Windows 8 is the latest operating system by Microsoft which is designed for both tablet and PC users. Touchscreen users can swipe and tap through the redesigned platform using Charms Menu, Metro UI with tiles, etc. Users who prefer traditional PC might find it a bit awkward and a downright pain to navigate. But Microsoft has also done their part to ensure that users who prefer getting around with the keyboard would not be left out.
Microsoft has integrated new keyboard shortcuts to let navigate through the reconstructed OS faster and easier. If you don’t know, keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that perform different tasks in lieu of a mouse. You may like and prefer to use touchscreen with swipe and tap features, but sometimes you can do more with keyboard shortcuts than you can do with swipes. We have listed down some of the most useful Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts in this post below.
Windows 8 Specific Keyboard Shortcuts:
Windows 8 came up with a set of new keyboard shortcuts to better navigate and utilize the new operating system’s interface and features. Below is a set of some of the new keyboard functions available for Windows 8 users.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Function |
Windows Key  |
Switch between Metro Start screen and the last accessed application |
| Windows Key + C | Access the charms bar |
| Windows Key + F | Open the Search charm to search files |
| Windows Key + H | Access the Share charm |
| Windows Key + I | Access the Settings charm |
| Windows Key + J | Switch the main app and snapped app |
| Windows Key + K | Access the Devices charm |
| Windows Key + O | Lock the screen orientation |
| Windows Key + P | Access the Second Screen bar |
| Windows Key + Q | Open the Search charm to search apps |
| Windows Key + W | Open the Search charm to search settings |
| Windows Key + X | Access the Windows Tools Menu |
| Windows Key + Z | Brings up the App Bar when you have a Metro App running |
| Windows Key + V | View all active Toasts/Notifications |
| Windows Key + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
| Windows Key + Page Up | Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left |
| Windows Key + Page Down | Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right |
| Windows Key + Period (.) | Move the screen split to the right |
| Windows Key + Tab | Access the Metro Taskbar |
| Windows Key + Ctrl + Tab | Cycle through open apps and snap them as they are cycled |
| Windows Key + Shift + Tab | Cycle through open apps in reverse order |
| Windows Key + Ctrl + Spacebar | Change to previously selected input |
| Windows Key + Shift + V | View all active Toasts/Notifications in reverse order |
| Windows Key + Shift + Period (.) | Move the screen split to the left |
| Windows Key + PrtScn | Takes a screenshot of the screen and automatically saves it in the Pictures folder asScreenshot (#) – incrementing the # with each successive screenshot |
| Windows Key + Enter | Launch Narrator |
| Windows Key + Start Typing | Search your PC |
| PageUp | Scroll forward on the Metro Start screen |
| PageDown | Scroll backward on the Metro Start screen |
| Esc | Close a charm |
| Ctrl + Esc | Switch between Metro Start screen and the last accessed application |
| Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel | Activate the Semantic Zoom on the Metro screen |
| Ctrl Plus (“+”) or Ctrl Minus (“-”) | Zoom in or out of a large number of items |
| Ctrl + Scroll Wheel | Zoom in or out of a large number of items |
Standard Windows Keyboard Shortcuts:
There are a lot of standard Windows keyboard shortcuts which were present in previous version of Windows as well as also supported by new Windows 8. The following are some standard Windows keyboard shortcuts which are also supported by Windows 8:
| Keyboard Shortcut | Function |
| 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 + E | Open Computer |
| Windows Key + R | Open the Run dialog box |
| Windows Key + U | Open Ease of Access Center |
| Windows Key + D | Show/Hide Desktop (minimize/restore all windows) |
| Windows Key + T | Cycle through the items on the Taskbar |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize all windows |
| Windows Key + L | Lock computer |
| Windows Key + Home | Minimize all but the current window |
| Windows Key + Pause/Break | Open the System page |
| Windows Key + Up Arrow | Maximize current window |
| Windows Key + Down Arrow | Minimize/restore 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 + F1 | Launch Windows Help and Support |
| Windows Key + 1…10 | Access the last active instance of 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 + Ctrl + B | Access the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area |
| Windows Key + Ctrl + F | Open Find Computers dialog box |
| Windows Key + Shift + M | Restore all minimized windows |
| 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 |
| 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 + F4 |
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 + 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
