Top keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8 and Windows RT

15 sep. 2014

Intermediate

10K Views

11 min read

As you know, Windows 8 has come with new features and various types of metro apps. Obviously, it also has new keyboard shortcuts. Even with Windows 8, you can also use the keyboard shortcuts you are already using with Windows 7 and XP. Let's have look into the new and already using keyboard shortcuts that definitely help you while operating your Windows 8 machine.

New keyboard shortcuts

The list of new keyboard shortcuts that you can use with in Windows 8 and RT is as follows.

New Keyboard Shortcut Keys for Windows 8

Shortcut key

Action to be Perform

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

Open the charms In an app, open the commands for the app

Open the Search charm to search files

Open the Share charm

Open the Settings charm

Switch the main app and snapped app

Open the Devices charm

Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)

Open the Search charm to search apps

Open the Search charm to search settings

Show the commands available in the app

+spacebar

Switch input language and keyboard layout

+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

+Ctrl+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled

+Shift+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

+PgUp

Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

+PgDown

Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

+Shift+period (.)

Snaps an app to the left

+period (.)

Snaps an app to the right

Esc

Stop or exit the current task

General keyboard shortcuts

The list of general keyboard shortcuts that you can use with Windows 8 machine is as follows.

General Keyboard Shortcut Keys for Windows 8

Shortcut key

Action to be Perform

Display Help

Rename the selected item

Search for a file or folder

Display the address bar list in File Explorer

Refresh the active window

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+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

Esc

Stop or leave the current task

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

The list of keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key is given below.

Windows logo key combination key board Shortcuts for Windows 8

Shortcut key

Action to be Perform

Display or hide the Start screen

Set focus in the notification area

Display and hide the desktop

Open Computer

Cycle through Gadgets on the desktop

Lock your PC or switch users

Minimize all windows

Lock device orientation

Choose a presentation display mode

Open the Search charm and search for apps

Open the Run dialog box

Cycle through apps on the taskbar

+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

+Ctrl+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snap them as they are cycled

+Shift+Tab

Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

+Ctrl+B

Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area

+Up arrow

Maximize the desktop window

+Down arrow

Minimize the desktop window

+Left arrow

Maximize the desktop window to the left side of the screen

+Right arrow

Maximize the desktop window to the right side of the screen

+Home

Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)

+Shift+Up arrow

Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen

+Shift+Down arrow

Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width

+Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow

Move a window in the desktop from one monitor to another

What do you think?

I hope you will enjoy the shortcuts while playing with your Windows 8 machine. I would like to have feedback from my blog readers. Your valuable feedback, question, or comments about this article are always welcome.