The WINDOWS Shortcut Keys and the Use on Windows 10
The upgrade is over! Have you upgraded your PCs to Windows 10 and adapted to the use of the WINDOWS shortcut keys?
Windows 10 free upgrade ended yesterday, namely 29th July, 2016. I just want to know how many users have upgraded their PCs and how many Windows 10 green hands could adapt to the new OS in seconds.
Read More: Deadline Comes for Windows 10 Free Upgrade
Windows 10 is different from its predecessors not only on features but the WINDOWS shortcut keys. So I’d like to share with you the use of WINDOWS shortcut keys on Windows 10 in this blog post.
Let’s shorten the WINDOWS key to Win, whose shortcuts will really make it easier to get access to virtual desktops, Cortana, Project, Task View, etc.
General Use of Win Shortcut Keys
Except for Windows 10, the Win shortcuts below are available on the previous popular Windows Operating Systems, like Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.
Read More: How to Downgrade Windows 10 to Windows 8.1, 8 or 7
The Win Key
The Win key itself is familiar to almost all the Windows users with which you could open or close the Start menu. (Some users may like to disable the key in case of a miss-pressing when playing PC games.)
Note: You could also use Ctrl + Esc to open the menu.
- Win + D/ M
Show Windows desktop by minimize the windows. Though Win + D is similar to Win + M, the former allows you to restore to the applications or windows when the shortcut keys are pressed again, which is not available for the later. But you could still do the same by press shortcut keys Win + Shift + M. - Win + E
You could quickly open the File Explorer with this windows shortcut. - Win + L
This is the classic keyboard shortcut for locking the screen. - Win + R
Open the Run command dialog box. - Win + T
Cycle through applications on the taskbar, which works the same as the shortcut keys Alt + Esc. - Win + U
Open the Ease of Access Center. - Win + PauseBreak
Open the System window.
Note: You could also open the window by right click This PC on the desktop and select Properties.
Win Shortcuts Featuring on Windows 10
- Win + A
You could use the shortcut keys to open the Action Center. (Does it look like an Android notification bar?) - Win + B
Highlight the notification area and show hidden icons. - Win + C
Open Cortana in listening mode - Win + G
Launch the Game Bar and begin a game-play footage record, Windows PC games screenshot or an Xbox screen record. - Win + H
Launch the Share charm. - Win + I
Open the Settings. - Win + K
Open the Connect pane and connect to wireless display, audio devices and bluetooth devices. - Win + P
Choose Projection mode and switch to a projector or duplicate displays.
- Win + Q/ S
Launch Cortana and begin a query by voice input or type input. - Win + X
Open the Quick Link menu, which works the same as you right click the Start menu. The shortcut keys are easy access to open the Control Panel, the Task Manager, the Command Prompt, the Device Manager, etc. - Win + Enter
Launch the Narrator. - Win + Space
Switch keyboard input language if there are more than one.
Shortcut Keys for XBox Game Control on Windows 10
You could use the shortcut keys to control the XBox game DVR.
- Win + G
Launch the Game Bar and begin a game-play footage record. - Win + Alt + G
Record the XBox game screen. - Win + Alt + R
Start or stop the recording. - Win + Alt + PrtSc
Take screenshots. - Win + Alt + T
Show or hide the recording timer. - Win + Alt + M
Turn on or turn off the microphone recording.
Shortcut Keys for Windows Control on Windows 10
You could use the key Win to control the window, including the size, situation, maximization or minimization, etc.
- Win + Key 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Open the application or window pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. - Win + Shift + Key 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.
Open the application and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. - Win + ←
Snap the active window to the left half of the screen. - Win + →
Snap the active window to the right half of the screen. - Win + ↑
Maximize the active window. - Win + ↓
Minimize the active window. - Win + Shift + ←
Move the window on from one monitor to another on the left. - Win + Shift + →
Move the window on from one monitor to another on the right. - Win + Shift + ↑
Shrink the active window vertically but maintain the width. - Win + Shift + ↓
Shrink the active window vertically but maintain the width. Or minimize the active window. - Win + Home
Minimize all the windows except the active one.
Note: Press again to restore all the minimized windows.
- Win + Key plus (+)
Start the Magnifier and magnify the window by a second shortcut keys stroke. - Win + Key minus (-)
Zoom in or out using the Magnifier. - Win + Esc
Close the Magnifier.
Shortcut Keys for Virtual Desktop of Windows 10
You could use the shortcut keys below to manage or switch to the virtual desktop.
- Win + Tab
Open the Task View and switch to other windows.
Note: You could restore the previous state by a second stroke of the shortcut keys. - Win + Ctrl + D
Create a new virtual desktop.
- Win + Ctrl + ←/ →
Switch between the virtual desktops. - Win + Shift + ←/ →
Move the applications or windows from one virtual from one desktop to another. - Win + Ctrl + F4
Close a virtual desktop.
There are many other Windows 10 shortcut keys that are convenient for you in working with the system. If you find more interesting usage of the shortcut keys, share them with us in the comment section.
I guess that many of the Windows 10 green hands may encounter some problems, except for the shortcut keys, with Windows 10. So I list some related readings below:
Windows 10 Update Failed – Top 10 Windows 10 Upgrade Failure Errors and Fix
No Sound on Windows 10 Issue – Top 3 Ways to Fix No Sound after Windows 10 Update
Black Screen on Windows 10 Issue – Top 7 Ways to Fix Windows 10 Black Screen
Top 2 Ways to Fix No Wi-Fi Available after Windows 10 Update Issue
Top 2 Ways to Fix Endless Reboot Loop after Windows 10 Update
How to Use System Restore to Fix Windows 10 Issues
Intel WiDi Connection Issue and Solutions on Windows 10
5 Solutions to Fix Microphone Not Working on Windows 10
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Question: How do I send an Escape to the application in a maximized window without instead un-maximizing the window?
Thanks!
Hi. You can use Alt + Space + N to minimize a window. When a window is restored down, you can use Alt + Space + X to maximize it. It seems you can not use Esc key or other hot keys to close an application in a maximized window. But you can use Alt + Space to open the menu and select Close to escape the window, or you can use Alt + F4 to close a window.
If you find any hot keys to make it, hope you can drop a line and tell us. Thanks!
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