Windows 8 Shortcuts
by Wren McMains
(11/27/2012, updated 12/18/2012)
These are the ones I use and recommend learning (ordered based on my usage):
- WinKey - Toggles between the Start Screen and the last App (either, W8 or the Desktop).
- WinKey+Tab - Displays the Switch List while you hold the WinKey.
- WinKey+E - Launch File Explorer (Computer view).
- WinKey+C - Displays the Charms Bar and Date/Time overlay.
- WinKey+Z - Displays the W8 App Navigation and Option Bars.
- Esc - Quit/Return in some situations.
- Left/Right Arrow - Allow you to scroll in some Windows 8 Apps
- Alt+F4 - Close W8 App or Desktop Window.
- WinKey+X - Displays a Desktop Start Menu for Power Users.
- WinKey+I - Displays the Settings Pane of the Charms Bar.
- WinKey+. - Snap a W8 App to the Right, add Shift to snap Left. (Should be same as Desktop, but isn't.)
- WinKey+, - Display desktop (only while held).
- WinKey+D - Switch to Desktop if not there. Toggle Show/Hide Desktop.
- WinKey+Q - Search Apps (or just start typing on Start Screen).
- WinKey+F - Search Files.
Here are a couple of neat shortcuts that work in both Windows 7 and Windows 8:
- WinKey+ArrowKey - Aero Snap the current window to side (Left/Right Arrow), in Windows 8 only works Desktop.
- WinKey+# - Launch/Open the #th Program (starting from the left) pinned to the Taskbar. If Desktop is not displayed in Windows 8, it switches to the Desktop first.
Here are some other shortcuts, but they're ones I almost never use:
- WinKey+B - Select the tray notification area of the Desktop.
- WinKey+H - Displays the Sharing Pane of the Charms Bar.
- WinKey+L - Lock the Device.
- WinKey+M - Minimize the Selected Desktop Window.
- WinKey+O - Toggle orientation on slate and tablet devices.
- WinKey+P - Display (Projection) pane for choosing between displays.
- WinKey+R - Display the Desktop Run Box.
- WinKey+U - Launch the Desktop Ease of Access Center.
- WinKey+W - Search Settings.
- WinKey+PageUp/Down - Move Current App to the other Screen.
- WinKey+Plus/Minus - Zoom in or out, Use WinKey+Esc to return to normal.
- WinKey+PrtScn - Save screen capture in Pictures/Screenshots folder.
Suggested next choices:
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