If you use a computer, mastering the keyboard shortcuts may be just what you need to boost your productivity and enhance efficiency.
First, moving your hand from the keyboard to the touchpad to the mouse and executing commands like right-clicking can sometimes be monotonous and tiring.
Second, it’s time-wasting. People often disregard this since it doesn’t look like much time lost. However, the time you waste is significant in the long run and can be used better.
According to Brainscape, you lose about 2 seconds per minute when navigating from the mouse to the keyboard. It equates to eight working days over one year. That is how much time you can save using computer keyboard shortcuts.
Using these shortcuts helps reduce the monotony and wasted time to boost productivity. All you have to do is keep your hand on the keyboard and execute a combination of keys to achieve the same results you would have done with a mouse or trackpad.
This article looks at the 13 most outstanding shortcuts. What are they, and how can you use them to enhance your computing process?
Read on to find out more.
What is a Computer Keyboard Shortcut?
A computer keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys pressed simultaneously to invoke a command to an operating system or software that would have otherwise required a mouse or trackpad. For example, instead of right-clicking cut, you can use Ctrl C.
Cut, copy, paste, and undo are among the commonly used and widely known keyboard shortcuts. However, there are other shortcuts that are largely underused but could save you a significant amount of time.
Today’s piece will guide you through all these computer keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac operating systems.
Basic Computer Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac and Windows
All shortcuts below can be used for Mac and Windows operating systems. If you are using a Mac, replace the key Ctrl for Windows with the Command:
- Ctrl+O to open an existing document
- Ctr+A to select all the content of the document
- Ctrl+C to copy the selected content
- Ctrl+X to cut the selected content
- Ctrl+V to paste the copied or cut content
- Ctrl+Z to undo the immediate previous action
- Ctrl+Y to redo an action
- Ctrl+S to save your work
Here are other computer keyboard shortcuts that you probably don’t know about
1. Shifting Between Apps—Alt/Command+Tab
When multitasking, press Alt+Tab on Windows to see a list of all the apps you have open. Keep the Alt Key pressed down and repeatedly press the Tab key to shift from one app to the next. Release all keys when you get to the app you want to switch to.
If you are using a Mac, replace the Alt with Command so that it is Command+Tab. Follow the same process described above.
2. Switch Between Tabs—Ctrl/Command+Shift+Tab
On Mac and Windows, use Ctrl+Tab to move to the next tab on the right. To move to the previous tab, press Ctrl+Shift+Tab.
You can also use a combination of Ctrl+ any number to shift to the tab number you have keyed in. For example, Ctrl+1 will take you to the first tab on your Window.
Replace Ctrl with Command if you’re using a Mac computer.
3. Switch Between Virtual Desktops—Ctrl+Window+Left/Righ
If your work is organized on different virtual desktops, use Ctrl+Window+Left/Right on Mac and Windows.
You can also press Windows+Tab to view all your virtual desktops, use the arrow keys to toggle between them, select the one you want, and press enter to switch to the virtual desktop.
4. Search Text—Command/Ctrl+F
Instead of scrolling through a document to find a specific text, press Ctrl+F on Windows and Command+F on Mac to open a search pane. Type in the text and search for it. You can add quotation marks on the phrase so that the results are only for an exact match of the text or phrase
5. Search For a File or Application—Ctrl+ESc/Shift+Spacebar
On your Windows machine, press Ctrl+ESc to open a search pane where you can type in the name of the file or application you are looking for. On Mac, use Shift+Spacebar for the same purpose
6. Zooming—Ctrl/Command+ the Plus Sign
Use Ctrl+ the Plus sign to zoom in and Ctrl+minus sign to zoom out for Windows. Relapse Ctrl with the Command key for the Mac operating system.
7. Paste Without Special Formatting—Ctrl+Shift+V
To paste something without any special formatting, use these computer keyboard shortcuts:
Ctrl+Shift+V for Windows and ⇧+Command+⌥+V for Mac system. ⇧ is the symbol for shift on Mac while ⌥ is the option key.
8. Insert Special Characters—Windows+Period(.)
If you’d like to add special characters, GIFs, or emojis to your work, use Windows+. (Period).
This command opens up a pane that shows available options. The keyboard shortcut is only for recent keyboards.
In Mac, use ⌃+Command+Space to open the emoji panel.
9. Lock Your Screen—Windows+L/Command+Ctrl+Q
It would be best to lock your screen when you step away from your computer. This helps protect your information from unauthorized access.
Use the keys Windows+L for Windows or Command+Ctrl+Q for Mac.
10. Voice Typing—Window+H
Use Window+H to enable voice typing for the Windows system. In Mac, you can turn on the “Speech to Text” command twice by pressing the FN (Function Key).
11. Go to the Beginning or End of a Document—Ctrl+ ↑
If you are at the end of the document and want to jump to the beginning, press the Ctrl+ Upwards arrow (Ctrl+ ↑) for Windows. Replace Ctrl with Command for Mac system.
If you’d like to jump to the end of a document, press Ctrl+ ↓ for Windows and Command +↓ for Mac. For Windows, you can also use Ctrl+Home Key to go to the top of a document or page and Ctrl+End to go to the bottom.
12. Go to the Beginning or End of a Line—Ctrl+←
Use Ctrl+← to travel to the beginning of a sentence and Ctrl+→ to go to the end of a text. Replace Ctrl for Windows with Command for Mac.
13. Delete Lines and Words—⌥+Backspace
If you press the Option key and backspace on Mac (⌥+backspace), you’ll delete the line up to where the cursor is. Replace the option key (⌥) on Mac with ALT in the Windows system.
Use Command+backspace on Mac to delete the entire line and replace The Command key with Ctrl for Windows.
Wrapping It Up!
If you are new to some of these computer keyboard shortcuts, memorizing them may initially seem challenging. However, the trick is to use them often to build your memory muscle. With time, they become intuitive, and you can use them automatically.
This skill is very resourceful in helping you navigate the fast-paced generation. You can do more with less, making you more productive. The best time to start using a computer keyboard was yesterday! The second best time is today!