Disclosure: We are a professional review site that receives compensation from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own..
If you are computer power user, then productivity is key to getting your projects completed quickly and under budget. Time is money, so why waste your time doing repeated useless mouse gestures on your Windows 8 system? Today I have a large list of Windows 8 logo keyboard shortcut commands to help speed up productivity.
Lets face it, Windows 8 is confusing and it takes time to figure things out on the system. It can be hard to navigate through the different windows, charms, another other features you might need. To help with those confusing navigation tricks, you can use keyboard shortcut keys, but that’s only if you are using a desktop or tablet with a Bluetooth keyboard. Image source: Flickr-Windows 8.1.2
As with all computer operating systems, the developers have created keyboard shortcuts to speed up the process of some of the more popular features. With the latest version of Windows, Microsoft has added a huge list of new shorts cuts to their already growing list of shortcuts that work on many of the older operating systems.
Windows 8 Logo Keyboard Shortcut Commands
The Windows logo key (also called Windows Start Key) was introduced back when Windows 95 was released and Microsoft held license agreements with keyboard manufacturers. But it wasn’t until Windows XP (2003) that Microsoft required that a newly Windows logo key used on new keyboards being manufactured. Image: Inland Pro Foldable Black USB Wired Keyboard
This is about the time that you would see the Windows logo key (they were being used before, but not all keyboards had the logo key) on all keyboards designed to be used on Windows computers.
Once the Windows logo key was more widely used on keyboards, the windows logo keyboard shortcut commands became more useful and more were created with every new version of Windows. Below is a list of 45+ Windows 8 logo keyboard shortcut commands that I have collected, already knew, or found via different sites such as Microsoft Windows 8 support site and a few other sites. These keyboard shortcut commands, are both new and old. Some may even work on older versions of Windows.
Windows 8 Logo Keyboard Shortcut Commands– Charms
Open Search charm (search files) – Windows logo key +F
Open Charms – Windows logo key +C
Open charms in an app (open the commands for the app) – Windows logo key +C
Open Share charm – Windows logo key +H
Open Settings charm – Windows logo key +I
Open the Devices charm – Windows logo key +K
Open Search charm to search settings – Windows logo key +W
Windows 8 Logo Keyboard Shortcut Commands– Apps
Show the commands available in the app – Windows logo key +Z
Open the Search charm to search apps – Windows logo key +Q
Switch from main app & snapped app – Windows logo key +J
Cycle through open apps (not desktop apps) – Windows logo key +Tab
Cycle through open apps (not desktop apps) & snaps them when they are cycled – Windows logo key +Ctrl+Tab
Cycle through open apps (not desktop apps) in reverse order – Windows logo key +Shift+Tab
Cycle through apps on the taskbar – Windows logo key +T
Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won’t change monitors) – Windows logo key +PgDown
Snaps an app to the left – Windows logo key +Shift+period (.)
Snaps an app to the right – Windows logo key +period (.)
Windows 8 Logo Keyboard Shortcut Commands – Helpful commands
Open Computer -Windows logo key +E
Lock PC or switch users – Windows logo key +L
Open Windows Help & Support – Windows logo key +F1
Set focus in notification area – Windows logo key +B
Search Computer – Windows logo key +start typing
Change to a previously selected input – Windows logo key +Ctrl+Spacebar.
Open Narrator – Windows logo key +Enter
Initiate IME reconversion – Windows logo key +/
Open Windows Media Center – Windows logo key +Alt+Enter
Cycle through desktop Gadgets – Windows logo key +G
Open the Run dialog box – Windows logo key +R
Open Ease of Access Center – Windows logo key +U
Cycle through notifications – Windows logo key +V
Cycle through notifications in reverse order – Windows logo key +Shift+V
Open the Quick Link menu – Windows logo key +X
Display System Properties dialog box – Windows logo key +Pause
Search for networked PCs – Windows logo key +Ctrl+F
Windows Logo Keyboard Shortcut Commands – Display Related
Display & hide the desktop – Windows logo key +Dose a presentation display mode – Windows logo key +P
Display & hide the desktop – Windows logo key +D
Display & hide the desktop – Windows logo key +D
Minimize all windows – Windows logo key +M
Lock screen orientation (portrait or landscape) – Windows logo key +O
Stretch desktop window to the top & bottom of the screen – Windows logo key +Shift+Up arrow
Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width – Windows logo key +Shift+Down arrow
Restore minimized windows on desktop – Windows logo key +Shift+M
Maximize desktop window to the right side of the screen – Windows logo key +Right arrow
Minimize all windows (except active desktop window) & restores all windows on second stroke – Windows logo key +Home
Temporarily look at the desktop – Windows logo key +,
Move a window in the desktop from one monitor to another Monitor – Windows logo key +Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow
Zoom in or out using Magnifier – Windows logo key +plus (+) or minus (-)
Exit Magnifier – Windows logo key +Esc
Switch input language & keyboard layout – Windows logo key +Spacebar
About James
Leave a Reply