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
`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move one line down
`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move one line up
`Ctrl`+`←`	MS Powerpoint	Move one word to the left
`Ctrl`+`→`	MS Powerpoint	Move one word to the right
`Arrow Keys`	MS Powerpoint	Move or resize the task pane after the corresponding command has been selected
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move selected paragraphs down
`Alt`+`Shift`+`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move selected paragraphs up
`→`	MS Powerpoint	Move the focus from a group to the first item in that group
`←`	MS Powerpoint	Move the focus from an item in a group to its parent group
`↑`or`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move the focus to a single item or group
`Shift`+`↑`or`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move the focus to an item and select it
`Tab`or`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Powerpoint	Move the focus to commands on the ribbon
`Ctrl`+`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move the selected slide or section down in order
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move the selected slide or section to the beginning
`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move the selected slide or section to the end
`Ctrl`+`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move the selected slide or section up in order
`F6`	MS Powerpoint	Move to a task pane from another pane or area in the program window
`Home`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the beginning of a line
`Ctrl`+`Home`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the beginning of a text box
`End`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the end of a line
`Ctrl`+`End`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the end of a text box
`Tab`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the next cell
`↑`and`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the next command on the task pane menu
`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the next row
`Ctrl`+`Enter`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the next title or body text placeholder. If it is the last placeholder on a slide, this action inserts a new slide with the same slide layout as the original slide.
`Shift`+`Tab`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the preceding cell
`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the preceding row
`←`	MS Powerpoint	Move to the submenu when a main menu is open or selected
`Alt`+`Q`thenthen type the search term	MS Powerpoint	Move to the Tell me or Search field on the ribbon and type a search term for assistance or Help content
`Ctrl`+`↑`	MS Powerpoint	Move up one paragraph
`Shift`+`F10`orthe Win	MS Powerpoint	Open a context menu
`Ctrl`+`O`	MS Powerpoint	Open a presentation
`Ctrl`+`O`	MS Powerpoint	Open a recent file
`Alt`+`A`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Animations tab and add animations to slides
`Alt`+`H`then`F`then`O`	MS Powerpoint	Open the clipboard
`Alt`+`G`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Design tab and apply themes and customize slides
`Alt`+`J`then`I`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Draw tab and access the drawing tools
`Alt`+`F`	MS Powerpoint	Open the File menu
`Ctrl`+`F`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Find dialog box
`Ctrl`+`T`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Font dialog box
`Ctrl`+`T`or`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`F`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Font dialog box
`Alt`+`Y`then`2`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Help tab and browse the PowerPoint, contact support, and leave feedback
`Alt`+`H`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Home tab and format slides, fonts, paragraphs, or drawings
`Alt`+`N`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Insert tab and insert slides, tables, images, illustrations, forms, links, text, symbols, or media
`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Open the list for a selected command
`Alt`+`↓`	MS Powerpoint	Open the menu for a selected button
`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`V`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Paste Special dialog box
`Alt`+`C`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Recording tab and manage screen recordings, audio, and video in your presentation
`Ctrl`+`H`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Replace dialog box
`Alt`+`R`	MS Powerpoint	Open the Review tab and check spelling and accessibility and add comments

Shortcut Learning Strategy

Start with frequent tasks

Mind the platform

Practice in context

Related References