Computer Shortcut Keys: Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows & PC

A keyboard shortcut key combines one or even more keys that executes an instruction in computer. These keys help users perform tasks quickly without navigating through multiple menus.
Nowadays, computers and laptops are being widely used across all sectors—including education, technology, home, office, and healthcare. If you want to speed up your work, it is essential to be familiar with computer shortcut keys. By using them, you can complete many tasks without even touching the mouse.
Most people rely heavily on the mouse while working on laptops and computers, using the keyboard primarily for typing. However, by using keyboard shortcuts, you can make your work much easier without needing the mouse.
Although many people are introduced to these shortcut keys in school, they often forget them over time. That is why we have put together a list of computer shortcut keys for you.
What are computer shortcut keys?
Computer shortcut keys are combinations of keys that execute commands instantly. They are valuable for both beginners looking to improve their workflow and experienced professionals. By learning a few key combinations, users can make computing faster and easier. For example, Ctrl + C is used to copy text, Ctrl + V is used to paste, and Ctrl + S is used to save a file.
General Computer Shortcut Keys
General computer shortcut keys used shortcuts across different applications and operating systems. These shortcuts very useful for every users, who perform basic tasks such as copy, paste, save and undo.
| Computer Shortcut Keys | Work of shortcuts |
| Alt + F | File menu options in the current program |
| Alt + E | Edits options in the current program |
| F1 | Universal help (for any sort of program) |
| Ctrl + A | Selects all text |
| Ctrl + X | Cuts the selected item |
| Ctrl + Del | Cut selected item |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item |
| Ctrl + Ins | Copy the selected item |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the selected item |
| Shift + Ins | Paste the selected item |
| Home | Takes the user to the start of the current line |
| Ctrl + Home | Go to the beginning of the document |
| End | Go to the end of the current line |
| Ctrl + End | Go to the end of a document |
| Shift + Home | Highlight from the prevailing position to the start of the line |
| Shift + End | Highlight from the prevailing position to end of the line |
| Ctrl + (Left arrow) | Move one term to the left at a time |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move one term to the right at a time |
Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys
| Computer Shortcut Keys | Work of shortcuts |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Switch backwards between open applications |
| Alt + Print Screen | Create a screenshot for the current program |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Reboot/Windows task manager |
| Ctrl + Esc | Bring up the start menu |
| Alt + Esc | Switch between applications on the taskbar |
| F2 | Rename selected icon |
| F3 | Start to find from the desktop |
| F4 | Open the drive selection when browsing |
| F5 | Refresh contents |
| Alt + F4 | Close the current open program |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close window in the program |
| Ctrl + Plus Key | Automatically set widths of all columns in Windows Explorer |
| Alt + Enter | Open properties window of selected icon or program |
| Shift + F10 | Simulate right-click on selected item |
| Shift + Del | Delete programs/files permanently |
Computer Shortcut Keys for MS Word
Microsoft Word is widely used for creating and editing documents in offices, and organizations. MS Word shortcut keys helps users to work more efficiently.
| Shortcuts | Work of shortcuts |
| Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected text |
| Ctrl + N | Open new/blank document |
| Ctrl + O | Open options |
| Ctrl + P | Open the print window |
| Ctrl + F | Open find box |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + K | Insert link |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + G | Find and replace options |
| Ctrl + H | Find and replace options |
| Ctrl + J | Justify paragraph alignment |
| Ctrl + L | Align selected text or line to the left |
| Ctrl + Q | Align selected paragraph to the left |
| Ctrl + E | Align selected text or line to the centre |
| Ctrl + R | Align selected text or line to the right |
| Ctrl + M | Indent the paragraph |
| Ctrl + T | Hanging indent |
| Ctrl + D | Font options |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Change the font |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase selected font +1 |
| Ctrl + ] | Increase selected font +1 |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease selected font -1 |
| Ctrl + Shift + * | View or hide non printing characters |
| Ctrl + (Left arrow) | Move one word to the left |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move one word to the right |
| Ctrl + (Up arrow) | Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph |
| Ctrl + (Down arrow) | Move to the end of the paragraph |
| Ctrl + Del | Delete the word to the right of the cursor |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the word to the left of the cursor |
| Ctrl + End | Move the cursor to the end of the document |
| Ctrl + Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the document |
| Ctrl + Space | Reset highlighted text to the default font |
| Ctrl + 1 | Single-space lines |
| Ctrl + 2 | Double-space lines |
| Ctrl + 5 | 1.5-line spacing |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Change text to heading 1 |
| Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Change text to heading 2 |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Change text to heading 3 |
| Shift + F3 | Change case of selected text |
| Shift + Insert | Paste |
| F4 | Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+) |
| F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document |
| Shift + F7 | Activate the thesaurus |
| F12 | Save as |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Shift + F12 | Save |
| Alt + Shift + D | Insert the current date |
| Alt + Shift + T | Insert the current time |
| Ctrl + W | Close document |
| Ctrl+= | Set chosen text as a subscript. |
| Ctrl+Shift+= | Set chosen text as superscript. |
Computer Shortcut Keys for MS Excel
Microsoft Excel is one of the most important applications used for data management, calculations, and reporting. Excel shortcut keys helps users perform calculations and data analysis efficiently.
| Shortcut Keys | Work of shortcuts |
| F2 | Edit the selected cell |
| F5 | Go to a specific cell |
| F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document |
| F11 | Create chart |
| Ctrl + Shift +; | Enter the current time |
| Ctrl +; | Enter the current date |
| Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert new worksheet |
| Shift + F3 | Open the Excel formula window |
| Shift + F5 | Bring up the search box |
| Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + D | Fill |
| Ctrl + K | Insert link |
| Ctrl + F | Open find and replace options |
| Ctrl + G | Open go-to options |
| Ctrl + H | Open find and replace options |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + Y | Underline selected text |
| Ctrl + 5 | Strikethrough highlighted selection |
| Ctrl + O | Open options |
| Ctrl + N | Open new document |
| Ctrl + P | Open print dialog box |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize current window |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize currently selected window |
| Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open workbooks/windows |
| Ctrl + Page up & Page Down | Move between Excel worksheets in the same document |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move between two or more open Excel files |
| Alt + = | Create the formula to sum all of the above cells |
| Ctrl + | Insert the value of the above cell into the current cell |
| Ctrl + Shift + ! | Format number in comma format |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Format number in currency format |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Format number in date format |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Format number in percentage format |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Format number in scientific format |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Format number in time format |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move to next section of text |
| Ctrl + Space | Select entire column |
| Shift + Space | Select entire row |
| Ctrl + W | Close document |
Computer Shortcut Keys for MS PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is used to create presentations in schools, colleges, businesses, and government organizations. These shortcuts are important for both practical use and competitive examinations.
| Shortcuts | Work of shortcuts |
| Esc | Exit the slide show and go back to the earlier live view. |
| Ctrl+K | Enter a hyperlink. |
| Ctrl+M | Include a new, blank slide after the chosen slide. |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new, blank slide in a different PowerPoint program window. |
| CTRL + D | Duplicate the current slide |
| Ctrl+Shift+> | Increases the chosen text size by one font size. |
| Ctrl+Shift+< | Decreases the chosen text size by one font size. |
| CTRL + G | Group things together |
| F5 | Start presentation from the initial slide |
All these computer keyboard shortcuts are used for fast typing. They allow you to perform various tasks using the keyboard without ever touching the mouse—speeding up everything from typing to internet browsing.
Conclusion
We all are aware of the importance of computers in this digital era. Here, we discussed computer shortcut keys and how they help save time. If you liked this article, please share it with your friends on social media so that they, too, can learn about this.







