How To Get The Most Out Of Your Windows 8.1 Keyboard And Mouse – Shortcuts Galore

How do you navigate in a touch world without a touch device?  I am glad you asked.  This post will address that question in great detail but we will also look at all the other great things you can do with keyboard and mouse shortcuts.  Read It, to understand what you have been missing.  Bookmark it, to use as a reference while you get accustomed to the incredible power you still have at your finger tips without ever leaving home row!   We will start off with what is new with Windows 8.1 but keep reading because there are probably plenty of other shortcuts that have been around for years and you simply were not aware of them.  Lastly, if there are other shortcuts that you know about, please add a comment to share with the world.

Most of what you know about using a mouse and keyboard with Windows has stayed the same, especially in the desktop. Here are some ways to use both new and familiar Windows features with a mouse and with keyboard shortcuts.  Please also note that there are often multiple ways to perform the same action.  I will be giving you more than one method to perform an action in some cases but in many cases there are more more ways to perform the same action…

Mouse and keyboard: What’s new in Windows

Applies to Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1

To do this With a mouse With a keyboard

To do this

Get back to the Start screen.

With a mouse

Point to the lower-left corner and click it.

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

To do this

Open the charms (Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings).

With a mouse

Point to the upper-right or lower-right corner to see the charms (try moving the mouse pointer so far into the corner that it disappears). When the charms appear, move up or down the edge and click the one you want.

With a keyboard

All charms:

Windows logo key

+C

Search charm:

Windows logo key

+S

Share charm:

Windows logo key

+H

Start charm (Start Menu):

Windows logo key

Devices charm:

Windows logo key

+K

Settings charm: 

Windows logo key

+I

To do this

Search your PC (apps, settings, and files), the web, or within an app.

With a mouse

Point to the upper-right corner (try moving the mouse pointer so far into the corner that it disappears). When the charms appear, move down the edge, click Search, and then enter your search term.

If you want to see a list of all the apps on your PC, click the down arrow in the bottom-left corner of the Start screen.

With a keyboard

If you’re on the Start screen, start typing your search term.

Open the Search charm:    Windows logo key

+S

Search within the app you’ve got open:    Windows logo key

+Q

Search settings:    Windows logo key

+W

**Search files: **   Windows logo key

+F

To do this

Get to commands and context menus in an app.

With a mouse

Right-click within the app, then click the command you want. Or, right-click an item to see the options specific to that item.

With a keyboard

Within an app: Windows logo key

+Z

To do this

Switch between open apps.

With a mouse

To switch to your most recently used app, point to the upper-left corner (try moving the mouse pointer so far into the corner that it disappears). When the previous app appears, click the corner.

To switch to a different app, point to the upper-left corner and then move down the edge. When the other apps appear, click the one you want.

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

+Tab: Switches between apps and the desktop

Alt+Tab: Switches between all apps, including desktop apps

To do this

Use up to four apps side by side.

Notes:

-

The Start screen can’t be used side by side with another app.

-

Your screen resolution must be at least 1024 x 768 to have multiple windows and apps on your screen at the same time. To check this setting, open the Settings charm, click Change PC settings, click PC and devices, and then click Display.

With a mouse

Drag your app from the top of the screen and place it on the left or right side. Then, go to the Start screen and click another app.

If you already have two apps open side by side, you can insert the app on the left, right, or middle, or replace one of the currently open apps.

You can also point to the upper-left corner and then move the pointer down to see a list of apps you’ve used recently. Click and drag the app to insert it.

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

+Period , then Left or Right Arrow

To do this

Open the desktop.

With a mouse

Go to the Start screen, and then click the Desktop tile.

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

+D

or type Desktop press enter on Start screen

To do this

Zoom in or out on Start.

With a mouse

On Start, click the icon

in the lower-right corner or Ctrl+mouse wheel to zoom out. Click anywhere to zoom back in.

With a keyboard

Ctrl+Plus sign to zoom in

Ctrl+Minus sign to zoom out

To do this

Close an app.

With a mouse

Point to the top edge of the screen, and then drag the app to the bottom of the screen.

You can also close apps you’ve used recently by pointing to the upper-left corner and then moving down the edge. Right-click the one you want, and then click Close.

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

+Down Arrow

To do this

Shut down your PC.

With a mouse

Point to the lower-right corner (try moving the mouse pointer so far into the corner that it disappears). When the charms appear, move up the edge, and then click Settings. Click Power, and then choose a shutdown option.

With a keyboard

1.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del.

1.

Use the Tab key to move to the Power icon, and then press Enter. A list of shutdown options appears.

1.

Use the up or down arrow keys to get to the option you want.

1.

Press Enter.

To do this

Move an app to a different monitor

Click the Title bar (or the top of the app for Windows 8 apps) and drag the app to the desired monitor.  Works for the start screen too!

With a keyboard

Windows logo key

+Left or Right Arrow

Now, Let’s drive this whole keyboard thing home.

Shortcut Keys That Use The Windows Logo Key:

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key

.

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key

+F1

Open Windows Help and Support

Windows logo key

Display or hide the Start screen

Windows logo key

+B

Set focus in the notification area

Windows logo key

+C

Open the Charms

Windows logo key

+D

Display and hide the desktop

Windows logo key

+E

Open File Explorer

Windows logo key

+F

Open the Search charm and search for files

Windows logo key

+H

Open the Share charm

Windows logo key

+I

Open the Settings charm

Windows logo key

+K

Open the Devices charm

Windows logo key

+L

Lock your PC or switch people

Windows logo key

+M

Minimize all windows

Windows logo key

+O

Lock device orientation

Windows logo key

+P

Choose a presentation display mode

Windows logo key

+Q

Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)

Windows logo key

+R

Open the Run dialog box

Windows logo key

+S

Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web

Windows logo key

+T

Cycle through apps on the taskbar

Windows logo key

+U

Open Ease of Access Center

Windows logo key

+V

Cycle through notifications

Windows logo key

+Shift+V

Cycle through notifications in reverse order

Windows logo key

+W

Open the Search charm and search for settings

Windows logo key

+X

Open the Quick Link menu One of my favorites!!!!

[

]()

Windows logo key

+Z

Show the commands available in the app

Note

-

You can also see some settings and options by going to the Settings charm when the app is open.

Windows logo key

+,

Temporarily peek at the desktop

Windows logo key

+Pause

Display the System Properties dialog box

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+F

Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)

Windows logo key

+Shift+M

Restore minimized windows on the desktop

Windows logo key

+number

Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.

Windows logo key

+Shift+number

Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+number

Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key

+Alt+number

Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+Shift+number

Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator

Windows logo key

+Tab

Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+Tab

Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key

+Shift+Tab

Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+B

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

Windows logo key

+Up arrow

Maximize the window

Windows logo key

+Down arrow

Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window

Windows logo key

+Left arrow

Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen

Windows logo key

+Right arrow

Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen

Windows logo key

+Home

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

Windows logo key

+Shift+Up arrow

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

Windows logo key

+Shift+Down arrow

Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width

Windows logo key

+Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow

Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another

Windows logo key

+Spacebar

Switch input language and keyboard layout

Windows logo key

+Ctrl+Spacebar

Change to a previously selected input

Windows logo key

+Enter

Open Narrator

Windows logo key

+Shift+period (.)

Cycle through open apps

Windows logo key

+period (.)

Cycle through open apps

Windows logo key

+/

Initiate IME reconversion

Windows logo key

+Alt+Enter

Open Windows Media Center

Windows logo key

+plus (+) or minus (-)

Zoom in or out using Magnifier

Windows logo key

+Esc

Exit Magnifier

General Shortcuts:

Press this key To do this

F1

Display Help

F2

Rename the selected item

F3

Search for a file or folder

F4

Display the address bar list in File Explorer

F5

Refresh the active window

F6

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+underlined letter

Perform the command for that letter

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

Right arrow

Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu

Left arrow

Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu

Esc

Stop or leave the current task

Print Screen

Copy Screen Image to Clipboard

Alt-Print Screen Copy Image of Active Window to Clipboard

More Shortcuts:

Task Bar

Press this key To do this

Shift+click a taskbar button

Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app

Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar button

Open an app as an administrator

Shift+right-click a taskbar button

Show the window menu for the app

Shift+right-click a grouped taskbar button

Show the window menu for the group

Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar button

Cycle through the windows of the group

Remote Desktop Services (RDP):

Press this key To do this

Alt+Page Up

Move between apps from left to right

Alt+Page Down

Move between apps from right to left

Alt+Insert

Cycle through apps in the order that they were started

Alt+Home

Display the Start screen

Ctrl+Alt+Break

Switch between a window and full screen

Ctrl+Alt+End

Display the Windows Security dialog box

Ctrl-Alt-End then select Sign Out Log Off of Terminal Session on Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 If you are connected via RDP (Remote Desktop Client)

Ctrl+Alt+Home

In full-screen mode, activate the connection bar

Alt+Delete

Display the system menu

Ctrl+Alt+minus (-) on the numeric keypad

Place a copy of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Alt+Print Screen on a local PC)

Ctrl+Alt+plus (+) on the numeric keypad

Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Print Screen on a local PC)

Ctrl+Alt+Right arrow

“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.

Ctrl+Alt+Left arrow

“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.

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For even more tips check out [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts#keyboard-shortcuts=windows-8]()

- [File Explorer keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Dialog box keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Internet Explorer shortcuts]()

- [Calculator keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Calendar keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Mail keyboard shortcuts]()

- [People keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Messaging keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Paint keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Reader keyboard shortcuts]()

- OneDrive keyboard shortcuts

- Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts

- [WordPad keyboard shortcuts]()

- App rearranging shortcuts

- Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

- [Narrator touch keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Narrator keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Magnifier keyboard shortcuts]()

- [Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts]()

See also: [Why Windows 8.1 for Business? My users don’t have Touch Screens!]()