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Computer Shortcut Keys in MS Office and Windows (A to Z)

Computer Shortcut Keys: Explore the complete list of computer shortcut keys A to Z. Learn 100+ shortcut keys of computer used in MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Windows for improved efficiency.
authorImagePraveen Kushwah15 Oct, 2025
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Computer Shortcut Keys

Computer Shortcut Keys: In the fast-paced world of computers, being efficient and productive is crucial. One way to do this is through computer shortcut keys. These keyboard commands are quick ways to perform tasks, simplify processes, and make your overall computer experience better.

As technology advances, shortcut keys have become more essential. They are valuable for both beginners looking to improve their workflow and experienced professionals trying to speed up complex operations.

What Are Shortcut Keys?

Shortcut keys in a computer are one or more keys on a keyboard that, when used all at once, execute a task that would normally involve navigating menus or clicking icons with a mouse. The fundamental purpose of what are the shortcut keys on a computer is efficiency. By learning a few key combinations, users can make computing faster and easier by simplifying operations like online searching, file management, and document writing.

A to Z Shortcut Keys

The A to Z shortcut keys generally use the Ctrl key (or Command key on a Mac) in combination with a letter. Commonly known as the Ctrl A to Z shortcut keys, these are some of the most fundamental and commonly used commands that every user should be familiar with.

Download Shortcut Keys PDF

Nowadays, more than 90% of people use computers, so it's essential to master keyboard keys. They help you perform functions quickly while using any computer application. This article provides a complete A to Z list of computer shortcut keys, including those for Windows, MS Office, MS Word, MS Excel, and PowerPoint. For a handy, offline reference guide to all the essential computer shortcut keys pdf and ms office shortcut keys pdf, click the link below to download a printable PDF copy of these tables.

Download Computer Shortcut Keys PDF

Windows Shortcut Keys

These are general Windows shortcut keys used across the operating system for navigation and file management, significantly speeding up common tasks. To quickly get started with short cut keys on your computer, focus on the core commands:

  • Ctrl + C (Copy)

  • Ctrl + X (Cut)

  • Ctrl + V (Paste)

  • Ctrl + Z (Undo)

  • Ctrl + S (Save)

  • Ctrl + P (Print

Mac Shortcut Keys

The macbook shortcut keys typically replace the Ctrl key with the Command (⌘) key, and sometimes the Alt key with the Option (⌥) key.

Shortcut Key (Mac) Function
Command (⌘) + A Select all items.
Command (⌘) + C
Copy selected item/text.
Command (⌘) + X
Cut selected item/text.
Command (⌘) + V
Paste selected item/text.
Command (⌘) + Z
Undo the last action.
Command (⌘) + S
Save the active document.
Command (⌘) + Q
Quit the active application.
Command (⌘) + Tab
Switch to the next most recently used application.
Command (⌘) + Spacebar
Show or hide the Spotlight search field (Mac's primary search tool).

MS Office Shortcut Keys

The MS Office shortcut keys are specific to individual apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, allowing you to swiftly format and alter text. These shortcut keys, along with others, are crucial for creating and formatting documents in Microsoft Word. The Ctrl key (Control) is a modifier key used in conjunction with other keys to perform specific actions. Understanding Ctrl commands and function keys is key to advanced usage.

Laptop Shortcut Keys

While most laptop shortcut keys are the same as desktop keyboards, some commands require the Fn (Function) key, especially for media and display controls. For instance, the paste shortcut key in a laptop remains Ctrl + V (Windows) or Command + V (Mac).

Shortcut Key (Laptop) Function
Fn + F1 to F12
Executes the special function printed on the key (e.g., mute, volume control, brightness).
Fn + Arrow Keys
Often acts as Home, End, Page Up, or Page Down keys.
Windows Key + P
Manages external display or projector settings (Windows).
Fn + Esc
Toggles the dedicated F1-F12 keys to act as standard function keys.

Computer Shortcut Keys A to Z

When you're using a computer, tasks like selecting text, copying, pasting, and deleting are common and essential. Instead of relying solely on your mouse, it's beneficial to use Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys. The table below lists all the basic shortcut keys that you can use daily, covering a range from A to Z.

Computer Shortcut Keys A to Z
Shortcut Key Function/Action Common Use
Ctrl + A Select All Selects all text or items in a document
Ctrl + B Bold Makes selected text bold
Ctrl + C Copy Copies of selected text or items
Ctrl + D Duplicate Creates a duplicate of the selected item
Ctrl + E Edit Opens the editing options
Ctrl + F Find Searches for a specific word or phrase
Ctrl + G Go to Navigates to a specific location
Ctrl + H Replace Replaces one set of characters with another
Ctrl + I Italicize Makes selected text italic
Ctrl + J Justify Aligns text to both the left and right
Ctrl + K Insert Hyperlink Adds a hyperlink to selected text
Ctrl + L Align Left Aligns text to the left
Ctrl + M Minimize Minimizes the active window
Ctrl + N New Creates a new document or file
Ctrl + O Open Opens an existing document or file
Ctrl + P Print Prints the active document
Ctrl + Q Quit Closes the active application
Ctrl + R Refresh Reloads or updates the current page
Ctrl + S Save Saves the active document or file
Ctrl + T Cut Removes and copies selected text or item
Ctrl + U Underline Underlines selected text
Ctrl + V Paste Pastes copied or cut text
Ctrl + W Close Closes the active window or application
Ctrl + X Cut Removes and copies selected text or item
Ctrl + Y Redo Redoes the last undone action
Ctrl + Z Undo Undoes the last action
These shortcut keys are commonly used to perform tasks quickly and efficiently while working on a computer. 

Also Read: Active And Passive Voice

Computer Shortcut Keys List

Below is a list of shortcut keys in computer awareness used across MS Office, Windows, File Explorer, browsers, and more. These keyboard shortcuts improve productivity by reducing dependence on the mouse.

MS Office Shortcut Keys

MS Office is a comprehensive suite of productivity software applications that has become an integral part of both personal and professional computing. Developed by Microsoft, this suite includes essential tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more.

Each application within Microsoft Office is designed to fulfill specific tasks, ranging from word processing and spreadsheet management to creating visually compelling presentations and managing emails.

 Having complete knowledge of Shortcut keys in MS Office makes the use of Microsoft Office more efficient. Let us have a look at the Important shortcut keys of MS Office:

MS Office Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Key Function
Ctrl + N New Document
Ctrl + O Open Document
Ctrl + S Save Document
Ctrl + p Print Document
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + A Select all
Ctrl + F Find
Ctrl + H Replace
Ctrl + B Bold
Ctrl + I Italic
Ctrl + U Underline
Ctrl + P Open print dialog
Ctrl + F2 Print preview

Computer Shortcut Keys MS Word

 Now, Let us have a look at the MS Office shortcuts:

MS Word Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Key Function
Ctrl + F3 Cut to the Spike
Ctrl + F4 Close the active document
Ctrl + F5 Restore the document window size
Ctrl + F6 Switch between open documents
Ctrl + F7 Activate the Spelling and Grammar check
Ctrl + F8 Extend a selection
Ctrl + F9 Insert an empty field
Ctrl + F10 Maximize the document window
Ctrl + F11 Lock a field
Ctrl + F12 Open the "Save As" dialog box

Computer Shortcut Keys MS Excel

Mastering MS Word shortcut keys improves productivity in document formatting, editing, and navigation.

Now, let us have a look at the general keyboard shortcuts:

MS Excel Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Key Function
Ctrl + Arrow keys Move to the edge of data region
Ctrl + Space Select entire column
Ctrl + Shift + "+" Select entire row
Ctrl + "-" Insert a new worksheet
Ctrl + Shift + "$" Delete the selected cells
Ctrl + Shift + "%" Apply currency format
Ctrl + Shift + "#" Apply a percentage format
Ctrl + E, S, V Apply date format
Ctrl + D Paste special
Ctrl + R Fill right

Computer Shortcut Keys PowerPoint

Table below contains important PowerPoint shortcut keys used in presentations and slide design:

PowerPoint Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Key Function
Ctrl + Enter Insert a new slide
Ctrl + M Insert a new slide in slide sorter view
F5 Start the presentation
Ctrl + F5 Start the presentation from the current slide
Alt + Shift + Left Arrow Promote a paragraph
Alt + Shift + Right Arrow Demote a paragraph
Ctrl + Shift + "+" Insert a new slide
Ctrl + D Duplicate the selected slide
Ctrl + E Center-align text

Computer Shortcut Keys other than MS Office

While MS Office is widely used, many important computer shortcut keys go beyond Office applications. These keyboard shortcuts are helpful in daily system tasks of bank exam computer section like  navigating Windows, browsing the web, managing files, capturing screens, and controlling media. Learning all these computer shortcut keys can significantly improve your speed and efficiency across various platforms.

Here are some commonly used shortcut keys outside of Microsoft Office applications:

General Windows Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in Windows:

  • Ctrl + C: Copy
  • Ctrl + X: Cut
  • Ctrl + V: Paste
  • Ctrl + Z: Undo
  • Ctrl + Y: Redo
  • Ctrl + A: Select All
  • Ctrl + F: Find
  • Ctrl + S: Save
  • Ctrl + P: Print
  • Alt + F4: Close the active window
  • F2: Rename a selected item
  • F5: Refresh the current window or webpage

File Explorer Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in File Explorer:

  • Win + E: Open File Explorer
  • Alt + Enter: Open the Properties of a selected item
  • Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder

Web Browsing Shortcut Keys (in most browsers)

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in Web Browsers:

  • Ctrl + T: Open a new tab
  • Ctrl + W: Close the current tab
  • Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the last closed tab
  • Ctrl + Tab: Switch between tabs
  • Ctrl + N: Open a new browser window
  • Ctrl + D: Bookmark the current page

System Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in the system:

  • Ctrl + Alt + Del: Open the Task Manager
  • Win + L: Lock your computer
  • Win + R: Open the Run dialog box
  • Alt + Tab: Switch between open applications

Multimedia Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in Multimedia:

  • Spacebar: Play or pause a video or music file
  • Ctrl + Arrow keys: Jump between words in a text document
  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager directly

Dialog Box Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys in the Dialog Box:

  • Tab: Move to the next control in the dialog box
  • Shift + Tab: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
  • Enter: Activate the selected button or option

Screen Capture Shortcut Keys

Here are some of the most commonly used Shortcut keys for Screen Capture:

  • Print Screen: Capture the entire screen
  • Alt + Print Screen: Capture the active window
  • Snipping Tool or Snip & Sketch: Windows tools for capturing and annotating screenshots.

Computer Shortcut Keys FAQs

What are the 20 shortcut keys?

Here are 20 commonly used computer shortcut keys:Ctrl + C: CopyCtrl + X: CutCtrl + V: PasteCtrl + Z: UndoCtrl + Y: RedoCtrl + A: Select AllCtrl + S: SaveCtrl + P: PrintCtrl + N: New (File or Document)Ctrl + O: OpenCtrl + F: FindCtrl + B: Bold (Text formatting)Ctrl + I: Italicize (Text formatting)Ctrl + U: Underline (Text formatting)Ctrl + T: Open a new tab (Web browsers)Ctrl + W: Close the current windowCtrl + Shift + N: Create a new folderAlt + Tab: Switch between open applicationsAlt + F4: Close the current program or windowWindows key + D: Show or hide the desktopThese shortcuts can be used in various applications and software, making tasks more efficient.

What is Ctrl A to Z used for?

Ctrl A to Z uses are: Ctrl + A: Choose everything.Ctrl + Z: Reverse a mistake.Ctrl + Y: Do again what you just undid.Ctrl + D: Erase the picked thing and put it in the Recycle Bin.

What is Ctrl Alt F7?

Usually, a Linux computer has seven virtual terminals, and one of them is reserved for the graphical user interface (the part with windows, mouse pointers, and icons). If you press CTRL + ALT + F7, you switch to the seventh virtual terminal, which is called tty7.

What is Ctrl in full?

"Ctrl" is short for "Control."

What does Ctrl +H mean?

In Microsoft Word, if you want to find and change words easily, you can press "Ctrl" and "H" on your keyboard together. This opens a box where you can type the word you're looking for and the new word you want to replace it with. It's a quick way to make changes in your document.

What are 100 shortcut keys in a computer used for?

100 shortcut keys cover tasks in text editing, file handling, browsing, and using software like MS Office. They increase workflow and reduce dependency on the mouse.

Why should I learn shortcut keys of computer A to Z?

Learning computer shortcut keys A to Z improves efficiency, saves time, and improves accuracy while working with documents, software, and web browsers.
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