09
SEP
2007
TOPICS Style, Programming, Technology
Lately, I have come across several people who don’t know some of even the most basic keyboard shortcuts in Windows and various popular applications. Knowledgeable people too.
I decided to compile a list for Windows and Firefox just in case anyone else was missing out on some great keyboard shortcuts.
NOTE: I know some of these might be blatantly obvious for you, but there was some people I work with in the industry that didn’t even know some of these basic shortcuts. Reduce flame.
Windows
- Go to Desktop - Windows Key + D
- System Properties - Windows Key + PAUSE
- Cycle through running applications - ALT + TAB (reverse: ALT+SHIFT+TAB)
- Cycle through windows IN an appication - CTRL + TAB (reverse: CTRL+SHIFT+TAB)
- Show Start Menu - CTRL + ESC (if you don’t have the windows key)
- Show Task Manager - CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
- Full Screen (video) - ALT + ENTER
- Shut Down - Windows Key, U, U (not all at the same time, but a sequence)
- Restart - Window Key, U, R
- Restart Only Windows - Hold SHIFT while you press OK on the Restart dialogue.
- Close any window - ALT + F4
If you’re using windows, I trust I don’t need to tell you about CTRL + ALT + DELETE.
When a file is selected:
- Properties - ALT + ENTER
- Rename - F2
- Copy - CTRL + Drag
- Create Shortcut - CTRL + SHIFT + Drag
Mac OS X
- Super Get Info - Command + Option + I (get info, but better)
- Hide other apps - Command + Option + H (hide all applications but the one you are in)
- Screenshot - Command + Shift + 3
- Custom Screenshot - Command + Shift + 4 (you can select a portion of the screen you want captured)
- Close any window - Command + W
- Show/Hide dock - Command + Option + D
- Force quit menu - Command + Option + Escape (kill those pesky stalling apps)
Firefox (for windows)
- Switch between tabs - CTRL + TAB (reverse: CTRL + SHIFT+ TAB)
- Cycle through form fields - TAB (reverse: SHIFT + TAB)
- Open a new tab - CTRL + T
- Move cursor to address bar - ALT + D
- Auto-complete URL within the address bar - CTRL + ENTER
- Jump to google toolbar - ALT + G
- Page down - Spacebar
- Page up -SHIFT + Spacebar
- Close tab - CTRL + W
- Find text - CTRL + F
- Increase font size - CTRL + =
- Decrease font size - CTRL + -
- Bookmark page - CTRL + D
- Reload page - F5
- Hard Refresh - CTRL + F5 (reloads all elements, ignores cache)
Firefox (for mac)
- Switch between tabs - CTRL + TAB (reverse: CTRL + SHIFT+ TAB)
- Cycle through form fields - TAB (reverse: SHIFT + TAB)
- Open a new tab - CTRL + T
- Move cursor to address bar -Command + L
- Move cursor to search box - Command + K
- Auto-complete URL within the address bar - Command + ENTER
- Page down - Spacebar
- Page up -SHIFT + Spacebar
- Close tab - Command + W
- Find text - Command + F
- Find next - Control + N
- Increase font size - Command + =
- Decrease font size - Command + -
- Bookmark page - Command + D
Buy me a beer if you liked this post or found it helpful
September 9th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Also in Firefox, you can do CTRL + K to go to jump to google toolbar
and CTRL - L to move cursor to address bar
September 10th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
For the Windows Shutdown and Restart shortcuts, keep in mind that if you have a shortcut in your Start menu (not All Programs, just Start) that starts with “U”, then the shortcut will be highlighted instead of Shut Down being selected.
September 12th, 2007 at 5:55 am
Windows:
Show task manager: CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
F2 is an /almost/ universal “rename property” shortcut, and also works to allow editing the selected cell in excel.
September 13th, 2007 at 5:37 am
A more powerful screenshot for MAC is apple shift 4 space. - Will take a screenshot of the selected window, and save a PNG to your desktop
September 16th, 2007 at 8:33 am
For mac:
“Open a new tab - CTRL + T”
It’s actually CMD+TAB.
And you can use F3, not CTRL+N for find next.
January 26th, 2008 at 3:50 am
In the address bar, enter JUST the name of a website (say… google)
Then type CTRL-Enter
the “http:\\www” and “.com” parts will be appended automaticly
March 10th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Thanks for the Firefox tips.