Time management is a crucial aspect of success in both professional and personal life.
It is important to take advantage of any time-saving techniques you can find to make life more productive.
Especially if you work in an office environment, you most likely spend most or all of your day on a computer.
Using simple shortcuts on your keyboard can help you save time as opposed to always hunting, pointing and clicking. Keyboard shortcuts can also be helpful tools to locate files that were accidentally deleted or browser windows that were unintentionally closed.
Depending upon the type of monitor you use, an Acer R240HY monitor or a Dell S2417DG, the shortcuts may be different. Therefore, this article goes over the most common and helpful shortcuts for both systems.
We will also go over some helpful keyboard shortcuts that can be used in different programs like web browsers and Microsoft Office.
Windows
- Shift + Delete: Bypass the Recycle Bin and fully delete a file/program
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new file
- Windows Key + D: Minimize all windows
- Alt + F4: Close current window
- Windows Key + F1: Get help
Mac
- Command + W: Close a window
- Command + Shift + ?: Get help
- Command + Shift + 3: Take a screenshot
- Command + Shift + T: Reopen last closed window
- Command + Tab: Toggle between programs
- Command + Space: Search computer with Spotlight
All Microsoft Office Programs on PC
- Ctrl + S: Save current file
- Ctrl + O: Open a file
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + A: Select all
All Microsoft Office Programs on Mac
- Command + S: Save current file
- Command + S: Open a file
- Command + C: Copy
- Command + V: Paste
- Command + A: Select all
Word on PC
- F7: Spellcheck
- F4: Repeat most recent action
- Shift + F3: Capitalization
- Ctrl + Backspace: Delete previous word
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Apply normal paragraph style
Word on Mac
- F7: Spellcheck
- Shift + F4: Repeat most recent action
- Shift + F3: Capitalization
- Command + Delete: Delete previous word
- Command + Shift + M: Apply normal paragraph style
Excel on PC
- Ctrl + N: Create new workbook
- Shift + Space: Select entire row
- Ctrl + Space: Select entire column
- Ctrl + 1: Format what is currently selected
- Shift + F11: Insert new worksheet
Excel on Mac
- Command + N: Create new workbook
- Shift + Space: Select entire row
- ^ + Space: Select entire column
- Command + 1: Format what is currently selected
- Fn + Shift + F11: Insert new worksheet
Google Chrome on PC
- Ctrl + T: Open new tab
- Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen last closed tab
- Ctrl + D: Save bookmark
- Ctrl + R: Refresh
- Ctrl + L: Highlight the URL bar
- Ctrl + F: Find something
Google Chrome on Mac
- Command + T: Open new tab
- Command + Shift + T: Reopen last closed tab
- Command + D: Save bookmark
- Command + R: Refresh
- Command + L: Highlight the URL bar
- Command + F: Find something
Gmail on PC
- Ctrl + Shift + C: Add to CC recipients
- Ctrl + Shift + B: Add to BCC recipients
- K/J: Move to previous/next email
- D: Compose new email
- Tab then Enter: Send email
- Shift + J: Mark as “read”
- Shift + U: Mark as “unread”
- #: Delete contact permanently
- !: Report as spam
- Ctrl K: Add hyperlink
Gmail on Mac
- Command + Shift + C: Add to CC recipients
- Command + Shift + B: Add to BCC recipients
- K/J: Move to previous/next email
- D: Compose new email
- Tab then Enter: Send email
- Shift + I: Mark as “read”
- Shift + U: Mark as “unread”
- #: Delete contact permanently
- !: Report as spam
- Command K: Add hyperlink