Windows 8 Shortcut Keys
Symptoms
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse.
Cause
Keyboard shortcut keys can help improve productivity by performing quick action using keys or combination of keys on the keyboard.
Resolution
Windows 8 Shortcut Keys
| MODERN UI SCREEN (START SCREEN) / DESKTOP APP ACTIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Windows key | Toggles between the Start screen and the foremost running app (Modern UI-style) or the Windows Desktop. |
| | Use the page up and page down keys to move between tile groups on the Start Screen |
| Windows key + Z | Display the All Applications Bar on the Modern UI Screen and the Application bar in a Modern UI-style app. |
| Windows key + X | Display the Power User/Administrator Menu |
| Windows key + SHIFT + . | Moves the split to the LEFT if you are in split screen mode or cycles (Docks current app to left, right, or center of screen.) the open applications shiftingg their position in split screen. |
| Windows key + . | Moves the split to the RIGHT if you are in split screen mode or cycles (Docks current app to left, right, or center of screen.) the open applications shiftingg their position in split screen. |
| Windows key + ENTER | Launches Narrator |
| Windows key + P | Display the new Project (for "projection") pane for choosing between available displays. |
| Windows key + Q | Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows key + TAB | Opens the Modern UI App list to the left, tapping tab again lets you switch through the list, As long as you are not in split screen |
| Windows key + , | Show desktop temporarily. Peak |
| Windows key + (PAUSE/BREAK) | Opens System property |
| Windows key + D | Toggle showing the desktop |
| MODERN UI SCREEN (SWITCH TO) DESKTOP APP – DESKTOP FOCUS ACTIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Windows key + D | Switch to the Windows desktop (classic) and toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows). |
| Windows key + 1, Windows key + 2, and so on. | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So Windows key + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right. |
| Windows key + B | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and select the tray notification area or sets focus to the taskbar if already in Desktop App mode. |
| Windows key + E | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed or start Windows Explorer if already in the Desktop App mode. |
| Windows key + R | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Run box or displays the Run box if already in Desktop App mode. |
| Windows key + U | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center or displays the Access Center if already in Desktop App mode. |
| Windows key + W | Opens Settings Search app |
| Windows key + T | Switch to the (classic) pinned Taskbar item showing screenshots of open apps or cycle through pinned Taskbar item showing screenshots of open apps. |
| CTRL + SHIFT + ESC | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Task Manager or displays the Task Manager if already in Desktop App mode. |
| Windows key + K | Cycles through the applications in split screen mode |
| Windows key + H | Move the application split to the right |
| SHIFT + Click | Open a new instance of the selected Taskbar item |
| CTRL + Click | Cycle between windows in a group |
| Middle Click | Open a new instance of the Taskbar item (for Taskbar items that allow this) |
| CTRL + SHIFT + Click | Open a new instance of the selected Taskbar item as Administrator |
| SHIFT + Right-Click | Show window menu of the selected Taskbar item |
| MODERN UI SCREEN (SWITCH TO) DESKTOP APP – DESKTOP FOCUS ACTIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Windows key + ARROW KEYS | Cycle through Aero Snap positions (DESKTOP ONLY and only if you have already snapped the applications you want to use) |
| Windows key + ↑ | Maximize the current window |
| Windows key + ↓ | If the current window is maximized, restore it; if the current window is restored, minimize it |
| Windows key + ← | Dock the current window to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is moved to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is restored to its original size |
| Windows key + → | Dock the current window to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is moved to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is restored to its original size |
| Windows key+ SHIFT + ← | Move current window to the left monitor (with dual monitors) |
| Windows key+ SHIFT + → | Move current window to the right monitor (with dual monitors) |
| Windows key + [PLUS SIGN] | Zoom in |
| Windows key + [MINUS SIGN] | Zoom out |
| Windows key + L | Lock PC and return to Lock screen. |
| ALT + F4 | Close the selected Modern UI or Desktop App application |
| ALT + ESC | Cycle through all open windows |
| ALT + TAB | Cycle through all between running apps or Switch to a specific running application |
| ALT + F4 | Close the active window or Shutdown dialog if the Desktop is selected |
| Windows key + HOME | Minimize all but the current window |
| Windows key + M | Minimize the Explorer Window (minimize all running applications). |
| Windows key + SHIFT + M | Undo all window minimization |
| Windows key + T | Cycle through applications on taskbar (showing its live preview) |
| VIEWING FOLDERS WITH EXPLORER | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| ALT + P | Show/hide the preview pane |
| ALT + ← | Go back |
| ALT + → | Go forward |
| ALT + ↑ | Go up a directory |
| ALT + D | Move focus to address bar |
| ALT + D, Tab | Move focus to search bar |
| ALT + Enter | Open the Properties window of the current selection |
| CTRL + Mousewheel | Change the view type (extra large, small, list view, detail, etc.) |
| ALT + P | Show/hide the preview pane |
| APPLICATION AND MOUSE ACTIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| In any app | Right click to bring up the “app bar” to see everything you can do |
| | Modern apps don’t generally need to be closed — they are suspended when they’re not in view. |
| | If you really need to close them, use the task manager (via the tile or CTRL + SHIFT + ESC to force quit |
| Left Top / Bottom Corner | Bump your mouse against the top/bottom left side of the screen to see a thumbnail of your most recently used app then pause or pull down / push up the mouse cursor to show all running Modern UI applications. Windows key + TAB works too. |
| | Bump your mouse to the left and grab an app, if you pull it towards the right and then bump it to the left it will cycle to the next app. |
| Right Top / Bottom Corner | Bump your mouse against the top/bottom right side of the screen then pause or pull down / push up the mouse cursor to show the Charms Bar |
| Cycle Applications | While in Modern UI use Windows key + TAB for Modern UI Apps and ALT + TAB for Modern UI and Desktop applications. |
| Semantic App Zoom | Activate Semantic Zoom in Modern UI apps by using CTRL + mouse scroll. |
| Close Applications | While in Modern UI applications place you mouse cursor at the top of the app it will change to a hand icon, then drag the app to the bottom of the screen to close, or hit ALT + F4. You can also close Modern UI app/apps in the Modern UI taskbar (see “Left Top/Bottom Corner actions above” ) by hovering over the app, right click and select close. In Desktop App applications, use the ‘X’ or the File menu and select Exit. |
| CHARMS BAR /SETTINGS, SEARCH AND SHUTDOWN ACTIONS | DESCRIPTION |
|---|
| Windows key + C | Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay. (Note that this shortcut displays the charms in the lower left of the screen and not on the right as would be the case using touch.) |
| Windows key + I | Open Settings Bar |
| Windows key + Q | Opens Application Search pane |
| Windows key + F | Search Files using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows key + W | Opens Settings Search app |
| | NOTE: Tapping Windows key + any key will trigger a Search Apps task using the new Windows Search pane, with the letter pre-typed in the search box. So Windows key + A would start searching for applications that include the letter 'a'. This is no different from simply tapping the letter 'a' at the Start screen, since any such typing starts the Search Apps task. |
| Using the hardware – 1 action | Press the button. But be sure you configure the button for Shutdown in the Power Menu Settings |
| Using a Shortcut - 1 or 2 actions | Create a shortcut on the Desktop App, name it Shutdown, in the "Type the location of the item:" input bar, type "shutdown.exe /s /f /t 000" without the quotes, in the "Type a name for this shortcut" input box, type Shutdown and pin this shortcut to your Taskbar for quick access from anywhere. |
| | *** Quick Access from anywhere - as long as you remember the position of this short cut on the taskbar, from anywhere just use the Windows key + "whatever number it is positioned on the Taskbar“. For example mine is in the 2nd position, so hit Windows key + 2 immediately shuts down my system. Be careful to remember this as if you get keyboard happy and forget and use this keystroke, you'll shut down the system before having the opportunity to save any work on you are in. You could also just leave it on the Desktop App mode, use Windows key + D to go to the Desktop mode and double click the Shutdown shortcut. |
| Using combination Keystroke and 2 clicks | Windows key + I to Display Charms / Settings pane click the POWER icon at the Bottom right and select Shutdown |
| Using combination Keystroke and 2 clicks | CTRL + ALT + DEL then click the POWER icon at the Bottom right and select Shutdown |
| Using combination Keystroke and 2 clicks | When on the Desktop App as long as the Desktop is selected, use ALT + F4 and select Shutdown from the dialog box |
| Using combination Keystroke and 3 clicks | Windows key + C - Display the Charms bar, click SETTINGS, then click the POWER icon at the Bottom right and select Shutdown |
| All Mouse | Click you logon name on the TOP RIGHT, click SIGN OUT, Click the lock screen to raise it, then click the POWER icon at the Bottom right and select Shutdown |
