Every operating system and software has its own set of keyboard shortcuts and they actually make our life easier by eliminating the need for tedious mouse clicks.
In fact, if you know how to move around with just your keyboard, you can increase your productivity two fold. But no matter how important or easy the shortcuts are, we often forget or ignore some of them due to reasons like very little use or awkward placement on the keyboard. Here are some of those forgotten or most ignored Windows shortcuts.
1. Ctrl + Y
Most of you may know that “Ctrl + Z” is used to undo the immediate previous action performed by the user. This is really helpful at times, but do you actually know that there is a shortcut called “Ctrl + Y” which will redo anything that is undone? This will be a life saver at times, so don’t ever forget this shortcut.
2. Win + Pause/Break
You can easily open the System details window in your Windows machine directly from the Control Panel. In Windows 8, it is even easier: just press “Win + X” and select the option “System.” But to make it even easier, just press “Win + Pause/Break” on your keyboard and the System details window will pop-up.
3. Alt + Print Screen
The Print Screen (Prt Scr) key on your keyboard is often used to take snapshots of the current screen. But if you want to quickly take a screenshot of just the active window, then press “Alt + Print Screen.” This eliminates any need for editing the screenshot to just the active window.
4. Win + E
Windows Explorer is one of the most used programs on almost any Windows machine. Generally, you can either open Windows Explorer right from the start menu, from the taskbar or by double clicking on the “My Computer” icon on your desktop.
But the quickest way to open Windows Explorer is by pressing “Win + E” on your keyboard. This is a handy little shortcut that is ignored by most of us.
5. Ctrl + Shift + N
The most common way to create a new folder in Windows Explorer is to right-click and select the option “New > Folder.” An easier way is to press “Ctrl + Shift +N,” and you will have your new folder waiting to be renamed. This shortcut is better than stretching out your hand for the mouse.
6. Win + Right Arrow + Enter
There are quite a few ways to shutdown a Windows PC, and one of them is to press the “Win” button, then the “Right Arrow” and then the “Enter” button. This action will execute the first option in the Shutdown button.
Of course, this shortcut may not work on Windows 8 or 8.1 but may, hopefully, work on Windows 10. Alternatively, you can use “Alt + F4.”
7. Win + Arrow Keys
If you have a large computer screen, then why not snap your active programs to either side of the screen so that you don’t have to move back and forth between windows? Generally you can use your mouse to snap windows, but the keyboardshortcut “Win + Arrow Keys” will work as well. Depending on the arrow key, the windows will snap to the respective side.
8. Win + Tab
“Alt + Tab” is used to quickly switch between programs or windows. If you want a pretty version of the same functionality, press “Win + Tab” on your keyboard.
There are many more keyboard shortcuts that are often ignored or forgotten, but these are the ones from the top of my head.
What are your favorite keyboard shortcuts, and do you know all the above-mentioned ones? Do share with us any other unique or lesser-known keyboardshortcuts that are not mentioned above.
Republished with permission from MakeTechEasier. Read the original.
