Most useful keyboard shortcuts. See how you can work faster and more efficiently on Windows, macOS, Linux, and browsers

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Keyboard shortcuts enable you to quickly perform some actions and tasks on your PC or laptop through pressing a specific key or a combination of keys. Thanks to these shortcuts, you will be able to, for example, copy and paste content, switch between running applications, maximise a window, etc.

Familiarising yourself with the most useful keyboard shortcuts is bound to have a positive impact on your productivity, efficiency and overall performance. Thanks to these simple tricks, you can complete the majority of your tasks without taking your hand off the keyboard. Which of the most useful keyboard shortcuts do you know?

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Essential keyboard shortcuts on Windows 10

Here are some of the most essential keyboard shortcuts to use on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices:

Ctrl + C – copy
Ctrl + X – cut
Ctrl + V – paste
Alt + Tab – switch between open applications
Windows logo key + Up arrow or F11 – Maximise window
Windows logo key + X – Open the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key + Tab – Open Task View
Windows logo key + D – Display and hide the desktop
Windows logo key + L – Lock your PC

Depending on your hardware, you can use Windows logo key + PrtScn to take a screenshot, or use Fn + Windows logo key + Spacebar.

Keyboard shortcuts in the most popular Internet browsers

In addition to different operating systems, Internet browsers also have their own keyboard shortcuts. Below we are showing you the list of key combinations to use in some of the most popular online web browsers: Google Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Google Chrome

Google allows you to use a variety of handy keyboard shortcuts while using the browser. You will find the full list of those, by device and operating system on the Google support official website.

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Below we are listing just a few of the selected most useful Chrome keyboard shortcuts to use on a Windows PC.

Ctrl + N – Open a new window
Ctrl + T – Open a new tab, and jump to it
Ctrl + Shift + N – Open a new window in Incognito mode
Alt + Home – Open your home page in the current tab
Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4 – Close the current tab
Ctrl + Shift + W or Alt + F4 – Close the current window
Ctrl + Shift + B – Show or hide the Bookmarks bar
Ctrl + H – Open the History page in a new tab
Ctrl + J – Open the Downloads page in a new tab
Ctrl + F or F3 – Open the Find Bar to search the current page
Ctrl + Shift + M – Log in a different user or browse as a Guest
Ctrl + L or Alt + D or F6 – Jump to the address bar
Ctrl + P – Open options to print the current page

what are the most useful keyboard shortcuts — Using shortcuts saves a lot of time and speeds up computer operation

Mozilla Firefox

As in the case of Google Chrome, you can also use a plenty of different keyboard shortcuts while using the Firefox browser. The full list is available on the browser’s official support website. Here we are listing the most essential ones:

Ctrl + R – Reload
Ctrl + Backspace – Delete Word to the Left
Ctrl + Del – Delete Word to the Right
Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4 – Close Tab
Ctrl + Shift + W or Alt + F4 – Close Window
Ctrl + Shift + T – Undo Close Tab
Ctrl + Shift + N – Undo Close Window
Ctrl + Shift + D – Bookmark This Page
Ctrl + Shift + D – Bookmark All Tabs

Safari

As with the other browsers, the official Apple website includes the list of all the keyboard shortcuts available in the Safari browser. Here you have some of the most used combinations:

Option + Arrow Keys – Scroll up, down, left, or right
Command + P – Paste the most recently copied item
Command + C – Copy the selected item
Command + V – Paste the most recently copied item
Control + Tab or Shift + Command + ] – Go to the next tab
Command + W – Close the active tab
Shift + Command + H – Go to your homepage
Command + Plus – Zoom in website content
Command + Minus – Zoom out website content

Most useful keyboard shortcuts in Word

Keyboard shortcuts will prove extremely useful particularly in tools dedicated to text writing and editing, such as Microsoft Word. These smart tricks will make creating and editing all types of documents a whole lot easier, faster, and more efficiently. The complete list of most useful keyboard shortcuts is available on the official Microsoft website; here, we are showing you a selected few of the most commonly used combinations.

Ctrl + N – create a new document
Ctrl + S – save the document
Ctrl + W – close the document
Ctrl + A – select all document content
Ctrl + B – apply bold formatting to text
Ctrl + I – apply italic formatting to text
Ctrl + U – apply underline formatting to text
Ctrl + left bracket ( [ ) – decrease the font size by 1 point
Ctrl + right bracket ( ] ) – increase the font size by 1 point
Ctrl + E – center the text
Ctrl + R – align the text to the right
Ctrl + L – align the text to the left

MacOS keyboard shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts on macOS computers and laptops will differ slightly compared to those operating on Windows, due to the different keyboard. Below we are listing several key combinations most likely to prove useful, and, as with all the other examples, you can access the full list of all the keyboard combinations for Mac on the official Apple Website.

Command + Z – Undo the previous command. You can then press Shift-Command-Z to Redo, reversing the undo command. In some apps, you can undo and redo multiple commands.
Control + Shift + Power button* or Control + Shift + Media Eject – Put your displays to sleep
Control + Command + Q – immediately lock your screen
Shift + Command + N – create a new folder in the Finder
Shift + Command + O – open the Documents folder
Shift + Command + I – open iCloud Drive
Shift + Command + R – open the AirDrop window
Shift + Command + Delete – empty the Trash

Most useful keyboard shortcuts on Linux

Different keyboard shortcuts are also a function provided by the Linux operating system. Many of them are similar or exactly the same as those available on Windows. Below some of the key combinations you will most likely make use of:

Ctrl + N – create a new file;
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Page Up – instantly reboot without confirmation;
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys – move between virtual desktops;
Ctrl + Alt + D – minimize all windows to show desktop;
Alt + F4 – close the window in focus;
Alt + Space – bring up the Command Interface.

Now that you know all of the most useful, simple keyboard shortcuts, you can go ahead and start using them, and render working on your computer or laptop much faster. Let us know in the comments which of the shortcuts you use most often and share your favourite ones!