Windows 8: Key Shortcuts
Sep
23
Written by:
Friday, September 23, 2011
As with earlier versions of Windows, Windows 8 also supports a number of key shortcuts. Here is a compiled list of key shortcuts. Note: Currently the released version of Windows 8 is pre-beta and is subject to change. We imagine that there will be several changes between now and the beta release.
Windows Lock Screen
When creating a password consider making the first character a capital letter. Pressing the shift key from the lock screen displays the log on screen. If you press shift and the first letter of your password it enters it directly into the area you type your password so you can continue to quickly enter your password and log on.
Windows 8 Start screen
The following Windows key shortcuts work in the new Windows shell/Start screen.
WINKEY - Toggles between the Start screen and the foremost running app (Metro-style) or the Windows Desktop.
WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.
WINKEY + B - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and select the tray notification area.
WINKEY + C - Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay. (Note that this shortcut displays the charms in the lower left of the screen and not on the right as would be the case using touch.)
WINKEY + D - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).
WINKEY + E. Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.
WINKEY + F - Search Files using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + I - Display Settings pane for the Start screen (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language).
WINKEY + L - Lock PC and return to Lock screen.
WINKEY + M - Minimize the selected Explorer window.
WINKEY + O - Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.
WINKEY + P - Display the new Project (for "projection") pane for choosing between available displays.
WINKEY + Q - Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + R - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Run box.
WINKEY + U - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center.
WINKEY + X - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Windows Mobility Center application.
WINKEY + Z - Display the App Bar in a Metro-style app.
Pressing the WINKEY + [any unsupported letter key] will trigger a Search Apps (and classic applications) task using the new Windows Search pane, with the letter pre-typed in the search box. So WINKEY + A would start searching for apps (and applications) that include the letter 'a'. This is no different from simply tapping the letter 'a' at the Start screen, since any such typing starts the Search Apps task.
Windows desktop (classic)
The following Windows key shortcuts work in the classic Windows desktop. Note that while many of these shortcuts also work in Windows 7, some are new to Windows 8.
WINKEY - Toggles between the Windows desktop environment and the new Start screen.
WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. - Launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.
WINKEY + B - Select the tray notification area.
WINKEY + C - Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay.
WINKEY + D - Toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).
WINKEY + E. Launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.
WINKEY + F - Search Files using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + I - Display Settings pane for Windows Desktop (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language).
WINKEY + L - Lock PC and return to Lock screen.
WINKEY + M - Minimize the selected Explorer window.
WINKEY + O - Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.
WINKEY + P - Display the new Project (for "projection") pane for choosing between available displays.
WINKEY + Q - Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + R - Display Run box.
WINKEY + U - Launch Ease of Access Center.
WINKEY + W - Search Settings using the new Windows Search pane.
WINKEY + X - Display Windows Mobility Center application.
WINKEY + ARROW KEYS - Aero Snap.