Windows 8 Cheat Sheet

  It has been a few months since Microsoft released Windows 8 and many people have new computers with this operating system now.  As many of them found out, it is very different from previous versions of Windows.  Although it does have a desktop like the previous windows, it doesn’t start there but in a new environment called The Metro.

The quickest way to navigate through this is with some short cuts.  Here are a few that I found very helpful.  These all work with the Windows logo key plus another key.

Windows logo key + C - Open the charms / In an app, open the commands for the appWindows logo key + D – Loads Desktop

Windows logo key + E  - Opens the file explorer to “My Computer” view which shows all of your drives.

Windows logo key + F - Open the Search charm to search files

Windows logo key + H - Open the Share charm

Windows logo key + I - Open the Settings charm

Windows logo key + J - Switch the main app and snapped app

Windows logo key + K - Open the Devices charm

Windows logo key + O - Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)

Windows logo key + Q - Open the Search charm to search apps

Windows logo key + R - Opens Run menu where you can launch programs by typing in their executable file names.

Windows logo key + W - Open the Search charm to search settings

Windows logo key + X - Brings up a menu of advanced system options, including Windows Control Panel, Command Prompt, Task Manager and File Explorer.

Windows logo key + Z - Show the commands available in the app

Windows logo key + Ctrl + spacebar - Change to a previously selected input

Windows logo key + Tab - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps)

Windows logo key + Ctrl + Tab - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snap them as they are cycled

Windows logo key + Shift + Tab - Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order

Windows logo key + PgUp - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key + PgDown - Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors)

Windows logo key + Shift + period (.) - Snaps an app to the left

Windows logo key + period (.) - Snaps an app to the rightEsc - Stop or exit the current task

I am sure you won’t use all of these and there are probably more but there are a lot of these that I find handy sometimes.  

We offer Windows 8 training, along with other computer training.  

For more information Contact Us

Back to Blog