This article is a summary of shortcuts that can be conveniently used in Windows on a PC. I have collected tips that, once you learn them, will increase your work efficiency and convenience over and over again. The operating system for this article is Windows 10. However, it is mostly applicable to previous and later versions as well.
In particular, various ways to use the Windows key are introduced. The Windows key is a key with the Windows logo located at the bottom left of the keyboard. The Windows key is primarily used to launch the Start menu, but there is a lot more to it than that.
Shortcuts for resizing and moving windows
How to move open window up, down, left and right
- Windows key+arrow key
- If you press the up/down/left/right arrow keys while holding down the Windows key, the currently working window will be maximized, minimized, or adjusted in such a way that it only occupies the left and right half.
How to minimize the open window and show the desktop
- Windows key+d
- This is a shortcut that minimizes all windows you are currently working on and displays the desktop.
- This is useful when you urgently need to hide your work. Press Windows key+d again to return minimized windows to their original state.
- One thing to keep in mind is that if you hide the screen by pressing Windows key+d without stopping YouTube running, you will still hear the sound. When using for the purpose of hiding video viewing, you must pause the video before using Windows key+d.
How to go to another running app
- Alt+Tab
- This is a shortcut to another app that is currently running.
- All currently running apps appear on the screen as a pop-up. You can jump to the desired app by repeatedly pressing this shortcut.
How to navigate to another tab within the browser while working
- Ctrl+Tab
- This is a shortcut to move to the next tab while using an Internet browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- When the browser is running with multiple windows, it only works within the window you are currently working on.
Shortcut to enter special characters
How to enter an emoji
- Windows key+.
- Hold down the Windows key and press the period key to bring up a window where you can select an emoji.
Shortcuts to launch the app
How to run a app pinned to the taskbar
- Windows key+number key
- In Windows, you can pin frequently used apps to the taskbar at the bottom of the screen. Apps pinned to the taskbar can be launched by pressing the Windows key and the number keys arranged in a row at the top of the keyboard.
- The number keys correspond to the order in which the pinned app icons are located from left to right. For example, a app pinned to the far left of the taskbar is launched by pressing the Windows key and the number 1 key. This saves you the hassle of clicking and running the app directly with your mouse.
How to run task manager
- Ctrl+Shift+Esc
- When your computer has slowed down or stopped working, you need to launch task manager to force close some apps.
- It is common to use a shortcut of a combination of Ctrl+Alt+Del when running the task manager, but it is inconvenient to have to release the right hand from the mouse to press the Del key.
- Ctrl+Shift+Esc is a shortcut that can launch the task manager just like Ctrl+Alt+Del, and it has the advantage of being able to use it while holding the mouse in your right hand.
Shortcuts to use temporarily saved contents
How to check all temporarily saved contents in the clipboard
- Windows key+v
- Ctrl+c is a shortcut to save the necessary content to the clipboard while working. The last of these saved contents can be retrieved with Ctrl+v.
- If you hold down the Windows key and press the v key, you can see and select all the temporary saves you’ve saved to the clipboard while you’re working, including the most recent saves.
How to reopen a tab you just closed
- Ctrl+Shift+t
- This is a shortcut to reopen a tab you just closed in Internet browsers such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
- Repeatedly pressing this shortcut reopens previously closed windows in reverse order.
- If you accidentally close your Internet browser, this shortcut will restore all your tabs back.
Shortcuts to capture and save the screen
How to capture only the desired part of the screen
- Windows key+Shift+s
- This is a shortcut to take a screen capture.
- Unlike the Print Screen key on the keyboard, which captures the entire screen and requires subsequent image editing, pressing this shortcut allows you to capture and save only the desired area.
How to save your work as a video
- Windows key+Alt+r
- This is a shortcut to save the current work as a video.
- When you press this shortcut, the record button pops up.
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