top of page

Productive Windows Keyboard Shortcut Tips!

Useful shortcuts for windows users in 2021. A solution to save time and improve work productivity.


Productive Windows Keyboard Shortcut Tips!

Photo by Oleg Magni from Pexels

 

Below are the 8 simple keyboard shortcuts that will make your life easier when you do your works or any tasks on your computer/laptop:


1. Windows Key + D

SHOW & HIDE DESKTOP


Use these shortcuts especially when you have a lot of windows open but you need to find one of the files on your desktop quickly. As you press Windows Key + D, you will be able to hide all the open windows and you will be directed straight to your desktop. When you press back Windows Key + D, your windows will appear again.


2. Windows Key + V

OPEN CLIPBOARD

Productive Windows Keyboard Shortcut Tips! Open Clipboard

Photo Courtesy of Fast Company


When you copy more than one item, you will find that it is troublesome to paste them one by one. However, the multiple copied items are actually stored in the clipboard feature on your Windows 10. The clipboard will show you the history of all your recent copied items. As you press Windows Key + V (by now the clipboard will appear and you have to approve the clipboard feature), you will then see a list of recently copied items just as shown in the above image. Click the one that you want to paste.


3. Windows Key + Shift + S

TO TAKE A SCREENSHOT


By pressing Windows Key + Shift + S, your screen will freeze and you will then be able to click and drag a section of the screen that you want to capture. It is a quicker and easier way to take a screenshot of your whole screen or just a part of your screen.


4. Windows Key + E

OPEN THE FILE EXPLORER


Pressing Windows Key + E is a quick way to open your File Explorer! This is a very useful shortcut, especially when you want to open more than one File Explorers! For example, when you need to open two File Explorers in order to copy and paste files between the two folders.


5. Windows Key + L

LOCK YOUR COMPUTER


When you want to lock your PC, a quick way will be to press Windows Key + L. Make sure to lock your PC when you go for lunch or step away from your desk for a while. This is also a fast way to switch users when your PC is a shared computer with different users.


6. Windows Key + I

OPEN SETTINGS


As you press Windows Key + I, the Settings menu will appear on your screen very quickly.


7. Windows Key + Period (.)

OPEN EMOJI PANEL

Productive Windows Keyboard Shortcut Tips! Open Emoji Panel

Photo Courtesy of Circular Connection


A quick way to access the emoji panel is to press Windows Key + Period (.). The above box will then appear for you to use!


8. CTRL + TAB or CTRL + SHIFT + TAB

CYCLE BROWSER TABS


By pressing Ctrl+Tab, you are actually cycling through your web browser tabs from left to right. It is useful when you open a lot of browser tabs on Chrome/Edge to the point that you can’t find the tab that you want. By cycling them from left to right, you will save time finding the tab that you are looking for. If you want them to cycle from right to left, you can press Ctrl + Shift + Tab instead.



Share this article with your friends if you find it helpful!

 

References: Fast Company (website)


bottom of page