You can spend hours in front of your computer for the easiest tasks…or complete them within
minutes by using a couple of simple key combinations!
The second option sounds way more tempting, right?
So if you wanna make your computer experience more effective, here are some new ways to
use the most popular keys...
#1: Letter keys
You can probably name a couple of shortcuts with letters off the top of your head right
now.
But there are way more of them than you think, so it's time to get to know the most fascinating
ones better!
• Pressing E together with the Windows logo key opens up Explorer so you can instantly
find a file you need.
• If you want quick access to the download window in your browser, click Ctrl with J
or Command and J for iMac.
This shortcut will allow you to see all the files that are currently downloading.
Your browser history can also be opened through a similar command: Ctrl + H for Windows and
Command + Y for MacOS.
• To select all items and text in the browser page or document you're working on, click
Ctrl and A. If you want to remove or delete it, Ctrl + D can be very useful!
• The Windows logo key and L combo locks your PC or allows you to switch users if you're
not the only one who uses the computer.
• You can open the Ease of Access Center with a letter command by pressing the Windows
logo key and U.
#2: Esc
We often use Esc to close something, but did you know that this key can be used for numerous
other purposes?
If you wanna upgrade your computer skills, here are just a couple of Esc key combos you
should remember:
• The first surprise is that you don't necessarily need to use the Windows logo key to open the
Start menu.
Esc with Ctrl can do the same thing.
Just try it!
• Windows Task Manager is essential for anyone who works on their computer.
To have easier access to it, press Esc + Ctrl + Shift, and save your time!
• Whenever you have way too many programs open at once, use Esc and Alt to switch between
them.
It's way quicker than using your mouse, and it allows you to switch between programs in
the same order they were opened.
• Mac users have their own useful Esc commands too!
For instance, pressing Esc along with Option and Command can help you instantly choose
an app to force quit.
• Finally, if you need to exit magnifier, Esc + the Windows logo key will do it for
you.
#3: Tab
Most people rarely use the Tab key.
But just like pretty much every key, it can come in handy when you need to save time and
complete a task faster.
Let's see…
• Have you ever had so many Google Chrome windows open that it was hard to cope?
Yup, we've all been there!
Thankfully, if you need to switch quickly between them, the Tab + Ctrl combo will certainly
become your favorite.
You can also go back to the previous tab by pressing Tab, Ctrl, and Shift.
• Open apps and programs on your computer can also be controlled by using the Tab key.
If you have Windows, press Tab, Ctrl, and Alt and use the arrow keys to switch between
all your open programs; if you're a fan of Apple, Tab + Command will allow you to do
the same thing.
• You can browse through all your recently used apps by using Tab + the Windows logo
key command.
• Moreover, if you don't have a mouse and need to move around on the screen, press Tab
with the Up or Down Arrow.
It’s just as comfortable and quick as working with a touchpad!
#4: Alt
Using the Alt key on its own is rather useless, but combining it with other keys can help
you deal with almost any situation you can imagine!
• Alt + F opens file menu options for whatever program you're working in.
Alt + E takes you to edit options.
• If you want to see the properties of a certain file or folder without looking for
it in the settings, select the file and press Alt and Enter to see all the information you
need.
• If you're tired of High Contrast or, on the contrary, want to turn it on, press Alt
on the left side of your keyboard along with the left Shift and Print Screen keys.
There's a similar command for controlling the mouse keys as well, but here instead of
Print Screen you should press Num Lock.
• To close all Google Chrome windows completely at the end of your session, press Alt with
F4 or Command + Shift + W if you're using iMac.
By the way, you can also select the address bar in one click with the Alt + D shortcut.
• Whenever you need to see the Jump List for the program pinned to your taskbar, use
Alt, the Windows logo key, and the number of its position in your taskbar.
No mouse necessary!
#5: Shift
Most people use the Shift key purely to type a capital letter.
However, it can control a bit more than that!
• Some keyboard settings can be turned on and off with Shift shortcuts.
For example, holding right Shift for about 8 seconds switches the FilterKeys function
on and off, and pressing Shift 5 times controls Sticky Keys.
• If you scrolled to the bottom of a browser page and need to move back up, press Shift
and Spacebar to go back to the beginning.
Plus, if you accidentally closed a window, Shift + Ctrl + T or Shift + Command + T for
iMac will quickly bring it back.
#6: Ctrl
Almost all shortcut combos have the Ctrl key as one of their components.
And as you probably already know most of them, let's talk about some interesting Ctrl options
you may have missed…
• If you're working in Microsoft Word, you probably use bold, italic, and underlined
text options a lot.
Instead of doing all this by mouse, you can select the text and press Ctrl + B, I, or
U for bold, italics, and underlined text respectively.
You can also move the cursor forward or back one word as well as forward and back one paragraph
by pressing Ctrl + the Arrow keys.
• If you often zoom in and out of a page while working in a browser, try to press Ctrl
and the + or – keys next time (as opposed to using your mouse).
• Instead of typing the whole name of the site in your browser's address bar, type only
its name (for instance, Facebook), and press Ctrl and Enter.
This command will add www. and .com and send you to this address all by itself!
You can add the site to your favorites later by using the Ctrl + D shortcut, and you can
view all your favorite sites by pressing Ctrl + I.
• If you're on a network and need to find PCs, press Ctrl, the Windows logo key, and
F to complete the task right away.
#7: Windows logo key
Everybody knows that the Windows logo key quickly opens the Start menu or the previous
window if you prefer Windows 8.
But there are actually many more useful combos with it that can make your life way easier!
• The Windows logo key + A opens the Action Center for any device with Windows 10.
• Pressing the Windows logo key with B can help you select the first icon of the Notification
Area.
If you need any other icon, you can choose it using the arrow keys.
• The Windows logo key, Ctrl, and B can instantly switch your computer to the program
indicating a new message in your Notification Area.
• And if you have way too many windows opened at once, press the Windows logo key with M
to minimize them.
Don't worry!
If you need to maximize them back, the Windows logo key + the Up Arrow will do the job!
• When it comes to an active window, the Windows logo key can also stretch it to the
top and bottom of your screen if you press it with Shift and the Up Arrow.
Way better than dragging your mouse cursor all over the screen!
What shortcut key combination do you use the most?
Let us know in the comment section below!
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Stay on the Bright Side!