Windows 8: General Keyboard Shortcuts

Below is a list of general keyboard shortcuts that can be used in most programs.  For most people, most of these shortcuts are already known, but its suggested that you review the list to see if you can discover new ones that you were not aware of.

• CTRL+A: Selects everything (all editable objects) in the current window.
• CTRL+C: Copies the selected object to the clipboard.
• Tip: In some dialog boxes CTRL+C allows you to copy the text from it.
• CTRL+X: Cuts the selected object to clipboard.
• CTRL+V: Pastes the selected object from clipboard.
• CTRL+Y: Redoes the last command or change.
• Note: This function is not supported in all applications
• CTRL+Z: Undoes the last command or change.
• Tip: Use this shortcut to undo file or folder moves or deletions to the recycle bin.
• DELETE: Deletes the selected text or object
• ESC: Cancel the current task
• F1:  Displays help for that application
• HOME: Puts the cursor at the beginning of a line.
• Note: CTRL+HOME (takes the cursor to the beginning of a document) and CTRL+SHIFT+HOME (selects all text from the cursor to the beginning of a document).
• END:  Puts the cursor at the end of a line.
• Note: CTRL+END (takes the cursor to the end of a document) and CTRL+SHIFT+END (selects all text from the cursor to the end of the document).
• ALT+ Spacebar:  Opens the shortcut menu for the current window.
• Tip: This feature is handy when the window's title bar is off the screen and you can't get to it.  You can press the  ALT+Spacebar keys then use the arrow keys to move the title bar into a visible area.
• SHIFT with any of the arrow keys: Selects more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or selects text in a document.
• CTRL+RIGHT or LEFT ARROW: Moves the insertion point to the beginning of the next or previous word.
• Note: CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys: Highlights a block of text.

More Windows Keyboard Shortcuts