Technology Advisor Blog

The New Year is a great time to get organized!  Learn how to use some simple keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity.  Keyboard "shortcuts" are a combination of keys that give quick access to a particular computer function.  Shortcuts rely on the special keys:  Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Tab, Windows Logo Key (the key with the Microsoft four squares on the lower left of the computer).   

A few favorite keyboard shortcuts are summarized below:

• Windows Logo Key + L:  Lock your PC.  Great security habit to get into when you step away from your desk.
• Windows Logo Key + D:  Display your Desktop.  If you have way too many windows open, this is a quick way to get to the bottom of it all.
• Alt + Tab:  Switch back and forth between windows like the "last" button on your TV channel remote.
• Ctrl + X:  Cut the selected item  (Get fluent in these five - great for editing!)
• Ctrl + C:  Copy the selected item
• Ctrl + V:  Paste the selected item
• Ctrl + Y:  Redo and action
• Ctrl + Z:  Undo an action
• Windows Logo Key + Shift + S:  Take a screen shot of part of your screen
• Windows Logo Key + V:  Open your clipboard - great for when you want to "paste" something you copied a few items ago.
• Ctrl + Shift + T:  Re-Open closed tab - Great for when you accidently close a window.

Here's the Windows Logo Key in case you didn't find it:

Taking a few minutes to learn a few shortcuts can save you a lot of time in 2021!