This minHour teaches you how to use common keyboard shortcuts on both Windows and Mac computers. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to perform multiple-step actions by simply pressing two or more keys at the same time.
Windows
Understand how key shortcuts work.
To use a key shortcut, you will hold down one or more modifier keys and press a letter (or another modifier key). Modifier keys include the following:
- – Usually found on the left and right sides of the keyboard. The right key will be just left of the arrow keys.
- – Found on the left and right sides of the keyboard, farther in toward the center of the keyboard than .
- – Symbolized by an upward-facing arrow, this key is on the left and right sides of the keyboard.
- – The “function” key allows you to use secondary functions of other keys. Commands that use the function keys (e.g., ) may require use of the key.
- – This key displays the Windows logo, and is normally in the bottom-left side of your keyboard.
- Arrow keys – While not technically modifier keys, the arrow keys can be used to select items.
- – This key allows you to open a selected item. It’s essentially a mouse left-click.
Use general key shortcuts to access Windows features.
These combinations help you perform basic Windows tasks:
- – Open the Help page. You must have Internet access for this. If your computer has an key, you may need to hold it while pressing .
- – Bring up the context menu for a selected item. This is usually accomplished by right-clicking.
- – Open the Task Manager.
- – Open the Windows Security menu. (works from XP to 10)
- – Bring up the current window’s System menu, from which you can resize, minimize, maximize, or move the current window.
- – Move through current window’s tabs (e.g., in a browser).
- – Open the Start menu.
- – Switch between currently open windows, excluding the desktop.
- – Close an open window or program.
- – Permanently delete a selected item. This will bypass the Recycle Bin, though you’ll need to click OK to confirm.
- – Open Start.
- – Lock the computer. If your computer doesn’t use a password, this will still take you to the user selection screen.
- – Open the Run box.
- – Minimize all open windows and display the desktop.
- – Restore all minimized windows.
- – Open File Explorer.
- – Find another computer on your network (networked computers only).
- – View all currently open Windows.
- – Open the System Properties window.
- – Take a screenshot.
- – Open a search bar to look for specific words or phrases on the page.
Use keyboard shortcuts to help with typing, copying, and pasting.
There are several text-editing shortcuts in Windows that extend to most instances of typing, as well as file copying and pasting:
- – Copy selected text. You can also use this to copy selected files or folders.
- – Copy and remove selected text (known as “cutting”).
- – Paste copied text at the cursor. This also works with files and folders.
- – Undo the last action. Depending on the program, this command can be used multiple times to undo multiple mistakes.
- – Reverse the last undo. Depending on the program, this command can be used multiple times to revert multiple undo commands.
- – Print your document.
- – Save your document.
- – Bold the selected text. This will work in Microsoft Office products and most email providers.
- – Underline the selected text. This will work in Microsoft Office products and most email providers.
- – Italicize the selected text. This will work in Microsoft Office products and most email providers.
Use keyboard shortcuts in File Explorer.
There are a few keyboard shortcuts you can use to navigate in the File Explorer:
- – Rename a selected item.
- – Places the mouse cursor in the address bar.
- – Refreshes the folder.
- – Selects a different pane in the File Explorer window.
- – Selects every item in the current window.
- – Open a selected item’s Properties menu.
Use key shortcuts with the mouse.
Most programs have an advanced menu that can be accessed using the mouse while pressing a key:
- + Right-Click – Shows a drop-down menu with extra options based on the item you’re right-clicking.
- + Double-Click – Runs the alternate double-click command, which is the second option in the right-click drop-down menu.
- + Double-Click – Open an item’s Properties window.
Mac
Understand how key shortcuts work.
To use a key shortcut, you will hold down one or more modifier keys and press a letter (or another modifier key). Modifier keys include the following:
- – Located on the left and right sides of the spacebar.
- – Located next to the keys.
- – Located on the left side of the keyboard.
- – Located in the bottom-left side of the keyboard. This key activates the alternative uses for the “Function” keys (e.g., ).
- – Located on the left and right sides of the keyboard.
- Arrow keys – While not technically modifier keys, the arrow keys can be used to select items.
- – Located on the right side of the keyboard. Allows you to open a selected item.
Use keyboard shortcuts for common actions.
Instead of using the mouse or a program’s buttons, you can use your Mac’s keyboard to do things like copying files or text, and opening certain programs:
- – Copy selected text or file, then delete it from the current location (also called “cutting”).
- – Copy selected text or file without deleting it.
- – Paste a copied item.
- – Undo the last command.
- – Redo the last command if you used the Undo command.
- – Select all items in your current folder.
- – Open the search bar in a specific window, browser, or program.
- – Find the next instance of an item (e.g., a word) you searched for.
- – Find the previous instance of an item you searched for.
- – Hide the front (currently open) app or program’s window.
- – Hide all windows except the front app or program.
- – Minimize the front window.
- – Minimize all front app’s windows.
- – Open a new document, window, or tab depending on the program you’re using.
- – Open a selected item (e.g., a file or folder).
- – Print the current document.
- – Save your current document.
- – Quit the front app.
- – Open the Force Quit menu.
- – Hold for three seconds to force-quit the front app.
- – Bring up the Spotlight search bar.
- – Switch to the next open app.
- – Switch to the next window of the front app.
- – Take a full-screen screenshot.
- – Open the front app’s preferences.
Make your computer sleep, log out, or shut down.
There are several shortcuts you can use to lock down your computer quickly:
- + Power button – Bring up the Sleep/Restart/Shut down menu.
- + Power button – Force your Mac to reboot.
- + Power button – Shut off your Mac’s screen.
- + Media eject button – Quit all apps, then restart.
- + Power button – Quit all apps, then shut down.
- – Brings up a prompt that, when accepted, logs you out of your account.
- – Logs you out of your account without asking to confirm.
Use shortcuts to navigate the Finder.
You can use keyboard shortcuts to perform several actions inside of the Finder:
- – Duplicate selected items.
- – Eject a selected drive (e.g., flash drive).
- – Open Spotlight in the Finder.
- – Display the Get Info window for a selected item.
- – Open the Computer folder.
- – Open the Desktop folder.
- – Open the All My Files folder.
- – Open a Go to Folder search.
- – Open your Mac’s Home folder.
- – Open iCloud Drive.
- – Open the Network window.
- – Open the Downloads folder.
- – Open the Documents folder.
- – Open the AirDrop utility.
- – Place the selected item on the Dock.
- – Open the Utilities folder.
- – Hide the Dock (or show it if it’s already hidden).
- – Add the selected item to the Finder sidebar.
- – Hide the address bar (or show it if it’s hidden).
- – Hide the sidebar (or show it if it’s hidden).
- – Show the folder View options.
- – Open a new window in the Finder.
- – Create a new folder in your current location in the Finder.
- – Create a “smart” folder in your current location in Finder.
- – Move copied files from their current location to your current location.
- + 1, 2, 3, or 4 – Change the way icons are displayed in the current folder.
- – See the last folder you were in.
- – Go to the next folder in the path.
- + Brightness down – Enable or disable display mirroring while your Mac is connected to another display (e.g., a TV).
- – Send a selected item to the Trash.
- – Empty the Trash with a warning message.
- – Empty the trash without warning.
- + Brightness up – Open the Display settings.
- – Open your Mission Control preferences.
- – Open your Mac’s Sound preferences.
- – Displays the desktop.
Use shortcuts to edit the text in a document.
Rather than clicking a text editor’s various buttons, you can use shortcuts to edit the text:
- – Make selected text bold.
- – Make selected text italic.
- – Make selected text underlined.
- – Hide the “Fonts” window, or displays it if the window is already hidden.
- – Chooses the Desktop folder as the Open or Save destination.
- – Display a selected word’s definition.
- – See the “Spelling and Grammar” window.
- – Search for spelling errors in the document.
- – Place the cursor in the center of the screen.
- – Open the Search field.
- – Copy selected text’s formatting.
- – Apply copied formatting to selected text.
- – Apply formatting from surrounding content to selected content.
- – Bring up the Inspector window.
- – Open document settings.
- – Open the “Save As” window.
- – Decrease a selected item’s font size (or picture size).
- – Increase a selected item’s font size (or picture size).
- – Open the Help window.