Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Here is a compiled list of handy keyboard shortcuts. This could be valuable if you dont have your mouse or other pointing device handy, either because it has stopped working or the driver is misbehaving, or because you want to seem cool to your friends. :P

Windows Desktop Commands:

• ALT + ESC - Cycles through all open windows.
• ALT + F4 - Closes current program/window, or brings up a system shutdown dialog. The latter will only work if there are no active windows or all active programs are minimized.
• ALT + F8 - Reveals text in password box on log-on screen.
• ALT + TAB - Switch between open programs/windows while pressing the TAB key multiple times. similar feature lsited below
• ⊞ WIN + TAB - Shows a tiled list of active programs. In Windows Vista and 7, this command would activate Flip 3D if Aeroglass features were enabled. In legacy Windows versions, this command would simply switch between taskbar buttons and hitting enter on selected button would bring that window to front or restore the window if it is minimized.
• ⊞ WIN + M - Minimises all windows.
• ⊞ WIN + SHIFT + M - Restores minimised all windows.
• ⊞ WIN + PAUSE/PAUSEBREAK - Shows system properties.
• ALT (while in a program) - reveals underlined letters for menu commands.
• ALT + {underlined letter} - Runs command for underlined letter in current program. For instance, if F in the File menu is underlined, a user can press ALT + F which will open the file menu.

Dedicated Windows Commands:

• ALT + {underlined letter} - Runs command for underlined letter in current program. For instance, if F in the File menu is underlined, a user can press ALT + F which will open the file menu.
• ⊞ WIN + L - Locks the computer. In Windows 8 and above, the Lockscreen will replace the classic current screen.
• ⊞ WIN + V - Brings up or starts the clipboard history, a feature introduced in the October 2018 Update to Windows 10. Clipboard histoy contains a list of the past 25 copy-and-paste operations during the current Windows session. The feature effectively superseeds the ClipBook Viewer, a legacy utility discontinued in Windows Vista.
• ⊞ WIN + PrtScn/Print Screen - Takes a screenshot of your desktop. In previous versions of Windows, the screenshot would be saved to the clipboard. Starting in Windows 8, said screenshot will automatically save to a Screenshots folder in your pictures library, which Windows will automatically create if it doesnt already exist.
• ⊞ WIN + X - Shows the desktop context menu.
• CNTL + {arrow keys} - In Windows 10, holding CNTL while pressing the arrow keys will adjust the Start Menu size in said arrow direction if it is open.

Universal Content Commands:

• CNTL + X - Cut
• CNTL + C - Copy
• CNTL + V - Paste

Universal Windows Commands:

• CNTL + SHIFT + ESC - Brings up the Task Manager
• CNTL + ALT + DEL - Brings up the System Tasks menu in Windows. The system tasks include quick access to task manager, changing the password, user switching, accessibility features and access to system shutdown. Can be useful in an emergancy where, a buggy or misbehaving program or feature is causing Windows to lag or become unresponsive. There is a lot of history within the PC landscape concerning this command. Learn more here.