Windows 8 Consumer Preview Ultimate Shortcuts Guide

Metro App and Start Page Shortcuts

Keyboard
Win
Win + Tab
(release Tab, repeat)
Win + Tab (release
Tab, repeat), Delete
Alt + F4

Shortcut Result
Open Start Page or Last App (alternating).
Open next App (rotate through Metro Apps,
Desktop is one App).
Close a background App.

Win + Z

Open the App commands bar.

Win + . (requires
1366x768 resolution)
Win + Shift + .

Snap App right. Move the split to the right.

(Desktop is a single App.)
Snap App left. Move the split to the left
(Desktop is a single App.)
On Start Page, Zoom Out.

Ctrl + -

Close active App.

Ctrl + =
Ctrl + Alt + Del

On Start Page, Zoom back In.

Access to Lock, Switch User, Sign out, Change a
password, Task Manager, Ease of Access, and
Power down choices.

PgDn
PgUp
Arrows, Space, Tab

Move Start page tiles to the left.

Move Start page tiles to the right.
Move active tile, Select, move Focus

Mouse
Hover bottom left corner -> click corner (repeat).
Hover top left corner -> click corner (repeat).
Hover top left corner then down -> right click App
-> Close.
Hover top middle -> click and drag app all the way
to the bottom.
In App, right-click open space.
On Start, right-click a Tile.
Hover top edge, click and drag app to right.
Or select split line, drag right.
Hover top edge, click and drag app to left.
Or select split line, drag left.
Hover bottom right corner -> click corner
(Summary View icon.) Or Ctrl + Scroll wheel down.
Click open area. Or Ctrl + Scroll wheel down.
Alternatives: Start Page -> [User] -> Lock, Sign
Out, or Switch Account. Hover bottom left corner
-> right click -> Task Manager. Hover top right
corner then down -> Settings -> Power
Scroll wheel down.
Scroll wheel up.
Move mouse, right-click Tile(s), click command

Touch
Swipe from right edge in -> Start.
Swipe from left edge in then out -> App.
Or swipe from left edge in.
Swipe from left edge in then out -> drag App all
the way to bottom of screen.
Swipe from top edge all the way to the bottom.
Swipe from bottom edge or top edge.
Swipe from top edge, drag app to right.
Or select split line, drag right.
Swipe from top edge, drag app to right.
Or select Split line, drag left.
Pinch in.
Pinch out.
Hold Win button and press Power button.

Slide left.
Slide right.
Swipe tile(s), tap command.

Metro Charm Shortcuts

Keyboard
Win + C
Win + F
Win + W
Win + Q
Typing on Start Page
Win + H
Win + I
Win + K

Shortcut Result
Open Charms (also shows
Date/Time/Power/Net).
Open Search Charm on Files.
Open Search Charm on Settings.
Open Search Charm on Active App
(on right side only if supported by App).
Search Apps.
Open Share Charm.
Open Settings Charm (plus Start Settings and
Metro Help).
Open Devices Charm.

Mouse
Hover top right corner then move down.

Touch
Swipe from right edge.

Hover top right corner -> Search -> Files.

Hover top right corner -> Search -> Settings.
Hover top right corner -> Search.

Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files.

Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files.
Swipe from right edge -> Search.

Hover top right corner -> Search.

Hover top right corner -> Share.
Hover top right corner -> Settings.

Swipe from right edge -> Search.

Swipe from right edge -> Share.
Swipe from right edge -> Settings.

Hover top right corner -> Devices.

Swipe from right edge -> Devices.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Ultimate Shortcuts Guide

Desktop Shortcuts
Keyboard
Win + D
Win + E
Win + I

Win + R
Win + T

Shortcut Result
Show Desktop.
Open Windows Explorer.
Open Settings Charm (plus Control Panel,
Personalization, PC Info, and Desktop Help).
Open Desktop quick menu (its like a mini Start
Menu!)
Open Run Dialog.
Cycle through Desktop apps on the Taskbar

Alt + Tab
(release Tab, repeat)
Alt + 1 to 9

Open next App (rotates through Apps, Desktop

apps each have one place in rotation).
Open the pinned Taskbar application

Win + X

Mouse
Click Desktop tile.
Click Explorer tile.
Hover top right corner -> Settings.

Touch
Start page -> Desktop tile.
Start page -> Explorer tile.
Swipe from right edge -> Settings.

Hover bottom left corner -> right click.

Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Run.
Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click ->
Hover across Taskbar -> click.
Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click ->
Hover across Taskbar -> click.
Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click ->
Hover across Taskbar -> click.

Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app

Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app
Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app

Other Shortcuts
Keyboard
Win + L
Win + P

Shortcut Result
Lock Computer.
Second screen options.

Win + ,
Win + O
Win + V
Win + Shift + V
Win + U

Desktop peek (to see notifications I believe)

Lock screen rotation (if PC detects this)
Cycle through toasts.
Cycle through toasts in reverse.
Ease of Access Center

Win + Enter
Win + =
Win + -

Launch Narrator.
Magnifier, Zoom In.
When Magnified, Zoom Out.

Mouse
Start Page -> [User] -> Lock.
Hover top right corner then move down ->
Devices -> Second screen.

Touch
Start Page -> [User] -> Lock.
Swipe from right edge -> Devices -> Second
screen.

Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Control

Panel -> Ease of Access -> Ease of Access Center

Internet Explorer Shortcuts

Ctrl + Tab
Ctrl + Shift + P
Ctrl + T
Ctrl + F4
Tab
Shift + Tab
Enter
Ctrl + P

Cycle through open Tabs

Open an InPrivate Tab
Open a new Tab
Close the active Tab
Move forward through items on a Web page.
Move backwards.
Activate the selected item.
Print page.
View page on Desktop IE (good for opening
2

Right-click an empty area -> Tab

Right-click an empty area -> (+)
Right-click an empty area -> 3 dots -> InPrivate
Right-click an empty area -> Tab (x)
Click the item you want.

Right-click an empty area -> Page tools -> View on

Swipe from top edge -> Tab

Swipe from top edge -> (+)
Swipe from top edge -> 3 dots -> InPrivate
Swipe from top edge -> Tab (x)
Tap the item you want.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview Ultimate Shortcuts Guide

Ctrl + L
Alt + D
Backspace
Shift + Backspace

pages with Adobe Flash).

Open Address bar (includes frequent and pinned
pages).
Go back to previous Web page
Go forward to previous Web page

the Desktop

Move mouse to mid-left edge -> Click back.

Move mouse to mid-right edge -> Click forward.

Slide right.
Slide left.