Navigating Windows 10 can be made much easier with keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts allow you to move quickly between applications and manage your workspace efficiently. Here are three practical examples that will help you become more proficient at using your computer.
Using the Alt + Tab shortcut lets you cycle through your open applications without reaching for your mouse. This is especially useful when you have multiple programs running and need to switch between them frequently, like working on a document while researching online.
Simply hold down the Alt key and tap the Tab key. A small window will appear showing all your open applications. Keep holding Alt and tap Tab repeatedly until you highlight the application you want to switch to, then release both keys to open it.
Note: If you want to close an application while in this view, you can press Alt + F4 when it’s highlighted. This is a great way to manage multiple tasks without losing focus.
If you want to manage multiple virtual desktops or view all your open windows at once, the Windows key + Tab shortcut is perfect for you. This function is useful when you want to organize your workspace into different projects or tasks.
Press the Windows key along with Tab to open the Task View. Here, you’ll see all your open windows displayed in a grid. You can click on any window to bring it to the foreground. Additionally, at the top, you can create a new desktop by clicking on New Desktop. This helps keep your work organized and accessible.
Note: You can switch between virtual desktops using Ctrl + Windows key + Left/Right Arrow. This is helpful for quickly moving between different sets of tasks.
The Windows key + Left Arrow or Windows key + Right Arrow shortcuts are fantastic for managing your screen real estate. If you’re working on a report and need to reference information from another document, snapping windows side by side can make your workflow seamless.
Simply select the window you want to snap. Press the Windows key and then the Left Arrow to snap it to the left side of your screen, or the Right Arrow to snap it to the right. This will resize the window to fill half of the screen. You’ll then be prompted to select another open window to fill the other half of the screen, allowing for easy comparison.
Note: You can also use Windows key + Up Arrow to maximize a window or Windows key + Down Arrow to minimize it, giving you quick control over your window management.
By integrating these examples of navigation keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 into your daily routine, you’ll find that your productivity soars, and working on your computer becomes a much smoother experience!