Guide to Windows 8 Shortcuts

• Windows key + M: Minimize all windows
• Windows key + Shift + M: Restore all minimized windows
• Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows)
• Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window
• Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize/restore current window
• Windows key + Home: Minimize all but the current window
• Windows key + Left Arrow: Tile window on the left side of the screen
• Windows key + Right Arrow: Tile window on the right side of the screen
• Windows key + Shift + Up Arrow: Extend current window from the top to the bottom of the screen
• Windows key + Shift + Left/Right Arrow: Move the current window from one monitor to the next
• Ctrl + N: Open a new window in Windows Explorer
• Ctrl + W: Close current window in Windows Explorer
• Alt + Tab: Cycle forward through open windows
• Alt + Esc: Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
• Alt + Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through open windows
• Shift + F6: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box
• Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box
• Alt + Spacebar: Access the Shortcut menu for current window
• Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box of the selected item
• Esc: Close a dialog box

Search Functionality:

• Windows key + Q: Access the Apps Search screen
• Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen
• Windows key + W: Access the Settings Search screen

Copy/Paste Functions:

• Ctrl + A: Select all items
• Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item
• Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
• Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item
• Ctrl + D: Delete selected item
• Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
• Ctrl + Y: Redo an action
• Alt + PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the active Window and place it in the clipboard
• Windows key + PrtScn: Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder as Screenshot

Function Keys (F1-11)

• F1: Display Help
• F2: Rename a file
• F3: Open Search
• F4: Display the Address Bar list
• F5: Refresh display
• F6: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box
• F7: Display command history in a Command Prompt
• F10: Display hidden Menu Bar
• F11: Toggle full screen display

Standard Key Functions:

• Tab: Cycle forward through elements in a window or dialog box
• PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the entire screen and place it in the clipboard
• Home: Move to the top of the active window
• End: Move to the bottom of the active window
• Delete: Delete the selected item
• Backspace: Display the previous folder in Windows Explorer Move up one folder level in Open or Save dialog box

Taskbar and Notification Functions:

• Windows key + 1-10: Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
• Windows key + Shift + 1-10: Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
• Windows key + Ctrl + 1-10: Access the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
• Windows key + Alt + 1-10: Access the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
• Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle through the items Press Enter to open the selected item
• Windows key + Ctrl + B: Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area
• Windows key + Shift + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order
• Windows key + T: Cycle through the items on the Taskbar
• Windows key + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications
• Ctrl + Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program as an Administrator
• Ctrl + Click on a grouped Taskbar button: Cycle through the instances of a program in the group
• Ctrl + Tab: Move forward through tabs
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move backward through tabs

File and Folder Control:

• Alt + Up Arrow: Move up one folder level in Windows Explorer (Like the Up Arrow in XP)
• Alt + Left Arrow: Display the previous folder
• Alt + Right Arrow: Display the next folder
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create new folder
• Num Lock Enabled + Plus (+): Display the contents of the selected folder
• Num Lock Enabled + Minus (-): Collapse the selected folder
• Num Lock Enabled + Asterisk (*): Expand all subfolders under the selected folder
• Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)
• Ctrl + Click: Select multiple individual items
• Ctrl + Click and drag an item: Copies that item in the same folder
• Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag an item: Creates a shortcut for that item in the same folder
• Shift + F10: Access the context menu for the selected item
• Shift + Click: Select a consecutive group of items
• Shift + Click on a Taskbar button: Launch a new instance of a program
• Shift + Right-click on a Taskbar button: Access the context menu for the selected item

Screen Control:

• Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation
• Windows key + . : Move the screen split to the right
• Windows key + Shift + . : Move the screen split to the left
• Alt + F: Close the current window and Open the Shut Down Windows dialog box from the Desktop
• Windows key + E: Open Computer
• Windows key + L: Lock computer

(Formerly Metro) Desktop Control

• PageUp: Scroll forward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
• PageDown: Scroll backward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
• Ctrl + Esc: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application
• Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Activate the Semantic Zoom on the Modern Desktop screen
• Windows key + Tab: Access the Modern Desktop Taskbar
• Windows key + P: Access the Second Screen bar
• Windows key + Z: Brings up the App Bar when you have a Modern Desktop App running

Miscellaneous Functions:

• Windows key + X: Access the Windows Tools Menu
• Windows key + Enter: Launch Narrator
• Windows key + R: Open the Run dialog box
• Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access Center
•  Windows key + Pause/Break: Open the System page
• Windows key + F1: Launch Windows Help and Support
• Shift + Insert: CD/DVD Load CD/DVD without triggering Auto-play or Auto-run
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Windows Task Manager
• Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use arrow keys to cycle through open windows
• Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Access the Windows Security screen