1. Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop | |
|---|---|
| Win | Toggle between Desktop and Start Screen (or open Apps) |
| ⌃+Tab | On Start Screen: Switch Between Start Window and All Apps Window |
| Win, then ⌃+Tab | Open All Apps Window |
| Win, then start typing App Name | Search and execute Apps |
| Escape | Close Start Screen and go to Desktop |
| Win+E | Run Explorer on Desktop |
| Win+R | Execute Run on Desktop |
| Win+X | Open Power User Commands on Desktop |
| Alt+F4 | Shutdown Windows |
| Win+L | Lock Computer |
| Win+F1 | Open Windows Help |
| 2. Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts | |
|---|---|
| Tip: Pressing Escape typically closes most Charme menus. | |
| Win+C | Open Windows Charme. Use arrow keys and enter to select item. Press |
| Win+Q | Search Charme / last search option |
| Win+F | Search Files |
| Win+W | Search Windows Settings |
| Win+I | Open Settings including Desktop, Control Panel, Personalization, PC Info, Help |
| Win+H | Share Charme |
| Win+K | Device Charme |
| Win+S | Search Settings |
| Win+F | Search Files |
| Win+Z | Show Options / App Bar in current Metro Apps if available. |
| 3. Switch between Apps and Windows | |
|---|---|
| Alt+Tab and Alt+⇧+Tab | Cycle between all Windows and Apps. Press and hold Alt key before pressing Tab. Release Tab on Window/App you want to open. While tabbing, add ⇧ to key combination to go backwards. |
| ⌃+Alt+Tab then Arrow Keys | Cycle between open Apps without having to keep Alt pressed. Press keys once, then use Arrow keys and Enter to select Window/App. |
| Win+Tab and Win+⇧+Tab | Same as Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps only, not Windows on Desktop |
| ⌃+Win+Tab, then Arrow keys | Same as ⌃+Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps, not Desktop Windows |
| 4. Power User Commands Shortcuts | |
|---|---|
| These are also listed in the Power User Command Window. Sorted by their (subjective) importance. | |
| Win+X, P | Control Panel |
| Win+X, T | Task Manager |
| Win+X, E | File Explorer (alternative: Win+e) |
| Win+X, R | Run (alternative: Win+r) |
| Win+X, D | Desktop (alternative: Win+d) |
| Win+X, F | Programs and Features |
| Win+X, C | Command Prompt |
| Win+X, A | Elevated Command Prompt (Admin) |
| Win+X, Y | System Information |
| Win+X, M | Device Manager |
| Win+X, G | Computer Management |
| Win+X, B | Mobility Center |
| Win+X, O | Power Options |
| Win+X, V | Event Viewer |
| Win+X, K | Disk Management |
| Win+X, S | Search |
| 5. Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows | |
|---|---|
| Win | Go to desktop / switch between Desktop and Start Screen or Apps |
| Win+Arrow Up | Maximize Window across screen |
| Win+Arrow Down | Minimize Window (if Restored) or set Window to Restored (if Maximized) |
| Win+⇧+Arrow Up | Maximixe Window vertically |
| Win+Arrow Right/Arrow Left | Move Window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors |
| Win+⇧+Arrow Right/ Arrow Left" | Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors |
| Alt+Space | Opens the title bar menu |
| F11 | Turn full page view on or off |
| Alt+Q | Close Window |
| 6. Windows 8 Taskbar | |
|---|---|
| Win+T | Go to first item in Taskbar, continue with arrow keys |
| Win+B | Go to first item in System Tray |
| ⇧+click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of Taskbar item |
| ⌃+⇧+click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of Taskbar item as administrator |
| ⇧+right-click on a taskbar item | Show the window menu for the program |
| Win+1...9 | Switch to application in position N on Taskbar (or launch pinned application) |
| ⇧+Win+1...9 | Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on Taskbar |
| Unfortunately, Microsoft removed the possibility to select multiple taskbar items in Windows 7 (and did still not re-introduce in Windows 8) | |
| 7. Navigating Desktop | |
|---|---|
| Arrow Keys | Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop) |
| Home/End | Select first / select last object on desktop |
| Enter | Launch active object |
| ⇧+F10 | Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to select item |
| Tab, ⇧+Tab on empty desktop | Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons |
| A, B, C, ... | Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter |
| 8. Windows Explorer |
|---|
| Basics | |
|---|---|
| Win+E | Start Windows Explorer |
| Alt+Arrow Up | Go up one folder |
| Alt+Arrow Left/ Alt+Arrow Right | Go to previous folder / go to next folder |
| Tab/⇧+Tab | Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List) |
| Alt+D or F4 | Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ⌃+c if desired |
| ⌃+E or ⌃+F | Jump to Search Box in Explorer |
| ⌃+N | Open new instance of Windows Explorer |
| F11 | Toggle full-screen mode |
| Navigate File List and Navigation Pane | |
|---|---|
| Arrow Keys | Navigate between files and folders |
| Enter | Open folder or start application |
| Home/End | Jump to first / jump to last item |
| F2 | Change the file name of active item |
| F2, then Arrow Left/ Arrow Right | Move one character to the left / to the right in item name |
| F2, then ⌃+ Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name |
| F2, then Home /End | Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name |
| F2, then ⌃+A | Select all/ complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix) |
| Arrow Left/Arrow Right | Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only) |
| File List Views | |
|---|---|
| Alt+P | Display or hide Preview Pane |
| Alt+V then D | View details. Check View menu for more options |
| Alt+V then X | View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options |
| ⌃+mouse scroll wheel | Change size of icons |
| Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane | |
|---|---|
| ⇧+Arrow Up/ Arrow Down | Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below) |
| ⌃ with Arrow keysSpace and | Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ⌃, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection |
| ⌃+A | Select all |
| A ...Z and 1..9 | Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter |
| Manage Items in Explorer | |
|---|---|
| ⌃+C, ⌃+X, ⌃+V | Copy, Cut, Paste |
| ⌃+Z | Undo an action |
| ⌃+Y | Redo an action |
| Delete | Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin |
| ⇧+Delete | Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin |
| ⇧+F10 | Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection |
| ⌃+⇧+N | Create new folder |
| Alt+Enter | Open Properties dialog box |
| 9. The Rest | |
|---|---|
| Win+U | Open Ease of Access Center |
| Win+P | Projector or second screen settings. |
| Alt+⇧ | Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active |
Windows 8
5:49 PM
