10 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts That Will Transform the Way You Work
Save Time and Maybe Your Marriage!
Whether a power user or a casual computer user, mastering keyboard shortcuts can drastically improve your efficiency and make tasks feel effortless. Here’s a list of ten Windows keyboard shortcuts that could change how you work forever, from essentials to advanced tips.
1. The Snipping Tool Shortcut: Win + Shift + S
Taking a screenshot has never been easier. This shortcut opens the Snipping Tool, allowing you to select a portion of your screen to capture. Once you’ve snipped, the image is saved to your clipboard for instant pasting.
💡 Pro Tip: Combine this with the Ctrl + V shortcut to quickly paste your screenshot into an email, document, Slack/Discord channel, or even a Medium story when writing.
2. Window Snap: Win + Arrow Keys
Manage your screen real estate like a pro. Press Win + Left Arrow or Win + Right Arrow to snap a window to take up half the screen. You can also use the Up and Down Arrows to move windows into quadrants, making them occupy a quarter of the screen.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Win + Arrow Keys to seamlessly move windows between multiple monitors without reaching for your mouse. Just press the arrow key towards the direction of the second or third monitor one additional time. To make a window occupy the entire window press Win + Arrow Key up twice.
3. Copy, Cut, and Paste: Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V
The holy trinity of shortcuts:
- Ctrl + C: Copy the selected text, image, or file.
- Ctrl + X: Cut it for moving purposes.
- Ctrl + V: Paste it wherever you need.
💡 Pro Tip: Use this alongside the Snipping Tool for quick image sharing.
4. Undo and Redo: Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y
Made a mistake? Undo it instantly with Ctrl + Z. Changed your mind about that undo? Press Ctrl + Y to redo your last action.
💡 Pro Tip: These work in almost any app, from Word to Photoshop, and even some websites.
5. Emergency Browser Shutdown: Ctrl + Shift + W
Need to quickly close all tabs in a web browser? Use Ctrl + Shift + W to instantly shut down your browser window.
💡 Pro Tip: When you reopen the browser, your previous tabs will not restore, ensuring a clean slate. This doesn’t include your browsing history unless you were in incognito mode, but still always good to have.
Here’s a nice rhyme to remember this shortcut.
If someone walks in and you’re in a stew,
Hit Ctrl, Shift, and W!
No time to explain, no need to fight,
Your browser’s gone — you’re in the clear tonight!
Should your browser retain all the tabs you had open when you use this shortcut it’s because you configured it that way in your startup settings. To adjust this, go into your browser options and look for the relevant setting. Additionally, you can close the current tab you are on by simply pressing Ctrl+W.
6. Search for Anything: Win + S
Stop digging through endless folders and let Windows do the work for you! Quickly search your computer or the web by pressing Win + S. Start typing your query, and Windows will show matching files, apps, and online results.
💡 Pro Tip: Use this to find apps or settings without navigating menus.
7. Lock Your Computer: Win + L
Stepping away from your desk? Press Win + L to lock your screen instantly, keeping your work secure.
💡 Pro Tip: Great for maintaining privacy in shared or public workspaces.
8. Minimize All Windows: Win + M
Clear your screen and minimize all open windows with Win + M. Press Win + Shift + M to bring them back.
💡 Pro Tip: Use this to declutter your workspace quickly or to access your desktop.
9. Quickly Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Skip the Ctrl + Alt + Delete menu and open Task Manager instantly with Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Use it to close unresponsive programs or monitor system performance.
💡 Pro Tip: Combine this with the Alt + Tab shortcut (see below) to identify the app causing trouble.
10. Zoom In and Out: Ctrl + Mouse Wheel
Quickly adjust your screen’s zoom level by holding Ctrl and scrolling your mouse wheel. Scroll up to zoom in and down to zoom out, making text and images larger or smaller.
💡 Pro Tip: Works in web browsers, document editors, and even some apps! Reset to default zoom with Ctrl + 0.
Bonus: Create Your Own Shortcuts
Want to assign a shortcut to your favorite app? Right-click the app’s shortcut, go to Properties > Shortcut Key, and set a custom combination.
Mastering these shortcuts will save you time, reduce mouse usage, and make your workflow smoother. Did we miss your favorite shortcut? Share it in the comments and let me know which one you use the most!
