Productivity Reference

Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that performs a specific action. The shortcuts typically involve one or more modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, or Command combined with another key usually a letter, number, or punctuation symbol. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can bypass navigating through menus and dialog boxes in software applications. Tasks that would normally require multiple clicks with a mouse can be accomplished swiftly using shortcuts, and you will be less relying on mouse movements. Professionals who use keyboard shortcuts efficiently perform repetitive actions more quickly. Most software allows customization of keyboard shortcuts. Users can assign their preferred shortcuts for specific functions. Additionally, each application often has its own unique set of shortcuts. We have crafted shortcuts for most commonly used applications across multiple platforms.

Practical Notes

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.

Start with frequent tasks

Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.

Mind the platform

The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.

Practice in context

Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.

Shortcut	Application	Action
`Alt`+`Shift`+`1`	MS Word	Show all headings with the Heading 1 style.
`Alt`+`Shift`+Heading level number	MS Word	Show all headings with the specified heading level.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F10`	MS Word	Show the tooltip for the ribbon element currently in focus.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`S`	MS Word	Split the document window.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`&`then`s`	MS Word	ß
`F8`	MS Word	Start extending the selection. In the extend selection mode, clicking a location in the document extends the current selection to that location.
`Esc`	MS Word	Stop extending the selection.
`Shift`+`F9`	MS Word	Switch between a selected field code and its result.
`Alt`+`F9`	MS Word	Switch between all field codes and their results.
`Alt`+`Shift`+`L`	MS Word	Switch between showing the first line of body text and showing all body text.
`Shift`+`F3`	MS Word	Switch the text between upper case, lower case, and title case.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`I`	MS Word	Switch to print preview.
`Ctrl`+`Space`	MS Word	Switch to the Chinese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`N`	MS Word	Switch to the Draft view.
`Alt`+`~`	MS Word	Switch to the Japanese Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.
Right Alt	MS Word	Switch to the Korean Input Method Editor (IME) for a 101-key keyboard, if available.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`O`	MS Word	Switch to the Outline view.
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`P`	MS Word	Switch to the Print Layout view.
`Alt`+`W`then`F`	MS Word	Switch to the Read Mode view (Full Screen Reading view in Word 2007 and 2010).
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`E`	MS Word	Turn change tracking on or off.
`Ctrl`+`Z`	MS Word	Undo the previous action.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F9`	MS Word	Unlink a field.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F11`	MS Word	Unlock a field.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F7`	MS Word	Update the linked information in a Word source document.
`F9`	MS Word	Update the selected fields.
`↓`	MS Word	When a menu or submenu is open, move to the next command.
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`P`	MS Excel	Activates the Font Size tab of the format cells
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	MS Excel	Activates the Font Tab of the format cells
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F10`	MS Excel	Activates the Menu Bar or Shortcut Characters in 2007
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F11`	MS Excel	Activates the Microsoft Script Editor window
`Ctrl`+`F7`	MS Excel	Activates the Move window command
`Ctrl`+`F8`	MS Excel	Activates the Resize window command
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`1`or`!`	MS Excel	Applies the Comma separated format "#,##0.00" to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`4`or`$`	MS Excel	Applies the Currency format "£#,##0.00" to the selection
`Ctrl`+`#`or`~`	MS Excel	Applies the Custom Date format "dd-mmm-yy" to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`or`^`	MS Excel	Applies the Exponential format "#,##E+02" to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`#`or`~`	MS Excel	Applies the General format to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`7`or`&`	MS Excel	Applies the outline border to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`5`or`%`	MS Excel	Applies the Percentage format "0%" to the selection
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`(`or`)`	MS Excel	Applies the Time format "hh:mm" to the selection
`Alt`+`Ctrl`+`F9`	MS Excel	Calculates All cells on All worksheets in All workbooks
`F9`	MS Excel	Calculates All the worksheets in All the open workbooks
`Shift`+`F9`	MS Excel	Calculates just the active worksheet
`Esc`	MS Excel	Cancels the cell entry and restores the original contents
`Alt`+`F4`	MS Excel	Closes all the workbooks (saving first) and exits Excel (File > Exit)
`Alt`+`Shift`+`F4`	MS Excel	Closes all the workbooks (saving first) and exits Excel (File > Exit)
`Ctrl`+`F1`	MS Excel	Closes and reopens the current task pane (ribbon in 2007)
`Ctrl`+`W`	MS Excel	Closes the active workbook or window
`Ctrl`+`F4`	MS Excel	Closes the selected workbook window
`Ctrl`+`C`	MS Excel	Copies the current selection to the clipboard

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References