15 Amazing Keyboard Shortcuts You Aren't Using

 15 Amazing Keyboard Shortcuts You Aren't Using

You know we all have that one friend or co-worker whose computer skills make us feel like a neanderthal they barely touch the Mouse their screen lights up with all kinds of tasks and boxes and their fingers go lightning fast on that keyboard they even have time to casually chat with Siri or Cortana and stream games afterward but this is no sorcery your friend is simply a whiz when it comes to hotkeys and you can be too.

Let's start with a skill every Computer Maestro needs to know...

1. Create a Virtual desktop

imagine you're in the middle of some work project or research you've been doing all day when you need to deal with another task immediately opening new tabs in Windows will just slow you down and mess up your workflow so you need a new clean desktop. well just press the Windows key + Control + D or Control + Up if you use a Mac it'll switch to a new fresh desktop and you're ready to go.

2. Switch between Virtual desktops

okay, but where is all that precious work you were doing before is it gone forever ah don't panic it's just hiding to get it back push the Windows key + Control or the Control key on a Mac. now you can switch between all the virtual desktops you've made by using the left and right arrow keys when you're done with the second task ensure you no longer need that desktop you can close it by pressing the Windows key + Control + F4 on a Mac hold down the Option key and click on the X signs that appear over any open desktop spaces to close them.

3. Return to the Desktop from Apps

If you have too many apps open and you need to use another one hidden behind all those windows on your desktop you don't need to minimize them all one by one you can minimize all of them at once by pushing the Windows key + M you can also take a peek at your desktop with the Windows key + comma or Command + F3 for os this is a handy little trick if you work with information from desktop widgets or if you really need to take a break for a second and look at the fluffy kittens or fields of calming green grass you use as your desktop wallpaper.

4. Open an App from the Taskbar

If you want much faster access to your most used apps consider keeping them on your taskbar it'll speed up your workflow even more if you use the following combination the Windows key + a number key from one deny each number represents an app in your taskbar from the left to right and this combo will bring up the necessary one, unfortunately, there's no similar hotkey for the os but i'm pretty sure Mac users are quite content with the Mac's awesome app navigation.

5. Split Screen between two Apps

Want to see a magic trick try this open one app that you need for your work and press the Windows key + left arrow then open another app and click the Windows key + right arrow now two windows are sharing your screen checking facts in your academic work while looking directly at your sources.

6. Switch Apps

There are several ways to effectively shift from one app to another and to manage them on your desktop using hotkeys pressing Control + Alt + Tab will show you all the apps currently running on your PC again mac is known for rocking the app navigation game so it's a bit easier on os it's just Control + tab

Another way to open the task view press the Windows key + Tab this is the PC equivalent to the max mission control it provides a broader view of open windows and available desktops and is much more convenient to use and finally, there's the hotkey Alt + Tab or Command + Tab on a Mac that will allow you to swap programs without previously displaying them like a deck of cards if you work with just a couple of windows at once this one for you.

7. Program management and Troubleshooting

let's go shoot us some trouble now listen carefully because you'll want to remember this one everyone's been there one program is stuck and won't process anything even. if you cry beg or try to bribe it to do so to avoid restarting your device and losing all your progress try using the following combo Control + Shift + Escape or Command + Option + Escape. if you're working on a Mac it'll open the task manager which will help you force quit any malfunctioning app or stop the ones that aren't responding losing some data from one faulty program is not the same as losing all your data from all of them.

8. Open file explorer

Not all your apps need to be on hand all the time for you to work faster some of them are standard programs built into your computer and there's a quick and convenient way to access them by pressing the Windows key + E opens the file manager window on your pc for mac users this is your finder app.

9. Use the Magnifier

Ever dreamed of becoming one of those tv detectives that can find anything on any picture no matter how tiny the image is enhance the image I need 10x zoom, yeah you can totally do that on your computer theWindows key combined with the Plus or Minus key will open the magnifier app which allows you to zoom in and out wherever you point your cursor the same goes for Mac os but you need to use the combination of all Command and plus to zoom just don't expect to be catching any criminals from the tiny inverted reflection bouncing off an earring or something.

10. Take Screenshots

oh, you found that tiny evidence well you better collect it use the Windows key + Print screen to take a screenshot and immediately save it in the image folder on your hard drive. Mac also lets you take screenshots by pressing Command + Shift + 3 but for you, it gets even cooler if you push 4 instead of 3 you'll be able to choose what part of your desktop you want to snap a picture of or even take a screenshot of only one exact window.

11. Use action center

Set up Bluetooth connect with devices in your network use your PC as a wi-fi hotspot turn notifications ON and OFF those and many other functions and newer versions of Windows are available in one place called action center to open it simultaneously press the Window key + A. for Mac users your notification center is always a click away in the top right hand corner.

12. Access the Settings

If you need more tweaking or access to more advanced parameters of your PC you can have it all use the Windows key + I to do just that.

13. Talk to Cortana or Siri

Task managers thorough researchers life organizers interesting conversation partners nowadays computers come with a personal assistant literally built-in Siri and Cortana can do it all and you can call them up with just one touch to open Cortana on windows in listening mode press the Windows key + C and to summon Siri on Mac Os Hold Command + Space together and say Hey Siri.

14. Use the Windows game bar

so you've been working hard all day bringing up these Desktops and what not you come home and it's time to relax to a nice gaming sesh and here it comes that exciting moment. when you finally beat that insane boss fight or you and your friends had a hilarious exchange or epic battle in the online game. you're playing together if only you could capture that moment forever well actually you have everything you need right in the game bar feature on your PC. you can bring it up at any time by pressing the Windows key + G to set up recording manually but that's not all game bar itself has a hotkey for starting and stopping recording just press Windows + Alt + R. you can even start streaming by pushing the Windows key + Alt + B. Mac OS also has its own feature for capturing videos and it's really simple to use press shift + command + 5 to record the screen using Quicktime player.

15. Lock down your PC

let's say you share a computer with your family or co-workers and you've spent all day looking for the perfect gift for your mom or slacking off at work and you don't want anyone to know about it. if you suddenly need to step away from the computer but you don't want anyone meddling in your stuff you can quickly lock your user profile simply push the Windows key + l or Shift + Command + Q on a Mac just make sure you set up your password first and don't forget it.

hey, which hotkeys make your time on the computer smoother and faster let everybody know down in the comments be sure to give a comment and share it with your friends and always stay on the Best blogs home.