Managing files efficiently can save you time and enhance your productivity. Learning keyboard shortcuts is a fantastic way to navigate Windows Explorer without getting lost in menus. Here are three practical examples to help you master file management using keyboard shortcuts.
Sometimes you need to open multiple windows of Windows Explorer to compare files or transfer items between folders. Instead of clicking through the Start menu or taskbar, you can quickly launch a new window with a simple keystroke.
Pressing Windows key + E will open a new File Explorer window instantly. This shortcut works regardless of what application you are currently using, making it incredibly versatile for multitasking.
This shortcut is particularly useful when you need to access different directories quickly or when you have multiple folders open and want to keep your workspace organized.
Notes: This shortcut can be used repeatedly to open multiple windows. If you want to access a specific folder, you can use this shortcut and then type the path in the address bar.
Renaming files or folders is a common task that can be made much simpler with this shortcut. Instead of right-clicking and selecting ‘Rename’, you can do it with just a keystroke.
When you have a file or folder selected in Windows Explorer, press F2. This will highlight the name of the file or folder, allowing you to type a new name directly. Once you’ve entered the new name, just press Enter to save it.
Using this shortcut can save you time, especially when organizing or cleaning up files. It’s particularly handy when you need to rename multiple files in quick succession.
Notes: If you want to rename a file but it’s not selected, you can use the Arrow keys to navigate to it first. Also, if you accidentally press F2 on a file you didn’t intend to rename, just press Esc to cancel the action.
Selecting multiple files or folders is essential when you want to move, copy, or delete several items at once. Instead of clicking each file individually, you can streamline the process with keyboard shortcuts.
To select multiple contiguous files or folders, click on the first file, hold down the Shift key, and then click on the last file in the range you wish to select. All files between the first and last file will be highlighted. If you want to select non-contiguous files, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on each file you want to select.
This method is particularly useful when you have a large number of files and want to manage them efficiently, whether you’re organizing photos, documents, or any other files.
Notes: Be careful while using the Ctrl key, as clicking on a selected file again will deselect it. For even faster management, combine this selection with copy (Ctrl + C) or cut (Ctrl + X) shortcuts to move files quickly.