It is widely acknowledged in the tech world that using Windows Hotkeys can save you a great deal of time. However, for many, these shortcuts are very alien and the idea of learning them appears a daunting and a time-consuming task.
Here are some factors for you to take into consideration when you next dismiss the thought about learning some new hotkeys.
1.Efficiency/Productivity
Try using CTRL+A which selects all text and even images in the corresponding document. This would be a more tedious task if you used a mouse/mousepad compared to simply holding down CTRL and pressing the A key. After a while you will start to realise that using the hotkeys will let you do more with less effort.
2.Complementarity
Using hotkeys and mouse movement can complement each other greatly. Tasks like surfing the web can be done much easier with the mouse but also using the keyboard to navigate between tabs, within the pages or even copying text for references at the same time. This can create a fluent workflow as well as increase productivity.
3.Health issues
Excessive usage of a mouse can cause issues such as R.S.I (Repetitive Syndrome Injury) more than keyboard usage. By using both mouse and keyboard you can reduce the risk and reduce fatigue in the wrists and fingers.
Using hotkeys, you can improve efficiency and productivity within few steps. Shortcut keys will lessen your work and decrease the time it takes for you to complete a task. Below we have listed some of the popular shortcut keys in Windows 10 to get you started.
Popular Hotkeys in Windows 10:
| ⊞ Win | Display or hide Start |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open the Task Manager |
| ⊞ Win + M | Minimize all windows |
| ⊞ Win + Shift + M | Restore all minimized windows |
| ⊞ Win + R | Open the Run dialogue box |
| ⊞ Win + F1 (some keyboards may require Win + Fn + F1) | Open Windows Help and Support |
| ⊞ Win + Plus (“+”) | Zoom in using Magnifier |
| ⊞ Win + Minus (“-“) | Zoom out using Magnifier |
| ⊞ Win + L | Lock your PC or switch accounts. |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active item or exit the active app |
| Alt + Enter | Display properties for the selected item |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open shortcut menu for an active window |
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the selected item |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo an action |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo an action |
| F1 (some keyboards may require Fn + F1) | Display help (app-specific) |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer |
| F4 | Display the address bar list in File Explorer |
| F5 | Refresh the active window |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active app |
| ⊞ Win+ D | Display and hide desktop |
There are so many shortcuts to explore. Why not make it a daily job that you spend five minutes a day learning a new shortcut? We have included the below link which will take you to the windows support page. Here you will find all the windows shortcuts for each operating system.
Contact us at info@bse-it.co.uk or 01284 247024 for a free audit and friendly discussion on how we can help.
