Amazing Windows Shortcuts You Aren't Using

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Published 2023-08-10

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In this video we'll cover my favorite Microsoft Windows keyboard shortcuts that will save you time and increase productivity. These essential shortcuts will make it much faster and more efficient to navigate and do your tasks on a Windows PC. I also share some cool shortcuts you can use in your internet browser.

⬇️ Windows 11 Shortcuts Cheat Sheet, available as a free PDF download 👉 pages.xelplus.com/windows-shortcuts-file

▪️ Windows + D (Show Desktop):
Function: Instantly view the desktop or return to your active window.
Use Case: Handy for quickly clearing the screen or accessing desktop files.

▪️ Windows + V (Clipboard History):
Feature: Access a history of your copied items, not just the most recent.
Benefit: Paste previously copied texts or images from an extended clipboard history.

▪️ Windows + Period (Emoji Picker):
Function: Easily insert emojis into your text.
How-to: Use arrow keys for navigation or search for specific emojis.

▪️ Windows + Plus (Magnifier):
Utility: Zoom in on specific screen areas for better visibility.
Customization: Adjust zoom levels and increments to suit your preference.

▪️ Ctrl + K (Search in Browser):
Shortcut: Jump directly to the browser's search bar.
Efficiency: Saves time by avoiding the use of a mouse for searching.

▪️ Ctrl + Shift + T (Reopen Tabs in Browser):
Functionality: Quickly reopen accidentally closed browser tabs.
Convenience: Tabs reopen in the same order they were closed.

▪️ Windows + Tab (Task View):
Feature: View all open apps and virtual desktops in an organized manner.
Use Case: Efficiently switch between apps and manage virtual desktops.

▪️ Windows + L (Lock Screen):
Security: Secure your workstation when stepping away.
Practicality: Prevent unauthorized access while keeping apps running.

▪️ Windows + X, followed by U (Shutdown):
Function: Quickly initiate the shutdown process.
Tip: For a clean system start, disable Fast Startup in Power Options.

00:00 Super Useful Windows Shortcuts
00:18 Show Desktop
00:52 Clipboard History
01:47 Emoji Picker
02:08 Magnifier
02:47 Search in Browser
03:02 Reopen Tabs
03:22 Task View
03:47 Lock Screen
04:08 Shutdown
04:34 Wrap Up

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#windows #productivitytips

All Comments (21)

@LeilaGharani 9 months ago

:_leilaLightbulb: Grab your copy of the free PDF cheat sheet for Windows Shortcuts here 👉 pages.xelplus.com/windows-shortcuts-file
@Wassssupp 9 months ago

Windows + Shift + S for the snip it tool, great combo with the windows + V clipboard shortcut. Windows + H for the speech to text tool, great for notes or slow typers!
@bird271828 9 months ago

Clipboard history at 00:52 is gold. Thank you❤
@Nitin2000 9 months ago

After using computers for 22 years, there are things that I am still learning! Thanks!!
@KiwiGran1 9 months ago

Windows +E for File Explorer and Control+F to search (especially useful for finding specific words on a web page)
@mikakarpale 9 months ago

Win+Shift+S to take a screenshot is one of my favorites.
@ambius2 9 months ago

Another that I use a lot (but doesn't work everywhere) is CTRL + Shift + V It is a paste command but will strip out any formatting that a block of text has. This will help things copied from a webpage, etc, to paste into your new document or email without changing the way your document looks. But the one I use the most is CTRL + W. This will close your current tab in every browser I've used as well as many other programs (like Excel, photoshop, etc) or CTRL + T to open a new tab
@Riz_ 9 months ago

Hi Leila, I always appreciate shortcut key videos because they can often be so much quicker and easier to use. As a screen reader user I rely on them totally so it's nice to see that they are valued. If you pin programs to the taskbar at the bottom pressing windows key plus a number will launch that program, I use this all the time. So for instance I have Microsoft edge as the first program and to launch it from anywhere I just press Windows key plus 1. Also to jump to where the network icon and the volume control and such are just press Windows key plus B.
@bricedeleporte5896 9 months ago

There are a few other amazing shortcuts : Win+Ctrl+D : open a virtual desktop Win+Ctrl+F4 : close a virtual desktop Win+Ctrl+arrow keys : navigate between virtual desktop (Those one are especially useful when you have only one screen) Win+arrow key : maximize, minimize or arrange windows Windows+number keys : open the corresponding app on your task bar (e.g if you pined outlook in the 3rd position win+3 to open outlook, another win+3 will minimize it)
@andrewwmitchell 9 months ago

What a great video Leila! I totally agree that everyone should be using these and I will be sharing this widely. I thought I new shortcuts pretty well but I only knew about half of these. My favourite new one you shared is the magnifier. I'm using it as I type this comment. I do a bit of training at work and this one is going to be SOOO useful. The "reopen tabs" one is even better than you talked about. It will even re-open closed browser windows (along with all the tabs in them)! Thanks for making such a useful and clear video Leila. ❤❤ your work.
@dougware5649 9 months ago

This favorite shortcut is for the ISE/IDE editors for most languages: Ctrl+Alt+Up/Down - does a columnar selection so you can insert/edit/delete the same columns across multiple lines. This makes it easier to line up variable declarations and assignments together, adding legibility and maintainability.
@debbielaubscher4983 9 months ago

Brilliant. I like the one Windows and + especially to zoom in on the formula bar when training students in Excel. Your training helps me so much! Thank you Leila.
@AI-lover 9 months ago

Thanks for sharing Leila, I am all excited to use these new shortcuts (better late than never). I work with a big monitor at work and used to spend time resizing open windows. This was very tedious. Win+arrow keys worked like a charm in easily fitting windows to a specific part of the screen. For example, Select an open window and press Win+Right arrow to fit the window to the right half of the screen. My two cents on the win-shortcuts I found really helpful. Keep rocking!
@awesh1986 9 months ago

Your videos are always teaching some thing new. Thanks a ton Leila
@user-ec8rp1up5z 5 months ago

Wow! Thank you! Exceptional, useful shortcuts!
@gnbyrne 9 months ago

Ctrl+K & CTRL+Shift+T were new to me, will definitely be using. Thanks.
@randallgreen4084 9 months ago

Thank you for this. I just don't take the time to learn these shortcuts and something like this, that highlights them, is perfect for reminding and learning.
@xskullbrain5608 9 months ago

Thanks so much for the video! Each one of your videos has been very educational and helpful. Have a great day, and don’t work too hard!
@ajons190 9 months ago

Thank you Leila as ever. You're videos are so helpful and informative.
@HamishJoy 9 months ago

Wonderful. I knew a few of these, and I thought going in that I would already be aware of most shortcuts being discussed here. I was wrong - pleasantly surprised. Thank you. :)