In today’s fast-paced world, efficiency is key to success, and nothing increases efficiency more effectively than mastering computer keyboard shortcut keys. This extensive guide will cover the most common and essential PC and laptop keyboard shortcut keys used across various applications, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Google Chrome, and Tally ERP.
By learning and leveraging these shortcuts, you will save time, enhance productivity, and become a pro at navigating and executing commands on your computer.
Basic PC Keyboard Shortcut Keys
Basic PC keyboard shortcut keys are essential for efficient computer use. These shortcuts save time and increase productivity by reducing the need for mouse usage and navigating through menus. The following is a compilation of frequently used shortcut keys that are compatible with IBM-based computers and software.
General Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + A
Selects all text
Ctrl + C
Copy the selected item
Ctrl + X
Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V
Paste the selected item
Ctrl + Z
Undo the last action
Ctrl + Y
Redo the last action
Ctrl + F
Find in the current document
Ctrl + P
Print the current document
Ctrl + S
Save the current document
Ctrl + N
Create a new document
Alt + F
File menu options in the current program
Alt + E
Edits options in the current program
Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Home
Brings the user to the beginning of the current line
End
Navigate to the end of the current line
Ctrl + Home
Go to the beginning of the document
Ctrl + End
Go to the end of a document
Ctrl + (Left arrow)
Move one word to the left at a time
Ctrl + (Right arrow)
Move one word to the right at a time
Text Editing Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Shift + Home
Highlight from the current position to the start of the line
Shift + End
Highlight from the current position to the end of the line
Ctrl + Del
Delete the word to the right of the cursor
Ctrl + Backspace
Delete the word to the left of the cursor
PC Shortcut Keys for Special Characters
Numerous special characters can be generated using keyboard shortcuts. Presented below are a variety of special characters along with their corresponding keyboard shortcuts for creation.
Windows keyboard shortcuts are a set of key combinations that perform various tasks within the Windows operating system. These shortcuts can help users navigate and access different features quickly and efficiently, increasing productivity and saving time.
Common Windows Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + Alt + Del
Reboot/Windows task manager
Ctrl + Esc
Bring up the start menu
Alt + Tab
Switch between open applications
Alt + Shift + Tab
Switch backwards between open applications
Alt + Print Screen
Create a screenshot for the current program
Windows logo key + L
Lock your PC
Windows logo key + D
Show or hide the desktop
Windows logo key + Tab
Task view
F2
Rename the selected icon
F3
Start finding from the desktop
F4
Open the drive selection when browsing
F5
Refresh contents
Alt + F4
Close the current open program
Ctrl + F4
Close the window in the program
Keyboard Shortcuts Keys for Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a widely used word-processing application, and mastering its keyboard shortcuts can significantly increase productivity and save time. Below is a list of common keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Word.
Text Formatting Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + B
Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I
Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U
Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + Shift + >
Increase selected font +1
Ctrl + ]
Increase selected font +1
Ctrl + [
Decrease selected font -1
Document Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + Home
Move the cursor to the beginning of the document
Ctrl + End
Move the cursor to the end of the document
Ctrl + (Left arrow)
Move one word to the left
Ctrl + (Right arrow)
Move one word to the right
Ctrl + (Up arrow)
Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph
Ctrl + (Down arrow)
Move to the end of the paragraph
Document Editing Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + Z
Undo the last action
Ctrl + Y
Redo the last action
Ctrl + X
Cut selected text
Ctrl + C
Copy selected text
Ctrl + V
Paste
Ctrl + F
Open find box
Ctrl + H
Find and replace options
Ctrl + K
Insert link
Ctrl + S
Save
Ctrl + P
Open the print window
Ctrl + N
Open new/blank document
Ctrl + O
Open options
F12
Open a new/blank document
Keyboard Shortcuts Keys for Microsoft Excel
Efficiently working with data in Microsoft Excel requires knowledge of keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts can help you navigate, format, and edit data quickly and accurately, saving you time and increasing productivity.
General Excel Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
F2
Edit the selected cell
F4
Repeat the last action
F5
Go to a specific cell
F7
Spell check selected text and/or document
F11
Create chart
Ctrl + Z
Undo the last action
Ctrl + Y
Redo the last action
Ctrl + X
Cut selected item
Ctrl + C
Copy selected item
Ctrl + V
Paste
Ctrl + B
Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I
Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U
Underline highlighted selection
Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + Home
Move to the beginning of the worksheet
Ctrl + End
Move to the end of the worksheet
Ctrl + (Left arrow)
Move one word to the left
Ctrl + (Right arrow)
Move one word to the right
Ctrl + (Up arrow)
Move to the beginning of the row
Ctrl + (Down arrow)
Move to the end of the row
Data Selection Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Shift + Space
Select entire row
Ctrl + Space
Select entire column
Ctrl + Shift + (Left arrow)
Select multiple cells to the left
Ctrl + Shift + (Right arrow)
Select multiple cells to the right
Ctrl + Shift + (Up arrow)
Select multiple cells upward
Ctrl + Shift + (Down arrow)
Select multiple cells downward
Data Formatting Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + Shift + >
Increase selected font +1
Ctrl + ]
Increase selected font +1
Ctrl + [
Decrease selected font -1
Ctrl + 1
Open Format Cells dialog box
Ctrl + Shift + ~
Apply the General number format
Ctrl + Shift + $
Apply the Currency format
Ctrl + Shift + %
Apply the Percentage format
Ctrl + Shift + #
Apply the Date format
Ctrl + Shift + @
Apply the Time format
Ctrl + Shift + !
Apply the Number format with precision to two decimal places
PowerPoint Shortcuts on the Computer
PowerPoint is a popular presentation software that helps create impressive slideshows. Learning and using the right keyboard shortcuts can save you time and effort, making your presentations more effective and engaging.
General PowerPoint Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + M
Create a new slide after the current slide
Ctrl + D
Duplicate the current slide
Ctrl + K
Insert a hyperlink
Ctrl + G
Group objects together
Ctrl + Shift + G
Ungroup objects
Ctrl + Shift + >
Increase selected font size by one point
Ctrl + Shift + <
Decrease selected font size by one point
Presentation Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
F5
Start the presentation from the first slide
Shift + F5
Start the presentation from the current slide
Esc
End the presentation
N, Enter, or Right arrow
Move to the next slide
P, Backspace, or Left arrow
Move to the previous slide
Number + Enter
Go to a specific slide number
Google Chrome Shortcut Keys
Google Chrome is a widely used web browser, and knowing its keyboard shortcuts can help you navigate the web more efficiently, save time, and increase productivity.
General Chrome Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + T
Open a new tab
Ctrl + W
Close the current tab
Ctrl + Shift + T
Reopen the last closed tab
Ctrl + Tab
Switch to the next tab
Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Switch to the previous tab
Ctrl + N
Open a new window
Ctrl + Shift + N
Open a new incognito window
Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Ctrl + R
Reload the current page
F5
Reload the current page
Ctrl + F
Find on the current page
Ctrl + H
Open browsing history
Ctrl + J
Open downloads
Ctrl + L
Select the address bar
Tally Shortcut Keys ERP 9
Tally ERP 9 is a widely utilized accounting software that enables businesses to effectively manage their financial transactions. Mastering Tally shortcut keys can help you work more efficiently and accurately in the software.
General Tally Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
F1
Select company
F2
Change date
F3
Change company
F4
Contra voucher
F5
Payment voucher
F6
Receipt voucher
F7
Journal voucher
F8
Sales voucher
F9
Purchase voucher
F10
Reversing journal
F11
Features
F12
Configure
Navigation Shortcuts
Shortcut Keys
Uses of Shortcut keys
Alt + F1
Inventory vouchers
Alt + F2
Trial balance
Alt + F3
Statutory and taxation features
Ctrl + A
Accept a form
Ctrl + E
Export report in ASCII, Excel, or HTML format
Ctrl + F
Change the format of a report
Ctrl + Q
Quit a report
Mastering computer keyboard shortcut keys is essential for efficient computer use, whether you’re working on a PC or laptop. By learning and applying these shortcuts across various applications, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Google Chrome, and Tally ERP 9, you’ll save time, enhance productivity, and become a pro in navigating and executing commands on your computer. Start practicing these shortcuts today to improve your computer skills and increase your overall efficiency. I hope you enjoy this computer keyboard shortcut keys list.