keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8

How do you control a tile-based user interface with
a keyboard?
Simple – use the arrow keys! While it isn’t ideal, if
you’re stuck using just a keyboard with Windows 8,
you can find your way through the various apps –
and importantly, to the Desktop – using the arrow
keys, Page Up/Page Down and the Enter key. You’ll
know which Start screen apps are selected thanks
to the white border.
Naturally, you can use the keyboard and tab key to
find your way through forms, while typing a search
term from the Start screen will automatically open
the Search tool.
The key to fast navigation through Windows 8 using
a keyboard and mouse is the Windows key – you’ll
find that you rely on this quite often.
As with previous versions of the operating system, there are various keyboard combinations that can be used as
shortcuts in Windows 8.
Note that these keyboard combinations will not work using the on-screen keyboard.
• Win – toggles between Start screen and (classic) Windows desktop
• Win + B – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop, select the tray notification area
• Win + C – Display Charm Bar
• Win + D – Open classic Windows desktop

• Win + E – Opens Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed
• Win + F – Metro File browser and search tool
• Win + H – If an app can “share” this will open the Share panel
• Win + I – Displays Settings panel; this is contextual, enabling a change of settings for the current
app, as well as changing volume, selecting wireless networks, adjusting the brightness and shutting
down the computer
• Win + J – Switches between snapped Metro applications
• Win + K – Open Devices panel (alters display output options)
• Win + L – Locks PC
• Win + M – In desktop view, this minimizes all Windows
• Win + O – For tablets and convertibles/hybrids this locks the device orientation
• Win + P – Choose between available display devices
• Win + Q – Opens Apps screen and search tool
• Win + R – Jumps to the classic desktop and displays Run box
• Win + U – Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center
• Win + V – Cycles through toasts
• Win + W – Displays Windows 8 Settings screen with search tool
• Win + X – Opens Start menu (more on that later…)
• Win + Y – Gives a temporary peek at the desktop
• Win + Z – Opens the App Bar for the current Metro application
• Win + Page Up / Down – Moves tiles to the left / right
• Win + Tab – Opens the Metro application switcher menu, switches between applications
• Win + , (comma) – Aero Peek at the desktop
• Win + . (period) – Snaps the current Metro application to one side of the screen (Right side)
• Win + Shift + . (period) – Snaps the current Metro application to the other side of the screen (Left
side)
• Win + Space – Uses this to switch input language and keyboard layout
• Win + Shift + V – Cycles through toasts in reverse order
• Win + Enter – Launches Windows Narrator
• Win + Arrow Keys – Switches to the classic desktop and enables Aero Snap
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc – Launches Task Manager
Note that these keyboard combinations will not work using the on-screen keyboard.