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
`Alt`+`←`	Google Docs	Go to previous page in your browsing history
`Ctrl`+1 through Ctrl+`8`	Google Docs	Go to tabs 1-8 in the window
`Ctrl`+`9`	Google Docs	Go to the last tab in the window
`Ctrl`+`G`or`Enter`	Google Docs	Go to the next match for your search
`Alt`+`→`	Google Docs	Go to the next page in your browsing history
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Google Docs	Go to the next tab in the window
`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`G`or`Shift`+`Enter`	Google Docs	Go to the previous match for your search
`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Google Docs	Go to the previous tab in the window
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↑`	Google Docs	Go to top of page
`Shift`+`Alt`+`B`	Google Docs	Highlight the bookmarks bar (if shown)
`Shift`+`Alt`+`L`	Google Docs	Highlight the launcher button on your shelf
`Shift`+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Tab (or) Shift+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Arrow Right	Google Docs	Highlight the next item on your shelf
`Shift`+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Shift+Tab (or) Shift+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Arrow Left	Google Docs	Highlight the previous item on your shelf
`Shift`+`Alt`+`T`	Google Docs	Highlight the row with the address bar
`Ctrl`+`]`	Google Docs	Indent the current line by one indent unit
Search Key+`Shift`+Space (or) Launcher Key+`Shift`+`Space`	Google Docs	Insert an emoji
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	Google Docs	Jump to next file
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Tab`	Google Docs	Jump to previous file
`Ctrl`+Search key+D (or) Ctrl+Launcher key+`D`	Google Docs	Magnify part of your screen
`Ctrl`+Search key+M (or) Ctrl+Launcher key+`M`	Google Docs	Magnify your whole screen
`Alt`+Brightness Key	Google Docs	Make keyboard brighter (for backlit keyboards only)
`Alt`+`=`	Google Docs	Maximize window
`Alt`+`-`	Google Docs	Minimize window
`Shift`+`Search`+`[`or] (leftorright square bracket)	Google Docs	Move a window to a different desk
`Shift`+`Search`+`A`	Google Docs	Move a window to all desks
`Ctrl`+`↑`then`↓`then`←`thenor Arrow Right	Google Docs	Move an app icon up, down or to the side in the launcher
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑`then`↓`then`←`thenor Arrow Right	Google Docs	Move an app in or out of a folder in the launcher
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`↑`then`↓`then`←`thenor Arrow Right	Google Docs	Move around in fullscreen-magnifier mode
Search Key+Arrow Left (or) Launcher Key+`←`	Google Docs	Move to beginning of the line
Search Key+Arrow Right (or) Launcher Key+`→`	Google Docs	Move to end of the line
`Ctrl`+`→`	Google Docs	Move to the end of the next word
`Ctrl`+`←`	Google Docs	Move to the start of the previous word
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Google Docs	Navigate to selected section in the Developer Tools panel
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	Google Docs	Navigate to selected selection in the Developer Tools panel
`Ctrl`+`N`	Google Docs	New file in a new tab
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`	Google Docs	New file in a new window
`Ctrl`+`O`	Google Docs	Open a file in the browser
`Ctrl`+`T`	Google Docs	Open a new tab
`Ctrl`+`N`	Google Docs	Open a new window
`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`N`	Google Docs	Open a new window in Incognito mode
Launcher Key+v (or) Search Key+`v`	Google Docs	Open clipboard menu
`Ctrl`+`O`	Google Docs	Open file dialog
Search key+`Shift`+Increase volume (or) Launcher key+`Shift`+Increase volume	Google Docs	Open right-click menu for highlighted item
`Shift`+`Ctrl`+`J`	Google Docs	Open the Console tab in the Developer Tools panel
`Ctrl`+`J`	Google Docs	Open the Downloads page
`Shift`+`Alt`+`M`	Google Docs	Open the Files app
`Shift`+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Space (or) Shift+`Alt`+`L`thenthen Enter	Google Docs	Open the highlighted button on your shelf
`Ctrl`+`H`	Google Docs	Open the History page
Drag the link to a blank area on the tab strip	Google Docs	Open the link in a new tab
Press Shift+`Ctrl`andclick a link	Google Docs	Open the link in a new tab and switch to the new tab

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References