Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

 

There are lots of keyboard shortcuts in windows 8 for faster and convenient operations. You may not be aware of all windows 8 keyboard shortcuts, that’s why we bring this post for you. Windows 8 shortcut keys help you to work more faster. If you are using computer than you can use mouse to avoid keyboard shortcuts, but you can work more efficiently and faster after learning the windows 8 keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts In Windows 8 and 8.1

The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate around Windows 8 & 8.1.

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key‌ +start typing	Search your PC
Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-)	Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+scroll wheel	Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Windows logo key‌ +C	Open the charms In an app, open the commands for the app
Windows logo key‌ +F	Open the Search charm to search files
Windows logo key‌ +H	Open the Share charm
Windows logo key‌ +I	Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key‌ +J	Switch the main app and snapped app
Windows logo key‌ +K	Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key‌ +O	Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)
Windows logo key‌ +Q	Open the Search charm to search apps
Windows logo key‌ +W	Open the Search charm to search settings
Windows logo key‌ +Z	Show the commands available in the app
Windows logo key‌ +spacebar	Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key‌ +Ctrl+spacebar	Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key‌ +Tab	Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key‌ +Ctrl+Tab	Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled
Windows logo key‌ +Shift+Tab	Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Windows logo key‌ +PgUp	Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
Windows logo key‌ +PgDown	Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)
Windows logo key‌ +Shift+period (.)	Snaps an app to the left
Windows logo key‌ +period (.)	Snaps an app to the right
Esc	Stop or exit the current task

General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts that you can use to navigate around Windows.

Press this key	To do this
F2	Rename the selected item
F3	Search for a file or folder
F4	Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5	Refresh the active window
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10	Activate the menu bar in the active app
Alt+F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app
Alt+Esc	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Alt+underlined letter	Perform the command for that letter
Alt+Enter	Display properties for the selected item
Alt+Spacebar	Open the shortcut menu for the active window
Alt+Left arrow	Back
Alt+Right arrow	Forward
Alt+Page Up	Move up one screen
Alt+Page Down	Move down one screen
Alt+Tab	Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)
Ctrl+F4	Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
Ctrl+A	Select all items in a document or window
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)	Copy the selected item
Ctrl+D (or Delete)	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl+R (or F5)	Refresh the active window
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert)	Paste the selected item
Ctrl+X	Cut the selected item
Ctrl+Y	Redo an action
Ctrl+Z	Undo an action
Ctrl+plus (+) or  Ctrl+minus (-)	Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+ mouse scroll wheel	Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+Right arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl+Left arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl+Down arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl+Up arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl+Alt+Tab	Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
Ctrl+arrow key (to move to an item)+Spacebar	Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key	Select a block of text
Ctrl+Esc	Open the Start screen
Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Open Task Manager
Ctrl+Shift	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
Ctrl+Spacebar	Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
Shift+F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
Shift with any arrow key	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
Shift+Delete	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Right arrow	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Left arrow	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
Esc	Stop or leave the current task

Here are some attractive applications which will help you learn these shortcuts in a better way.

 1> Ultimate Windows 8 Shortcuts

Similar Apps that show windows 8 shortcut keys with their description.

You can find this App under tools category & publisher is FirstLook.

2> Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Another similar App which shows windows 8 shortcut keys. In this app shortcut keys are combine in 3 different categories i.e. common, charms & desktop.

You can find this App under productivity category & publisher is roonga.

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts Keys
Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts Keys

3> Windows 8 Cheat Keys

This App not only show the windows 8 shortcut keys but also gives a brief description about to use them.

You can find this App under productivity category & publisher is digitalmason.net.