Shortcut Keys For Windows 8

Here is the List of Full Shortcut Keys for Microsoft Windows 8, Windows 8 RT and Windows 8 Pro Operating System which will helps you in Windows 8 programs and also complete your daily work and tasks quickly, easily and faster.

Shortcut Keys to play around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop:

Win: Toggle between Desktop and Start Screen (or open Apps)

Ctrl+Tab: On Start Screen: Switch Between Start Window and All Apps Window

Win, then Ctrl+Tab: Open All Apps Window

Win, then start typing App Name: Search and execute Apps

Escape: Close Start Screen and go to Desktop

Win+E: Run Explorer on Desktop

Win+R: Execute Run on Desktop

Win+X: Open Power User Commands on Desktop

Alt+F4: Shutdown Windows

Win+L: Lock Computer

Win+F1: Open Windows Help

Shortcut Keys to play with Windows 8 Charme:

Pressing Escape typically closes most Charme menus.

Win+C: Open Windows Charme. Use arrow keys and enter to select item. Press

Win+Q: Search Charme / last search option

Win+F: Search Files

Win+W: Search Windows Settings

Win+I: Open Settings including Desktop, Control Panel, Personalization, PC Info, Help

Win+H: Share Charme

Win+K: Device Charme

Win+S: Search Settings

Win+F: Search Files

Win+Z: Show Options / App Bar in current Metro Apps if available.

Shortcut keys to Switch between Apps and Windows:

Alt+Tab and Alt+Shift+Tab: Cycle between all Windows and Apps. Press and hold Alt key before pressing Tab. Release Tab on Window/App you want to open. While tabbing, add Shift to key combination to go backwards.

Ctrl+Alt+Tab then Arrow Keys: Cycle between open Apps without having to keep Alt pressed. Press keys once, then use Arrow keys and Enter to select Window/App.

Win+Tab and Win+Shift+Tab: Same as Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps only, not Windows on Desktop

Ctrl+Win+Tab, then Arrow keys: Same as Ctrl+Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps, not Desktop Windows

Power User Commands Shortcuts:

Win+X, P: Control Panel

Win+X, T: Task Manager

Win+X, E: File Explorer (alternative: Win+e)

Win+X, R: Run (alternative: Win+r)

Win+X, D: Desktop (alternative: Win+d)

Win+X, F: Programs and Features

Win+X, C: Command Prompt

Win+X, A: Elevated Command Prompt (Admin)

Win+X, Y: System Information

Win+X, M: Device Manager

Win+X, G: Computer Management

Win+X, B: Mobility Center

Win+X, O: Power Options

Win+X, V: Event Viewer

Win+X, K: Disk Management

Win+X, S: Search

Shortcut keys to Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows:

Win: Go to desktop / switch between Desktop and Start Screen or Apps

Win+Arrow Up: Maximize Window across screen

Win+Arrow Down: Minimize Window (if Restored) or set Window to Restored (if Maximized)

Win+Shift+Arrow Up: Maximize Window vertically

Win+Arrow Right/Arrow Left: Move Window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors

Win+Shift+Arrow Right/ Arrow Left: Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors

Alt+Space: Opens the title bar menu

F11: Turn full page view on or off

Alt+Q: Close Window

Shortcut keys for Windows 8 Taskbar:

Win+T: Go to first item in Taskbar, continue with arrow keys

Win+B: Go to first item in System Tray

Shift+click on a taskbar item: Start new instance of Taskbar item

Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar item: Start new instance of Taskbar item as administrator

Shift+right-click on a taskbar item: Show the window menu for the program

Win+1…9: Switch to application in position N on Taskbar (or launch pinned application)

Shift+Win+1…9: Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on Taskbar

Shortcut keys for Navigating Desktop:

Arrow Keys: Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop)

Home/End: Select first / select last object on desktop

Enter: Launch active object

Shift+F10: Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to select item

Tab, Shift+Tab on empty desktop: Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons

Shortcut keys for Windows Explorer:

Basic Shortcuts:

Win+E: Start Windows Explorer

Alt+Arrow Up: Go up one folder

Alt+Arrow Left/ Alt+Arrow Right: Go to previous folder / go to next folder

Tab/Shift+Tab: Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List)

Alt+D or F4: Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ctrl+c if desired

Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F: Jump to Search Box in Explorer

Ctrl+N: Open new instance of Windows Explorer

F11: Toggle full-screen mode

A, B, C, …: Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter

Shortcut keys to Navigate File List and Navigation Pane:

Arrow Keys: Navigate between files and folders

Enter: Open folder or start application

Home/End: Jump to first / jump to last item

F2: Change the file name of active item

F2, then Arrow Left/ Arrow Right: Move one character to the left / to the right in item name

F2, then Ctrl+ Arrow Left/Arrow Right: Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name

F2, then Home /End: Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name

F2, then Ctrl+A: Select all/ complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix)

Arrow Left/Arrow Right: Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only)

Shortcut keys to File List Views:

Alt+P: Display or hide Preview Pane

Alt+V then D: View details. Check View menu for more options

Alt+V then X: View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options

Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel: Change size of icons

Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane:

Shift+Arrow Up/ Arrow Down: Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)

Ctrl with Arrow keys and Space: Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection

Ctrl+A: Select all

A …Z and 1..9: Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter

Shortcuts to Manage Items in Explorer:

Ctrl+C, ctrl+X, ctrl+V: Copy, Cut, Paste

Ctrl+Z: Undo an action

Ctrl+Y: Redo an action

Delete: Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin

Shift+Delete: Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin

Shift+F10: Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection

Ctrl+Shift+N: Create new folder

Alt+Enter: Open Properties dialog box

I tried hard to include every single shortcut available within the Windows 8 in my list above, but I certainly could have missed one. If I did, please let us know with your comments.