Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcuts

FormerUser73968 · Jan 25, 2014

I haven't seen any posts related to this, and I figured somebody, somewhere, could find it useful...

This is for Windows 8.1 Only.

Windows Key + S = Open Search Charm to search Windows and Web

Windows Key + Q = Search within the opened app

Windows Key + F = Search files

Windows Key + Z = Get Commands and Context Menus within an app

Windows Key + . + Right Arrow = Snap app to the right

Windows Key + . + Right Arrow = Snap app to the left

CTRL and + = Zoom in on Start Screen

CTRL and - = Zoom out on Start Screen

Windows Key + Down Arrow = Close an app

Windows Key (release) + Start Typing = Search your Computer

Windows Key + O = Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)

Windows Key + Ctrl + Spacebar = Change to a previously selected input language

Windows Key + P = Choose a presentation display mode

Windows Key + X = Open Start Button options

Windows Key + Home = Minimize all but the active desktop window

jcgriff2 · Jan 26, 2014

Many more out there - Windows 8.1 Keyboard shortcuts - Microsoft Windows Help

Digerati · Jan 26, 2014

The one I keep seeing that always confuses me is: Windows Key + Start Typing to search your computer. I don't get it. As soon as you press the first letter of your search string, there's a good chance that first letter is already an assigned Windows short cut key.

niemiro · Jan 26, 2014

Digerati said:
The one I keep seeing that always confuses me is: Windows Key + Start Typing to search your computer. I don't get it. As soon as you press the first letter of your search string, there's a good chance that first letter is already an assigned Windows short cut key.

That particular shortcut requires you to release the Windows Key first. Basically all it's saying is that if you go to the start screen, you can just start typing to search for programs and ting. I'm sure you already know about this, just not under that description :)

Richard

Digerati · Jan 26, 2014

That particular shortcut requires you to release the Windows Key first.

Doh! Yeah, the description needs to be re-worded so folks like me can understand common sense!

Thanks.

James M. Fisher · Jun 10, 2014

Digerati said:
That particular shortcut requires you to release the Windows Key first.

Click to expand...

Doh! Yeah, the description needs to be re-worded so folks like me can understand common sense!

Thanks.

When I first heard that you could just start typing at the new Windows 8 start screen, I didn't believe it. I mean, how could you type with no input box to type into? Of course it works, and I think it is a shortcut still not known to many folks.

Go The Power · Jun 11, 2014

One of my favorites (and this applies to windows 7 to) is to hold down shift key and right click on a file and see the option "Copy as path". The copies the file path to the clipboard.

Then paste this inside where ever you need it. The format will display like this:

"C:\Users\Alex\Desktop\SysinternalsSuite\DiskView.exe"

Tekno Venus · Jun 11, 2014

Go The Power said:
One of my favorites (and this applies to windows 7 to) is to hold down shift key and right click on a file and see the option "Copy as path". The copies the file path to the clipboard.

Then paste this inside where ever you need it. The format will display like this:

"C:\Users\Alex\Desktop\SysinternalsSuite\DiskView.exe"

Click to expand...

Incredibly useful, I use it all the time!

If you do the same whilst right clicking in an empty space in the folder, you can open a command prompt in the directory by clicking Open Command Window Here. Although in Windows 8, you can do the same by clicking File -> Open Command Prompt

James M. Fisher · Jun 11, 2014

Windows Key + X = Open Start Button options

I like this one because the buttons are so close together. (Note that in Win7 this key combo brings up the Windows Mobility Center)

jcgriff2 · Jun 11, 2014

James M. Fisher said:
Windows Key + X = Open Start Button options

Click to expand...

I like this one because the buttons are so close together. (Note that in Win7 this key combo brings up the Windows Mobility Center)

My favorite & the one I use the most.

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Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcuts

FormerUser73968

Member

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

niemiro

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

Digerati

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

James M. Fisher

Well-known member

Go The Power

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert, Contributor

Tekno Venus

Senior Administrator, Developer

James M. Fisher

Well-known member

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcuts

Member

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert

ModeratorHardware ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Well-known member

Senior Administrator, Windows Update Expert, Contributor

Senior Administrator, Developer

Well-known member

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Moderator
Hardware Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)