Navigate Like a Pro: Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Every User

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for the Everyday Computer User

In today’s fast-paced digital world, efficiency is key. One of the simplest ways to boost your productivity across various operating systems is by mastering keyboard shortcuts. Whether you’re a Windows, macOS, or Linux user, knowing the right shortcuts can save you time and streamline your workflow. Let’s dive into some essential shortcuts for each of these platforms.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Everyday Windows Shortcuts

Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder in File Explorer.
Windows + E: Open File Explorer.
Windows + Pause/Break: Open System Properties.
Ctrl + Windows + D: Create a new virtual desktop.
Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between virtual desktops.
Windows + Tab: Open Task View for an overview of all open windows and virtual desktops.
Alt + Enter: Display properties for the selected item.
Windows + Shift + S: Open the Snipping Tool to capture a part of your screen.
Windows + X: Open the Quick Link menu, a quick way to access system management tools.
Windows + R: Open the Run dialog box.
Ctrl + P: Print the current file, Microsoft Office Document, image, etc.
Ctrl + S: Save the current project.
Ctrl + Z: Undo the last action.
Ctrl + Y: Redo the last action.
Ctrl + F: Open the Find dialog box.
Ctrl + A: Select all items in the current window.
Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + B: Bold the selected text.
Ctrl + I: Italicize the selected text.
Ctrl + U: Underline the selected text.

Advanced System Shortcuts

Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Task Manager directly.
Windows + L: Instantly lock your PC.
Windows + I: Open Windows Settings.
Shift + Delete: Permanently delete files without sending them to Recycle Bin.
Windows + M: Minimize all windows.
Windows + R: Open the “Run” dialog.
Windows + D: Show desktop.
Windows + E: Open File Explorer.
Windows + F: Open the Search bar.
Windows + G: Open the Game bar.
Windows + H: Open the Share bar.
Windows + K: Open the Connect bar.
Windows + O: Lock device orientation.
Windows + P: Open the Project bar.
Windows + S: Open the Search bar.
Windows + T: Cycle through apps on the taskbar.

PowerShell Shortcuts

PowerShell is a powerful scripting shell that can be used to automate tasks and manage system functions. Here are some essential shortcuts for PowerShell users:

Ctrl + R: Search through the history of previously executed commands.
Ctrl + ↑ / ↓: Navigate through the command history of the current PowerShell instance.
Ctrl + End/Home: Move the cursor to the end or start of the current line.
Ctrl + A: Select all text in the current line
Ctrl + Shift + Home/End: Select the text from the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line.
Ctrl + Enter: In PowerShell ISE, execute the current line or selected lines in a script.
Tab: Auto-complete commands and parameters.
Ctrl + Space: Show the IntelliSense menu.
Ctrl + Shift + Space: Show the parameter info for the current command.
Ctrl + Shift + F: Open the Find dialog box.
Ctrl + Shift + R: Open the Replace dialog box.
Ctrl + Shift + W: Close the current PowerShell tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a new PowerShell tab.
Ctrl + Shift + N: Open a new PowerShell window.
Ctrl + Shift + S: Save the current script.
Ctrl + Shift + O: Open a script.
Ctrl + Shift + P: Open the Command Palette.
Ctrl + Shift + L: Open the Output window.
Ctrl + Shift + I: Open the Script Analyzer window.
Ctrl + Shift + C: Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + Shift + V: Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + Shift + X: Cut the selected text.
Ctrl + Shift + Z: Undo the last action.

macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

Everyday macOS Shortcuts

Command + C / Command + V: Copy and Paste.
Command + Tab: Switch between apps.
Command + Option + Esc: Force quit an application.
Command + Space: Open Spotlight search.
Command + Shift + 3: Take a screenshot.
Command + Shift + 4: Take a screenshot of a selected area.
Command + Shift + 5: Open Screenshot and recording tools.
Command + Shift + 6: Take a screenshot of the Touch Bar.
Command + Shift + D: Open the Desktop folder.
Command + Shift + H: Open the Home folder.
Command + Shift + O: Open the Documents folder.
Command + Shift + U: Open the Utilities folder.
Command + Shift + .: Show or hide hidden files.
Command + Shift + N: Create a new folder in Finder.
Command + Shift + G: Go to Folder in Finder.
Command + Shift + I: Open iCloud Drive.
Command + Shift + A: Open the Applications folder.
Command + Shift + P: Open the AirDrop window.
Command + Shift + R: Open the Recents folder.
Command + Shift + T: Open the Downloads folder.
Command + Shift + F: Open the All My Files folder.
Command + Shift + Delete: Empty the Trash.
Command + Shift + Q: Log out of your macOS user account.

Advanced macOS Keyboard Shortcuts

Command + Option + D: Show or hide the Dock.
Control + Command + Q: Immediately lock your screen.
Command + Shift + Option + Q: Log out of your macOS user account without confirmation dialog.
Option + Brightness Up/Down: Open Display preferences. This works with other function keys like Volume (Sound preferences) or Mission Control (Mission Control preferences).
Command + Option + Esc: Force quit an application.
Command + \&grave;: Switch windows within the same application.
Command + Option + Power Button: Put your Mac to sleep.
Command + Control + Power Button: Force restart without confirmation.
Command + Option + Control + Power Button: Shut down your Mac without confirmation.
Shift + Command + 5: Open Screenshot and recording tools.
Command + Space: Open Spotlight search.
Control + Command + Space: Open the Character Viewer to insert emojis, symbols, and more.
Command + Option + L: Open the Downloads folder.
Command + F: Start a Spotlight search in the Finder window.
Option + Command + I: Show the Get Info window for a selected file.
Command + Shift + G: Go to Folder in Finder.
Control + Shift + Power Button: Turn off the screen of your MacBook.
Command + Control + D: Look up a highlighted word in the dictionary.

Terminal-Specific Shortcuts for macOS

Control + A/E: Move to the beginning/end of the line.
Control + U/K: Delete everything from the cursor to the beginning/end of the line.
Control + L: Clear the screen.
Control + R: Search through previously used commands.
Tab: Autocomplete file names or commands
Control + C: Terminate the current command.
Command + K: Clear the Terminal’s output.
Control + D: Log out of the current terminal session.
Control + Z: Suspend the current foreground process.
Control + W: Delete the word before the cursor.
Control + Left/Right Arrow: Move cursor one word backward/forward.
Control + P/N: Move to the previous/next line in the command history.

Linux (Arch Linux) Keyboard Shortcuts

NOTE: While the command list below was made with Arch Linux in mind, a good share of them should be functional on other Linux distributions. I can’t guarantee that they’ll work on every distro, but they are a guideline on how to use the keyboard on Linux. With that in mind, here we go!

Everyday Linux Commands (Arch Linux)

Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V: Copy and Paste in the terminal.
Alt + Tab: Switch between applications.
Super + L: Lock the screen.
Ctrl + Alt + T: Open the terminal.
Windows/Command + D: Show desktop.
Alt + F2: Run a command.
Ctrl + Alt + Del: Log out (this may vary based on your desktop environment settings).
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open system monitor.

Advanced (Arch) Linux Keyboard Shortcuts

Ctrl + Alt + T: Open Terminal.
Windows/Command + L or Ctrl + Alt + L: Lock the screen.
Windows/Command + D: Show desktop.
Alt + F2: Run a command.
Windows/Command + Arrow keys: Snap windows to sides or corners of the screen (depends on the window manager).
Ctrl + Alt + Del: Log out (this may vary based on your desktop environment settings).
Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open system monitor.
Ctrl + Alt + F1 to F6: Switch between virtual consoles.
Ctrl + Alt + F7/F8: Return to the graphical user interface from a virtual console.
Alt + Tab or Windows/Command + Tab: Switch between applications.
Windows/Command + Space: Change keyboard layout (if multiple layouts are configured).
Ctrl + Alt + Backspace: Kill the X server (this may vary based on your desktop environment settings).
Ctrl + Alt + +/-: Switch between screen resolutions.
Ctrl + Alt + F11: Toggle full-screen mode for the current window.

Terminal-Specific Shortcuts for (Arch) Linux

Ctrl + C: Terminate the current command.
Ctrl + D: Log out of the current terminal session.
Ctrl + Z: Suspend the current foreground process.
Ctrl + L: Clear terminal screen.
Ctrl + A/E: Move cursor to beginning/end of the command line.
Ctrl + U/K: Delete text from the cursor to the beginning/end of the command line.
Ctrl + R: Search through command history.
Ctrl + W: Delete the word before the cursor.
Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Move cursor one word backward/forward.
Tab: Autocomplete file names or commands.
Ctrl + P/N: Move to the previous/next line in the command history.
Ctrl + Shift + C/V: Copy and paste in the terminal.
Ctrl + Shift + Z: Undo the last action.
Ctrl + Shift + X: Cut the selected text.
Ctrl + Shift + Y: Redo the last action.
Ctrl + Shift + A: Select all text in the current line.
Ctrl + Shift + Home/End: Select the text from the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line.
Ctrl + Shift + W: Close the current terminal tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T: Open a new terminal tab.
Ctrl + Shift + N: Open a new terminal window.
Ctrl + Shift + S: Save the current script.
Ctrl + Shift + O: Open a script.

Conclusion

Incorporating these shortcuts into your daily routine can significantly enhance your computing experience. Remember, the more you practice, the more intuitive these shortcuts will become, paving the way for a more efficient and streamlined digital interaction. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will try to answer them as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!

Signing off,

//TheModdersDen