You generally is a seasoned Windows consumer, however you should still not know each shortcut out there. For instance, earlier this month I discovered a brand new keyboard shortcut I hadn’t identified earlier than. It was so easy and apparent, but felt like an entire secret till that second.
I additionally found that there are a entire lot extra I’ve been sleeping on.
The original tip got here by way of Twitter (now often called X) courtesy of Jen Gentleman, a Windows engineering group member at Microsoft. But the assistance doesn’t cease there. She very generously has an entire list of such tricks pinned to the highest of her feed, too. I eagerly jumped down that rabbit gap and got here away with a strong checklist of latest shortcuts to include into day by day use.
To prevent time, I’ve shared my favorites under. They work in each Windows 10 and 11. If you want them, make sure you try Gentleman’s Twitter account—not solely do you get useful Windows suggestions, she posts spot-on inner monologues about video video games, too. (I really feel this one fairly deep in my soul.)
1. Copy textual content from a Windows dialog window
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Running up towards an error message in Windows? No have to painstakingly transcribe the error code. Instead, when the pop-up is the energetic window, hit Ctrl + C in your keyboard, then paste the textual content right into a doc. The entire message is copied, so you may extract no matter elements of it you need from the textual content dump.
2. Switch to the right app window quick
If you have got multiple window open for an app, you may hover your mouse over this system’s icon in your taskbar, then select the right window—supplied you can also make out which one it’s from the tiny preview.
An various that’s simply as quick? Hold Ctrl after which click on on the app’s icon. You’ll cycle by all its open home windows. I now use this solely when flipping between two open home windows. It’s as environment friendly as alt+tab, however app-specific.
3. Open a brand new occasion of an app
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Turns out in case you maintain Shift whereas clicking together with your mouse on a taskbar icon, it opens a brand new occasion of that app. That is, working this system a second time or extra. It’s barely completely different than opening a brand new window—for instance, a second occasion of Chrome helps you to load a unique profile whereas the primary one is logged in. Or having two textual content information open on the identical time in Notepad.
You can middle-click in your mouse to execute this identical command, too—that’s in all probability your scroll wheel in case you have a contemporary mouse.
4. Make Windows UWP apps fullscreen
While urgent Win + the up arrow key will maximize any window, it doesn’t make the applying full display. For apps you put in by the Microsoft Store app (aka Windows UWP apps), you can also make them full display by tapping three keys: Win + Shift + Enter.
5. Run apps with elevated permissions
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By default, apps don’t run with admin permissions, a safety measure that restricts how a program can behave inside Windows. For instance, the KeePassXC password manager can’t entry 2FA {hardware} keys (like a Yubikey) plugged right into a PC when opened usually.
To rapidly launch software program with elevated permissions, simply maintain Ctrl + Shift whereas double-clicking the app to open it. No have to right-click on this system’s icon or shortcut after which select to run as admin.
6. Open a brand new window for an app
Every app in your taskbar has a quantity assigned to its place—a minimum of, for the primary 10. You would possibly already know this and make use of the keyboard shortcut that permits you to open apps (or soar to them, if already open) pinned to your taskbar: the Windows key plus a quantity from 0 by 9.
But do you know in case you maintain Win + Shift after which the quantity you need, a brand new window for that app will open? This one isn’t common (the software program has to assist this shortcut), however for those who do, it’s a incredible time saver.
7. Quick entry to emoji (and kaomoji!)
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Want to insert an emoji (or extra importantly, a kaomoji) into no matter you’re typing? Skip the net search and as an alternative press Win + ; or Win + . in your keyboard. It brings up Windows’ on-screen emoji keyboard, which features a kaomoji keyboard and particular characters keyboard, too. Windows 11 additionally will get a GIF keyboard and direct entry to the clipboard. ╰(*°▽°*)╯
8. Fix a black display
Did your display instantly go clean, although your PC was behaving usually beforehand and nonetheless continues to run? You don’t have to laborious reboot instantly. Instead, first strive urgent Win + Ctr + Shift + B in your keyboard. Windows will know you’ve encountered a black display and can attempt to repair it for you.
9. Access your Command Prompt historical past
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Turns out the Command Prompt (aka cmd) retains a historical past, and you’ll name it as much as see what instructions you ran—and rerun them from that menu. All you do is faucet F7 in your keyboard.
No lie, my face rivaled that meme of Chris Pratt’s astonished face in The Office once I tried this one out. I adore it.
10. Open file properties immediately
You might right-click on a file to entry its properties, however why undergo all that hassle? Instead, maintain down Alt whereas double clicking on it. It’s lighting quick.
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Sometimes your PC acts up, and you have to use Windows’ heavy-hitting troubleshoot choices like secure mode, startup restore, and system restoration. You can entry them throughout boot by urgent F8 throughout startup—or extra merely, holding Shift earlier than selecting to restart your PC from the Windows energy menu.
12. Reorder objects in an inventory
Okay, this one is a little bit of a cheat—it’s a Microsoft Word shortcut, although Google Docs additionally helps it. But as somebody who makes use of bulleted lists in paperwork typically, I couldn’t resist highlighting this one from Jen Gentleman’s checklist, too. To reorder objects in a bulleted or numerical checklist, simply spotlight it, then maintain Shift + Alt whereas utilizing the Up or Down arrow key.
So environment friendly.
Bonus: 7 further useful Windows shortcuts
As talked about, a complete slew of Windows shortcuts exist. You’ll see among the keyboard selection get talked about typically in best Windows keyboard shortcut round-ups, however numerous individuals nonetheless don’t use them day by day.
Several of those popped up amongst Jen Gentleman’s suggestions, they usually’re value calling consideration to but once more—lots of people I do know don’t use them recurrently. Memorize them too, and also you’ll save much more time and trouble whereas navigating Windows.
Win + Shift + S:Opens the Windows Snipping Tool for simple screenshotsWin + I:Opens the Settings appWin + X:Opens the Quick Link menu (identical as right-clicking on Start button)Win + E:Opens a File Explorer windowWin + Home:Minimizes all home windows however the energetic oneWin + Tab:Shows all open home windows per monitorWin + H:Opens the Windows dictation menu
Hungry for but extra Windows keyboard shortcuts? You could make your personal! Just set up PowerToys, an set of superior utilities you need to use to supercharge Windows. It features a module referred to as Keyboard Manager that permits you to remap keys and create customized shortcuts.