38 Hotkeys (Keyboard Shortcuts) For Windows 8 To Become Powerful

Windows 8 is going to be the perfect combination of Desktop PC and Tablet PC – said by Microsoft. The final release date of Windows 8, the newest edition of Microsoft’s Windows Showcase is counting and to taste what have been changed/added/modified in this version, they have release a Consumer Preview by the end of February. After the first impression, it’s easy to say that Windows 8 is developed especially for Touch-Screen PCs, so sometimes it’s getting hard to operate Windows 8 from traditional PC. Thinking of this, Microsoft has added some new Hotkeys to make sure that normal Desktop users do also get the real everything of Windows 8. Hotkeys allow you to quickly access to different menus and tasks whose may took quite a many clicks and times instead. Hotkey is a real important thing to consider if you want to be power user. We have listed some important Hotkeys and their functions here.

1. Windows + Arrow Keys: Use this to place an application window to the left/right of the screen and also to maximize/minimize.
2. Windows + Shift + Arrow Keys: Maximize, restore and move any window.
3. Windows Key + , (Comma): Aero Peek function.
4. Windows + Numeric Keys (1-0): The system will open the corresponding program in the Taskbar. For example, Windows + 1 will open the first element presented in taskbar while Windows + 3 will open the third.
5. Windows + Shift + Numeric Keys (1-0): The corresponding program in the taskbar opens in a new window.
6. Windows + B: Go back to desktop.
7. Windows + Pause/Break: Display System Properties window.
8. Windows + E: Opens Windows Explorer, in the Computer.
9. Windows + G: Runs gadgets from Desktop if you have installed any.
10. Windows + M: Minimizes all windows.
11. Windows + Shift + M: Restores all minimized windows.
12. Windows + R: Opens the Run.
13. Windows + T: Preview Opened Windows in Taskbar.
14. Windows + Alt + Enter: Opens the Media Center.
15. Windows + U: Opens the Ease of Access Center
16. Windows + Q: Use this combination to find an application.
17. Windows + W: To search directly into the system settings.
18. Windows + F: Search directly into files.
19. Windows + O: Locking the orientation of the device.
20. Windows + Z: Open the App Bar. This is similar to Taskbar showing all opened programs.
21. Directional Arrows: You can use them to explore the Start screen tiles.
22. Windows + P: Opens projection options for two monitors (duplicate, extend, etc.).
23. Windows + L: Lock the computer (if connected to a network) or switch between users (if not connected).
24. Windows + X: Opens a menu in the lower left corner, which offers access to different areas of the system.
25. Windows + "-" (Minus) or "+" (Plus): Decreases or increases the zoom with Magnifier.
26. Windows + ESC: Closes Magnifier.
27. Windows + Spacebar: Configure the language and keyboard layout.
28. Windows + Enter: Opens the Narrator.
29. Windows + C: Opens the Charms Bar which is on the right side of screen and has shortcuts to settings, devices, share, search and also to the Start screen.
30. Windows + R: Opens the settings panel from where you can turn off the computer, set the current application, adjust the volume, check the network and adjust the brightness.
31. Windows + K: Opens the device setting panel, from where you can set up a projector or other device if connected.
32. Windows + H: Open the Sharing pane (Metro Share function).
33. Windows + Tab: Switch between opened windows.
34. Windows + Shift + Tab: Switch between opened windows in reverse order.
35. Windows + Print Screen: Capture a screenshot, saving it in PNG format in the library.
36. Windows + Page Up or Page Down: Switch between primary and secondary display.
37. Ctrl + Scroll Mouse Wheel: On Start screen – increases or decreases the zoom. On the desktop – changes the size of icons or letters.
38. Ctrl + Shift + N: Creates a new folder in the current directory.