Keyboard shortcuts: The most important shortcuts for everyday life and work

In short: With a few keyboard shortcuts such as Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Z you work much faster than with the mouse.

In more detail: Keyboard shortcuts combine a modifier key such as Ctrl, Alt, Shift or the Windows/Command key with a second key. On the Mac Cmd usually replaces Ctrl. Anyone who knows them saves a lot of time every day and spares the wrist.

In Depth

Basic commands (Windows/Linux, Mac in brackets)

• Ctrl+C copy (Cmd+C), Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+V paste
• Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+Y redo (Cmd+Shift+Z)
• Ctrl+A select all, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print
• Ctrl+F find, Ctrl+N new window/document, Ctrl+W close tab
• Ctrl+Shift+V paste without formatting

Windows and system

• Alt+Tab: switch between programs (Cmd+Tab)
• Windows+D: show desktop, Windows+E: Explorer, Windows+L: lock screen
• Windows+arrow keys: arrange windows, Windows+V: clipboard history
• Windows+Shift+S: snip screenshot
• Ctrl+Shift+Esc: Task Manager
• Alt+F4: close window, F11: full screen
• F2: rename, Del: delete, Shift+Del: delete permanently

Browser

Ctrl+T new tab, Ctrl+Shift+T reopen closed tab, Ctrl+L address bar, Ctrl+R/F5 reload, Ctrl+Shift+R reload without cache, Ctrl+Plus/Minus zoom, F12 developer tools, Ctrl+Tab next tab.

Text input and programming

Ctrl+arrow jump word by word, Home/End line start/end, Ctrl+Home/End document start/end, Shift+arrow select, Ctrl+Backspace delete word. In editors: Ctrl+D select next occurrence, Ctrl+/ comment out, Alt+arrow move line, Ctrl+Space suggestions. Tip: learn two new shortcuts per week.

See also: Copy, cut and paste, Taking screenshots, Terminal text editors