I thought, for my first post here on the Algonquin Studios blog, that I’d share a few “secret” Windows keyboard tips that I use so frequently they’ve become second nature. I’m anticipating you’ll find at least one of the following either new, useful, or, hopefully, both! Whether you are a clever clicker or a keen keyboardist, I’ll bank on you finding value in these:
Using Explorer
Windows + D and Windows + Tab
My desktop is often cluttered, with many items open at one time. Between applications, messaging, and emails, I’m constantly flipping back and forth to bring what I’m looking for into focus. But, in the flick of a wrist, I can easily minimize everything and bring exactly what I am looking for to front:
- Holding down the Windows icon key and pressing “D” will minimize everything and show your desktop. While still holding the Windows icon key, press the Tab key. You’ll see all of your open windows and applications begin to cycle. Press the tab key until you reach the desired window or application and it will be brought into focus. You can also hold the Windows icon key and press “D” then “E” to close everything and open a new Explorer window instantly (and one handed!).
F2
Every so often you need to rename a file, or two, or twenty. You can always right click and select the “Rename” option, but that moves your hands off your keyboard. You can click on the file once it’s already highlighted, but I often accidentally double click the file and then it opens. Argh! Here’s a better method:
- Simply pressing the F2 key when the file is highlighted will jump you right to renaming the file. Pressing enter will save the new name. For an added bonus, use this key when modifying cells in an excel spread sheets and your hands will never leave the keyboard. Talk about fast and efficient!
Using a Browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE)
Ctrl+ PgUp and Crtl + PgDn
- Holding the Control key and pressing the PageUp or PageDown key will cycle through your open tabs in your browser. I find this beneficial when typing for two reasons: I don’t need to use my mouse and, when I return to my tab, I can resume typing right where I left off.
Ctrl + Shft + T
- It’s commonly known that holding the Control key and pressing “T” will open a new tab in your browser. However, holding the Control key and the Shift key, and then pressing “T” will open the last tab you closed to that page it was on. If you’re like me, and you often close the wrong tab, then this is the shortcut for you – it’s the “undo” of the browsing world! This shortcut might not increase efficiency, but it’s sure to reduce frustration. You closed three tabs? Simply keep pressing “T” until your required tab has returned. Closed the whole browser window? Re-open the application and Ctrl + Shft + “T” until your tabs are returned.
Text Editing
Highlighting Text
These are by far the most useful. They might take a while to get used to, but you’ll type more efficiently as a result:
Ctrl + Arrow
- Holding the Control key, and pressing any arrow key, (←, →, ↑, ↓), will move the cursor in that direction.
Shft + Arrow
- Holding the Shift key, and pressing any arrow key, (←, →, ↑, ↓), will begin to highlight text from the cursor, in the direction of the arrow.
Ctrl + Shft + Arrow
- Holding the Control key, the Shift key, and pressing any arrow key, (←, →, ↑, ↓), will not only highlight the text in that direction, but let you jump to the end of each word or white space. This is great for highlighting sections of text and might be my most used short cut.
Shft + Home and Shft End
- While holding the Shift key, press the Home key. This will move the cursor to the beginning of the line, while highlighting everything in between. Visa versa; try Shift + End to highlight the rest of text in the line, starting from where the cursor is.
Ctrl + Shft + C
- Holding the Control key, the Shift key, and pressing “C”, will copy the entire line of text that the cursor is currently on, even if it is not highlighted.
Ctrl + Space
- When a selection of text is highlighted, holding the Control key and pressing the Space Bar will remove formatting from that selection of text. This is another one of my favorites.
Let’s say you have a selection of text that is Size 16, bold, underlined, and RED, pressing control shift will remove all formatting from the text, and set it to the default font and format of the text editor you are in. This is great when copying text from a web site and formatting it to fit your document or email. Unfortunately, it doesn’t remove background color, bullets, or numbering, this needs to be done manually.
There you have it folks! I hope you found something new or useful here; feel free to share this if you know someone else who might find the list useful!
Here a few links for further information and more shortcuts:
Keyboard shortcuts from Microsoft
20 essential PC shortcuts from Microsoft
Handy Keyboard Shortcuts (Browsers) from Webopedia.com
