The right side of a white keyboard sits on a wood desk. A magnifying glass rests on the keyboard highlighting a key with "shortcut" where "Enter" would normally be.

We all know the frustration of hunting through menus with a mouse. But what if there was a faster, more efficient way to navigate your computer? Enter the wonderful world of keyboard shortcuts! These handy key combinations let you perform actions with a few taps, saving you clicks and precious time.

Whether you’re a PC power user or a Mac enthusiast, this guide equips you with the essential keyboard shortcuts to boost your productivity.

General Shortcuts (Apply to Most Programs):

  • Copy (Ctrl+C on PC, Command+C on Mac): Duplicate selected text or items.
  • Cut (Ctrl+X on PC, Command+X on Mac): Cut selected text or items and move them elsewhere.
  • Paste (Ctrl+V on PC, Command+V on Mac): Insert copied or cut text or items.
  • Undo (Ctrl+Z on PC, Command+Z on Mac): Reverse the last action.
  • Redo (Ctrl+Y on PC, Command+Shift+Z on Mac): Redo the last undone action.
  • Save (Ctrl+S on PC, Command+S on Mac): Save the current document.
  • Print (Ctrl+P on PC, Command+P on Mac): Print the current document or webpage.
  • Close Window (Alt+F4 on PC, Command+Q on Mac): Close the current window or application.
  • Select All (Ctrl+A on PC, Command+A on Mac): Select all items in the current window.
  • Find (Ctrl+F on PC, Command+F on Mac): Search for text within a document or webpage.

File Management:

  • Open File Explorer (Windows Key+E on PC, Command+Option+E on Mac): Access your computer’s file system.
  • New Folder (Ctrl+Shift+N on PC, Command+Shift+N on Mac): Create a new folder.

Navigation:

  • Switch Between Open Programs (Alt+Tab on PC, Command+Tab on Mac): Quickly switch between open applications.
  • Minimize Window (Windows Key+Down Arrow on PC, Command+M on Mac): Minimize the current window.
  • Maximize Window (Windows Key+Up Arrow on PC, Command+F on Mac): Maximize the current window.

Web Browsing:

  • Open New Tab (Ctrl+T on PC, Command+T on Mac): Open a new browser tab.
  • Close Tab (Ctrl+W on PC, Command+W on Mac): Close the current tab.
  • Refresh Page (Ctrl+R on PC, Command+R on Mac): Reload the current webpage.
  • Navigate Back/Forward (Alt+Left Arrow/Right Arrow on PC, Command+[ or Command+] on Mac): Move back or forward in your browsing history.
  • Bookmark Page (Ctrl+D on PC, Command+D on Mac): Add the current webpage to your bookmarks.

Lifehacker has a great article with more shortcuts for browsers as well.

Bonus Tips:

  • Explore your favorite programs’ settings. Many applications offer their own unique keyboard shortcuts.
  • Practice makes perfect! The more you use keyboard shortcuts, the more comfortable and efficient you’ll become.

With these shortcuts under your belt, you’ll be navigating your PC or Mac like a pro, saving time and effort for the tasks that truly matter. So go forth and conquer your computer!

Know what else saves time? Using OnBoardGOV for board and committee management!