Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system is loaded with shortcut keys and other easy-to-use yet not-quite-obvious features to customize it to your liking. The complete list of these keys and features is quite long, so I will offer just a small subset that I find myself using constantly. Perhaps you will find them useful too.
Hold the Windows key and press the arrows
+ → | snap window right |
+ ← | snap window left |
+ ↑ | fill screen with window |
+ ↓ | minimize window |
Hold the Control key and press other keys
Ctrl + a | select all text |
Ctrl + c | copy text |
Ctrl + v | paste text |
(in a web browser) | |
Ctrl + f | search for text |
Ctrl + t | open new tab |
Ctrl + w | close current tab |
Ctrl + r | refresh current tab |
Ctrl + Tab | cycle through tabs |
Hold the Alt key and press other keys
Alt + F4 | close current window |
Alt + Tab | go to previous window |
(in a web browser) | |
Alt + d | focus on address bar |
Alt + ← | go back |
In Windows Explorer
Don't know what "Windows Explorer" is? Press + e to open it. You probably use it all of the time but have never called it by name. After opening it, navigate to your favorite folder (any folder you use constantly). Then scroll all the way up in the left pane until you see
Favorites
Right-click on this and then click "Add current location to Favorites" and you will see your selected folder appear in the list on the left. You can add as many folders as you like to this favorites list, and also rearrange the order of the folders by dragging and dropping.
When in a folder or on desktop
Ctrl + Shift + n | create new folder |
F2 | rename highlighted folder/file |
Customized Shortcut Keys
This last trick is the best one of all. Press to open the start menu, then begin typing the name of your favorite program (or browse for it in "All Programs"). As soon as you see it, right-click on it and then click "Properties". In the "Shortcut" tab (which should already be opened) there is an option called "Shortcut key". Click in the box beside it and then type whatever letter or number you think would best identify the program. Finally, click "Apply" and "Ok" to save the change. Whatever <key> you chose now forms the shortcut key
Ctrl + Alt + <key>
and when pressed will open the program. For example, on my computer I did the following:
1. pressed
2. typed 'internet'
3. right-clicked on "Internet Explorer"
4. typed the letter i into shortcut key box
5. saved the changes
Ctrl + Alt + i now opens Internet Explorer on my computer.
Other Resources
If you would like to learn more shortcut keys, click here for the full list on Microsoft's website.Or if you are feeling adventurous and would like a book that presents nearly all of Windows 7's features in an easy-to-understand manner I would recommend David Pogue's Windows 7: The Missing Manual.