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
`Ctrl`+`C`	MS Powerpoint	Copy selected object or text
`Ctrl`+`C`	MS Powerpoint	Copy selected text, object, or slide
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`C`	MS Powerpoint	Copy the formatting of the selected object or text
`Ctrl`+`N`	MS Powerpoint	Create new presentation
`Ctrl`+`X`	MS Powerpoint	Cut selected object or text
`Ctrl`+`X`	MS Powerpoint	Cut selected text, object, or slide
`F6`	MS Powerpoint	Cycle clockwise through panes in the Normal view
`Shift`+`F6`	MS Powerpoint	Cycle counterclockwise through panes in the Normal view
`F6`	MS Powerpoint	Cycle the focus through the different panes
`Ctrl`+`Shift+`	MS Powerpoint	Decrease the font size
`Backspace`	MS Powerpoint	Delete one character to the left
`Del`	MS Powerpoint	Delete one character to the right
`Ctrl`+`Backspace`	MS Powerpoint	Delete one word to the left
`Ctrl`+`Del`	MS Powerpoint	Delete one word to the right (with the cursor between the words)
`Alt`+`Shift`+`→`	MS Powerpoint	Demote a paragraph
`Shift`+`F10`orthe Win	MS Powerpoint	Display the context menu
`Ctrl`+`Space`thenOffice 2010:Ctrl`+`	MS Powerpoint	Display the full set of commands on a task pane menu. You can access, for example, the Close, Move, or Size buttons of a task pane.
`Ctrl`+`D`or`Ctrl`+Drag the mousethen(Office 2010andOffice 2007: Not available)	MS Powerpoint	Duplicate selected objects
`Shift`+`F10`or`to open the context menu`thenthen Othen`Enter`then`E`	MS Powerpoint	Edit a linked or embedded object
`Esc`	MS Powerpoint	End the slide show
`on numeric keypad only`or`→`	MS Powerpoint	Expand a focused group
`on numeric keypad only`	MS Powerpoint	Expand a focused group and all its child groups
`Alt`+`Shift`+`9`	MS Powerpoint	Expand all groups
`Ctrl`+`F1`	MS Powerpoint	Expand or collapse the ribbon
`Alt`+`Shift`+`+`	MS Powerpoint	Expand Outline View text below a heading
`F1`	MS Powerpoint	Get help on the currently selected command or control on the ribbon
`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Go to the next slide
`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Go to the previous slide
`Ctrl`+`G`	MS Powerpoint	Group the selected objects
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`>`	MS Powerpoint	Increase the font size
`Ctrl`+`K`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a hyperlink
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`M`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a new comment
`Ctrl`+`M`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a new slide
`Alt`+`N`then`P`then`D`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a picture from your device
`Alt`+`N`then`S`then`H`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a shape
`Ctrl`+`Tab`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a tab in a cell
`Alt`+`N`then`X`	MS Powerpoint	Insert a text box
`Alt`+`N`then`J`	MS Powerpoint	Insert an embedded document or spreadsheet as an object
`Alt`+`=`	MS Powerpoint	Insert equation
`Alt`+`N`then`W`	MS Powerpoint	Insert WordArt
`Ctrl`+`J`	MS Powerpoint	Justify a paragraph
`Ctrl`+`L`	MS Powerpoint	Left align a paragraph
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`D`	MS Powerpoint	Make a copy of the selected slide
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`B`	MS Powerpoint	Move a selected item backward
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	MS Powerpoint	Move a selected item forward
`Ctrl`+`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move down one paragraph
`Arrow Keys`	MS Powerpoint	Move down, up, left, or right, respectively, among the items on the ribbon
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`5`	MS Powerpoint	Move focus to the first floating shape
`←`	MS Powerpoint	Move one character to the left
`→`	MS Powerpoint	Move one character to the right

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References