How to: Work Faster with Keyboard Shortcuts
For users with mobility challenges, navigating a desktop or laptop using your mouse can be a major pain in the wrist. Using keyboard shortcuts is a great way to alleviate the wrist strain associated with constantly using your mouse. Plus, you’ll become more efficient in every computer-related task that you take on! This guide will look at general keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac computers. For a complete listing of keyboard shortcuts, go here for Windows, and here for Mac.
To use a keyboard shortcut, hold the first key, press the last key of the shortcut, then release.
Example: To use the shortcut Ctrl + C (copy), hold down Ctrl, press C, and then release both keys.
Windows – Press these keys to do this:
Ctrl + X = Cut the selected item
Ctrl + C = Copy the selected item
Ctrl + V = Paste the selected item
Ctrl + Z = Undo an action
Ctrl + Y = Redo an action
Alt + F4 = Close the active item, or exit the active app
Alt + Tab = Switch between open apps
F3 = Search for a file or folder in File Explorer
F6 = Cycle through screen elements
F10 = Activate the Menu bar in the active app
Alt + Left arrow = Go back
Alt + Right arrow = Go forward
Alt + Page Up = Move up one screen
Alt + Page Down = Move down one screen
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 + Esc = Open Start
Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Open Task Manager
Ctrl + Shift = Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
Shift with any arrow key = Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document
Mac – Press these keys to do this
Command + X = Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
Command + C = Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
Command + V = Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
Command + Z = Undo the previous command. You can then press Command + Shift + Z to Redo, reversing the undo command.
Command + A = Select All items.
Command + F = Find items in a document or open a Find window.
Command + H = Hide the windows of the front app. To view the front app but hide all other apps, press Command + Option + H.
Command + M = Minimize the front window to the Dock. To minimize all windows of the front app, press Command + Option + M.
Command + N = New (Open a new document or window.)
Command + O = Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
Command + P = Print the current document.
Command + S = Save the current document.
Command + W = Close the front window. To close all windows of the app, press Command + Option + W.
Command + Q = Quit the app.
Option + Command + Esc = Force Quit (Choose an app to force quit.)
Command + Space bar = Spotlight (Show or hide the Spotlight search field.)
Command + Tab = Switch apps (Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.)
Shift + Command + Tilde (~) = Switch windows (Switch to the next most recently used window of the front app.)
Shift + Command + 3 = Screenshot (Take a screenshot of the entire screen.)
Command + Comma (,) = Preferences (Open preferences for the front app.)
