Technology Tips
By Don Trauger – Kennett
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Listed below are some common Windows keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts allow you to control the computer via a sequence of key strokes. For example, the first Windows 10 keystroke listed is “Windows key + A. This opens the Action Center in a window on the right side of the screen. The Action Center allows you to see what has taken place in your Windows 10 computer. The Windows key is usually located in lower left portion of the keyboard and is defined by a 4 segment white or black insignia. Instructions are as follows: Hold down the Windows key while you press the A” key (for the Action Center). To create a new virtual desktop screen, hold down the Windows key and the Ctrl key and press the “D” key. You don’t have to capitalize the letter keys.
My favorite keyboard shortcut for copying text and pasting it to another document, or to another portion of the same document, is Ctrl “C” followed by Ctrl “V”. Highlight the text you want to copy then hold the Ctrl key while you press the “C” key. This action places the highlighted text in memory. Next place the cursor where you want to place the highlighted text and hold the Ctrl key while you press the “V” key. This will paste (copy) the highlighted text. The copy/paste keyboard shortcuts work on previous versions of Windows also. One other text associated keyboard shortcut is Ctrl “X”. To move text, highlight the text, hold down the Ctrl key while you press the “X” key and the highlighted text disappears. Place the cursor where you want it, press and hold the Ctrl key while you press the “V” key and it reappears.
I’m sure you will find something in the following list to make your computing proceed smoothly.
Windows 10’s newest features
Windows key + A: Open the Action Center
Windows key + C: Launch Cortana in listening mode (for voice commands)
Windows key + I: Open the Settings app
Windows key + S: Launch Cortana
Windows key + Tab: Open Task View
Windows key + Ctrl + D: Create a new virtual desktop
Windows key + Ctrl + F4: Close the current virtual desktop
Windows key + Ctrl + left or right arrow: switch between virtual desktops
Standard Windows shortcuts
Windows key (Windows 7 and up): Open/close the Start menu
Windows key + X (Windows 8.1 and 10): Open/close the Start button’s right-click context menu
Windows key + left or right arrow (Windows 7 and up): snap current window to right or left of screen
Windows key + E (Windows 7 and up): Launch File Explorer
Windows key + L (Windows 7 and up): Lock the desktop
Alt + PrtScn (Windows 7 and up): Take a screenshot of current window and copy it to your clipboard
Windows key + PrtScn (Windows 8.1 and 10): Take a screenshot of entire display and save to Computer > Pictures > Screenshots
Browser shortcuts (works in Edge and most other browsers)
Ctrl + T: Open new tab
Ctrl + D: Bookmark page
Ctrl + L: Highlight current URL (good for typing a new address or copying the current one)
Ctrl + Tab: Cycle through your open tabs
Ctrl + Enter: add “.com” to the end of a web address (e.g. type ‘google’ then Ctrl + Enter to get google.com)
The PC Club meetings are open to all regardless of computer experience. We will continue with coverage of Windows 10 from the Technology Tips articles in the Guide and Digest. We also make time for a question and answer period should you have a problem. Be sure to attend on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7 PM, upstairs in the Community Center