Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`F10`	Windows 11	Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
`Win`+`Ctrl`+`D`	Windows 11	Add a virtual desktop.
`Win`+`/`	Windows 11	Begin IME reconversion.
`Alt`+selection key	Windows 11	Begin selection in block mode.
`Ctrl`+mouse scroll wheel	Windows 11	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
`Win`+`Ctrl`+`Space`	Windows 11	Change to a previously selected input.
`Win`+`P`	Windows 11	Choose a presentation display mode.
`Win`+`Esc`	Windows 11	Close Magnifier.
`Ctrl`+`F4`	Windows 11	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
`Alt`+`F4`	Windows 11	Close the active item, or exit the active app.
`Win`+`Ctrl`+`F4`	Windows 11	Close the virtual desktop you're using.
`Ctrl`+`W`	Windows 11	Closes the active tab. Closes the window if there is only one tab open.
`←`	Windows 11	Collapse the current selection (if its expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.
Num Lock+`-`	Windows 11	Collapse the selected folder.
`Ctrl`+C (or Ctrl+`Insert)`	Windows 11	Copy the selected item.
`Ctrl`+C (or Ctrl+`Insert)`	Windows 11	Copy the selected text.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Windows 11	Create a new folder.
`Ctrl`+`X`	Windows 11	Cut the selected item.
`Win`+`Shift`+`Space`	Windows 11	Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout.
`Win`+`T`	Windows 11	Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
`Alt`+`Esc`	Windows 11	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
`F6`	Windows 11	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
`Ctrl`+click a grouped taskbar button	Windows 11	Cycle through the windows of the group.
`Ctrl`+`or Delete`	Windows 11	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
`Shift`+`Del`	Windows 11	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Windows 11	Display all folders above the selected folder.
Num Lock+`*`	Windows 11	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
`Win`+`D`	Windows 11	Display and hide the desktop.
`Win`+`D`	Windows 11	Display and hide the desktop.
`Alt`+`Enter`	Windows 11	Display properties for the selected item.
`F4`	Windows 11	Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
`End`	Windows 11	Display the bottom of the active window.
Num Lock+`+`	Windows 11	Display the contents of the selected folder.
`→`	Windows 11	Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
`F4`	Windows 11	Display the items in the active list.
`Alt`+`P`	Windows 11	Display the preview panel.
`Shift`+`F10`	Windows 11	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
`Home`	Windows 11	Display the top of the active window.
`Ctrl`+`M`	Windows 11	Enter Mark mode.
`Backspace`	Windows 11	Go back to the settings home page.
`Alt`+`←`	Windows 11	Go back.
`Alt`+`→`	Windows 11	Go forward.
`Ctrl`+`History navigation`	Windows 11	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.
`Ctrl`+`History navigation`	Windows 11	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
`Win`+`H`	Windows 11	Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.
`Win`+`O`	Windows 11	Lock device orientation.
`Win`+`L`	Windows 11	Lock your PC or switch accounts.
`Win`+`L`	Windows 11	Lock your PC.
`F11`	Windows 11	Maximize or minimize the active window.
`Win`+`←`	Windows 11	Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References