Master List of Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts

Note: Keyboard combos that are new to the Consumer Preview are in bold.

Start screen/Metro

The following Windows key shortcuts work in the new Windows shell/Start screen.

WINKEY (tap)- Toggles between the Start screen and the foremost running app (Metro-style) or the Windows Desktop.

WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.

WINKEY + B - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and select the tray notification area.

WINKEY + C - Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay.

WINKEY + D - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).

WINKEY + E. Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.

WINKEY + F - Display File Search pane

WINKEY + H - Display Share charm.

WINKEY + I - Display Settings charm.

WINKEY + J - Swaps foreground between the snapped and filled apps.

WINKEY + K - Display Connect charm.

WINKEY + L - Lock PC and return to Lock screen.

WINKEY + M - Minimize the selected Explorer window.

WINKEY + O - Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.

WINKEY + P - Display the new Project (for "projection") pane for choosing between available displays.

WINKEY + Q - Search (within) Apps using the new Search pane.

WINKEY + R - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Run box.

WINKEY + U - Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center.

WINKEY + V - Cycles through Notification toasts.

WINKEY + W - Display Settings Search pane

WINKEY + SHIFT + V - Cycles through Notification toasts in reverse order.

WINKEY + X - Access the advanced context menu on the Start preview tip.

WINKEY + Z - Access the App Bar.

WINKEY + ENTER - Launches Narrator.

WINKEY + SPACEBAR - Switch input language and keyboard layout

WINKEY + TAB - Cycle through apps in Switcher.

WINKEY + SHIFT + TAB - Cycle through apps in Switcher in reverse order.

WINKEY + CTRL + TAB - Cycle through apps, snapping them as you go.

WINKEY + , - Peeks at the Windows desktop.

WINKEY + . - Snaps application to the left.

WINKEY + SHIFT + . - Snaps application to the right.

WINKEY + PGUP  - Moves the Start screen to the display on the left.

WINKEY + PGDN  - Moves the Start screen to the display on the right.

Windows desktop/Explorer

The following Windows key shortcuts work in the classic Windows desktop. Note that while many of these shortcuts also work in Windows 7, some are new to Windows 8.

WINKEY (tap)- Toggles between the Windows desktop environment and the new Start screen.

WINKEY + 1, WINKEY + 2, etc. - Launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right.

WINKEY + B - Select the tray notification area.

WINKEY + C - Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay.

WINKEY + D - Toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows).

WINKEY + E. Launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed.

WINKEY + F - Search Files using the new Windows Search pane.

WINKEY + I - Display Settings pane for Windows Desktop (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language).

WINKEY + L - Lock PC and return to Lock screen.

WINKEY + M - Minimize the selected Explorer window.

WINKEY + O - Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs.

WINKEY + P - Display the new Project (for "projection") pane for choosing between available displays.

WINKEY + Q - Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane.

WINKEY + R - Display Run box.

WINKEY + U - Launch Ease of Access Center.

WINKEY + W - Search Settings using the new Windows Search pane.

WINKEY + X - Display Windows Mobility Center application.

WINKEY + ARROW KEYS - Aero Snap.

If you learn just one keyboard shortcut, this it is: WINKEY + C will bring up the Charms bar, a system-wide menu of sorts that provides access to several key Windows 8 capabilities: Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings.

Of course, if you’re an overachiever, you may want to access these capabilities directly. Not surprisingly, you can do so, using WINKEY keyboard shortcuts that are dedicated to each:

WINKEY + Q: Search the current app or Search Apps

WINKEY + W: Search Settings (and control panels)

WINKEY + F: Search Files

WINKEY + H: Share

WINKEY: Start (acts as a toggle between Start screen and the current experience)

WINKEY + K: Devices

WINKEY + I: Settings

If you were going to learn just two keyboard shortcuts, I’d recommend WINKEY + C (Charms) and WINKEY + I (Settings). That’s because, after several months of using Windows 8 exclusively, those are the two keyboard shortcuts I use the most frequently. (I use Start Search for searching, where you tap the WINKEY key and then just start typing.)

Other useful keyboard shortcuts

In addition to the keyboard shortcuts listed above, there are a handful of capabilities that are easily accessed via keyboard. These include:

Printing. While the Devices shortcut (WINKEY + K) can get you to your list of printers (and other devices), using CTRL + P is more direct, assuming it’s supported. What I’ve found is that some, but not all, Metro-style apps support the desktop-based CTRL + P shortcut. If that doesn’t work, just use the Devices pane (WINKEY + K) instead.

Presentation mode. In Windows 7, using WINKEY + P would bring up a Presentation Mode pop-up, letting you quickly determine how to handle a second screen, or projector. This still works in Windows 8, and offers the same choices, though the interface is now a Metro pane instead.

App bar. To open the app bar in any Metro experience (Start screen, PC Settings, apps), typeWINKEY + Z.

Power user menu. To open the power user menu on the desktop, type WINKEY + X.

Lock. Also not new to Windows 8, WINKEY + L will lock the PC and, by default, display the new lock screen.

Magnifier. This Ease of Access feature is served by a surprising range of keyboard shortcuts, including WINKEY + =, which turns on Magnifier, or, if it’s already on, zooms in the view. WINKEY + - can be used to zoom out the view (assuming Magnifier is currently running). CTRL + ALT + Dwill dock Magnifier at the top of the screen. CTRL + ALT + L will place Magnifier in Lens mode.CTRL + ALT + I will invert the colors in the Magnifier display (it’s a toggle). And ESC will exit Magnifier.