Some Shortcuts to Supercharge Your Windows Experience

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Have you ever wondered how you can get faster at using your PC? Do you find yourself camping out in the Start menu to navigate wherever you want to go? I’m going to show you some handy shortcuts that will help you zoom around Windows.

Ctrl + C = Copy

Ctrl + X = Cut

Ctrl + P = Paste

  • Copy, Cut, and Paste are all great shortcuts that save from having to go and right click an item to choose an action. Using these combinations greatly speed up use of things like searching in web browsers, using text editors, or manipulating files.

Win Key = Start

  • This key is the key with the Windows logo on it. This key enables a number of shortcuts inside Windows, just hitting it will open up the Start menu.

Win Key + L = Lock

  • This key combination will lock the computer. If the current user has a password for the local account, it will need to be entered before they can get back in Windows. This is great for when you need to do something away from the computer but don’t want anyone to mess with it in the time you are gone.

Ctrl + A = Select All

  • This key combination will select every item available in a program. This works in Windows Explorer, Office programs, web browsers, notepad, pretty much everything. This combination is excellent when combined with Cut and Copy to move data from one location to another in Windows Explorer.

Win Key + Pause/Break = System Properties

  • This combination will take you to the System Properties section of Windows. This is where you can see what operating system you have, how much RAM you have installed, your Windows Experience Index, and much more. This is a great alternative to the lengthy process of getting to System Properties normally.

Win Key + D = Desktop

  • This combination is great if you get lost in a sea of windows and need to get back to the desktop without minimizing every open window.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Task manager

  • This great combination will throw task manager up on your screen instantly. No need to “Ctrl + Alt + Delete” or right click the taskbar to get to task manager. This is wonderful if you quickly need to close an unresponsive program or check your system resource usage.

Win Key + E = Open File Explorer (Windows Explorer)

  • This combination will open up a window at “Computer”, “My Computer”, or “My-PC” – depending on which version of Windows you use. This is the area where you can see all of your mapped drives and libraries.

Win Key + Tab = Switch Between Windows In A Neat Graphical Style (Aero Flip 3D)

  • This key combination shows your open windows in a 3D flipbook layout. This combination can be used multiple ways. If you just tab the key combination, you will be taken back to the last used window. If the Windows key is held and the Tab key is tapped multiple times, you can cycle through all windows using the Aero Flip 3D feature.

Alt + Tab = Switch Between Windows (less neat and graphical)

  • This key combination isn’t in a cool 3D layout but it does the same thing as Aero Flip 3D. This combination can be used the same way as “Win Key + Tab” in that tapping the keys together will switch to the last used window, while holding Alt and pressing Tab multiple times will let you cycle through all windows.

Win Key + U = Opens the Ease of Access Center

  • This combination is useful if you need to quickly access Windows’ Ease of Access tools such as the Magnifier or Narration.

Alt + F4 = Closes Current Window

  • This combination will just flat out close the current window or program you have selected, so beware of hitting it while in the middle of an unsaved game. This is great if you have a program that has stopped responding or get stuck in a popup with an impossible to find “Close” button.

Win Key + Up Arrow = Maximize the Current Window

  • This combination just maximizes the current the window you currently have selected, a simple yet very helpful shortcut.

Win Key + Shift + Left or Right Arrow = Moves the Current Window to Another Monitor

  • This is fantastic if you don’t want to have to always be dragging windows across the screen onto your other monitor once it opens. It saves a great deal of time and, when combined with “Win Key + Up Arrow” it makes switching windows and programs between monitors a breeze.
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