Years ago when you first started using Windows you were overwhelmed, right? There were just too many features to master everything from the get-go. If you’re like most people, you just learned how to do the basic things you needed to do and got started working and playing. Along the way you may have developed the habit of using your mouse or trackpad for almost everything, when keyboard shortcuts actually might be a more efficient way of accomplishing what you need to do. Below are 7 Windows shortcuts everyone needs . . . but not everyone knows about. If you’re already using these, congratulations, you’re ahead of the game!
1. Virtual Desktops
You don’t need to purchase multiple monitors to enjoy the productivity boost of a large screen capacity. Just hit the Windows key + Ctrl + D and voila! You can now scroll between two or more virtual desktops using Win + Ctrl + Right or Left Arrow keys. Getting lost in all those desktops? Use Win + Tab to see them all on one page and move windows from one screen to another.
2. Screenshots
Ever found yourself using your camera to take a PHOTO of something on your monitor to send someone? You’re not your grandma, so let’s do this the way Bill Gates intended! Press Win + PrtScr. A PNG file of your screenshot is automatically saved in the “screenshot” folder in your pictures destination.
3. Undo
Made a mistake? We all do. No worries, just hit Ctrl + Z to undo your last input and try again. Warning: this works only in the virtual world. It is useless for taking back whatever horrible thing you just said to your significant other.
4. Copy; Copy and Cut
Windows actually has two ways to accomplish the task of copying and deleting files, images, folders, or text. Use your mouse or touchpad to select what you want to copy and press Ctrl + C, which puts the item in your clipboard, then use the delete key on the original if you don’t want it in its current location. Or save a step by using Ctrl + X, which copies and deletes the original in one step.
5. Paste
Along with Copy, Paste is an absolutely essential Windows shortcut. First use one of the copy commands described above, then click in the new location where you want the file or other item and press Ctrl + V. To paste plain text without the original formatting, just add “Shift,” like this: Ctrl + Shift + V.
6. Find; Find and Replace
Can’t find a specific piece of text in a long document? No worries. Ctrl + F will open a sidebar where you can type in a name or keyword and see all the instances it occurs in your document. What if you misspelled someone’s name consistently in a document, or need to replace a word every place it occurs? Use Ctrl + H to open a dialog box that allows you to specify the change you want to make and Windows will fix it everywhere in the document.
7. Smacking a Stuck PC
Naturally you want to smack your PC when it’s stuck endlessly processing a task. It would be OH SO SATISFYING but probably counterproductive. Try Fn + F5 to refresh Windows or your browser. Alternatively, use Ctrl + Alt + Del to open the task manager box. From there, you can see which programs are slowing down your processor and shut them right down like a door-to-door salesman.
Get to Work!
Now that you have some new tricks up your sleeve, it’s time to start breezing through your tasks! See for yourself how much more quickly and easily you can navigate and work in Windows. But this is just the beginning. Windows has TONS of shortcuts to try. Check them out at Microsoft and amaze your friends with your magical abilities!
