Productive and effective work in the operating system requires the use of its features. Microsoft has long introduced Windows gestures and keyboard shortcuts to support the platform support. It is worth taking a look at the most useful ones.
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Windows gestures and keyboard shortcuts you may not have known about
Windows gestures
The touchpad is an area on the laptop that replaces the mouse and is indispensable in navigating the system interface. Microsoft made sure that the proper positioning of the fingers and the execution of gestures allowed for additional commands to be called. Some of them will only work with precision touchpads. All settings are in Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
What gestures are worth using on Windows? Here they are:
- Scrolling – Place two fingers on the touchpad and move it horizontally or vertically to
- Zoom in or out – Place two fingers on the touchpad and zoom in or out to
- Show more commands (or right-click) – Touch the touchpad with two fingers or press in the lower right corner,
- Show all open windows – Swipe up with three fingers on the touchpad,
- Show desktop – Swipe down on the touchpad with three fingers,
- Switch between open apps or windows – Swipe three fingers left or right on the touchpad to
- Switch between desktops – Flick left or right with four fingers on the touchpad
Windows keyboard shortcuts
Windows hotkeys allow you to quickly and easily call up a function or window. My favorite is WIN + SHIFT + S, which I use a lot, which activates the Snipping Tool. Here are some other Windows keyboard shortcuts you might want to try:
- Ctrl + X – Cut the selected item.
- Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) – Copy the selected item.
- Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) – Paste selected item.
- Ctrl + Z – Undo action.
- Alt + Tab – Switch between open applications.
- Alt + F4 – Close the active item or exit the active application.
- Windows logo key + L – Lock the computer.
- Windows logo key + D – Show and hide the desktop.
- Alt + F8 – Show password on login screen.
- Alt + Page Up – Go up one screen.
- Alt + Page Down – Moves one screen down.
- Ctrl + F4 – Close the active document (in full-screen applications that allow you to open multiple documents at the same time).
- Ctrl + A – Select all items in a document or window.
- Ctrl + D (or Delete) – Delete the selected item and move it to the Trash.
- Ctrl + E – Open search (in most applications).
- Ctrl + R (or F5) – Refreshes the active window.
- Ctrl + Y – Redo the action.
- Ctrl + Shift with arrow key – Select a block of text.
- Ctrl + Esc – Open the Start menu.
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc – Open the Task Manager.
- WIN +A – Open quick settings.
- WIN + B – Set the focus to the first icon in the corner of the Taskbar.
- WIN + C – Open a chat from Microsoft Teams. Updated in Windows 11.
- WIN + D – Display and hide the desktop.
- WIN + E – Open File Explorer.
- WIN + F – Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
- WIN + G – Open the Xbox Game Bar when you open the game.
- WIN + H – Start Dictation.
- WIN + I – Opens the Settings area.
- WIN + J – Set the focus to Windows tip, if available.
- WIN + K – Opens Cast from Quick Settings. Updated on Windows 11.
- WIN + L – Lock the computer or switch accounts.
- WIN + M – Minimize all windows.
- WIN + N – Opens the Notification Center and Calendar. Updated in Windows 11.
- WIN + O – Lock device orientation.
- WIN + P – Select presentation display mode.
- WIN + R – Opens the Run dialog box.
- WIN + S – Open search.
- WIN + Shift + S – Enables the snipping tool.
- WIN + T – Switch between applications on the taskbar.
- WIN + U – Open accessibility settings.
- WIN + V – Open clipboard history.
- WIN + W – Open widgets.
- WIN + X – Opens the Quick Link menu.
- WIN + Y – Toggle input between Windows Mixed Reality and the desktop.
- WIN + Z – Open snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11.
- WIN + period (.) Or semicolon (;) – Open the emoji panel.
- WIN + comma (,) – Momentary view of the desktop.
- WIN + Tab key – Open task view.
- WIN + Up Arrow – Maximize the window.
- WIN + left arrow – Maximize the application window or desktop to the left side of the screen.
- WIN + Right Arrow – Maximize the application window or desktop to the right side of the screen.
- WIN + space – Switch language and keyboard layout.
- WIN + Ctrl + Enter – Turn on Narrator.
- WIN + plus (+) – Open Magnifier and magnify.
- WIN + minus (-) – Zoom out Magnifier.
- Ctrl + Tab – Move forward between tabs.
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab – Move backward through tabs.
- Ctrl + number (1-9) – Go to the nth tab.
- Tab – Move forward through the options.
- Shift + Tab – Move backwards through the options.
- Alt + underlined letter – Execute the command (or select an option) associated with that letter.
Finally, I will add that the above-mentioned Windows keyboard shortcuts should work in versions 10 and 11 of the system.
Read Also: Best Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts – Work Faster In Your Favorite Mailbox!
Source: microsoft
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