A keyboard is one important part of the computer, It allows us to enter commands and characters from A-Z on the computer.
What is a PC shortcut?
In computer use, a hotkey or PC Shortcut is a set of one or more keys that invoke a particular command in software or an operating system.
They are usually an alternative to invoking commands that would otherwise only be accessible through a menu, a mouse or an aspect of the user interface. These keyboard shortcuts can increase user experience and speed up common operations by reducing input sequences to a few keystrokes.
Read: 15 Amazing Keyboard Shortcuts You Aren’t Using.
These Keyboard shortcuts can provide a simpler and faster method for using computer programs. These commands are usually used using the Alt key (on PC computers), the command key (on Apple computers), Ctrl, and Shift in combination with a single letter.
These shortcuts are for the following programs and applications.
- Word
- Windows
- Internet Explorer
- Explorer
- Windows system commands
- Firefox
- Excel
- Mac
- finder
- Chrome
Important PC Shortcut Keys System
- CTRL+A – Select All
- CTRL+C – Copy
- CTRL+X – Cut
- CTRL+V – Paste
- CTRL+Z – Undo
- CTRL+B – Bold
- CTRL+U – Underline
- CTRL+I – Italic
- F1 – Help
- F2 – Rename selected object
- F3 – Find all files
- F4 – Opens file list drop-down in dialogs
- F5 – Refresh current window
- F6 – Shifts focus in Windows Explorer
- F10 – Activates menu bar options
- ALT+TAB – Cycles between open applications
- ALT+F4 – Quit program, close current window
- ALT+F6 – Switch between current program windows
- ALT+ENTER – Opens properties dialog
- ALT+SPACE – System menu for current window
- ALT+¢ – opens drop-down lists in dialog boxes
- BACKSPACE – Switch to parent folder
- CTRL+ESC – Opens Start menu
- CTRL+ALT+DEL – Opens task manager, reboots the computer
- CTRL+TAB – Move through property tabs
- CTRL+SHIFT+DRAG – Create shortcut (also right-click, drag)
- CTRL+DRAG – Copy File
- ESC – Cancel the last function
- SHIFT – Press/hold SHIFT, insert CD-ROM to bypass auto-play
- SHIFT+DRAG – Move file
- SHIFT+F10 – Opens context menu (same as right-click)
- SHIFT+DELETE – Full wipe delete (bypasses Recycle Bin)
- ALT+underlined letter – Opens the corresponding menu
Control Keys and their Major functions
- Ctrl-A – Highlight or Select all
- Ctrl B – Bold
- Ctrl C – Copy
- Ctrl D – Duplicate
- Ctrl E – Centre Alignment
- Ctrl F – Find
- Ctrl G – Go To
- Ctrl H – Replace
- Ctrl I – Italics
- Ctrl J – Justify
- Ctrl K – Hyperlink
- Ctrl L – Left Alignment
- Ctrl M – Tab
- Ctrl N – New
- Ctrl O – Open
- Ctrl P – Print
- Ctrl Q – Convert to Curve
- Ctrl R – Right Alignment
- Ctrl S – Save
- Ctrl T – Paragraph
- Ctrl U – Underline
- Ctrl V – Paste
- Ctrl W – Close Window
- Ctrl X – Cut
- Ctrl Y – Redo
- Ctrl Z – Undo
PC Keyboard Shortcuts
Document Cursor Controls
- HOME – to the beginning of the line or far left of the field or screen
- END – to end of line, or far right of field or screen
- CTRL+HOME – to the top
- CTRL+END – to the bottom
- PAGE UP – moves document or dialog box up one page
- PAGE DOWN – moves document or dialog down one page
- ARROW KEYS – move focus in documents, dialog, etc.
- CTRL+ > – next word
- CTRL+SHIFT+ > – selects word
Windows Explorer Tree Control
- Numeric Keypad * – Expand all under the current selection
- Numeric Keypad + – Expands the current selection
- Numeric Keypad – – Collapses the current selection
- ¦ – Expand the current selection or go to the first child
- ‰ – Collapse the current selection or go to the parent
- Special Characters
- ‘ Opening single quote – alt 0145
- ’ Closing single quote – alt 0146
- “ Opening double quote – alt 0147
- “ Closing double quote – alt 0148
- – En dash – alt 0150
- — Em dash – alt 0151
- … Ellipsis – alt 0133
- • Bullet – alt 0149
- ® Registration Mark – alt 0174
- © Copyright – alt 0169
- ™ Trademark – alt 0153
- ° Degree symbol – alt 0176
- ¢ Cent sign – alt 0162
- 1⁄4 – alt 0188
- 1⁄2 – alt 0189
- 3⁄4 – alt 0190
PC Keyboard Shortcuts
- é – alt 0233
- É – alt 0201
- ñ – alt 0241
- ÷ – alt 0247
- File menu options in the current program
- Alt + E – Edit options in the current program
- F1 – Universal help (for all programs)
- Ctrl + A – Select all text
- Ctrl + X – Cut selected item
- Shift + Del – Cut the selected item
- Ctrl + C – Copy the selected item
- Ctrl + Ins – Copy the selected item
- Ctrl + V – Paste
- Shift + Ins – Paste
- Home – Go to the beginning of the current line
- Ctrl + Home – Go to the beginning of the document
- End – Go to the end of the current line
- Ctrl + End – Go to the end of the document
- Shift + Home – Highlight from current position to beginning of line
- Shift + End– Highlight from current position to end of line
- Ctrl + f – Move one word to the left at a time
- Ctrl + g – Move one word to the right at a time
MICROSOFT® WINDOWS® SHORTCUT KEYS
- Alt + Tab Switch between open applications
- Alt +
- Shift + Tab
- Switch backwards between open
- applications
- Alt + Print
- Screen
- Create a screenshot for the current program
- Ctrl + Alt + Del Reboot/Windows® task manager
- Ctrl + Esc Bring up the start menu
- Alt + Esc Switch between applications on the taskbar
- F2 Rename selected icon
- F3 Start find from desktop
- F4 Open the drive selection when browsing
- F5 Refresh contents
- Alt + F4 Close current open program
- Ctrl + F4 Close the window in the program
- Ctrl + Plus
- Key
- Automatically adjust the widths of all columns
- in Windows Explorer
- Alt + Enter Open properties window of selected icon
- or program
- Shift + F10 Simulate right-click on the selected item
- Shift + Del Delete programs/files permanently
- Holding Shift
- During Bootup
- Boot safe mode or bypass system files
- Holding Shift
- During Bootup
- When putting in an audio CD, will prevent
- CD Player from playing
- WINKEY SHORTCUTS
- WINKEY + D Bring the desktop to the top of other windows
- WINKEY + M Minimize all windows
- WINKEY +
- SHIFT + M
- Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M
- and WINKEY + D
- WINKEY + E Open Microsoft Explorer
- WINKEY + Tab Cycle through open programs on the taskbar
- WINKEY + F Display the Windows® Search/Find feature
- WINKEY +
- CTRL + F
- Display the search for the computer window
- WINKEY + F1 Display the Microsoft® Windows® help
- WINKEY + R Open the run window
- WINKEY +
- Pause /Break
- Open the system properties window
- WINKEY + U Open utility manager
- WINKEY + L Lock the computer (Windows XP® & later)
OUTLOOK® SHORTCUT KEYS
- Alt + S Send the email
- Ctrl + C Copy selected text
- Ctrl + X Cut selected text
- Ctrl + P Open print dialog box
- Ctrl + K Complete name/email typed in the address bar
- Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection
- Ctrl + I Italicize highlighted selection
- Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection
- Ctrl + R Reply to an email
- Ctrl + F Forward an email
- Ctrl + N Create a new email
- Ctrl + Shift + A Create a new appointment to your calendar
- Ctrl + Shift + O Open the outbox
- Ctrl + Shift + I Open the inbox
- Ctrl + Shift + K Add a new task
- Ctrl + Shift + C Create a new contact
- Ctrl + Shift+ J Create a new journal entry
WORD® SHORTCUT KEYS
- Ctrl + A Select all contents of the page
- Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection
- Ctrl + C Copy selected text
- Ctrl + X Cut selected text
- Ctrl + N Open new/blank document
- Ctrl + O Open options
- Ctrl + P Open the print window
- Ctrl + F Open find box
- Ctrl + I Italicize highlighted selection
- Ctrl + K Insert link
- Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection
- Ctrl + V Paste
- Ctrl + Y Redo the last action performed
- Ctrl + Z Undo last action
- Ctrl + G Find and replace options
- Ctrl + H Find and replace options
- Ctrl + J Justify paragraph alignment
- Ctrl + L Align selected text or line to the left
- Ctrl + Q Align the selected paragraph to the left
- Ctrl + E Align selected
These are the Important A-Z Keyboard Control Keys for Computers and Popular Programs.
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