Keyboard Shortcuts That Can Make Life Easier

easy keyboard shortcuts - JMA Consulting

We love shortcuts! Shortcuts take us from point A to point B by the fastest route, saving us time and energy. The use of those funny little keys on our keyboards can save us time and energy, too. So, why don’t we take advantage of keyboard shortcuts?

For some of us, learning to use these shortcuts means training our fingers to follow some new pathways. We may shun the learning curve. But in most cases, we’re simply not aware of these helpful tools. Whether you are an Apple aficionado or a PC loyalist, you can find shortcuts on keyboard to save you time.

Let’s look at some of the most popular shortcuts on keyboard.

Keyboard Shortcuts for PC Users:

Shortcut keysAction
Ctrl + XCut
Ctrl + CCopy
Ctrl + VPaste
Ctrl + ZUndo previous action
Alt + TabSwitch from one open application to another
Alt + F4Force an application to quit
F2Rename an item
F3Find a file in File Explorer
F4Display the File Explorer address bar
F5Refresh a window
F6Move through screen elements visible in a window 
F10Launch the Menu bar for the active application 
PrtScnTake a snapshot of your screen and copy the image to your clipboard

Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac Users:

Shortcut KeysAction
Command-XCut 
Command-CCopy
Command-VPaste
Command-ZUndo previous action
Command-ASelect all
Command-FFind an element in a document
Command-GFind the next time the element occurs in the document
Command-PSave an open document
Command-SDisplay the File Explorer address bar
Option-Command-EscForce an application to quit
Shift-Command-3(or 4)Take a snapshot of your screen and copy the image to your clipboard

Apple keyboards often display special symbols and offer functions that may not be available on a generic keyboard. However, Macs allow you to define your own shortcuts. Navigate to Apple menu-> System Preferences; click Keyboard; click Shortcuts and choose App Shortcuts to add your own shortcut for a menu command.

Both PCs and Macs offer many shortcuts. (For details regarding all options, consult Microsoft Support or Apple Support). The number of these tools may seem overwhelming. Start learning the keyboard shortcuts for the actions you use most often, such as cut, copy, or print. As your fingers adopt the new features, gradually add more of these keyboard shortcuts to your toolbox. Then enjoy the savings you realize in time and energy.

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