Keyboard Shortcuts

Super Speedy Shortcuts! Your Keyboard Power-Up Guide

These shortcuts can help you do things faster on your computer without using the mouse as much!

The Basics (You’ll Use These ALL the Time!)

Copy: Press and hold the Ctrl key (usually in the bottom left of your keyboard) and then press the C key. (Ctrl + C)

• What it does: Makes a digital copy of something you’ve selected (like text or a picture).

Paste: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the V key. (Ctrl + V)

• What it does: Sticks the copied thing wherever your cursor is.

Cut: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the X key. (Ctrl + X)

• What it does: Removes something from where it is and lets you paste it somewhere else. Think of it like using scissors!

Select All: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the A key. (Ctrl + A)

• What it does: Highlights everything on the page or in the window you’re in. Super useful for copying all the text in a document!

Undo: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the Z key. (Ctrl + Z)

• What it does: Oops! Made a mistake? This will usually take you back one step.

Redo: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the Y key. (Ctrl + Y)

• What it does: If you undid something and want to put it back, this will redo it.

Web Browser Tricks (For Surfing the Internet Like a Pro!)

Open a New Tab: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the T key. (Ctrl + T)

• What it does: Opens a brand new, blank page in your web browser.

Close the Current Tab: Press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the W key. (Ctrl + W)

• What it does: Closes the tab you are currently looking at. Be careful not to close something important by accident!

Reopen the Last Closed Tab: Press and hold the Ctrl key, then the Shift key, and then press the T key. (Ctrl + Shift + T)

• What it does: Accidentally closed a tab? This magic shortcut brings it back!

Refresh/Reload the Page: Press the F5 key (usually at the top of your keyboard) or press and hold the Ctrl key and then press the R key. (Ctrl + R)

• What it does: Makes the webpage load again, showing you the newest information. Useful if a page isn’t loading right.

Go Back: Press the Alt key (usually next to the spacebar) and the Left Arrow key. (Alt + ←)

• What it does: Takes you to the last webpage you were looking at.

Go Forward: Press the Alt key and the Right Arrow key. (Alt + →)

• What it does: If you went back, this will take you forward again.

Open a New Private/Incognito Window: Press and hold the Ctrl key, then the Shift key, and then press the N key. (Ctrl + Shift + N)

• What it does: Opens a new browser window that doesn’t save your browsing history.

File Explorer Fun (For Finding Your Files!)

Open a New File Explorer Window: Press the Windows Key (looks like a window, usually in the bottom left) and the E key. (Windows Key + E)

• What it does: Opens a window where you can see all your files and folders.

Rename a File or Folder: Click on the file or folder once to select it, then press the F2 key (usually at the top of your keyboard).

• What it does: Lets you change the name of the file or folder.

The Windows Key Wonders (Using the ⌘ or Windows Key)

Open or Close the Start Menu: Press the Windows Key (looks like a window, usually in the bottom left of your keyboard). (Windows Key)

• What it does: Brings up the menu where you can find all your apps and settings. Press it again to make it disappear.

Take a Screenshot (Full Screen and Save): Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the PrtScn key (Print Screen, usually in the upper right). (Windows Key + PrtScn)

• What it does: Takes a picture of your whole screen and automatically saves it as a file in your “Pictures” folder, in a subfolder called “Screenshots”.

Open File Explorer: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the E key. (Windows Key + E)

• What it does: Opens a window where you can see all your files, folders, and drives.

Lock Your Computer: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the L key. (Windows Key + L)

• What it does: Locks your computer so no one can use it without your password. This is great for when you need to step away for a moment.

Minimize All Windows and Show the Desktop: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the D key. (Windows Key + D)

• What it does: Clears everything off your screen so you can see your desktop. Press it again to bring all your windows back.

Open the Run Dialog Box: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the R key. (Windows Key + R)

• What it does: Opens a small box where you can type commands to open programs or files. (This might be a bit more advanced, but good to know!)

Open Settings: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the I key. (Windows Key + I)

• What it does: Opens the Windows Settings app where you can change things like your display, sound, and internet connections.

Open the Emoji Panel: Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the Period (.) key or the Semicolon (;) key. (Windows Key + . or Windows Key + ;)

• What it does: Brings up a little keyboard with emojis you can use in your typing!

Open Task Manager: Press and hold the Ctrl key, then the Shift key, and then press the Esc key. (Ctrl + Shift + Esc)

• What it does: Opens a window that shows you what programs are running on your computer and how much they are using the computer’s resources. If a program is frozen or not responding, you can sometimes use Task Manager to close it (but be careful and only close programs you know!).

Important Notes:

• You usually need to press and hold the first key(s) down before pressing the last key in the shortcut.
• Remember where the Windows Key (often looks like four little squares), PrtScn (Print Screen), Ctrl (Control), Shift, and Alt (Alternate) keys are on your keyboard.
• Practice these shortcuts too! The more you use them, the easier they will become.