Windows 8 has drawn a lot of attention over a past few days. It’s what Microsoft calls ‘next-generation operating system’. Truly so, it has many features that we have never seen on windows before.
If you haven’t yet installed it and wish to try the developer’s edition yourself check out our post on how you can Download Windows 8 Developer Preview Build and Install it on a Virtual Machine.
Enough has been said about the Metro UI, I am not going into that. I have been trying to find shortcuts for windows 8 which will not only save time and effort but also make it fun to use the UI as a whole.
Here are few shortcuts for windows 8 that will make it even more user friendly.
Shortcuts using Windows Key (Global)
Go back to the Start Screen.
+ I Activate the currently opened application setting
+ P Extend the screen to external monitor/TV
+ C – Open a simplified “Start” menu and set the date and time.
+ Q – Open Search Apps
+ W – Open Search Settings pane
+ I – Open set
+ Spacebar – Switch input language and keyboard layout
+ Y – Temporarily peek at the desktop
+ O – Lock device orientation
+ V – Cycle through toasts
+ Shift + V – Cycle through toasts in reverse order
+ Enter – Launch Narrator
+ Pg Up – Move tiles to the left
+ Pg Down – Move tiles to the right
+ Shift + . – Move the split to the left
+ . – Move the split to the right
+ F – Open File Search App
+ I – Open Settings charm
+ K – Open Connect charm
+ H – Open Search App pane
+ Z – Open App Bar
+ D to show the desktop
Windows 8 Explorer Shortcuts (Hotkeys)
Alt + A – Open the “special features”
Alt + C + O – Copy the selected items.
Alt + C + P – copy the path to the file / folder.
Alt + C + F – Copy the folder (use the drop-down list)
Alt + D – Delete the selected.
Alt + E – Edit the selected files.
Alt + H – Show the history of file versions. I think the mechanism will be used by shadowing.
Alt + M – Move the files (using the drop-down list).
Alt + N – Create a new folder.
Alt + P + S – insert label
Alt + P + R – Open properties.
Alt + P E – Open With …, select the application again using a drop-down list.
Alt + S + A – Select all.
Alt + S + N – Deselect.
Alt + S + I – Invert the selection.
Alt + R – Rename a selected file (s).
Alt + T – Cut
Alt + V – Paste.
Alt + W – Create a new document; choose the template – using the drop-down list.
Few More Tricks
- To Unlock the lock-screen, simply double-click with the mouse or press any keyboard key.
- To open up the Charms-bar (shutdown, settings, share, and others) simply hit the lower-left corner of the screen
- To start a search simply start typing any keyword.
- To view a small thumbnail of the most recently used application, simply move the mouse pointer to the left edge of the screen.
- To switch between tiles groups on the Start Screen, simply use the Page Up and Page Down keyboard keys .
- To Pin or Unpin tiles or remove applications, simply right-click on tiles on the Start Screen
- To change the size of the tile, simply right-click on the tile and choose smaller (half-tile) or larger (full-tile).
One more feature worth mentioning is most applications don’t need to be closed, they are suspended automatically if not being viewed. But still if you wish to completely close an application, you may do so by using the live tile or with the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keyboard shortcut. Notice the new look of Task Manager?
Since most of you are still using Windows 7 as primary OS, our article on 8 Very Less Known Windows 7 Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts might interest you.
I have tried to include most of the shortcuts and tricks of windows 8, if I missed out on any, please feel to comment below.
Will keep this list updated as and when I get to know more shortcuts, do check back soon!
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