1. Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop |
|
Win
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Toggle
between Desktop and Start Screen (or open Apps)
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Ctrl+Tab
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On Start
Screen: Switch Between Start Window and All Apps Window
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Win,
then Ctrl+Tab
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Open All Apps
Window
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Win, then
start typing App Name
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Search and
execute Apps
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Escape
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Close Start
Screen and go to Desktop
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Win+E
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Run Explorer
on Desktop
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Win+R
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Execute Run
on Desktop
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Win+X
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Open Power
User Commands on Desktop
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Alt+F4
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Shutdown
Windows
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Win+L
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Lock Computer
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Win+F1
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Open Windows
Help
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Tip:
Pressing Escape typically closes most Charme menus.
|
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Win+C
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Open
Windows Charme. Use arrow keys and enter to select
item. Press
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Win+Q
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Search Charme
/ last search option
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Win+F
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Search Files
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Win+W
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Search Windows
Settings
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Win+I
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Open Settings
including Desktop, Control Panel, Personalization, PC Info, Help
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Win+H
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Share Charme
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Win+K
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Device Charme
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Win+S
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Search
Settings
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Win+F
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Search Files
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Win+Z
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Show Options
/ App Bar in current Metro Apps if available.
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Alt+Tab and Alt+Shift+Tab
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Cycle between
all Windows and Apps. Press and hold Alt key before
pressing Tab. Release Tabon Window/App you want to open. While
tabbing, add Shift to key combination to go backwards.
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Ctrl+Alt+Tab then Arrow
Keys
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Cycle between
open Apps without having to keep Alt pressed. Press keys once, then
use Arrowkeys and Enter to select Window/App.
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Win+Tab and Win+Shift+Tab
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Same
as Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps only, not Windows on Desktop
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Ctrl+Win+Tab,
then Arrow keys
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Same
as Ctrl+Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps, not Desktop Windows
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These are
also listed in the Power User Command Window. Sorted by their (subjective)
importance.
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|
Win+X, P
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Control Panel
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Win+X, T
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Task Manager
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Win+X, E
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File Explorer
(alternative: Win+e)
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Win+X, R
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Run
(alternative: Win+r)
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Win+X, D
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Desktop
(alternative: Win+d)
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Win+X, F
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Programs
and Features
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Win+X, C
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Command
Prompt
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Win+X, A
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Elevated
Command Prompt (Admin)
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Win+X, Y
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System
Information
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Win+X, M
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Device Manager
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Win+X, G
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Computer
Management
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Win+X, B
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Mobility
Center
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Win+X, O
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Power Options
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Win+X, V
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Event Viewer
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Win+X, K
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Disk Management
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Win+X, S
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Search
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Win
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Go to desktop
/ switch between Desktop and Start Screen or Apps
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Win+Arrow Up
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Maximize
Window across screen
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Win+Arrow
Down
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Minimize
Window (if Restored) or set Window to Restored (if Maximized)
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Win+Shift+Arrow
Up
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Maximixe
Window vertically
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Win+Arrow
Right/Arrow Left
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Move Window
to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors
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Win+Shift+Arrow
Right/ Arrow Left"
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Move window
to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors
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Alt+Space
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Opens the
title bar menu
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F11
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Turn full
page view on or off
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Alt+Q
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Close Window
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Win+T
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Go to first
item in Taskbar, continue with arrow keys
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Win+B
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Go to first
item in System Tray
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Shift+click
on a taskbar item
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Start new
instance of Taskbar item
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Ctrl+Shift+click
on a taskbar item
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Start new
instance of Taskbar item as administrator
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Shift+right-click
on a taskbar item
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Show the
window menu for the program
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Win+1...9
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Switch to
application in position N on Taskbar (or launch pinned application)
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Shift+Win+1...9
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Start new
instance of taskbar item in position N on Taskbar
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Unfortunately,
Microsoft removed the possibility to select multiple taskbar items in Windows
7 (and did still not re-introduce in Windows 8)
|
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Arrow Keys
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Navigate
between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop)
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Home/End
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Select first
/ select last object on desktop
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Enter
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Launch active
object
|
Shift+F10
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Activate
context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the
context menu usearrow keys, a-z and enter to select item
|
Tab, Shift+Tab on
empty desktop
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Navigate
between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then
use arrow keysand enter or space to activate
specific icons
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A, B, C,
...
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Pressing the
initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective
application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects
start with the same letter
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8.
Windows
Explorer
Basics
|
|
Win+E
|
Start
Windows Explorer
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Alt+Arrow Up
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Go up one
folder
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Alt+Arrow
Left/ Alt+Arrow Right
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Go to
previous folder / go to next folder
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Tab/Shift+Tab
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Switch focus
forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane,
and File List (Default is usually File List)
|
Alt+D or F4
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Jump to the
Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address
with ctrl+c if desired
|
Ctrl+E or Ctrl+F
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Jump to
Search Box in Explorer
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Ctrl+N
|
Open new
instance of Windows Explorer
|
F11
|
Toggle
full-screen mode
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Navigate File
List and Navigation Pane
|
|
Arrow Keys
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Navigate
between files and folders
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Enter
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Open folder
or start application
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Home/End
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Jump to first
/ jump to last item
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F2
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Change the
file name of active item
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F2,
then Arrow Left/ Arrow Right
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Move one
character to the left / to the right in item name
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F2,
then Ctrl+ Arrow Left/Arrow Right
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Jump one word
to the left / to the right of item name
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F2,
then Home /End
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Jump to
beginning / jump to end of item name
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F2,
then Ctrl+A
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Select all/
complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix)
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Arrow
Left/Arrow Right
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Expand folder
/ collapse folder (navigation pane only)
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File List Views
| |
Alt+P
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Display or hide Preview Pane
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Alt+V then D
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View details. Check View menu for more options
|
Alt+V then X
|
View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more
options
|
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel
|
Change size of icons
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Select Items
in File List and Navigation Pane
|
|
Shift+Arrow
Up/ Arrow Down
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Select
multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)
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Ctrl with Arrow
keys and Space
|
Select
multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move
to next item, and pressspace to add/remove from selection
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Ctrl+A
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Select all
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A ...Z and 1..9
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Press the
initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if
multiple items start with the same letter
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Manage Items
in Explorer
|
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Ctrl+C, ctrl+X, ctrl+V
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Copy, Cut,
Paste
|
Ctrl+Z
|
Undo an
action
|
Ctrl+Y
|
Redo an
action
|
Delete
|
Delete an
item and place it into the Recycle Bin
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Shift+Delete
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Delete an
item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin
|
Shift+F10
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Activate
context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the
context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to
the selection
|
Ctrl+Shift+N
|
Create new
folder
|
Alt+Enter
|
Open
Properties dialog box
|
Win+U
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Open Ease of
Access Center
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Win+P
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Projector or
second screen settings.
|
Alt+Shift
|
Change
keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active*
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