What's more appealing than a shortcut? It's a quick way to take a task and make it less painful and easier to accomplish. With shortcuts, you can cheat time a little bit and find maybe a few extra moments each day. If you save three minutes a day for a year, that's a little over 18 hours. You could binge-watch the entire show Freaks and Geeks with four hours to spare. So, shall we get started?
OS Keyboard Shortcuts
Browser Shortcuts
Mobile Shortcuts
Windows Shortcuts
Windows 10 introduced some new shortcuts to take full advantage of the operating system's features and interface. Here are some of the highlights:
Improved window management
- Snap a window left / right: Windows key + Arrow key left / right
- Snap a window to a quadrant: Windows key + Up or Down (after moving left or right)
- Create new virtual desktop: Windows key + Ctrl + D
- Close current virtual desktop: Windows key + Ctrl + F4
- Cycle through desktops to the left / right: Windows key + Ctrl + Left / Right
- Minimize all windows in the background except active window: Windows key + Home
- Open Task View interface (to see all the virtual desktops you have running): Windows key + Tab
More Windows 10 shortcuts
- Open Windows 10 Action Center: Windows key + A
- Open Windows Settings: Windows key + I
- Open Taskbar program (1, 2, 3...): Windows key + Number ("1" opens the first program pinned in the taskbar, and so on).
- Open Start button context menu: Windows key + X
- Open the Game DVR recorder: Windows key + G
- Start recording current activity on screen: Windows key + Alt + G
- Stop recording: Windows key + Alt + R
- Open Cortana for voice input: Windows key + Q
- Open Cortana for text input: Windows key + S
Take a Screenshot
- Take a screenshot and save it to the Pictures folder: Windows key + PrtSc
- Grab screenshot of the whole screen and save it to the clipboard: PrtSc
- Grab screenshot of the current window and save it to the clipboard: Alt + PrtSc
- Optional For more advanced functionality, Windows 10 comes with a built-in utility called Snipping Tool. You can also use a third party app like Monosnap.
New Windows 10 Command Prompt Shortcuts
- Highlight text to the left of cursor: Shift + Left
- Highlight text to the right of cursor: Shift + Right
- Copy selected text to clipboard: Ctrl + C
- Paste text from clipboard into command prompt: Ctrl + V
- Select all text after prompt: Ctrl + A
Old but Good Windows Shortcuts
- Open the Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
- Open the Run dialog box: Windows key + R
- Minimize all windows: Windows key + M
- Restore minimized windows on the desktop: Windows key + Shift + M
- Maximize window: Windows key + Up arrow
- Minimize window: Windows key + Down arrow
- Zoom in or out using Magnifier: Windows key + Plus sign (+) / Minus sign (-)
- Close the active window, or exit the active app: Alt + F4
- Display properties for the selected item: Alt + Enter
- Switch to recent window: Alt + Tab
- Rename the selected item: F2
- Search for a file or folder: F3
- Display the address bar list in the File Explorer: F4
- Refresh the active window: F5
- Activate the menu bar in the active window: F10
- Lock your PC: Windows key + L
macOS Keyboard Shortcuts
Before we cover actual keyboard shortcuts, in case you didn't know, in OS X there's a master list of shortcuts that can be found in the System Preferences. To find it:
- Go to the System Preferences and choose "Keyboard."
- In the "Shortcuts" tab, go through the sections on the left to turn on or off the shortcuts you want to use.
- Optional: While we don't recommend it, should you prefer it, here you can also set F keys to work as function keys primarily (instead of the default for brightness, Mission Control, music playback, etc.). Within the Keyboard settings, in the "Keyboard" tab, check the box "Use F keys as standard function keys."
Edit/Add a Shortcut
- For editing: From the "Shortcuts" tab (see above), double click on a shortcut key combination, and you will be able to edit it.
- For adding an app specific shortcut: Select App Shortcuts. Then click the plus sign under the shortcuts window, choose the application from the drop down menu and follow other options.
Top Shortcuts for Daily Use
- Spotlight: Command + Spacebar
- Open Preferences: Command + Comma
- Switch apps: Command + Tab
- Minimize/Hide the front window to the Dock: Command + M / H
- Hide all background windows except the current one: Command + Shift + H
- Close the active window: Command + W
- Quit an app: Command + Q
- Log out of your OS X user account: Command + Shift + Q
Take a Screenshot
- Screenshot of your whole screen: Command + Shift + 3
- Select part of the screen and save it as image: Command + Shift + 4
- Optional: Add Shift to the above combinations and the screenshot will be saved to the clipboard instead as a file on the desktop
Text Stuff
- Forward delete: Fn + Delete
- Delete entire words: Command + Delete
- Paste without formatting: Command + Shift + V
Old but Good Mac Shortcuts
- Force Quit an app: Command + Option + Escape
- Switch same app windows: Command + Shift + Tilde (~)
- Preview the selected Finder item: Space Bar
- Show/hide the inspector window: Command + I
- Zoom in/out: Command + Shift + Plus sign (+) / Minus sign (-)
- Open/Search an app's help menu: Command + Shift + Question mark (?)
- Show/hide the Dock: Command + Option + D
- Open the Desktop folder: Command + Shift + D
- Open the Downloads folder: Command + Shift + L
- Open the Documents folder: Command + Shift + O
- Open the AirDrop window: Command + Shift + R
- Open the Connect to Server window: Command + Shift + K
- Eject the selected disk or volume: Command + E
- Empty the trash: Command + Shift + Delete
- Empty the trash with confirmation: Command + Shift + Option + Delete
- Turn off display mirroring when using more than one display: Command + Brightness Down
- Put all displays to sleep: Shift + Control + Power Button
- Shut down your system: Control + Option + Command + Eject
Chrome Browser and Chromebooks
For Windows & Linux
- New Tab: Ctrl + T
- Reopen last tab: Ctrl + Shift + T
- Open link in a new tab: Ctrl + Click (+ Shift moves to the new tab)
- Switch to the next tab: Ctrl + Tab
- Switch to the previous tab: Ctrl + Shift + Tab
- Switch to tab #(1, 2, 3...): Ctrl + Number ("1" goes to the first tab, and so on)
- Close the current tab: Ctrl + W
- Open new Private browsing window: Ctrl + Shift + N
- Get to the URL address bar: Ctrl + L
- Add .com in the address bar: Ctrl + Enter
- Reload tab: Ctrl + R or F5
- Reload tab (while clearing cache): Ctrl + F5 or Shift + F5
- Go Back/Forward: Alt + Left / Right arrow
- Open the Chrome menu: Alt + F or Alt + E or F10
- Open the browser history: Ctrl + H
- Open the Clear Browsing Data dialog: Ctrl + Shift + Delete
- Open the Downloads list: Ctrl + J
- Open the Task Manager: Shift + Esc
- Bookmark site: Ctrl + D
- Toggle the bookmarks bar on and off: Ctrl + Shift + B
- Open Developer Tools: Ctrl + Shift + J
- Switch between multiple users: Ctrl + Shift + M
For Mac
- Open a new tab: Command + T
- Reopen last tab: Command + Shift + T
- Open link in a new tab: Command + Click (+ Shift moves to the new tab)
- Switch to the previous / next tab: Command + Option + Left /Right arrow
- Switch to tab #(1, 2, 3...): Command + Number ("1" goes to the first tab, and so on)
- Close the current tab: Command + W
- Open new Private browsing window: Command + Shift + N
- Get to the URL address bar: Command + L
- Add .com in the address bar: Command + Enter
- Reload tab: Command + R
- Go Back/Forward: Command + Left / Right arrow
- Toggle the bookmarks bar on and off: Command + Shift + B
- Bookmark site: Command + D
- Open the Bookmark Manager: Command + Option + B
- Open the Settings: Command + ,
- Open the browser history: Command + Y
- Open the Downloads list: Command + Shift + J
- Open the Clear Browsing Data dialog: Command + Shift + Delete
- Switch between multiple users: Command + Shift + M
- Open developer tools: F12
Chromebook Shortcuts
- Launch apps from the shelf (1, 2, 3...): Alt + Number ("1" opens the first app, and so on)
- Activate a specific tab: Ctrl + Number (1 - 8, same as above)
- Open the task manager: Shift + Esc
- Open the file manager: Alt + Shift + M
- Show the keyboard shortcut overlay: Ctrl + Alt + ?
- Take a screenshot: Control + Switcher key
- Toggle on/off the Caps Lock: Alt + search button
- Page up: Alt + Up
- Page down: Alt + Down
- Dock a window: Alt + [ - or Alt + ]
- Open the Chrome browser menu: Alt + E
- Mirror the monitor: Control + Monitor button
- Lock the screen: Control + Shift + L
- Log out of your Chromebook: Control + Shift + Q
If that's not enough, browse the whole list.
Firefox Browser Shortcuts
- Open a new tab: Ctrl + T
- Open any link in a new tab: Ctrl + middle mouse button click
- Reopen last tab: Ctrl + Shift + T
- Close the current tab: Ctrl + W
- Switch to tab #(1, 2, 3...): Ctrl + Number ("1" goes to the first tab, and so on)
- Move between open tabs: Ctrl + Tab
- Open new Private browsing window: Ctrl+ Shift + P
- Get to the URL address bar: Ctrl + L (or F6)
- Get to the search box: Ctrl + K
- Add .com in the address bar: Ctrl + Enter
- Open address in a new tab (from address bar): Alt + Enter
- Find text within page: Ctrl + F
- Quick find and have Firefox scroll to the text location while you type: Ctrl + /
- Bookmark site: Ctrl + D
- Increase or decrease font size: Ctrl + plus sign (+) or
Ctrl + minus sign (-) - Reset the font size: Ctrl + 0
- Make the screen full screen, removing all toolbars and status bars: F11
- Open the Download Manager: Ctrl + J
- Reload tab: Ctrl + R
- Reload tab (while clearing cache): Ctrl + Shift + R
- Go Back/Forward: Alt + Left / Right arrow
- Mute/Unmute audio: Ctrl + M
- Remove from autocomplete: Focus on result, hit 'Delete' (Shift + Delete in Mac)
- Open developer tools: F12 (Command + Opt + C in Mac)
You can find the full list of Firefox shortcuts here.
Safari Browser Shortcuts
- Switch to next tab: Command + Tab
- Switch to previous tab: Command + Shift + Tab
- Scroll down one full screen: Spacebar
- Scroll up one full screen: Shift + Spacebar
- Go to Address Bar: Command + L
- Open new tab: Command + T
- Open link in new tab: Command + Click a link
- Add linked page to reading list: Shift + Click link
- Strip styling and view in reader: Command + Shift + R
- Increase/Decrease text size: Command + Plus / Minus sign
- Default text size: Command + 0
- Enter or exit full screen: Command + Escape
- Open home page: Command + Shift + H
- Mail link to current page: Command + Shift + I
- Empty browser cache: Command + Option + E
- Reload page: Command + R
- Stop loading page: Command + .
- View page source: Command + Option + U
- Disable pop-up Windows: Command + Shift + K
- Override cache: Hold the Shift key and click the Refresh button on your toolbar
- Find text on page: Command + F
- Navigate found items forward: Return
- Navigate found items backward: Shift + Return
- Hide or show toolbar: Command + I
- Hide or show bookmarks bar: Command + Shift + B
- Hide or show status bar: Command + /
- Hide or show tab bar: Command + Shift + T
- Show top sites: Command + Option + 1
- Show history: Command + Option + 2
- Show reading list: Command + Shift + L
- Show downloads: Command + Option + L
- Go back: Two Finger Swipe Left
- Go forward: Two Finger Swipe Right
- Zoom out / Decrease Font Size: Pinch
- Zoom in / Increase Font Size: Spread / Reverse Pinch
Edge Browser Shortcuts
- Open a new tab: Ctrl + T
- Reopen last tab: Ctrl + Shift + T
- Close current tab: Ctrl + W
- Duplicate tab: Ctrl + K
- Switch to tab #(1, 2, 3...):: Ctrl + Number ("1" goes to the first tab, and so on)
- Open link in a new tab: Ctrl + click
- Switch to the next tab: Ctrl + Tab
- Switch to the previous tab: Ctrl + Shift + Tab
- Open link in a new tab and switch to the tab: Ctrl + Shift + click
- Open link in a new window: Alt + Shift + click
- Open a new InPrivate Browsing window: Ctrl + Shift + P
- Go back/Forward: Alt + Left/Right arrow
- Select the address bar: Ctrl + L or F4 or Alt + D
- Open a search query in the address bar: Ctrl + E
- Refresh the page: Ctrl + R or F5
- Enter reading view: Ctrl + Shift + R
- Add current site to favorites or reading list: Ctrl + D
- Toggle the bookmarks bar on and off: Ctrl + Shift + B
- Find on page: Ctrl + F
- Stop loading the page: Esc
- Print the current page: Ctrl + P
- Open history pane: Ctrl + H
- Open favorites pane: Ctrl + I
- Open downloads pane: Ctrl + J
- Zoom in (25%): Ctrl + plus (+)
- Zoom out (25%): Ctrl + minus (-)
- Reset zoom level: Ctrl + 0
- Open developer tools: F12
For mobile platforms we have stretched the definition of shortcuts as the equivalent of time saving tips we use on the desktop. Some of the following are more like features or tips... but they are all in the interest of making your life easier, so we're simply calling them shortcuts.
Android Shortcuts
While standard keyboard shortcuts are impractical for mobile devices, there are other kind of shortcuts and workarounds that can be real time savers. Android in particular supports "shortcuts" in the form of homepage icons and widgets natively. Don't miss out.
Android home screen shortcuts
A native Android feature supported by hundreds of apps. Start by tapping and holding on your home screen wallpaper. This may vary between Android versions but usually this is how you will find a menu for changing wallpapers, adding home screen widgets and shortcuts.
Tap on 'Shortcuts' and discover the many possibilities offered by 1-click home screen icons. Shortcuts work on a per app basis, so you should first select the app you want to interact with from the Shortcut menu and then select the action. Here are some useful examples:
- Calling frequent contacts: Add individual contacts you use often straight to your home screen or into a folder so you can reach your favorite people easily. Direct dialing your mom, wife or kid with a single tap, couldn't get any easier.
- Messaging someone: As before, first select the app you want to use (Messages, Hangouts, WhatsApp, all support shortcuts), then the person you want to message for a 1-click shortcut. WhatsApp also has a shortcut for taking a photo and sending to someone directly.
- Drive Scan (Google Drive): Scan documents like receipts, letters, and billing statements, save them on the cloud with Drive and it will have them scanned as searchable PDFs so you can find them later.
- Keep your favorite playlist close: To pull up that particular playlist so searching through your music doesn't distract you from working out.
- A folder with your favorite bookmarks: Add icons for bookmarks (such as TechSpot – we've got a fancy mobile icon), frequent searches or any other website-based reference. Gmail also offers a shortcut to open your inbox directly into a specific label.
- Directions widgets: To open maps and navigate directly to a certain location (e.g. Go to home or work, finding the best route to avoid traffic).
More Android time savers
- A true keyboard shortcut: Using the stock Android keyboard or SwiftKey, each letter has an optional character, accent or secondary symbol. For example, hold down the letter F for a dollar sign, the letter S for the at sign (@) or the first row of letters for numbers 1 to 0.
iPhone and iOS Shortcuts
Siri Annoyances and more
- Quick reply to phone calls: If you can't talk, but want to send a quick message to the caller just swipe up when you receive a call (instead of swiping left or right.) Then pick one of the pre-made messages and it will be sent to the caller.
- Save time texting by using the Android keyboard as a text expander: Create shortcuts in the custom dictionary that act as text expanders. "fg" can become Freaks and Geeks or "@@" can become your email address. Yes, there are some places where autocomplete is disabled but, for the most part, you'll be fine.
- Double-click the power button to launch the camera app: A new addition in Android Marshmallow (only), if your phone doesn't have a dedicated camera button, this will do the trick nicely.
- Disable notifications, get App info: Long tap on the unwanted notification and the app info will appear. Go to App Info and deselect 'Show Notifications'. You can also do this anytime from Settings > Apps, then select the app and disable notifications.
- Take a screenshot: Press and hold the volume down and power buttons at the same time. You'll hear a sound and see an animation indicating that the screenshot has been saved. Android will show a notification so you can share this if you want.
- Monitor battery usage: Android has gotten more clever about power consumption but if think something is off and you're running out of battery too soon, go to Settings > Power Management > Battery Usage. This will show a visual timeline of your draining battery and the apps taking away the most juice.
- Monitor data usage: Similar to the above, Android keeps good track of data use over time and which apps have transferred the most data. The information is usually available on Settings > Data usage.
- Share your location: Using the Google+ app, go to Settings. From there, you should find an option called "Location sharing." To share your precise location, scroll down to "Pinpoint Location" and touch Edit. Choose the people and circles you'd like to share your precise location with. Alternatively, Whatsapp also let's you share your location from the Sharing/Attachment menu.
- Start with the Keyboard settings: Maybe you don't want auto-correction or auto-capitalization enabled by default, so set that up to your liking. Perhaps most importantly, add "Text Replacement" for phrases you may use often: "fg" can become Freaks and Geeks or "@@" can become your email address.
- Add a symbol faster: Tap and hold the 123 button then slide your finger to the symbol you want. When it's added, the keyboard returns to the letters keyboard.
- Long pressing keys for accents/symbols: Some letters in the keyboard have optional characters, accents or secondary symbols. For example, hold down the letter E and many accents will show up or long press the .com key and you'll get shortcuts for ".net, .org, ,edu" and more.
- Speed back to the top: After scrolling down a long list or through a long post, tap the very top of the screen to go straight back to the top. This works in most apps, but can be annoying if you miss the top and hit the browser bar instead (like I do sometimes.)
- Stop audio with a timer: Like falling asleep listening to music but hate waking up to a drained phone? Go to the clock app and tap Timer. Set it for however long you wish and then tap When Timer Ends. Scroll down to the very bottom and select "Stop Playing." After this, start your music (or audiobook) and when the timer ends the audio will stop.
- Change the Panorama direction: Tap the arrow that appears in the middle of the screen in the Panorama mode.
- Swipe to delete in the calculator: Swipe left or right in the area where the calculation appears to delete the most recent digit you entered.
- Create custom vibrations: iOS has two default vibrations for when you receive a phone call and a text message, but you can create your own to identify a specific caller or some other event. Go to Settings > Sounds > Ringtone > Vibration > Create New Vibration. You can now create a custom pattern to distinguish between predefined vibration alerts.
- Quick reply to messages: You can swipe and dismiss a new message notification but in iOS 9 you can also pull the alert down and reply inline from the notifications drawer without leaving your current app or unlocking your phone for that matter.
- Make a website PDF: From Safari, hit the share button and on the top row you'll see "Save PDF to iBooks" (you might have to swipe left to see it.) Once you tap the button, you can share the PDF from the iBooks app.
- Select the low power setting: Go to Settings > Battery and there's an option at the top called Low Power Mode. When selected, the mode turns off many background functions, automatic downloads, GPS services, and fancy but non-important visual effects. When in Low Power Mode the battery life indicator turns to a yellow/orange color. And when you go back above 80 percent battery, Low Power Mode will deactivate.
- Monitor battery usage: iOS is generally pretty savvy about power consumption but if think something is off and you're running out of battery too soon, go to Settings > General > Usage > Battery Usage. This will show a list of the apps taking away the most juice.
- Drag to select photos: Finally you can delete a bunch of photos with a few swipes. In your Photos, click select and then drag your finger to the left or right, or up or down across the photos to select them.
- Search within settings: In Settings swipe down and a search bar will appear. Search for any keyword or app and you'll get a list of links.
- Share and save a voicemail: There's now a share button in the iPhone's visual voicemail that comes with plenty of options. Send through apps such as Email, Notes, Messages or Facebook Messenger, Voice Memos, Basecamp or Slack. Send it to Dropbox to save across devices as a .m4a (MPEG 4) audio file.
- Use a six-digit security code: When you upgraded from iOS 8 to 9, your four-digit security code remains. To increase your security level (with a four-digit code there are 10,000 options) go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > Change Passcode. At this point, you will have to enter your existing Passcode to get this far, then again when you ask to make the change. Tap "Options" on the bottom of the screen and select "6-Digit Numeric Code." Then enter the new code twice.
- Hide contact images in messages: On the iPhone 6's in the Messages app photos from your Contacts list show up right next to the person who sent the message. If you don't like this, turn it off in Settings > Messages to turn off Show Contact Photos.
- Take a screenshot: Press and hold the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons at the same time. You'll hear a sound and see the screen go blank for less than a second indicating that the screenshot has been saved. You can find the screenshot in the Photos app.
- Send your location: In the Messages app, tap on a conversation. On the top right corner you'll see a "Details" option, tap it. From there, you should find an option to "Send My Current Location" which will do the trick. Alternatively, Whatsapp also let's you share your location from the 'Send Media' menu.
- Limit Siri in Spotlight Search: They say Siri is getting smarter, but maybe she's just getting aggressive. In the Spotlight search, Siri shows apps you've recently used, favorite contacts, headlines and more. If you don't like that, go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search and turn off Siri Suggestions. After that, the Spotlight Search page stays empty until you type in a search. If you want to limit the apps that get searched in Spotlight, go to Settings > General > Spotlight Search again and toggle off any app you won't search.
- Teach Siri how to pronounce names: Launch Siri and ask her to say a name. When she answers, tell her that's not the correct pronunciation. Siri will then ask you how to correctly pronounce the name and give you three possible ways she can pronounce the name. Choose the best one and Siri will remember it.
- Silence Siri: Go into Settings > General > Siri > Voice Feedback. Select "Control with Ring Switch." This will keep Siri quiet when you turn the ring switch to off/mute.
- Get rid of shake to undo: Who thought that shaking your phone to undo an action was a good idea? Don't ask me. To get rid of it go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Shake to Undo and turn it off.