Windows Tips and Tricks
Windows Tips and Tricks
These are some keyboard shortcut keys, programs, and tips that will make using Windows more convenient!
Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
General Windows shortcuts that should work in most textboxes, text editors, and with icons in Windows:
| Shortcut Keys | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
Shortcuts that will generally work in most programs such as your browser or Microsoft Office:
| Shortcut Keys | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + O | Open |
| Ctrl + N | New |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| F1 | Help |
| F5 | Refresh |
| Alt + F4 | Exit |
| Ctrl + P | Print menu |
Global shortcuts for the Windows operating system:
| Alt+Tab | Scroll through open windows |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Scroll through open windows (reverse) |
| Windows + Tab | Aero scroll |
| Windows+Shift+Tab | Aero scroll in reverse |
| Windows + E | Open Windows Explorer |
| Windows + D | Show Desktop by minimizing all windows |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager |
| Windows + R | Run |
| Windows + Break | Open System Properties |
Within Windows folders and files (in Explorer or on Desktop):
| Shortcut Keys | Function |
|---|---|
| F2 | Rename |
| Shift + Delete | Permanently delete without prompt |
| Alt + Enter | View selected object's properties |
New Features in Windows 7
Aero Shake/Peek
Aeroshake: Click and hold the top of a window and shake it to minimize all other open windows. If you do this again it will restore the minimized windows. You can also use the shortcut key Windows+Home.
Aeropeek: Temporarily make all windows invisible and to view your desktop by moving your mouse to the bottom right corner of you screen (the end of the taskbar). You can also use the shortcut key Windows+Space.
Display switch for projectors/monitors
Windows+P opens the display menu which allows you to select different monitor and projector options. This is a very useful feature if you use multiple monitors or are connecting to a projector.
To set up your monitors and resolution settings, right click on your desktop and select "Screen resolution." Here you can customize your multi-monitor setup.
Window management
You can drag a window to the left, right, or top of the screen until you see the outline of a window created. You can also use shortcut keys:
| Shortcut Key | Function |
|---|---|
| Windows + Up | Maximize frontmost window |
| Windows + Down | Restore or minimize current windows |
| Windows + → | Snap window to the right half of the screen |
| Windows + ← | Snap Window to the left half of the screen |
| Windows + Shift + → | Move window to the right monitor |
| Windows + Shift + ← | Move window to the left monitor |
Customize your Taskbar and Jumplists
Open programs will appear on your Taskbar, but you can also keep your favorite or frequently used programs there by pinning them to the Taskbar. To do this, you can right click the program shortcut icon and select "Pin to Taskbar." Alternatively, if the program is open you can right click the icon directly on the Taskbar and select "Pin this program to Taskbar." Each program on the Taskbar has a jumplist, which is a list of actions related to a specific program. Often there will be recently opened items, pinned items, and other tasks. You can pin a particular item on the jumplist by clicking the pushpin icon on the right side of the item. For example, you can pin a specific Word document that you need to open frequently or a favorite website for convenient access.
Personalization, themes, wallpapers
Most of the personal settings such as sounds and wallpapers for Windows 7 can be found in the Personalization menu. You can get there by right clicking your desktop and selecting "Personalize" or by going to Control Panel --> Appearance and Personalization --> Personalization Windows 7 comes with a few built-in themes which include desktop backgrounds, sounds, window colors, and screen savers. You can edit any of these or create your own custom theme from scratch.
