February 9, 2025, 8:51 am | Read time: 3 minutes
If you want to work faster on your computer, you can save a lot of time with so-called shortcuts. Hidden or complicated commands can be executed in a matter of seconds. TECHBOOK presents the most important keyboard shortcuts for Windows.
Watching professionals navigate a PC can be astonishing, as they control programs, windows, and processes with remarkable speed. In most cases, however, this is not due to an exceptionally good mouse but to numerous key combinations. These are simply faster than any cursor on the display. TECHBOOK has compiled a list of essential Windows keyboard shortcuts to help you accelerate your daily computing tasks.
The Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts in Browsers
These shortcuts are universally effective in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. They make everyday work easier by combining several clicks with the mouse into one shortcut.
- CTRL + T: open new tab
- CTRL + D: save the page as a bookmark
- CTRL + W: close tab
- CTRL + R or F5: reload web page
- CTRL + L: jump to the address bar with the cursor
- CTRL + + (plus): zoom in
- CTRL + – (minus): zoom out
- CTRL + 0 (zero): reset zoom
- F11: Activate full-screen mode
Keyboard Shortcuts for Editing Documents in Windows Microsoft
These shortcuts are applicable in Microsoft Word. Additionally, these shortcuts can be applied to PDF documents and a variety of other functions.
- CTRL + Z: undo action
- CTRL + P: print
- CTRL + S: save document
- CTRL + A: select all
- CTRL + F: search
General Windows Key Combinations
- CTRL + C: copy selected content
- CTRL + X: cut selected content
- Windows + Tab: jump between windows
- Windows + L: locks the screen
- CTRL + Alt + Del: opens an emergency menu (particularly useful if the PC hangs)
- Windows + D: show desktop
- Windows + down arrow: minimize window
- Alt + F4: closes the program
- CTRL + V: paste selected content (previously copied with CTRL + C, for example)
- Windows + E: open Explorer or File Manager
- Windows + Shift + S: screenshot
This list represents a curated selection by our editorial team. Yet, the array of possible key combinations is vast. Microsoft has listed numerous combinations on a support page. Your shortcut needs may vary based on your daily laptop usage.
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Other Tricks to Make Windows Even More Convenient
It is often not the hardware but the Windows operating system itself that slows down the computer. If your computer slows down again, you should definitely take a look at the autostart programs. Running unnecessarily in the background, these programs can consume valuable resources. You can also customize the appearance according to your preferences, for example, by removing the tile look or using the secret start menu. If you are planning a new purchase anyway, TECHBOOK provides tips for the right Windows migration to a new device.