a word processor or web browser, a few other useful commands are:
Ctrl + P to Print
Ctrl + Z to Undo
Ctrl + S to Save
Ctrl + F to Find
For more advanced functions, you can learn the shortcut keys of your specific software's menu bar. Pushing F10 will allow you to scroll through the menu bar with your Arrow Keys. -
Step 5
The next set of useful shortcuts are for task managements. These key combinations allow you to shift focus between different programs easily.
Windows Key + M to Minimize All Windows
Windows Key + Shift + M to Undo Minimize All Windows
Windows Key + D to Show the Desktop
Alt + Tab to shift focus to the next active program
(Holding Alt and continuing to press Tab allows you to select any open program)
Alt + Shift + Tab to scroll through open programs in reverse
Alt + Esc to send the current window to the bottom of the desktop
F11 to put the current program into Full Screen Mode
Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the task manager -
Step 6
In addition to these shortcut keys built into Windows, numerous programs are available online to assign your own shortcut keys to perform common tasks, such as opening programs or websites. One such program is called WinKey. Check "Resources" below for a free Winkey download link.
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Step 7
Another useful shortcut key program is called FreeSnap. FreeSnap allows you to quickly resize and position windows, and is particularly useful when you want to have a word processor and Internet browser open side-by-side. FreeSnap is available for free at the link under "Resources" below.
