This article provides a List of "windows 8 Keyboard shortcuts
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Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop |
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| Win | Toggle between Desktop and Start Screen (or open Apps) |
| Ctrl+Tab | On Start Screen: Switch Between Start Window and All Apps Window |
| Win, then Ctrl+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 |
Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts |
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| Tip: Pressing Escape typically closes most Charme menus. | |
| n+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. |
Switch between Apps and Windows |
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| Alt+Tab andAlt+Shift+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, addShift to key combination to go backwards. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tabthen Arrow Keys | Cycle between open Apps without having to keep Alt pressed. Press keys once, then use Arrowkeys and Enter to select Window/App. |
| Win+Tab andWin+Shift+Tab | Same as Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps only, not Windows on Desktop |
| Ctrl+Win+Tab, then Arrow keys | Same as Ctrl+Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps, not Desktop Windows |
Power User Commands Shortcuts |
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| 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 |
Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows |
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| 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+Shift+Arrow Up | Maximixe Window vertically |
| Win+Arrow Right/Arrow Left | Move Window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors |
| Win+Shift+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 |
Windows 8 Taskbar |
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| Win+T | Go to first item in Taskbar, continue with arrow keys |
| Win+B | Go to first item in System Tray |
| Shift+click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of Taskbar item |
| Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of Taskbar item as administrator |
| Shift+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) |
| Shift+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) | |
Navigating Desktop |
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| 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 |
| Shift+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, Shift+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 |
Windows Explorer |
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Basics |
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| in+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/Shift+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 ctrl+c if desired |
| Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F | Jump to Search Box in Explorer |
| Ctrl+N | Open new instance of Windows Explorer |
| F11 | Toggle full-screen mode |
Navigate File List and Navigation Pane |
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| 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 Ctrl+ 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 Ctrl+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 |
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| 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 |
| Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel | Change size of icons |
| Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane | |
| Shift+Arrow Up/Arrow Down | Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below) |
| Ctrl with Arrow keysand Space | Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection |
| Ctrl+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 |
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Manage Items in Explorer
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| Ctrl+C,ctrl+X, ctrl+V | Copy, Cut, Paste |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo an action |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo an action |
| Delete | Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin |
| Shift+Delete | Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin |
| Shift+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 |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Create new folder |
| Alt+Enter | Open Properties dialog box |
The Rest |
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| Win+U | Open Ease of Access Center |
| Win+P | Projector or second screen settings. |
| Alt+Shift | Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active* |