Essential Windows 8 Shortcut Keys

If you have just started using Windows 8, you

probably already know that the Windows key

toggles between the Start Screen (Tiled User

Interface) and the last accessed app and that

Microsoft has taken the iconic Start button away. Its mind boggling to learn all the Windows key

commands. However, some are more obvious and

useful than others. So we have selected a few handy

Windows 8 Shortcut keys to get you started.

The Windows 8 Shortcut Cheat Sheet

Here are some Windows 8 Shortcut Keys that you

need to know. We [left] clues for some of the key

combinations to help you remember them.

12 Commonly Used Shortcut Keys

[Win] simply pressing the windows key toggles between the Start screen and previously accessed

application.

[Win + E]xplorer brings up file explorer and from here you can access My Computer for your local drives, directories and files.

[Win + D]esktop now that Windows has introduced the modern Start screen at startup, we

will need a way to go back to the desktop Win+D

will no doubt be useful to get to the all familiar

desktop.

[Win + C]harm brings up the new charm bar on the right side of the Start screen. The charm bar has

some useful menus such as the Share

[Win+H], Settings [Win+I], Search [Win+Q]uery

and Devices [Win+K]. I use CHIQK (chick spelt

with Q instead of C) to remember this set of keys.

[Win + L]ock a useful key to call up the lock screen, password will be required to log back into

the computer.

[Win + T]askbar cycle this key combination brings the focus down to the desktop task bar you

can then use the cursor keys or keep using the key

combination to navigate or cycle between the

taskbar shortcuts.

[Win + R]un who can forget the run command, this key combination brings up the Run dialog box

for the die hard command line junkie.

[Win + M]inimize- minimizes all active Desktop

apps including Start screen and the counter key for

this is [Win + Shift + M]

[Win + PrtScr] take a screenshot and saves it automatically into the Pictures folder. Although I

prefer the [Alt + PrtScr] which takes a screenshot of

the Desktop app windows in focus and copies it to

the clipboard.

[Win + cursor keys] the left and right keys toggles the Desktop app window between snaping to

the right (right toggle), minimised but stay open,

minimised to taskbar (down key), maximized (up

key) and snapping to the left (left toggle).

[Win + Tab] cycles between the apps that are open on the left sidebar Start screen.

[Alt + Tab] I thought I would mention this as well, the Alt + Tab shortcut keys switches between open

applications including Windows Store app on the

Start screen.

Search Shortcuts

[Win + Q]uery global search both local and on the web

[Win + F]ile/folder search files and folders

[Win + W]indows Settings search systems settings to locate and change system properties and options

Accessibility

[Win + Enter] launches the narrator settings and

narrator voice assistance

[Win + +/-] zoom this activates the screen zoom

[Win + U]se launches the Ease of Use Access Center

Multi Screen

[Win + cursor keys] the windows cursor key when used in a multi-display setting goes beyond the

one screen, for instance, multiple left toggles brings

the Desktop app to the display on the left if extended

desktop is used.

[Win + Pg Up/Pg Dn] this cycles the Start screen moving it from one display to the next with Pg Up in

the left direction and Pg Dn in the right. Useful for

moving the Start screen or Window Store app.

Final thoughts

These IMHO are some of the most useful Windows

shortcut keys, other than my old Desktop app

shortcuts [Ctrl + C] to copy, [Ctrl + V] to paste,

[Ctrl + X] to cut and [Ctrl + S] to save which I use

quite often. Here is the list and more below:

CTRL + C: Copy

CTRL + X: Cut

CTRL + V: Paste

CTRL + Z: Undo

CTRL + B: Bold

CTRL + U: Underline

CTRL + I: Italic

ALT + F4: quit program

And lastly, [Ctrl + Alt + Del] dont forget the three finger salute which allows you to lock the computer,

switch user, log off, access the task manager and shut down.