As long as there have been Windows operating systems, there have been keyboard shortcuts. If you have upgraded to Windows 8 recently, things can be quite daunting at first especially with the missing Start Menu.
I have compiled a list of keyboard shortcuts so that you can find your way easily. Some are unique to Windows 8, such as Windows key + C to show the Charm bar. Some are traditional, such as Ctrl + C to copy text, Ctrl + Z to undo what you have done previously and so on, and have been around for decades.
Table of Contents: Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts
- User interface
- Traditional Windows Shortcuts
- Editing Shortcuts
- File Explorer Shortcuts
- Accessibility Shortcuts
- Desktop Shortcuts
| 1.User interface Shortcuts |
|---|
| Win key + B or D or M or T | Press any of these combination to show the Desktop |
| Win key + C | Show the Charms Menu |
| Win key + E | Open My Computer |
| Win key + F | Access the Files Search Screen |
| Win key +H | Access the Share Sharm |
| Win key +I | Settings |
| Win key +K | Devices |
| Win key +L | Lock Screen |
| Win key +P | Second Screen Settings |
| Win key +Q | Show Apps |
| Win key +R | Run Command dialog |
| Win key + U | Open Ease of Access Center |
| Win key + W | Search Settings |
| Win key +X | Displays Power User menu in lowe-left corner |
| Win key +Z | Show Toolbar on Metro UI |
| Win key +Enter | Launch the Narrator |
| 2.Traditional Windows Shorcuts |
|---|
| F1 | Display help for the active application |
| Ctrl + Esc | Toggle between Metro UI and the desktop |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
| Shift + Delete | Delete item permanently using File Explorer |
| F10 | Active menu bar options |
| Ctrl+ Shift+ Esc | Open Windows Task Manager |
| 3.Editing Shortcuts |
|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + B | Bold |
| Ctrl + U | Underline |
| Ctrl + I | Italic |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items in active Window |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last Command |
| 4. File Explorer Shortcuts |
|---|
| F2 | Rename Selected object |
| F3 | Find all files |
| F5 | Refresh active Window |
| F6 or Tab | Cycle through panes in File Explorer |
| Alt + Enter | Open properties for selected file |
| Press and hold down Ctrl + Shift while dragging a file to the desktop or folder | Create a file or folder shortcut |
| 5. Accessibility Shortcuts |
|---|
| Press Shift five times | Toggle Sticky Keys On and Off |
| Press mouse button and hold the right Shift key for 8 seconds | Toggle Filterkeys On and Off |
| Press Num Lock for five seconds | Toggle Togglekeys On an Off |
| Left Alf+Left Shift+Num Lock | Toggle Mousekeys on and Off |
| Left Alt+ Left Shift + Print Screen | Toggle high contrast On and Off |
| 6. Desktop Shortcuts |
|---|
| Tab | Move to the next control in the dialog box |
| Shift + Tab | Move to the previous control in the dialog box |
| Spacebar | If the current control is a:- Button, this clicks the button
- Checkbox, this toggles the checkbox ( Check / Uncheck)
- Radio button, this selects the current option.
|
| Enter | It will click the outlined button. ( Equivalent to clicking the button) |
| Esc | It will press the Cancel button. |
| Alt + Underlined letter in dialog box item | Move to the corresponding Item |
6 Comments on "Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts [Cheatsheet]"
Bro awesome articles.. Thanks
Deepak recently posted..How To Remove Ads From Facebook
You’re welcome
Awesome post dude
Thank you
Hi Hayder. Thanks for this Windows 8 keyboard shortcut cheatsheet. This is really handy!
Sincere thanks for taking the trouble to make Windows 8 shortcuts so very clear – even to a Silver Surfer