Shortcut keys are special keys combinations that makes a specific command to be executed. Typically, they are a combination of the Ctrl or Alt keys with some other keys. For example, in the Windows environment, Ctrl + C is used as a shortcut key to copy while Ctrl + V is a shortcut key to paste any copied text or images. On personal computers, the function keys are also used as shortcut keys. If you have been looking for all shortcut keys in computer, then set your eyes on them below.
Also read: 10 Best Android Business Card Scanner Apps You Should Be Using
Basic Shortcut Keys
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| Alt + F | File menu controls in current program |
| Alt + E | Edit options in current program |
| F1 | Universal help (for all programs) |
| Ctrl + A | Select all text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected item |
| Shift + Del | Cur selected item |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected item |
| Ctrl + Ins | Copy selected item |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Shift + Ins | Paste |
| Home | Go to beginning of the current line |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to beginning of the current document |
| End | Go to end of document |
| Ctrl + End | Go to end of current document |
| Shift + Home | Highlight from current position to beginning of line |
| Shift + End | Highlight from current position to end of line |
| Ctrl + <– | Move one word to the left at a time |
| Ctrl + –> | Move one word to the right at a time |
Computer Shortcut keys For Windows
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| Alt + tab | Switch between open applications |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Switch backwards between open applications |
| Alt + Print Screen | Create screen short for current program |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Reboot Windows task manager |
| Ctrl + Esc | Bring up start menu |
| Alt + Esc | Switch between applications on task bar |
| F2 | Rename selected icon |
| F3 | Start find from desktop |
| F4 | Open the drive selection when browsing |
| F5 | Refresh contents |
| Alt + F4 | Close current program |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close window in program |
| Ctrl + Plus Key | Automatically adjust widths of all columns in Windows Explorer |
| Alt + Enter | Open properties window of selected icon or program |
| Shift + F10 | Simulate right-click on selected item |
| Shift + Del | Delete program files permanently |
| Holding shift during Bootup | Boot safe mode or bypass system files |
| Holding shift during boottup | When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD player from playing |
WINKEY Shortcut Keys
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| WINKEY + D | Bring 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 though open programs on taskbar |
| WINKEY + F | Display the Windows SearchFind feature |
| WINKEY + Ctrl + F | Display the search for computers 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 and later) |
Shortcut Keys In MS Word
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| 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 selected paragraph to the left |
| Ctrl + E | Align selected text or line to the center |
| Ctrl + R | Align selected text or line to the right |
| Ctrl + M | Indent the paragraph |
| Ctrl + T | Hanging indent |
| Ctrl + D | Font options |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Change the font |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase selected font by 1 |
| Ctrl + ] | Increase selected font by 1 |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease selected font -1 |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease selected font -1 |
| Ctrl + Shift + * | View or hide non printing characters |
| Ctrl + ← | Move one word to the left |
| Ctrl + → | Move one word to the right |
| Ctrl + ↑ | Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph |
| Ctrl + ↓ | Move to the end of the paragraph |
| Ctrl + Del | Delete word to the right of the cursor |
| Ctrl + backspace | Delete word to left o cursor |
| Ctrl + End | Move cursor to the end of document |
| Ctrl + Home | Move cursor to the beginning of document |
| Ctrl + Space | Reset highlighted text to default font |
| Ctrl + 1 | Single-space lines |
| Ctrl + 2 | Double-space lines |
| Ctrl + 5 | 1.5-line spacing |
| Ctrl + Alt – 1 | Change text to heading 1 |
| Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Change text to heading 2 |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Change text to heading 3 |
| F1 | Open help |
| Shift + F7 | Activate the thesaurus |
| F12 | Save As |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Shift + F12 | Save |
| Alt + Shift + D | Insert the current date |
| Alt + Shift + T | Insert the current time |
| Ctrl + W | Close document |
| Ctrl + F3 | Change case of selected text |
| Shift + Insert | Paste |
| F4 | Repeat last action performed |
| F7 | Spell-check selected text and/or document |
Also read: Black Billionaires: Forbes List Of Richest Black People in The World (Updated)
Shortcut Keys For MS Excel
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| F2 | Edit the selected cell |
| F5 | Go to a specific cell |
| F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document |
| F11 | Create chart |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; | Enter the current time |
| Ctrl + ; | Enter the current date |
| Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert new worksheet |
| Shift + F3 | Open the Excel Format window |
| Shift + F5 | Bring up search box |
| Ctrl + A | Select all contents of worksheet |
| Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + D | Fill |
| Ctrl + K | Insert link |
| Ctrl + F | Open find and replace options |
| Ctrl + G | Open go-to options |
| Ctrl + H | Open find and replace options |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + Y | Underline selected text |
| Ctrl + S | Strikethrough highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + O | Open options |
| Ctrl + N | Open new document |
| Ctrl + P | Open print dialogue box |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo last selection |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize current window |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize currently selected window |
| Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open workbooks window |
| Ctrl + Page Up & Page down | Move between Excel Worksheets in the same document |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move between two or more open Excel files |
| Ctrl + = | Create Format to sum all above cells |
| Ctrl + ‘ | Insert value of above cell into current cell |
| Ctrl + Shift + ! | Format number in comma |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Format number in currency |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Format number in date |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Format number in percentage format |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Format number in specific format |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Format number in time format |
| Ctrl + → | Move to next section of text |
| Ctrl + Space | Select entire column |
| Shift + Space | Select entire row |
| Ctrl + W | Close document |
Shortcut Keys For Outlook
| Shortcut Keys | Description |
| Alt + S | Send the email |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected text |
| Ctrl + P | Open print dialogue box |
| Ctrl + K | Complete name/email typed in dialogue box |
| 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 + K | Add a new task |
| Ctrl + C | Create a new contact |
| Ctrl + Shift + J | Create a new journal entry |
Also read: How To Register Into The Pepsi Football Academy In Nigeria
Shortcut keys For Special Characters
I guess might already know that many special characters can be created by the use of shortcut keys. Below you will find some common special characters and the keyboard shortcut keys used in creating them.
| Shortcut Keys | Special Character |
| Alt + 0224 | À |
| Alt + 0232 | È |
| Alt + 0236 | Ì |
| Alt + 0242 | Ò |
| Alt + 0241 | Ñ |
| Alt + 0228 | Ä |
| Alt + 0246 | Ö |
| Alt + 0252 | Ü |
| Alt + 0248 | Ø |
| Alt + 0223 | ß |
| Alt + 0198 | Æ |
| Alt + 0231 | Ç |
| Alt + 0191 | ¿ |
| Alt + 0176 | ° (degree symbol) |
| Alt + 0177 | ± (plus/minus symbol) |
| Alt + 0153 | ™ |
| Alt + 0169 | © |
| Alt + 0174 | ® |
| Alt + 0128 | € (Euro currency) |
| Alt + 0162 | ¢ (Cent symbol) |
| Alt + 0163 | £ (British Pound currency) |
| Alt + 0165 | ¥ (Japanese Yen currency) |
This is all for my shortcut keys list for today, and if you are looking for computer shortcut keys free download, you can easily use the print icon at the bottom of this post to get the hard copy of this post at your disposal. If you are confused in any aspect, simply ask your questions by using the comment box below.
