Some keyboard shortcuts of windows are not very frequently used but are as useful as the most common keyboard shortcuts that we daily use. Let us have glance at these shortcuts.
You may know some of these keyboard shortcuts and even used them if you are well equipped with Microsoft windows for a long time. But, it may also happen that you missed them while you didn’t care to discover more. There are many more shortcut keys made to simplify your working on windows, apart from the most common ones. I got some of them listed here to assist you in your search. Most of these are amazingly easy to use and quite productive to your purpose, though there are ones that support only the latest versions of windows. If you are looking for the basic shortcut keys in windows, please refer this post, “Shortcut keys for windows with description”, else proceed further.
Use of Alt, Shift and Ctrl…. keys
Shortcut key
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Description
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Alt
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Alt key automatically selects the menu items of a program. It is also used to make visible the menubar items in a window.
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Ctrl+tab
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It is used to switch between the opened tab of a window.
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Shift+tab
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On the desktop, this shortcut is used for jumping from one tab to another i.e. taskbar, desktop and sidebar. The arrow key is then used to select a specific program or file and pressed enter to open it.
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Ctrl+Alt+Del
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Opens an emergency window to choose from password reset, log off, task manager, lock the computer or switch user.
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Shift+Del
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Permanently deletes the selected item.
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Alt+backspace
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Opens a small dialogue box on top of a window. Then, press R to restore to a normal window, press X to maximize windows, press N to minimize a window or press M to move it by the use of arrow keys.
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Backspace
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Selects the first item in a window.
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Alt+Esc/tab
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Switches between the various opened programs.
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Windows+tab
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Enables you to view the operating programs in full window flipped view and jump to the selected program.
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Use of windows key as shortcut
Shortcut keys
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Description
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Windows
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Opens the windows start menu
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Windows+Alt+tab
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Displays a thumbnail list of various programs open on holding the keys. The arrow key is used to open the required choice.
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Windows+1-9
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This is used to open the programs pinned to the taskbar in the sequence listed.
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Windows+E
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Opens computer
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Windows+R
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Opens run program window
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Windows+T
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Toggles between various open programs on the taskbar. The enter key is used to open the selected program.
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Windows+S
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Opens one note notebook to take a screen clipping.
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Windows+D
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Hides and displays all windows along with sidebars progressively.
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Windows+F
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Opens windows search
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Windows+L
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Locks the windows
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Windows+X
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Opens windows mobility center where you can configure display, voloume and other hardware settings.
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Windows+N
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Opens Microsoft office onenote
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Windows+M
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Minimizes all open windows
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Use of function keys in windows
Shortcut Key
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Description
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F1
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Most programs use this key to open help box.
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F2
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Used to rename a file. Ctrl+Alt+F2 will open a new word document.
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F3
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Opens the search windows in Microsoft windows. Many programs support this as a search key. Shift+F3 changes the font of a word from upper to lowercase and vice-versa in MS word.
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F4
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Opens the find window and repeats the last action in Microsoft word in the latest versions.
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F5
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Used to refresh a page or window. In word, it opens the find, replace and go box and in Powerpoint, it starts a slideshow.
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F6
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Used in moving the cursor to the address bar in internet explorer and Mozilla firefox browsers.
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F7
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In Microsoft documents, this key is used to open spell and grammar check window. To run a thesaurus check on the selected text, Shift+F7 is used.
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F8
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Pressed while windows is starting to enter the startup menu.
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F10
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Selects the menubar of an open application and behaves as the alt key in Microsoft word. Shift+F10 forms a substitute for right click.
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F11
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Pressed while windows is starting to access the recovery options. Also used to enter full screen mode in internet browsers.
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F12
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Behaves as save as in Microsoft word. Shift+F12 automatically saves the open word document. Ctrl+Shift+F12 opens the print window in word.
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