Windows 8 Keyboard Tricks

First, I was bit lost without the start menu. I thought Windows 8 is totally designed for touch screens. I don’t have any touch enabled tablet or monitor at the moment. How I am going to try Windows 8. However, I knew Windows 8 also designed for desktops as well. So, I thought of learning all the tricks about Windows 8 to use it with keyboard. Good news is you can control Windows 8 metro only using key board. Secret is simple. Learn and master all the keyboard shortcuts.




List of Windows 8 Keyboard shortcuts.

Key Combination	What it does?
Esc	Cancel
Tab	Move forward through options
Shift + Tab	Move backward through options
ALT + Tab	Circles through open Desktop Windows and Metro apps
ALT + Shift + Tab	Circles through open Desktop Windows and Metro apps backward.
Windows Key + Tab	Cycles through the open Metro Apps top to bottom
Windows Key + Shift + TAB	Cycles through the open Metro bottom to top
Windows Key + B	Switch to the Windows Desktop
Windows Key + C	Open Charms
Windows Key + D	Switch to the Windows Desktop.
Windows Key + E	Go to Desktop and open Windows Explorer.
Windows Key + F	Go to the Search File Page
Windows Key + H	Open Share Charm
Windows Key + I	Open PC Settings Charm
Windows Key + K	Open Devices Charm
Windows Key + L	Lock the Computer and go to Lock Screen
Windows Key + M	Switch to Desktop and Minimize the open Windows
Windows Key + P	Open the Second Screen Charm
Windows Key + Q	Open the Search for the current page
Windows Key + R	Switch to the Windows Desktop and Open Run
Windows Key + T	Switch to the Windows Desktop and focus taskbar circle to pinned and open programs
Windows Key + U	Switch to the Windows Desktop and open Ease of Access Center
Windows Key + W	Go to the Search Settings page
Windows Key + X	Opens up a menu with Administrator options
Windows Key + Z	Opens App Bar
Windows Key + 1,2,...or 9	Go to the app at the given position of the taskbar
Windows Key + =	Open the Magnifier
Windows Key + Esc	Close the Magnifier
Windows Key + ,	Show you the desktop and take you back to start screen when you release the keys.
Windows Key + Enter	Open the Narrator in Desktop
Windows Key + F1	Windows Help and Support window opens
Windows Key + Print Screen	Save .png screenshot of current screen and save in Pictures folder

Now you know you can totally control Windows 8 only using your keyboard. You don't have to worry about a touch screen devices to try out Windows 8.