Training
Faster in Windows
You already know Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. But Windows is full of clever tricks that save you minutes every day — and that almost nobody uses. A page full of tips: from the Windows key to window management and clipboard history.
The most important tip
Press the Windows key and just start typing. Programs, files, settings: you'll find everything within two seconds — without ever clicking through the Start menu again.
Starting & searching
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Win + type | Search and launch anything: apps, files, settings |
| Win + E | Open File Explorer |
| Win + I | Open Settings |
| Win + L | Lock the screen (do this every time you step away!) |
| Win + V | Clipboard history: paste something you copied earlier |
| Win + Shift + S | Screenshot of a chosen area |
| Win + period (.) | Emoji and symbols panel |
| Win + 1, 2, 3… | Open the 1st, 2nd, 3rd program on your taskbar |
Window management: everything in its place
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Win + left/right arrow | Snap a window to the left or right half |
| Win + up/down arrow | Maximise / restore / minimise |
| Win + Z | Snap layouts: choose a screen split |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open windows |
| Win + Tab | Task View: overview of everything + virtual desktops |
| Ctrl + Win + left/right arrow | Switch between virtual desktops (work/personal!) |
| Win + D | Minimise everything, show desktop |
Text and mouse: the hidden accelerators
- Ctrl + click — select multiple separate files or items at once (Shift + click for a range)
- Ctrl + scroll wheel — zoom in and out in the browser, Word, Excel and File Explorer
- Ctrl + left/right arrow — jump per word through text; add Shift to select word by word
- Ctrl + Backspace — delete a whole word in one go
- Ctrl + Shift + V — paste without formatting (saves endless formatting hassle)
- F2 — rename the selected file immediately
- Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y — undo / redo, also works in File Explorer!
- Middle-click a taskbar icon — open an extra window of that program
Browser tricks
- Ctrl + T new tab · Ctrl + W close tab · Ctrl + Shift + T reopen a closed tab
- Ctrl + L — jump straight to the address bar
- Middle-click a link — open it in a new tab without leaving your page
- Ctrl + F — search on any page (also in long documents and PDFs)
Something to think about
Say every shortcut saves you 3 seconds and you use 50 a day. That's over 10 hours a year — per employee.
Test yourself
Learn more
- Microsoft Support — full list of Windows shortcuts
- Working on a Mac? See the macOS version
- Our getting started with your laptop training