Keyboard Shortcuts That Will Improve Your Digital Life
Ever had to copy and paste a bunch of information? Annoyed by the monotony of moving the mouse to click the action over and over again? Sounds like you needed to use some keyboard shortcuts. Regardless of if you use a Mac or PC, today’s blog will be looking at some fundamental key commands to save you time and frustration!
What Are Keyboard Shortcuts?
A keyboard shortcut is a series of one to several keys that asks a piece of software to perform a preprogrammed action. In computers running Windows, these are different from “hotkeys” which run an action that can be used regardless of what software is the active window. Thus, these shortcuts are more for quick access to actions that can otherwise be found through a menu.
In order for the computing system to differentiate between normal keyboard input and shortcuts, there is usually a specific sequence or combination of keys that needs to be pressed. These combos use what are referred to as “modifier keys”. Common modifiers include:
- Shift (or an upwards arrow ⇧)
- Control ⌃ (sometimes spelt Ctrl)
- Alternative or Option ⌥ (sometimes spelt Alt)
- The Windows Logo or Command Key ⌘ (the former is for Windows keyboards with the later for Mac)
- Function (sometimes spelt Fn)
Mac vs PC
Here are some essential keyboard shortcuts to help improve your computer productivity, separated depending on what keyboard you use.
Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
- ⌘+X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
- ⌘+C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard. This also works for files in the Finder.
- ⌘+V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app. This also works for files in the Finder.
- ⌘+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.
- ⌘+A: Select All items.
- ⌘+F: Find items in a document or open a Find window.
- ⌘+O: Open the selected item, or open a dialog to select a file to open.
- ⌘+P: Print the current document.
- ⌘+S: Save the current document.
- ⌘+T: Open a new tab.
- Option+⌘+Esc: Force quit an app.
- Control+⌘+Space bar: Show the Character Viewer, from which you can choose emoji and other symbols.
- Control+⌘+F: Use the app in full screen, if supported by the app.
- Space bar: Use Quick Look to preview the selected item.
- ⌘-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps.
PC Keyboard Shortcuts
- Ctrl+X: Cut the selected item and copy it to the Clipboard.
- Windows Logo+L: Lock your PC.
- Ctrl+C: Copy the selected item to the Clipboard.
- Ctrl+V: Paste the contents of the Clipboard into the current document or app.
- Windows Logo+M: Minimise all windows.
- Ctrl+Z: Undo an action.
- Windows Logo+S: Open search.
- Ctrl+Y: Redo an action.
- Windows Logo+M: Minimise all windows.
- F2: Rename the selected item.
- F5: Refresh the active window.
- Windows Logo+V: Open the clipboard.
- Ctrl+A: Select all the items in a document or window.
- Windows Logo+. or Windows Logo+; : Open emoji panel.
Hopefully these keyboard shortcuts will help to make your productivity more streamlined and manageable!
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