There's lots of shortcuts available to help make life easier when using your computer. We've compiled a list of some of the most helpful!

Basic Terminology for this guide:

Ctrl      – Means the Control key on your keyboard (Bottom left and right of keyboard)

Alt       – Means the Alt key on your keyboard (Bottom left and right of keyboard)

Win     – Means the Windows Icon on your keyboard (Between Alt and Ctrl)

Esc     - Escape Key (Top left of keyboard)

+          - Just means a combination of keys, does NOT mean the “+” key

()          -Means sometimes requires the specific key

/           -Provides an alternative key

*          -Requires text to be highlighted by the cursor

ESSENTIALS

Ctrl + C*                 Copy – Creates a Copy of highlighted text for later

Ctrl + V                   Paste – Inserts Copied text. Select placement with cursor

Ctrl + S                   Save – Saves the current version of a file you are editing

Win + V                   Allows you to see what is in your Clipboard (Storage for Ctrl + C)

Ctrl + Z                    Undo – The way to undo any undesired changes

Ctrl + Y                    Redo – Opposite of Undo, Redoes a previous Undone action

Ctrl + X*                  Cut – Like Copy, but it removes the originally highlighted text

Ctrl + A                    Select all text in an area

Alt + F4                   Force close an application

Ctrl + W                  Closes an application (Nicer than Alt + F4)

Alt + Tab                 Switches the active window on your screen

Windows Navigation

Win + D                          Instantly Shows the desktop (Minimizes all windows, or shows all windows)

Win + E                          Opens the File Explorer

Win + Tab                       Shows the Task View – Allows switching Virtual desktops

(Shift) + Tab                    Allows navigation through options, without using the mouse.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc            Shows the Task Manager – Allows you to “kill” unresponsive apps

Advanced User Shortcuts

Win + L                            Signs out your user account

Win + I                             Opens Windows Settings

Win + S                           Opens Windows Search

Win + Shift + S                Allows you to Screen Snip part of your screen

Win + H                           Allows you to use Windows’ speech to text

Ctrl + Win + Left/Right     Allows you to switch Virtual desktops (Accessible via Task View – Win + Tab)

Ctrl + Win + D                  Adds an extra Virtual desktop

Win + X                            Opens an advanced start-up settings menu

Fun and Accessibility

Win + 1/2/3…                Allows you to open apps on taskbar, without a mouse

Win + T                          Allows you to select an app on the Taskbar, without a mouse

Win + +/-                        Allows you to magnify anywhere

Win + .                           Opens the emoji panel 😁

Win + Ctrl + Enter          Turns on Narrator to read out the screen

For more shortcuts offered by Microsoft, Go to bit.ly/2WCX1Ew