What are some of your favorite/useful PC shortcuts and hotkeys?

[DavePwns]

What do you use most frequently for PC shortcuts? and for what programs? (i.e. CTRL+F for internet/documents is a lifesaver for me)

 

[Gigamegabyte]

ALT F4

[bobhays]

ctrl c

ctrl v

ctrl x

alt tab

alt f4

f5

 

I forgot the ones for superscript and subscript but when I needed it for a lab report it was a godsend.

[MetaDrow]

Alt + F4 - do you need an explanation?

Windows + P - second screen selection

Windows + D - show desktop

WIndows + E - open my computer

Alt + Tab

Ctrl + Alt + Del

Crtl + Z/X/C/V

Shift + F1 - Steam overlay, shift + tab got really annoying for FPS

F5

Crtl + D - Browsers bookmarking

Crtl + F

Do media keys on a keyboard count?

[werto165]

I'm not the one who created this list, but I thought this was worth mentioning. All credit goes to /u/rugtoad[1] and his comment http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/22ooxm/hey_reddit_what_are_some_useful_keyboard_shotcuts/cgows8y[2]

General

ALT+TAB: This is now the equivalent of knowing what the "enter" key does. You should certainly have a good handle on it if you are in front of a computer for more than 5 minutes on any given day.

WIN+TAB: On Aero themes, it's ALT+TAB on steroids

ALT+ESC: Quickly minimize what you're looking at. Great for when the boss sneaks up on you while you're browsing gonewild or something. Bonus is that it doesn't give the telltale "blip" on the screen of ALT+TAB that any boss worth his salt will recognize.

CTRL+X, C and V: Cut, Copy, Paste...respectively.

CTRL+F, or H: Find, Replace...respectively.

CTRL+A: Select All

SHIFT+Arrow Keys: Select text

CTRL+Arrow Keys: Move across words in text

CTRL+SHIFT+Arrow Keys: Select words/lines/paragraphs of text.

CTRL+Backspace: Deletes previous word/character block

CTRL+Delete: Deletes next word/character block

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Windows Task Manager. No more ALT+CTRL+DELETE!

WIN+L: Lock yo shit

WIN+M or WIN+D: Minimize all the things.

WIN+SHIFT+M: Undoes WIN+M/D

CTRL+B: Toggle Bold formatting (works in most word processors or other text-formatting editors)

CTRL+I: Toggle Italic formatting

CTRL+U: Toggle Underline

WIN+ R: Open "Run" Prompt

Multi-Monitor

WIN+Arrow keys: Shift position within current monitor

WIN+SHIFT+Arrow keys: Move window to different monitor.

Windows Explorer

Note: many of these work the same in most browsers where applicable

WIN+E: Open new instance of Windows Explorer at the My Computer location

ALT+D: Move cursor to the location/url bar.

CTRL+W: Close tab or browser window.

CTRL+N: When already in Explorer, this opens a new instance of explorer at your current location

SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes a file, bypassing the recycle bin.

CTRL+SHIFT+N: New folder

F2: Rename file. Tab from this to continue down the row with renaming.

Browsing the intertubes

CTRL+L: Move the cursor to the URL bar

CTRL+K: Move the cursor the the search box

CTRL+W: Close current window

CTRL+SHIFT+W: This is what I like to call "The Productivity Shortcut". Closes your browser.

CTRL+N: New browser window

CTRL+SHIFT+N (Chrome): Incognito window. Use CTRL+SHIFT+P in Firefox.

CTRL+T: New Tab

CTRL+SHIFT+T: Open the most recently closed tab.

CTRL+TAB: Move to the next tab.

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous tab.

CTRL+1-9: Go to the tab at the position indicated by the number you press. E.g., press CTRL+1 takes you to the first tab.

CTRL+R: Reload the tab. F5 does this too. SHIFT+F5 will do a full reload of any cached data as well, great for when you're messing around with CSS

CTRL+U: View Source

CTRL+P: Print

CTRL+H: View your history

CTRL+B or CTRL+SHIFT+B: Bookmarks. In Chrome, the SHIFT version toggles the bookmarks bar.

CTRL+D: Bookmark the current page

CTRL+0: Reset zoom

CTRL+Plus/Minus sign: Adjust zoom

MS Excel

CTRL+Arrow keys: Navigate around a region. For example, press CTRL+DOWN ARROW and it will take you to the first empty cell in the column you are in.

CTRL+SHIFT+ARROWS: Highlights the region

SHIFT+ARROWS: Highlight individual cells

CTRL+SHIFT+R: Fill right.

CTRL+SHIFT+D: Fill down

CTRL+SHIFT+L: Activate column filtering.

CTRL+SHIFT+1-6: Apply various number formats. One=Decimal, 2=Time, 3=Date, 4=Currency, 5=Percent, 6=Scientific.

CTRL+SHIFT+~: Apply general numeric formatting, no decimals

CTRL+SHIFT+7: Apply thin outer border around the selected region of cells

CTRL+ALT+V: Paste Special Menu (credit to /u/nexuschild[3]  [1] )

And a quite a few more...[4]

Outlook

CTRL+N: New item, depending upon the context. i.e., if you are in the mail window, it will open a new email to compose. If you are in the calendar, a new appointment.

CTRL+1-5: Switch context, 1=mail, 2=calendar, 3=contacts etc.

F9: Send/Receive all

CTRL+U (Mail): Mark item unread. CTRL+Q marks it read

SHIFT+DELETE: Permanently delete an item

CTRL+F: Forward an item

CTRL+R: Reply (mail).

CTRL+SHIFT+B: Address Book

And more...[5]

Facebook

c - Comment when on a story in News Feed

j and k - Scroll between News Feed stories (like RES)

l - like or unlike a selected story

q - search for a friend to chat with

p - Focus on the text box when making a post

/ - Search

Access Keys for Facebook: (Use CTRL+ALT+# in FF, ALT+# in Chrome and IE)

0 - Help

1 - Home

2 - Timeline

3 - Friends

4 - Inbox

5 – Notifications

6 – Account Settings

7 - Privacy

8 - About

9 - Terms

m - New Message

List of GMAIL Shortcuts[6]

And of course...reddit keyboard nav[7] , available if you have RES[8]

If there's any interest in more "esoteric" shortcuts...such as for things like VS or SSMS, then I might be inclined to share that knowledge as well. For now, though, I have to go and apply said knowledge before I get my ass fired...

Visual Studio (2012, maybe a few others)

Note: VS is a little more customize-able than the others on this list. These are the default bindings, but you can easily adjust them in the Options

CTRL+ALT+O or N: Open or Create VS Project

SHIFT+ALT+O or N: Open or Create Website project

CTRL+SHIFT+A: Add new item

SHIFT+ALT+A: Add Existing Item

CTRL+SHIFT+S: Save all of the things

CTRL+SHIFT+W: View the current webpage object in your browser.

F5: Start Debugging

CTRL+F5: Start without going into the debugger

CTRL+SHIFT+B: Build solution

F11: Step Into

F10: Step Over

SHIFT+F11: Step Out

CTRL+SHIFT+F5: Restart Debugging

F12: Go To Definition (You can also CTRL+Click)

CTRL+F12: Go to declaration

CTRL+Up/Down arrow: In a code window, this shifts the window without moving your cursor. Love this one.

ALT+Up/Down: Move line of code (this might be a part of Productivity Power Tools...I can't remember if it was integrated in VS2012, prior to that it's definitely PPT only though)

CTRL+X: If you do this without highlighting anything, it will cut the entire line. Same applies to CTRL+C. 1.CTRL+SHIFT+V: Cycle through the clipboard ring. Again, I love this one. If you are moving parts of code to different places and don't want to switch back and forth, just copy each one individually, then use this to pull them up.

CTRL+I: Incremental search. This is like a mini-find function. Press it and start typing, it will go to the next instance of what you are looking for. Press it again, and it goes to the next one. It's a little less "overhead" than CTRL+F, especially pre-2012.

CTRL+K, C: Comment selected line(s)

CTRL+K, U: Uncomment selected line(s)

CTRL+ALT+L: Go to the solution explorer

F4: Properties Window A LT+SHIFT+ENTER: Toggle Full ScreenCTRL+ALT+X: Toolbox

[Mentoast]

When Manipulating Text:

 

Ctrl + (Left or Right Arrow Key)

Ctrl + Shift + (Left or Right Arrow Key)

Ctrl + C

Ctrl + V

Ctrl + Y

Ctrl + Z

 

When using MS Word:

 

Ctrl + L

Ctrl + E

Ctrl + B

Ctrl + U

Ctrl + I

 

When Using Chrome:

 

Ctrl + Shift + T

Ctrl + J

Ctrl + H

Ctrl + D

F6

F5

 

When using Windows (Anytime):

 

Win + R

Win + D

Win + E

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Alt + Tab

 

Those are the ones off of the top of my head.

[fracking4oil]

 

I'm not the one who created this list, but I thought this was worth mentioning. All credit goes to /u/rugtoad[1] and his comment http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/22ooxm/hey_reddit_what_are_some_useful_keyboard_shotcuts/cgows8y[2]

General

ALT+TAB: This is now the equivalent of knowing what the "enter" key does. You should certainly have a good handle on it if you are in front of a computer for more than 5 minutes on any given day.

WIN+TAB: On Aero themes, it's ALT+TAB on steroids

ALT+ESC: Quickly minimize what you're looking at. Great for when the boss sneaks up on you while you're browsing gonewild or something. Bonus is that it doesn't give the telltale "blip" on the screen of ALT+TAB that any boss worth his salt will recognize.

CTRL+X, C and V: Cut, Copy, Paste...respectively.

CTRL+F, or H: Find, Replace...respectively.

CTRL+A: Select All

SHIFT+Arrow Keys: Select text

CTRL+Arrow Keys: Move across words in text

CTRL+SHIFT+Arrow Keys: Select words/lines/paragraphs of text.

CTRL+Backspace: Deletes previous word/character block

CTRL+Delete: Deletes next word/character block

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Windows Task Manager. No more ALT+CTRL+DELETE!

WIN+L: Lock yo shit

WIN+M or WIN+D: Minimize all the things.

WIN+SHIFT+M: Undoes WIN+M/D

CTRL+B: Toggle Bold formatting (works in most word processors or other text-formatting editors)

CTRL+I: Toggle Italic formatting

CTRL+U: Toggle Underline

WIN+ R: Open "Run" Prompt

Multi-Monitor

WIN+Arrow keys: Shift position within current monitor

WIN+SHIFT+Arrow keys: Move window to different monitor.

Windows Explorer

Note: many of these work the same in most browsers where applicable

WIN+E: Open new instance of Windows Explorer at the My Computer location

ALT+D: Move cursor to the location/url bar.

CTRL+W: Close tab or browser window.

CTRL+N: When already in Explorer, this opens a new instance of explorer at your current location

SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes a file, bypassing the recycle bin.

CTRL+SHIFT+N: New folder

F2: Rename file. Tab from this to continue down the row with renaming.

Browsing the intertubes

CTRL+L: Move the cursor to the URL bar

CTRL+K: Move the cursor the the search box

CTRL+W: Close current window

CTRL+SHIFT+W: This is what I like to call "The Productivity Shortcut". Closes your browser.

CTRL+N: New browser window

CTRL+SHIFT+N (Chrome): Incognito window. Use CTRL+SHIFT+P in Firefox.

CTRL+T: New Tab

CTRL+SHIFT+T: Open the most recently closed tab.

CTRL+TAB: Move to the next tab.

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous tab.

CTRL+1-9: Go to the tab at the position indicated by the number you press. E.g., press CTRL+1 takes you to the first tab.

CTRL+R: Reload the tab. F5 does this too. SHIFT+F5 will do a full reload of any cached data as well, great for when you're messing around with CSS

CTRL+U: View Source

CTRL+P: Print

CTRL+H: View your history

CTRL+B or CTRL+SHIFT+B: Bookmarks. In Chrome, the SHIFT version toggles the bookmarks bar.

CTRL+D: Bookmark the current page

CTRL+0: Reset zoom

CTRL+Plus/Minus sign: Adjust zoom

MS Excel

CTRL+Arrow keys: Navigate around a region. For example, press CTRL+DOWN ARROW and it will take you to the first empty cell in the column you are in.

CTRL+SHIFT+ARROWS: Highlights the region

SHIFT+ARROWS: Highlight individual cells

CTRL+SHIFT+R: Fill right.

CTRL+SHIFT+D: Fill down

CTRL+SHIFT+L: Activate column filtering.

CTRL+SHIFT+1-6: Apply various number formats. One=Decimal, 2=Time, 3=Date, 4=Currency, 5=Percent, 6=Scientific.

CTRL+SHIFT+~: Apply general numeric formatting, no decimals

CTRL+SHIFT+7: Apply thin outer border around the selected region of cells

CTRL+ALT+V: Paste Special Menu (credit to /u/nexuschild[3]  [1] )

And a quite a few more...[4]

Outlook

CTRL+N: New item, depending upon the context. i.e., if you are in the mail window, it will open a new email to compose. If you are in the calendar, a new appointment.

CTRL+1-5: Switch context, 1=mail, 2=calendar, 3=contacts etc.

F9: Send/Receive all

CTRL+U (Mail): Mark item unread. CTRL+Q marks it read

SHIFT+DELETE: Permanently delete an item

CTRL+F: Forward an item

CTRL+R: Reply (mail).

CTRL+SHIFT+B: Address Book

And more...[5]

Facebook

c - Comment when on a story in News Feed

j and k - Scroll between News Feed stories (like RES)

l - like or unlike a selected story

q - search for a friend to chat with

p - Focus on the text box when making a post

/ - Search

Access Keys for Facebook: (Use CTRL+ALT+# in FF, ALT+# in Chrome and IE)

0 - Help

1 - Home

2 - Timeline

3 - Friends

4 - Inbox

5 – Notifications

6 – Account Settings

7 - Privacy

8 - About

9 - Terms

m - New Message

List of GMAIL Shortcuts[6]

And of course...reddit keyboard nav[7] , available if you have RES[8]

If there's any interest in more "esoteric" shortcuts...such as for things like VS or SSMS, then I might be inclined to share that knowledge as well. For now, though, I have to go and apply said knowledge before I get my ass fired...

Visual Studio (2012, maybe a few others)

Note: VS is a little more customize-able than the others on this list. These are the default bindings, but you can easily adjust them in the Options

CTRL+ALT+O or N: Open or Create VS Project

SHIFT+ALT+O or N: Open or Create Website project

CTRL+SHIFT+A: Add new item

SHIFT+ALT+A: Add Existing Item

CTRL+SHIFT+S: Save all of the things

CTRL+SHIFT+W: View the current webpage object in your browser.

F5: Start Debugging

CTRL+F5: Start without going into the debugger

CTRL+SHIFT+B: Build solution

F11: Step Into

F10: Step Over

SHIFT+F11: Step Out

CTRL+SHIFT+F5: Restart Debugging

F12: Go To Definition (You can also CTRL+Click)

CTRL+F12: Go to declaration

CTRL+Up/Down arrow: In a code window, this shifts the window without moving your cursor. Love this one.

ALT+Up/Down: Move line of code (this might be a part of Productivity Power Tools...I can't remember if it was integrated in VS2012, prior to that it's definitely PPT only though)

CTRL+X: If you do this without highlighting anything, it will cut the entire line. Same applies to CTRL+C. 1.CTRL+SHIFT+V: Cycle through the clipboard ring. Again, I love this one. If you are moving parts of code to different places and don't want to switch back and forth, just copy each one individually, then use this to pull them up.

CTRL+I: Incremental search. This is like a mini-find function. Press it and start typing, it will go to the next instance of what you are looking for. Press it again, and it goes to the next one. It's a little less "overhead" than CTRL+F, especially pre-2012.

CTRL+K, C: Comment selected line(s)

CTRL+K, U: Uncomment selected line(s)

CTRL+ALT+L: Go to the solution explorer

F4: Properties Window A LT+SHIFT+ENTER: Toggle Full ScreenCTRL+ALT+X: Toolbox

 

 

The OP was asking what shortcuts people use most often, not what are all the shortcuts of the history of the world.

[spexiono]

Win + [Number]

 

Opens the respective pinned program.

 

 

Ctrl + R: Refresh page.

 

Ctrl + Shift + R : Clear cache and refresh page.

[werto165]

The OP was asking what shortcuts people use most often, not what are all the shortcuts of the history of the world.

Well a comprehensive list is good, you can see some shortcuts that could be useful, as not everyone using Visual studio or facebook for example.