Microsoft Windows 8 (Windows)

Power User Commands Shortcuts

Control Panel

Win + X , P

All hotkeys for Microsoft Windows 8 (Windows)

Windows Explorer - Basics
Start Windows Explorer

Win + E

Windows Explorer - Basics
Go up one folder

Alt + Arrow Up

Windows Explorer - Basics
Go to previous folder / go to next folder

Alt + Arrow Left / Alt + Arrow Right

Windows Explorer - Basics
Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List)

Tab / Shift + Tab

Windows Explorer - Basics
Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ctrl+c if desired

Alt + D or F4

Windows Explorer - Basics
Jump to Search Box in Explorer

Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F

Windows Explorer - Basics
Open new instance of Windows Explorer

Ctrl + N

Windows Explorer - Basics
Toggle full-screen mode

F11

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Navigate between files and folders

Arrow Keys

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Open folder or start application

Enter

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Jump to first / jump to last item

Home / End

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Change the file name of active item

F2

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Move one character to the left / to the right in item name

F2 , then Arrow Left / Arrow Right

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name

F2 , then Ctrl + Arrow Left / Arrow Right

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name

F2 , then Home / End

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Select all/ complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix)

F2 , then Ctrl + A

Windows Explorer - Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only)

Arrow Left / Arrow Right

Windows Explorer - File List Views
Display or hide Preview Pane

Alt + P

Windows Explorer - File List Views
View details. Check View menu for more options

Alt + V then D

Windows Explorer - File List Views
View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options

Alt + V then X

Windows Explorer - File List Views
Change size of icons

Ctrl +mouse scroll wheel

Windows Explorer - Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane
Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)

Shift + Arrow Up / Arrow Down

Windows Explorer - Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane
Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection

Ctrl with Arrow keys and Space

Windows Explorer - Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane
Select all

Ctrl + A

Windows Explorer - Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane
Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter

A ... Z and 1 .. 9

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Copy, Cut, Paste

Ctrl + C , ctrl + X , ctrl + V

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Undo an action

Ctrl + Z

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Redo an action

Ctrl + Y

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin

Delete

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin

Shift + Delete

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection

Shift + F10

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Create new folder

Ctrl + Shift + N

Windows Explorer - Manage Items in Explorer
Open Properties dialog box

Alt + Enter

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Toggle between Desktop and Start Screen (or open Apps)

Win

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
On Start Screen: Switch Between Start Window and All Apps Window

Ctrl + Tab

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Open All Apps Window

Win , then Ctrl + Tab

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Search and execute Apps

Win , then start typing App Name

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Close Start Screen and go to Desktop

Escape

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Run Explorer on Desktop

Win + E

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Execute Run on Desktop

Win + R

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Open Power User Commands on Desktop

Win + X

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Shutdown Windows

Alt + F4

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Lock Computer

Win + L

Getting around Windows 8 Start Screen and Desktop
Open Windows Help

Win + F1

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Open Windows Charme. Use arrow keys and enter to select item. Press

Win + C

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Search Charme / last search option

Win + Q

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Search Files

Win + F

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Search Windows Settings

Win + W

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Open Settings including Desktop, Control Panel, Personalization, PC Info, Help

Win + I

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Share Charme

Win + H

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Device Charme

Win + K

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Search Settings

Win + S

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Search Files

Win + F

Windows 8 Charme Shortcuts
Show Options / App Bar in current Metro Apps if available.

Win + Z

Switch between Apps and Windows
Cycle between all Windows and Apps. Press and hold Alt key before pressing Tab. Release Tab on Window/App you want to open. While tabbing, add Shift to key combination to go backwards.

Alt + Tab and Alt + Shift + Tab

Switch between Apps and Windows
Cycle between open Apps without having to keep Alt pressed. Press keys once, then use Arrow keys and Enter to select Window/App.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab then Arrow Keys

Switch between Apps and Windows
Same as Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps only, not Windows on Desktop

Win + Tab and Win + Shift + Tab

Switch between Apps and Windows
Same as Ctrl+Alt+Tab, but only includes Apps, not Desktop Windows

Ctrl + Win + Tab , then Arrow keys

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Control Panel

Win + X , P

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Task Manager

Win + X , T

Power User Commands Shortcuts
File Explorer (alternative: Win+e)

Win + X , E

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Run (alternative: Win+r)

Win + X , R

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Desktop (alternative: Win+d)

Win + X , D

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Programs and Features

Win + X , F

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Command Prompt

Win + X , C

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Elevated Command Prompt (Admin)

Win + X , A

Power User Commands Shortcuts
System Information

Win + X , Y

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Device Manager

Win + X , M

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Computer Management

Win + X , G

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Mobility Center

Win + X , B

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Power Options

Win + X , O

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Event Viewer

Win + X , V

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Disk Management

Win + X , K

Power User Commands Shortcuts
Search

Win + X , S

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Go to desktop / switch between Desktop and Start Screen or Apps

Win

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Maximize Window across screen

Win + Arrow Up

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Minimize Window (if Restored) or set Window to Restored (if Maximized)

Win + Arrow Down

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Maximixe Window vertically

Win + Shift + Arrow Up

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Move Window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors

Win + Arrow Right / Arrow Left

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors

Win + Shift + Arrow Right / Arrow Left "

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Opens the title bar menu

Alt + Space

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Turn full page view on or off

F11

Managing Windows 8 Desktop Windows
Close Window

Alt + Q

Windows 8 Taskbar
Go to first item in Taskbar, continue with arrow keys

Win + T

Windows 8 Taskbar
Go to first item in System Tray

Win + B

Windows 8 Taskbar
Start new instance of Taskbar item

Shift +click on a taskbar item

Windows 8 Taskbar
Start new instance of Taskbar item as administrator

Ctrl + Shift +click on a taskbar item

Windows 8 Taskbar
Show the window menu for the program

Shift +right-click on a taskbar item

Windows 8 Taskbar
Switch to application in position N on Taskbar (or launch pinned application)

Win + 1 ... 9

Windows 8 Taskbar
Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on Taskbar

Shift + Win + 1 ... 9

Navigating Desktop
Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop)

Arrow Keys

Navigating Desktop
Select first / select last object on desktop

Home / End

Navigating Desktop
Launch active object

Enter

Navigating Desktop
Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to select item

Shift + F10

Navigating Desktop
Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons

Tab , Shift + Tab on empty desktop

Navigating Desktop
Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter

A , B , C , ...

The Rest
Open Ease of Access Center

Win + U

The Rest
Projector or second screen settings.

Win + P

The Rest
Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active*

Alt + Shift

Similar combinations for other applications


Microsoft Windows 10 (Windows)
Control Panel (better: Win+R, then type 'control')
Windows Power User Menu

Win + X , P