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Yash Tolia 28 Aug 2012 10:24 AM 57 Malay

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List of Windows 8 Shortcuts

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With a paradigm shift in how we look at a Start screen, Windows 8 has added a lot of shortcuts for easier Blog Home
navigation. Check out a loooooong list of shortcuts for Windows 8 to make your life simpler.
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Windows key: Switch between Modern Desktop Start screen and the last accessed application
Windows key + C: Access the charms bar
Windows key + Tab: Access the Modern Desktop Taskbar Search
Windows key + I: Access the Settings charm
Windows key + H: Access the Share charm
Windows key + K: Access the Devices charm
Search this blog Search all blogs
Windows key + Q: Access the Apps Search screen
Windows key + F: Access the Files Search screen
Windows key + W: Access the Settings Search screen Tags
Windows key + P: Access the Second Screen bar
Windows key + Z: Brings up the App Bar when you have a Modern Desktop App running
Windows key + X: Access the Windows Tools Menu
App‐V Client Client Hyper‐V Distribution

Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation Points hardening Hyper‐V limited access Mark
Windows key + . : Move the screen split to the right
Russinovich MDOP 2012 Microsoft Microsoft Server
Windows key + Shift + . : Move the screen split to the left
Windows key + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications Virtualization Calculator Microsoft Server Virtualization
Windows key + Shift + V: View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order
Windows key + PrtScn: Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder Tool network resources RD Gateway RDS release
as Screenshot
Windows key + Enter: Launch Narrator         release date Remote Desktop
Windows key + E: Open Computer
Services Server 2012 step‐by‐step
Windows key + R: Open the Run dialog box
Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access Center System Center Configuration
Windows key + Ctrl + F: Open Find Computers dialog box
Windows key + Pause/Break: Open the System page Manager Windows Windows
Windows key + 1..10: Launch a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the number
8 Windows Server Windows
Windows key + Shift + 1..10: Launch a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position
indicated by the number Server 2012
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 Archive
indicated by the number
Windows key + B: Select the first item in the Notification Area and then use the arrow keys to cycle October 2013 ﴾1﴿
through the items Press Enter to open the selected item June 2013 ﴾1﴿
Windows key + Ctrl + B: Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area January 2013 ﴾2﴿
Windows key + T: Cycle through the items on the Taskbar
December 2012 ﴾1﴿
Windows key + M: Minimize all windows
November 2012 ﴾1﴿
Windows key + Shift + M: Restore all minimized windows
Windows key + D: Show/Hide Desktop ﴾minimize/restore all windows﴿ September 2012 ﴾1﴿
Windows key + L: Lock computer August 2012 ﴾4﴿
Windows key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window July 2012 ﴾2﴿
Windows key + Down Arrow: Minimize/restore current window
June 2012 ﴾1﴿
Windows key + Home: Minimize all but the current window
Windows key + Left Arrow: Tile window on the left side of the screen March 2012 ﴾4﴿
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
Windows key + F1: Launch Windows Help and Support

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4/5/2015 List of Windows 8 Shortcuts ­ Yash's Blog ­ Site Home ­ MSDN Blogs
PageUp: Scroll forward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
PageDown: Scroll backward on the Modern Desktop Start screen
Esc: Close  a charm
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

Alt: Display a hidden Menu Bar

Alt + D: Select the Address Bar
Alt + P: Display the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer
Alt + Tab: Cycle forward through open windows
Alt + Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through open windows
Alt + F: Close the current window Open the Shut Down Windows dialog box from the Desktop
Alt + Spacebar: Access the Shortcut menu for current window
Alt + Esc: Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
Alt + F4: Close Application

Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog box of the selected item
Alt + PrtScn: Take a screen shot of the active Window and place it in the clipboard
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
Shift + Insert: CD/DVD Load CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the item ﴾rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin﴿
Shift + F6: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box
Shift + F10: Access the context menu for the selected item
Shift + Tab: Cycle backward through elements in a window or dialog box
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
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
Ctrl + N: Open a new window in Windows Explorer
Ctrl + W: Close current window in Windows Explorer
Ctrl + E: Select the Search box in the upper right corner of a window
Ctrl + Shift + N: Create new folder
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 
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
Ctrl + Tab:  Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move backward through tabs
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
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
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
Esc: Close a dialog box
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    

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 2/9
4/5/2015 List of Windows 8 Shortcuts ­ Yash's Blog ­ Site Home ­ MSDN Blogs
Press Shift 5 times Turn StickyKeys on or off
Hold down right Shift for 8 seconds Turn FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds Turn ToggleKeys on or off

Hope this helps. Happy reading!

Windows 8, Taskbar, shortcuts, Windows, Windows Key, keys, Windows 8 shortcuts, shortcuts windows 8

Comments

Tamas Lepenye 28 Aug 2012 3:43 PM #

Hi,

Do you know any WinXP or Win7 keyboard shortcuts that are retired and removed from Win8?

Tamás

Yash Tolia 29 Aug 2012 5:52 PM #

Hi Tamas,

I did not come across any. There are a lot more though. You can find the list of Windows 7 shortcuts
here:

windows.microsoft.com/.../Keyboard‐shortcuts

If you come across any, please do let me know.

Regards,

Yash

KK Mehta 31 Aug 2012 1:24 PM #

Good stuff indeed!!

Yash Tolia 14 Sep 2012 6:14 AM #

Thanks a lot!

Joshua 16 Oct 2012 8:13 PM #

There are more shortcuts then that even for Windows 7

Yash Tolia 17 Oct 2012 2:39 PM #

Hi Joshua,

These were the ones that I came across and used. Feel free to share any other shortcuts that you know
of.

Thanks,

Yash

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 3/9
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ViTAR 21 Oct 2012 10:45 PM #

Why not to make Windows key + N : Network connections?

Carlos Guedes 22 Oct 2012 3:34 PM #

What about this:

Windows + PageUp/Page Down: Toggle Modern Desktop between desktops

Nigel 27 Oct 2012 3:34 PM #

Windows key only returns to start screen

Manasi 30 Oct 2012 9:16 AM #

I compiled a printable of the absolute basics.  I've linked to your blog entry for the more complete
listing.  Hope that's okay.  www.majaama.com/windows‐8‐printable‐hotkey‐chart

Yash Tolia 31 Oct 2012 11:43 AM #

@Vitar, Carlos: Duly noted, will give this feedback to try and get it incorporated.

@Nigel: The shortcuts are key combinations, and just the windows key will toggle between the modern
desktop and classic desktop

@Manasi: Its OK :﴿. Jetlu spread thashe eltu saaru ;﴿ :﴿.

pembolangmaya 16 Nov 2012 10:48 PM #

Thanks a lot of for this list yash tolia....,,let me.... to rewrite again this list of shotcut windows 8 .. on my
blog in here...,, www.pembolang.com/.../shortcut‐windows‐8.html and i have place your link on my
blog.....,,

Mike U 25 Nov 2012 8:08 AM #

Somehow Alt+F4, the venerable 'close' function is missing from the list. It will close the current
program ﴾very good in Windows 8 if you don't have a touch screen﴿ and from the desktop, will bring up
the shut‐down menu.

Abbas 27 Nov 2012 10:04 AM #

which combination can b used for shut down..??

Frank 1 Dec 2012 2:54 AM #

Before Windows came on the scene, we used to run DOS applications controlled by shortcut keys.
 When Windows came along, the GUI and mouse eliminated all that.

Now we are back to using shortcut keys to make navigation easier ‐ and they call this progess?

Yash Tolia 10 Dec 2012 7:40 AM #

Hi Frank,

It is a good point of view, but look at it from this angle, where you have the option of both, the
shortcuts and the mouse and GUI at your disposal.

Regards,

Yash

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 4/9
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Yash Tolia 10 Dec 2012 7:54 AM #
Hi Abbas,

There is no direct shortcut in Windows 8 for shutdown. You can create a shortcut for it though. Check
the following link:

www.extremetech.com/.../139960‐how‐to‐shut‐down‐windows‐8‐easily‐and‐how‐to‐boot‐to‐the‐
desktop

Regards,

Yash

Harish Eshwar 18 Dec 2012 5:40 PM #

Good stuff Yash!!!

Will share this with the many around me who are using Windows 8...

Sianna 1 Jan 2013 6:59 PM #

my windows 8 HP laptop keeps kicking me back to the start page when I'm on my desktop. it's really
starting to annoy me. it always happens when I'm moving my mouse. any idea how to make it stop?

sunyongen 6 Jan 2013 5:13 PM #

Good, learning, some of the less commonly used

http://sunyongen.cn

Martin 12 Feb 2013 2:53 AM #

As an "old dog", brand new to Windows 8, with a non touch lenovo, I'm just jumping on the
bandwagon to thank‐you for a great post.  I've been trying to learn how "best" to use W8 and have
been checking out both the MS site and googling "shortcuts" and other functions I wanted to know
right away.  I  googled "page down" in Windows 8 ﴾because mine didn't seem to be working while on
web pages﴿ and I got to your blog entry here and then saw your advice for "shut down" and went there
‐ both excellent!!  Thanks much.  You've got a gift that keeps on giving entry here ﴾or at least until
everyone is absorbed by the Borg ‐ I mean Micorsoft/Windows 8﴿.   again ‐ thanks.

Yash Tolia 15 Feb 2013 7:55 AM #

Thanks a lot Martin. Feel free to let me know of any more topics you would like to see blogposts on
and I will try to put them up.

pembolangmaya 15 Feb 2013 10:07 PM #

thank you for your list really helped me

chordsmantap.blogspot.com/.../bankmandiribankterbaikdiindonesia.html

Iti 25 Feb 2013 4:21 AM #

Is there anyway to put your say 2‐3 recent items ﴾from  'recent places'﴿ on your desktop? this would be
handy, as you can always reach last opened folder quickly. I could not find any cmd which can do that. I
can make a shortcut to recent places, but I want to get the 2‐3 recent shortcuts from there and  present
them directly...must update dynamically of course.

Yash Tolia 27 Feb 2013 2:23 PM #

Hi Iti,

There is no way to reopen the recent items as they can be from different applications. The best that can
be done is right clicking on the application icon in the taskbar and looking at the recently opened
documents/folders.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 5/9
4/5/2015 List of Windows 8 Shortcuts ­ Yash's Blog ­ Site Home ­ MSDN Blogs
Hope this helps.

Regards,

Yash

Ed 10 Mar 2013 5:15 PM #

Alt+Shift+P toggles the details pane in File Explorer. I found it by accident but it is somehow missing
from this list.

Mary Ann 25 Mar 2013 10:26 AM #

Thanks for the "Alt" for the  hidden Menu Bar. I knew it was somewhere in that morass, and yes! it
 includes the "find" feature.

Marko 30 Apr 2013 7:58 AM #

@Yash Tolia & @Abbas

Try this shortcut combination for shutdown.

WindowKey+D, Alt+F4

which can be read as "WinKey and d together then Alt and F4 together"

It will bring up the classic shutdown dialog, the one usually appear in server edition. 8‐﴿

Connie 25 Jun 2013 6:24 PM #

Whenever I hit the "0" ﴾zero﴿ key on the numbered keypad on the right hand side of my laptop it brings
up the "edit" menu ﴾copy, paste, undo, etc.﴿.  I have Windows 8 and I was trying to use the "Ins" key
which is on the zero key but may have pressed the blue Fn key at the same time.  I was trying to use
insert.

Long story short, how do I restore the zero key?

sudhir 4 Aug 2013 12:28 AM #

how to rename a file with shortcut button windows 8 ? F2 doesn't work

Yash Tolia 9 Aug 2013 8:27 AM #

Hi Sudhir,

F2 is the shortcut for renaming a file. I am not sure why it is not working for you.

Yash Tolia 9 Aug 2013 8:29 AM #

Hi Connie,

you can restore the shortcuts by following the following steps:

1. From the Tools menu, select Customize

2. In the Customize dialog box click the Keyboard button

3. The Customize Keyboard dialog box appears

4. Click Reset All ﴾The button will be shaded out if you have not made any keyboard customizations﴿

5. Click Yes in the pop up box

6. Click Close

7. Click Close on the Customize dialog box

Aitor 18 Aug 2013 12:34 AM #

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 6/9
4/5/2015 List of Windows 8 Shortcuts ­ Yash's Blog ­ Site Home ­ MSDN Blogs
The windows + numer option is not working for me

CHANDRU 22 Aug 2013 7:53 PM #

iS THERE ANY SHORTCUT TO OPEN "CHANGE PC SETTINGS " MENU TO USE WIFI/BLUETOOTH
OPTIONS IN WINDOWS 8 ‐‐

INSTEAD OF THE LONG STEPS TO OPEN SHARM ‐ SELECT CHANGE PC SETTINGS ‐ THEN SELECT
WIRELESS FROM THERE... ?

tHANKS IN ADVANCE

Sharon 25 Aug 2013 5:31 AM #

Received a Samsung NP365E5c‐S02UB as a gift 3 days ago.  I am unable to switch users even with the
assistance of Samsung technical support.  I would like to do a system restore but can't because I can't
get into the administrator mode ‐ I am stuck in one of the local accounts.  Is there a F function key I
can restore computer to factory settings with?

Akshaya 30 Aug 2013 11:51 PM #

Excellent work.thanks a lot i did learn many of the shortcut which i didnt know prior to coming your
page.

Lurrrrrveeeeely 27 Sep 2013 3:01 AM #

How do you quit applications? Since Alt+F4 shortcut has retired

Pratik Shah 15 Oct 2013 9:48 PM #

Thank you very much ... New expirecne in windows 8 ... Thanks Again Bro ..

Saleh Safie 30 Oct 2013 8:16 AM #

Hope there will be shortcut key for shut down. Thanks for new experience in window 8. good
performance and quite fast. I hate to say that window 8 is only suit for touch screen device but not
desktop PC ﴾especially for my dual screen monitor﴿.

sandeep 2 Jan 2014 1:48 AM #

thanks a lot.............

          regards

          sandeep

Dotti 9 Jan 2014 5:24 PM #

@ Yash Tolia & everyone that commented here: This windows 8 is new to Me and fascinating to learn. I
bookmarked and saved all this info for my self for future reference. All of you have been a great help

﴾where answers were available from questions asked here. Amazing all of you!﴿

in this ever learning times we live in. Thank you ever so very much!  ~ Living to learn and learning to
live to give ~

Thomas 27 Jan 2014 2:47 AM #

If I use "Shortcuts" I don't need Windows.

In that case it is much more better  to use MS‐DOS or UNIX.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2012/08/28/windows­8­shortcuts.aspx 7/9
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Yash Tolia 27 Feb 2014 3:15 PM #
@Dotti and @Thomas, thank you for your comments. Feel free to suggest topics for future blogs as
well.

LILESHWAR SAGAR 13 May 2014 10:13 PM #

This command  whatever  because i' m a network engineer so this shortcut  very useful for me

Thomas Nielsen 18 May 2014 3:09 AM #

Thanks for this list. It was just what I was looking for :‐﴿

Sally 22 Jul 2014 7:07 AM #

Can you give me a simple way to unlock my computer.  It shuts down about one minute after I walk
away from it.

Chris 6 Sep 2014 6:14 PM #

Yash, I appreciate the information you provided.  Over the years I have learned how to make effective
use of the keyboard using the mouse only as required.  The absence of a shortcut menu ﴾aka content
menu﴿ button on my HP laptop was making getting work done a challenge.  Thanks Again, C

A Jwn 11 Oct 2014 1:57 AM #

shortcut key for shut down  is Alt + F4

priyanka 17 Nov 2014 8:51 PM #

what short cut key when we use internet how can we chek it's history

Ankita 23 Nov 2014 4:25 AM #

Hi, Priyanka

you can press CTRL+H to open the history of the page...

‐ Ankita Gupta

﴾http://codesupport.info﴿

anne monahan 24 Nov 2014 4:07 PM #

yash, what a big help..thank.now I can hope to mwke progress.

Biswajit 20 Dec 2014 9:21 PM #

You can see this post http://goo.gl/sN0bIX

joseph 25 Dec 2014 2:24 AM #

hi, what is the shortcut for restore factory setting?

Nilkanth Shingala 4 Jan 2015 4:42 AM #

Hi.!!!

...

So Here One Shortcut Key Is Missing For Goto Task bar in Windows 8.

So, WINDOWS KEY + B To Go On Task Bar

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Brandon 5 Feb 2015 12:32 PM #

Somebody leaves you a comment saying F2 doesn't work and all you say is "I am not sure why it is not
working for you."?? Super helpful bro. It doesn't work for me either. All it does is brighten my screen.
I've tried pressing SHIFT+F2 and that didn't work either. I'v also tried CTRL+SHIFT+F2 and that didn't
work either. How about WHY wouldn't it work?

Brandon 5 Feb 2015 12:35 PM #

Figured it out! You have to press FN [Function Key next to CTRL key]+F2. BOOM!

Rich 6 Mar 2015 9:03 AM #

Any idea what ctrl + alt + esc actually does? It does something because it fixes a problem when alt‐tab
won't bring windows forward, but I can't figure out what it is doing.

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