Hot Keys

πŸ–₯️ Keyboard Shortcuts Guide: Windows & Mac

πŸ’‘ Overview

Keyboard shortcuts help save time and improve productivity by allowing quick access to common functions without using the mouse. Below are the most useful Windows and Mac hotkeys for everyday tasks.

πŸͺŸ Windows Hotkeys

Action Shortcut Description
Copy Ctrl + C Copy selected text or items
Cut Ctrl + X Cut selected text or items
Paste Ctrl + V Paste copied content
Undo Ctrl + Z Undo the last action
Redo Ctrl + Y Redo the last undone action
Select All Ctrl + A Select all items or text
Find Ctrl + F Open the Find dialog
Save Ctrl + S Save the current document
Print Ctrl + P Print the current page or document
New Window / File Ctrl + N Open a new window or file
Switch Between Apps Alt + Tab Toggle between open applications
Lock Computer Windows + L Lock your device
Take Screenshot Windows + Shift + S Snip a portion of the screen
Open File Explorer Windows + E Open File Explorer
Minimize All Windows Windows + D Show desktop
Task Manager Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager

βœ‚οΈ Snipping Tool (Windows Screenshot Utility)

The Snipping Tool allows users to quickly capture screenshots of any area on their screen.

  • Open it manually: Press the Windows key and type β€œSnipping Tool” in the search bar.

  • Quick shortcut: Use Windows + Shift + S to instantly open the snipping overlay.

  • You can choose from options such as Rectangular Snip, Freeform Snip, Window Snip, or Full-screen Snip.

  • Once a screenshot is taken, it’s copied to your clipboard and opens in the Snipping Tool editor, where you can crop, highlight, or save the image.

πŸ’‘ Tip: Snipping Tool is great for capturing portions of documents, troubleshooting screenshots, or step-by-step visuals for training materials.

🍎 Mac Hotkeys

Action Shortcut Description
Copy Command (⌘) + C Copy selected text or items
Cut Command (⌘) + X Cut selected text or items
Paste Command (⌘) + V Paste copied content
Undo Command (⌘) + Z Undo the last action
Redo Command (⌘) + Shift + Z Redo the last undone action
Select All Command (⌘) + A Select all items or text
Find Command (⌘) + F Open the Find window
Save Command (⌘) + S Save the current document
Print Command (⌘) + P Print the current document
New Window / File Command (⌘) + N Open a new window or file
Switch Between Apps Command (⌘) + Tab Toggle between open applications
Lock Screen Control + Command (⌘) + Q Lock your Mac
Screenshot (Full) Command (⌘) + Shift + 3 Capture entire screen
Screenshot (Portion) Command (⌘) + Shift + 4 Capture a selected area
Show Desktop Command (⌘) + F3 Hide all windows and show desktop
Force Quit App Command (⌘) + Option + Esc Open Force Quit window

🧭 Tips for Using Shortcuts

  • 🧠 Memorize the most common shortcuts (copy, paste, undo) to save time.

  • πŸ’Ό Use Alt + Tab (Windows) or Command + Tab (Mac) to quickly navigate between programs.

  • πŸ“Έ Use the Snipping Tool (Windows) or Command + Shift + 4 (Mac) for quick screenshots to paste into emails or documents.

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