Windows key shortcuts

Win : switch between the Start screen and the last-running Windows 8 app

Win + C : displays the Charms: the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options

Win + D : launches the desktop

Win + E : launches Explorer

Win + F : opens the File Search pane

Win + H : opens the Share pane

Win + I : opens Settings

Win + K : opens the Devices pane

Win + L : locks your PC

Win + M : minimizes the current Explorer or Internet Explorer window (works in the full-screen                IE, too)

Win + O : toggles device orientation lock on and off

Win + P : switch your display to a second display or projector

Win + Q : open the App Search pane

Win + R : opens the Run box

Win + U : open the Ease of Access Centre

Win + V : cycle through toasts (notifications)

Win + W : search your system settings (type POWER for links to all power-related options, say)

Win + X : displays a text menu of useful Windows tools and applets

Win + Z : displays the right-click context menu when in a full-screen app

Win + + : launch Magnifier and zoom in

Win + - : zoom out

Win + , : Aero peek at the desktop

Win + Enter : launch Narrator

Win + PgUp : move the current screen to the left-hand monitor

Win + PgDn : move the current screen to the right-hand monitor

Win + PrtSc : capture the current screen and save it to your Pictures folder

Win + Tab : switch between running apps

Keyboard Shortcuts

[Alt] and [Esc] Switch between running applications

[Alt] and letter Select menu item by underlined letter

[Ctrl] and [Esc] Open Program Menu

[Ctrl] and [F4] Close active document or group windows (does not work with some applications)

[Alt] and [F4] Quit active application or close current window

[Alt] and [-] Open Control menu for active document

Ctrl] Lft., Rt. arrow Move cursor forward or back one word

Ctrl] Up, Down arrow Move cursor forward or back one paragraph

[F1] Open Help for active application

Windows+M Minimize all open windows

Shift+Windows+M Undo minimize all open windows

Windows+F1 Open Windows Help

Windows+Tab Cycle through the Taskbar buttons


Windows+Break Open the System Properties dialog box