Shortcut keys help provide an easier and quicker method of navigating and executing commands in the computer software.
In modern times, there is no confusion in saying that computers have become a very useful part of daily life. If you use the computer frequently, you must have knowledge about the computer shortcut keys.
The use of shortcut keys is beneficial for computer users, as it allows them to complete tasks accurately and in less time. Furthermore, by using shortcut keys, you can increase your productivity and reduce the strain caused by repetitive motions.
1. Basic shortcut keys
•Alt + F : File menu options in the current program
•Alt + E : Edit options in the current program
•F1 : Universal help (for any sort of program)
•Ctrl + A : Selects all text
•Ctrl + X : Cuts the selected item
•Ctrl + C : Copy the selected item
•Ctrl + Insert : Copy the selected item
•Ctrl + V : Paste the selected item
•Shift + Insert : Paste the selected item
•Home : Go to the beginning 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 the document
•Shift + Home : Select from current position to beginning of the line
•Shift + End : Select from current position to end of the line
•Ctrl + (Left Arrow) : Move one word to the left at a time
•Ctrl + (Right Arrow) : Move one word to the right at a time
2. Microsoft Windows shortcut keys
•Alt + Tab : Switch forward between open applications
•Alt + Shift + Tab : Switch backward between open applications
•Alt + Print Screen : Create screenshot for the current program
•Ctrl + Alt + Delete : Reboot/Windows task manager
•Ctrl + Esc : Bring up the start menu
•Alt + Esc : Switch between opened applications on taskbar
•F2 : Rename selected icon
•F3 : Search from the desktop
•F4 : Open the drive selection when browsing
•F5 : Refresh contents
•Alt + F4 : Close current open program
•Ctrl + F4 : Close window in program
•Ctrl + Plus key (+) : Automatically adjust the widths of all columns in Windows Explorer
•Alt + Enter : Open properties window of selected icon
•Shift + F10 : Simulate right-click on selected item
•Shift + Delete : Delete programs/files permanently
•Hold Shift key during Boot up : Boot safe mode or bypass system files
•Hold Shift key during Boot up : When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD player from playing
3. Microsoft Word shortcut keys
Ctrl + A : Select all contents of the page
Ctrl + B : Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I : Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U : Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + C : Copy selected text
Ctrl + X : Cut selected text
Ctrl + V : Paste
Shift + Insert : Paste
Ctrl + N : Open new/blank document
Ctrl + O : Open options
Ctrl + P : Open the print window
Ctrl + F : Open find box
Ctrl + K : Insert link
Ctrl + Z : Undo the last action
Ctrl + Y : Redo the last action
Ctrl + G : Find and replace options (Go To tab)
Ctrl + H : Find and replace options (Replace tab)
Ctrl + J : Justify paragraph alignment
Ctrl + L : Align selected text or line to the left
Ctrl + Q : Align selected paragraph to the left
Ctrl + E : Align selected text or line to the center
Ctrl + R : Align selected text or line to the right
Ctrl + M : Indent the paragraph
Ctrl + T : Hanging indent
Ctrl + W : Close document
Ctrl + S : Save
Shift + F12 : Save
F12 : Save as
Ctrl + (Left arrow) : Move one word to the left
Ctrl + (Right arrow) : Move one word to the right
Ctrl + (Up arrow) : Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph
Ctrl + (Down arrow) : Move to the end of the paragraph
Ctrl + Del : Delete word to the right of the cursor
Ctrl + Backspace : Delete word to the left of the cursor
Ctrl + End : Move cursor to end of the document
Ctrl + Home : Move cursor to the beginning of the document
Ctrl + Shift + * : View or hide non printing characters
Ctrl + D : Font options
Ctrl + Shift + F : Change the font
Ctrl + Shift + > : Increase selected font size
Ctrl + Shift + < : Decrease selected font size
Ctrl + ] : Increase selected font size +1
Ctrl + [ : Decrease selected font size -1
Ctrl + Space : Reset highlighted text to default font
Ctrl + 1 : Single-space lines
Ctrl + 2 : Double-space lines
Ctrl + 5 : 1.5-line spacing
Ctrl + Alt + 1 : Change text to heading 1
Ctrl + Alt + 2 : Change text to heading 2
Ctrl + Alt + 3 : Change text to heading 3
F1 : Open help
F4 : Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
F7 : Spell check selected text and/or document
Shift + F3 : Change case of selected text
Shift + F7 : Activate the thesaurus
Alt + Shift + D : Insert the current date
Alt + Shift + T : Insert the current time
4. Microsoft Excel shortcut keys
Ctrl + A : Select all contents of a worksheet
Ctrl + B : Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I : Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U : Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + 5 : Strikethrough highlighted selection
Ctrl + X : Cut selected text
Ctrl + C : Copy selected text
Ctrl + V : Paste
Ctrl + D : Fill
Ctrl + K : Insert link
Shift + F5 : Open find options
Ctrl + F : Open find options
Ctrl + G : Open go-to options
Ctrl + H : Open find and replace options
Ctrl + Z : Undo the last action
Ctrl + Y : Redo the last action
Ctrl + O : Open options
Ctrl + N : Open new document
Ctrl + P : Open print dialog box
Ctrl + S : Save
Ctrl + W : Close document
Ctrl + Page up : Move between worksheets in the same document
Ctrl + Page down : Move between worksheets in the same document
Ctrl + Tab : Move between two or more open Excel files
F2 : Edit the selected cell
F5 : Go to a specific cell
F7 : Spell check selected text and/or document
F11 : Create chart
Ctrl + F6 : Switch between open workbooks/windows
Shift + F3 : Open the Excel formula window
Alt + = : Create the formula to sum all of the above cells
Ctrl + F9 : Minimize current window
Ctrl + F10 : Maximize currently selected window
Alt + Shift + F1 : Insert new worksheet
Ctrl + Shift + “ : Insert the content of above cell into the current cell
Ctrl + Shift + ! : Format number in comma format
Ctrl + Shift + $ : Format number in currency format
Ctrl + Shift + # : Format number in date format
Ctrl + Shift + % : Format number in percentage format
Ctrl + Shift + ^ : Format number in scientific format
Ctrl + Shift + @ : Format number in time format
Ctrl + (Right arrow) : Move to the last column
Ctrl + (Left arrow) : Move to the first column
Ctrl + (Down arrow) : Move to the last row
Ctrl + (Up arrow) : Move to the first row
Ctrl + Space : Select entire column
Shift + Space : Select entire row
Ctrl + Shift + ; : Enter the current time
Ctrl + ; : Enter the current date
5. Microsoft Outlook shortcut keys
Alt + S : Send the email
Ctrl + R : Reply to an email
Ctrl + F : Forward an email
Ctrl + N : Create a new email
Ctrl + C : Copy selected text
Ctrl + X : Cut selected text
Ctrl + P : Open print dialog box
Ctrl + K : Complete name/email typed in address bar
Ctrl + B : Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I : Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U : Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + Shift + A : Create a new appointment to your calendar
Ctrl + Shift + O : Open the outbox
Ctrl + Shift + I : Open the inbox
Ctrl + Shift + K : Add a new task
Ctrl + Shift + C : Create a new contact
Ctrl + Shift+ J : Create a new journal entry
6. WINKEY shortcut keys
WINKEY + F1 : Display the Microsoft Windows help
WINKEY + R : Open the run window
WINKEY + E : Open Microsoft Explorer
WINKEY + U : Open ease of access center in control panel
WINKEY + L : Lock the computer
WINKEY + F : Display the Windows Search/Find feature
WINKEY + CTRL + F : Display the search for computers window
WINKEY + Tab : Cycle through open programs on the taskbar
WINKEY + Pause Break : Open the system properties window
WINKEY + D : Bring desktop to the top of other windows
WINKEY + M : Minimize all windows
WINKEY + SHIFT + M : Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D