All Shortcut Keys of Windows 8

We all know that recently Microsoft has released its much hyped product of Windows 8.

Day to day large amount of Windows lovers are moving their PC to Windows 8 OS.

So today we'll have a short look on Windows 8 Shortcut keys. Windows 8 consist large number of shortcuts to make your stuff more easy.

List of Windows 8 Shortcut Keys

Some of the shortcut keys are used on Start screen and some other keys are used in desktop.

Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-)  - Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen

Ctrl+scroll wheel  - Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Windows logo key+C - Open the Charms
Windows logo key+C  - Open the commands for the app

Windows logo key+F - Open the Search charm to search files
Windows logo key+H  - Open the Share charm
Windows logo key+I - Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key+J - Switch the main app and snapped app
Windows logo key+K - Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key+O  - Lock the device orientation
Windows logo key+Q  - Open the Search charm to search apps
Windows logo key+V  - Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key+Shift+V  - Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key+W  - Open the Search charm to search settings
Windows logo key+,  - Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key+Z  - Show the commands available in the app
Windows logo key+spacebar  - Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key+Ctrl+spacebar  - Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key+Tab  - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab  - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled

Windows logo key+Shift+Tab  - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

Windows logo key+PgUp  - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+PgDown  - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+Shift+period (.)  - Snaps an app to the left
Windows logo key+period (.)  - Snaps an app to the right

General Key Board Shortcuts

F1  - Display Help
F2  - Rename the selected item
F3  - Search for a file or folder
F4  - Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
F5  - Refresh the active window
F6  - Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10  - Activate the menu bar in the active app
Alt+F4  - Close the active item, or exit the active app
Alt+Esc  - Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Alt+underlined letter  - Perform the command for that letter
Alt+Enter  - Display properties for the selected item
Alt+spacebar  - Open the shortcut menu for the active window
Alt+left arrow  - Back
Alt+right arrow  - Forward
Alt+Page Up  - Move up one screen
Alt+Page Down  - Move down one screen
Alt+Tab  - Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)

Ctrl+F4  - Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

Ctrl+A  - Select all items in a document or window
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)  - Copy the selected item
Ctrl+R (or F5)  - Refresh the active window
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert)  - Paste the selected item
Ctrl+X  - Cut the selected item
Ctrl+Z  - Undo an action
Ctrl+Y  - Redo an action
Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-)  - Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+scroll wheel  - Zoom in or out of apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl+ mouse scroll wheel  - Change the size of desktop icons
Ctrl+right arrow  - Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl+left arrow  - Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl+down arrow  - Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl+up arrow  - Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl+Alt+Tab  - Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
Ctrl with an arrow key+spacebar  - Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key  - Select a block of text
Ctrl+Esc  - Open the Start screen
Ctrl+Shift+Esc  - Open Task Manager
Ctrl+Shift  - Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled
Shift+F10  - Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

Shift with any arrow key  - Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document

Shift+Delete  - Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Right arrow  - Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Left arrow  - Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
Esc  - Cancel the current task

Dialog Box Shortcut Keys

F1  - Display Help
F4  - Display the items in the active list
Ctrl+Tab  - Move forward through tabs
Ctrl+Shift+Tab  - Move back through tabs
Ctrl+N (Number 1-9)  - Move to Nth tab
Tab  - Move forward through options
Shift+Tab  - Move back through options
Alt+underlined letter  - Perform the command or select the option for that letter
Enter  - Replace clicking the mouse for many selected commands
Spacebar  - Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Backspace  - Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Opendialog box
Arrow keys  - Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons



Windows logo Key Shortcut Keys

Windows logo key+F1  - Open Windows Help and Support
Windows logo key  - Display or hide the Start menu
Windows logo key+B  - Set focus in the notification area
Windows logo key+C  - Open the Charms
Windows logo key+C  - Open the commands for the app
Windows logo key+D  - Display and hides the desktop
Windows logo key+E  - Open Computer
Windows logo key+F  - Open the Search charm and search file
Windows logo key+G  - Cycle through gadgets on the desktop
Windows logo key+H  - Open the Share charm
Windows logo key+I  - Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key+J  - Switch the main app and snapped app
Windows logo key+K  - Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key+L  - Lock your PC or switch users
Windows logo key+M  - Minimize all windows
Windows logo key+O  - Lock device orientation
Windows logo key+P  - Choose a presentation display mode
Windows logo key+Q  - Open the Search charm and search apps
Windows logo key+R  - Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key+T  - Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key+U  - Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key+V  - Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key+Shift+V  - Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key+W  - Open the Search charm and search settings
Windows logo key+X  - Opens the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key+,  - Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key+Z  - Show the commands available in the app
Windows logo key+Pause  - Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key+Ctrl+F  - Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Windows logo key+Shift+M  - Restore minimized windows on the desktop

Windows logo key+number  - Start the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.

Windows logo key+Shift+number  - Start a new instance of the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key+Ctrl+number  - Switch to the last active window of the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key+Alt+number  - Open the Jump List for the desktop app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Windows logo key+Ctrl+Shift+number  - Open a new instance of the desktop app located at the given position on the taskbar as admin

Windows logo key+Tab  - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab  - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled

Windows logo key+Ctrl+B  - Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
Windows logo key+up arrow  - Maximize the desktop window
Windows logo key+down arrow  - Minimize the desktop window
Windows logo key+left arrow  - Maximize the desktop window to the left side of the screen
Windows logo key+right arrow  - Maximize the desktop window to the right side of the screen

Windows logo key+Home  - Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)

Windows logo key+Shift+up arrow  - Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen

Windows logo key+Shift+down arrow  - Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width

Windows logo key+Shift+left arrow or right arrow  - Move a window in the desktop from one monitor to another

Windows logo key+spacebar  - Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key+Ctrl+spacebar  - Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key+Enter  - Open Narrator

Windows logo key+PgUp  - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+PgDown  - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key+Shift+period (.)  - Snaps an app to the left
Windows logo key+period (.)  - Snaps an app to the right
Windows logo key+Tab  - Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key+Shift+Tab  - Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab  - Cycle through opens apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled

Windows logo key+/  - Initiate IME reconversion
Windows logo key+Alt+Enter  - Opens Windows Media Center
Windows logo key+plus (+) or minus (-)  - Zoom in or out (in Magnifier)
Windows logo key+Esc  - Exit Magnifier

File Explorer Shortcut Keys

Alt+D  - Select the address bar
Ctrl+E  - Select the search box
Ctrl+F  - Select the search box
Ctrl+N  - Open a new window
Ctrl+W  - Close the current window
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel  - Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
Ctrl+Shift+E  - Display all folders above the selected folder
Ctrl+Shift+N  - Create a new folder
Num Lock+Asterisk (*)  - Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Num Lock+plus (+)  - Display the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock+minus (-)  - Collapse the selected folder
Alt+P  - Display the preview pane
Alt+Enter  - Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
Alt+right arrow  - View the next folder
Alt+up arrow  - View the parent folder
Alt+left arrow  - View the previous folder
Backspace  - View the previous folder
Right arrow  - Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Left arrow  - Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the parent folder
End  - Display the bottom of the active window
Home  - Display the top of the active window
F11  - Maximize or minimize the active window

Taskbar Shortcut Keys

Shift+click on a taskbar button  - Open a app or quickly open another instance of a app
Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar button  - Open a app as an administrator
Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button  - Show the window menu for the app
Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar button  - Show the window menu for the group
Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button  - Cycle through the windows of the group

Ease of Access Shortcut Keys

Right Shift for eight seconds  - Turn Filter Keys on and off
Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn  - Turn High Contrast on or off
Left Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock  - Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Shift five times  - Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Num Lock for five seconds  - Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Windows logo key+U  - Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier Shortcut Keys

Windows logo key+plus (+) or minus (-)  - Zoom in or out
Ctrl+Alt+spacebar  - Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+D  - Switch to docked mode
Ctrl+Alt+F  - Switch to full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+I  - Invert colors
Ctrl+Alt+L  - Switch to lens mode
Ctrl+Alt+R  - Resize the lens
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys  - Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
Windows logo key+Esc  - Exit Magnifier

Narrator Shortcut Keys

Space or Enter  - Activate current item
Tab and arrow keys  - Move around on the screen
Ctrl  - Stop reading
Caps Lock+D  - Read item
Caps Lock+M  - Start reading
Caps Lock+H  - Read document
Caps Lock+V  - Repeat phrase
Caps Lock+W  - Read window
Caps Lock+Page Up/Down  - Increase or decrease the volume of the voice
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-)  - Increase or decrease the speed of the voice
Caps Lock+spacebar  - Do default action
Caps Lock+left or right arrows  - Move to previous/next item
Caps Lock+F2  - Show commands for current item
Press Caps Lock twice in quick succession  - Turn Caps Lock on or off
Caps Lock + Esc  - Exit Narrator

Narrator touch Shortcut Keys

Tap once with two fingers  - Stop Narrator from reading
Tap three times with four fingers  - Show all Narrator commands (including the ones not in this list)
Double-tap  - Activate primary action
Triple-tap  - Activate secondary action
Touch or drag a single finger  - Read what’s under your finger
Flick left/right with one finger  - Move to next or previous item
Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers  - Scroll

Swipe down with three fingers  - Start reading on explorable text