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
`Shift`+Search [desk position number]	Google Docs	Switch to a specific desk
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`.`	Google Docs	Switch to the next user
`Ctrl`+`Space`	Google Docs	Switch to the previous keyboard language you were using
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`,`	Google Docs	Switch to the previous user
Search key+`Alt`+M (or) Launcher key+`Alt`+`M`	Google Docs	Switch windows between screens (when your Windows is connected to a monitor)
Search Key+Alt (or) Launcher Key+`Alt`	Google Docs	Turn Caps Lock on or off
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Z`	Google Docs	Turn ChromeVox (spoken feedback) on or off
Search key+`Ctrl`+H (or) Launcher key+`Ctrl`+`H`	Google Docs	Turn on high contrast mode
`Ctrl`+`Z`	Google Docs	Undo your last action
Search key+your preferred function key (or) Launcher key+your preferred function key	Google Docs	Use function keys
Select Current desk	Google Docs	View a different window in your current desk
Hold Altandpress Tab	Google Docs	View a different window in your desk
`Alt`+`Tab`	Google Docs	View all windows in your desk
`Ctrl`+`U`	Google Docs	View page source
Select All desks	Google Docs	View windows across all desks
`Ctrl`+`=`	Google Docs	Zoom in
`Ctrl`+`+`	Google Docs	Zoom in on the page
`Ctrl`+`-`	Google Docs	Zoom out
`Ctrl`+`-`	Google Docs	Zoom out on the page
`F4`	Google Sheets	Absolute/relative references (when entering a formula)
in Google Chrome: Alt+`A`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`A`	Google Sheets	Accessibility menu
in Google Chrome: Alt+`N`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`N`	Google Sheets	Add-ons menu
`Alt`+`Shift`+`3`	Google Sheets	Apply bottom border
`Alt`+`Shift`+`4`	Google Sheets	Apply left border
`Alt`+`Shift`+`7`then`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`	Google Sheets	Apply outer border
`Alt`+`Shift`+`2`	Google Sheets	Apply right border
`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`	Google Sheets	Apply top border
`Ctrl`+`B`	Google Sheets	Bold
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	Google Sheets	Center align
`Ctrl`+`\`	Google Sheets	Clear formatting
`Shift`+`Esc`then`Ctrl`+`Esc`	Google Sheets	Close drawing editor
`Ctrl`+`e`	Google Sheets	Collapse an expanded array formula
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`	Google Sheets	Collapse grouped rows or columns
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	Google Sheets	Compact controls
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`\`then`Shift`+`F10`	Google Sheets	Context menu
`Ctrl`+`C`	Google Sheets	Copy
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`,`	Google Sheets	Ctrl + Alt + ,
`Ctrl`+`X`	Google Sheets	Cut
in Google Chrome: Alt+`D`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`D`	Google Sheets	Data menu
in Google Chrome: Alt+`E`thenthen Ethenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`E`thenthen e	Google Sheets	Delete columns
in Google Chrome: Alt+`E`thenthen Dthenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`E`thenthen D	Google Sheets	Delete rows
`Alt`+`Shift`+`K`	Google Sheets	Display list of sheets
in Google Chrome: Alt+`E`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`E`	Google Sheets	Edit menu
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`H`	Google Sheets	Enable braille support
Holding Ctrl+`Alt`thenpress Ethen`C`	Google Sheets	Enter current comment
`U`	Google Sheets	Exit current comment
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`	Google Sheets	Expand grouped rows or columns
in Google Chrome: Alt+`F`thenother browsers: Alt+`Shift`+`F`	Google Sheets	File menu
`Ctrl`+`D`	Google Sheets	Fill down
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	Google Sheets	Fill range

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References