Windows 8 is a personal computer operating system that is part of the Windows NT family.
For both desktop computers and tablets, Windows 8 delivered significant changes to the Windows operating system and its user interface (UI). It’s a touch-friendly platform based on the contemporary Metro design architecture, which specifies how apps are distributed and presented in the user interface.
Windows 8, in addition to having a significantly different appearance and feel than its predecessor, touted shorter startup times and improved performance, but it failed to gain critical mass among both corporate and consumer users.
✔️ The main features of Windows 8
The absence of a Start menu in Windows 8 signified a significant break from previous versions of the operating system. Microsoft updated the well-known Start menu with a bigger Start screen that included Live Tiles, and a grid of icons that allowed access to apps and other services. This design provided consumers with a comparable experience to that of mobile devices.
The Charms bar, which allows users to access particular functions such as desktop settings and universal search, was also introduced with the OS. Users could access the Charms bar on the right side of the screen at any time, regardless of what they were doing.
✔️ Editions of Windows 8
Windows 8 came in a variety of flavours. Both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the basic consumer edition, dubbed Windows 8 (Core), were available. The Windows 8 Professional edition brought corporate-related features including Remote Desktop connectivity, BitLocker encryption, and domain-based capabilities to the basic edition.
The Windows 8 Enterprise edition, which was aimed largely toward Software Assurance subscribers, was based on Windows 8 Professional but had even more IT functions. Microsoft also released Windows 8 RT, a stripped-down version of the operating system designed for ARM-based devices like tablets.
✔️ Will Windows 8 be functional in 2022?
The Windows 8 Store will be decommissioned in July 2019. While you won’t be able to install or update apps from the Windows 8 Store anymore, you may keep using the ones you already have. However, because Windows 8 has been out of service since January 2016, we recommend that you upgrade for free to Windows 8.1.
✔️ Which is superior, Windows 10 or Windows 8?
Windows 10, like XP before it, has swiftly become the new Windows standard, and each significant update improves it more. Windows 10 combines the greatest elements of Windows 7 and 8 while removing certain contentious aspects, such as the full-screen Start menu.
Using Windows 8 is giving you different experience the more you use the more you get used to it, and learning windows 8 keyboard shortcuts will not only help you to make your work faster but also gives you great user experience so lets learn about the shortcuts and also you can download below shortcuts in pdf and excel format for better learning and reference.
Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts List
General
F1 | Display Help |
F2 | Rename the selected item |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
F4 | Display the address bar list in File Explorer |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
F10 | Activate the Menu bar in the active app |
Alt+F4 | Close the active item, or exit the active app |
Alt+Esc | Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened |
Alt+underlined letter | Perform the command for that letter |
Alt+Enter | Display properties for the selected item |
Alt+Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
Alt+Left arrow | Back |
Alt+Right arrow | Forward |
Alt+Page Up | Move up one screen |
Alt+Page Down | Move down one screen |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open apps (except desktop apps) |
Ctrl+F4 | Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously) |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window |
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) | Copy the selected item |
Ctrl+D (or Delete) | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin |
Ctrl+R (or F5) | Refresh the active window |
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) | Paste the selected item |
Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item |
Ctrl+Y | Redo an action |
Ctrl+Z | Undo an action |
Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-) | Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen |
Ctrl+ mouse scroll wheel | Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen |
Ctrl+Right arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
Ctrl+Left arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
Ctrl+Down arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
Ctrl+Up arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps |
Ctrl+arrow key (to move to an item)+Spacebar | Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop |
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key | Select a block of text |
Ctrl+Esc | Open the Start screen |
Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager |
Ctrl+Shift | Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available |
Ctrl+Spacebar | Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off |
Shift+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
Shift with any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document |
Shift+Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
Right arrow | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
Left arrow | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
Esc | Stop or leave the current task |
Windows logo key
Windows logo key + F1 | Open Windows Help and Support |
Windows logo key | Display or hide the Start screen |
Windows logo key + B | Set focus in the notification area |
Windows logo key + C | Open the Charms |
Windows logo key + D | Display and hide the desktop |
Windows logo key + E | Open File Explorer |
Windows logo key + F | Open the Search charm and search for files |
Windows logo key + H | Open the Share charm |
Windows logo key + I | Open the Settings charm |
Windows logo key + K | Open the Devices charm |
Windows logo key + L | Lock your PC or switch people |
Windows logo key + M | Minimize all windows |
Windows logo key + O | Lock device orientation |
Windows logo key + P | Choose a presentation display mode |
Windows logo key + Q | Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search) |
Windows logo key + R | Open the Run dialog box |
Windows logo key + S | Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web |
Windows logo key + T | Cycle through apps on the taskbar |
Windows logo key + U | Open Ease of Access Center |
Windows logo key + V | Cycle through notifications |
Windows logo key + Shift + V | Cycle through notifications in reverse order |
Windows logo key + W | Open the Search charm and search for settings |
Windows logo key + X | Open the Quick Link menu |
Windows logo key + Z | Show the commands available in the app |
Windows logo key + , | Temporarily peek at the desktop |
Windows logo key + Pause | Display the System Properties dialog box |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + F | Search for PCs (if you’re on a network) |
Windows logo key + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows on the desktop |
Windows logo key + number | Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. |
Windows logo key + Shift + number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + number | Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
Windows logo key + Alt + number | Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + number | Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator |
Windows logo key + Tab | Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Tab | Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) |
Windows logo key + Shift + Tab | Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + B | Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area |
Windows logo key + Up arrow | Maximize the window |
Windows logo key + Down arrow | Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window |
Windows logo key + Left arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen |
Windows logo key + Right arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen |
Windows logo key + Home | Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke) |
Windows logo key + Shift + Up arrow | Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
Windows logo key + Shift + Down arrow | Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width |
Windows logo key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow | Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another |
Windows logo key + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Spacebar | Change to a previously selected input |
Windows logo key + Enter | Open Narrator |
Windows logo key + Shift + period (.) | Cycle through open apps |
Windows logo key + period (.) | Cycle through open apps |
Windows logo key + / | Initiate IME reconversion |
Windows logo key + Alt + Enter | Open Windows Media Center |
Windows logo key + plus (+) or minus (-) | Zoom in or out using Magnifier |
Windows logo key + Esc | Exit Magnifier |
Dialog box
F1 | Display Help |
F4 | Display the items in the active list |
Ctrl+Tab | Move forward through tabs |
Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Move back through tabs |
Ctrl+number (number 1-9) | Move to nth tab |
Tab | Move forward through options |
Shift+Tab | Move back through options |
Alt+underlined letter | Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter |
Spacebar | Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box |
Backspace | Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons |
Taskbar
Shift+click a taskbar button | Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app |
Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar button | Open an app as an administrator |
Shift+right-click a taskbar button | Show the window menu for the app |
Shift+right-click a grouped taskbar button | Show the window menu for the group |
Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar button | Cycle through the windows of the group |
Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop
Alt+Page Up | Move between apps from left to right |
Alt+Page Down | Move between apps from right to left |
Alt+Insert | Cycle through apps in the order that they were started |
Alt+Home | Display the Start screen |
Ctrl+Alt+Break | Switch between a window and full screen |
Ctrl+Alt+End | Display the Windows Securitydialog box |
Ctrl+Alt+Home | In full-screen mode, activate the connection bar |
Alt+Delete | Display the system menu |
Windows Help viewer
F3 | Move the cursor to the search box |
F10 | Display the Options menu |
Home | Move to the beginning of a topic |
End | Move to the end of a topic |
Alt+Left arrow | Move back to the previously viewed topic |
Alt+Right arrow | Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic |
Alt+Home | Display the Help and Support home page |
Alt+A | Display the customer support page |
Alt+C | Display the Table of Contents |
Alt+N | Display the Connection Settings menu |
Ctrl+F | Search the current topic |
Ctrl+P | Print a topic |
Calculator
F1 | Open Calculator Help |
F2 | Edit the calculation history |
Alt+1 | Switch to Standard mode |
Alt+2 | Switch to Scientific mode |
Alt+3 | Switch to Programmer mode |
Alt+4 | Switch to Statistics mode |
Alt+C | Calculate or solve date calculations and worksheets |
Ctrl+E | Open date calculations |
Ctrl+H | Turn calculation history on or off |
Ctrl+L | Press the MC button |
Ctrl+M | Press the MS button |
Ctrl+P | Press the M+ button |
Ctrl+Q | Press the M- button |
Ctrl+R | Press the MR button |
Ctrl+U | Open unit conversion |
Ctrl+Shift+D | Clear the calculation history |
F9 | Press the +/– button |
R | Press the 1/× button |
@ | Press the square root button |
Del | Press the CE button |
Up arrow | Move up in the calculation history |
Down arrow | Move down in the calculation history |
Esc | Press the C button or stop editing the calculation history |
Enter | Recalculate the calculation history after editing |
F3 | Select Degrees in Scientific mode |
F4 | Select Radians in Scientific mode |
F5 | Select Grads in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+B | Press the 3vx button in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+G | Press the 10x button in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+O | Press the cosh button in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+S | Press the sinh button in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+T | Press the tanh button in Scientific mode |
Ctrl+Y | Press the yvx button in Scientific mode |
D | Press the Mod button in Scientific mode |
I | Press the Inv button in Scientific mode |
L | Press the log button in Scientific mode |
M | Press the dms button in Scientific mode |
N | Press the ln button in Scientific mode |
O | Press the cos button in Scientific mode |
P | Press the pi button in Scientific mode |
Q | Press the x^2 button in Scientific mode |
S | Press the sin button in Scientific mode |
T | Press the tan button in Scientific mode |
V | Press the F-E button in Scientific mode |
X | Press the Exp button in Scientific mode |
Y | Press the x^y button in Scientific mode |
# | Press the x^3 button in Scientific mode |
; | Press the Int button in Scientific mode |
! | Press the n! button in Scientific mode |
F2 | Select Dword in Programmer mode |
F3 | Select Word in Programmer mode |
F4 | Select Byte in Programmer mode |
F5 | Select Hex in Programmer mode |
F6 | Select Dec in Programmer mode |
F7 | Select Oct in Programmer mode |
F8 | Select Bin in Programmer mode |
F12 | Select Qword in Programmer mode |
A-F | Press the A-F buttons in Programmer mode |
J | Press the RoL button in Programmer mode |
K | Press the RoR button in Programmer mode |
< | Press the Lsh button in Programmer mode |
> | Press the Rsh button in Programmer mode |
% | Press the Mod button in Programmer mode |
| | Press the Or button in Programmer mode |
^ | Press the Xor button in Programmer mode |
~ | Press the Not button in Programmer mode |
& | Press the And button in Programmer mode |
Spacebar | Toggles the bit value in Programmer mode |
A | Press the Average button in Statistics mode |
Ctrl+A | Press the Average Sq button in Statistics mode |
S | Press the Sum button in Statistics mode |
Ctrl+S | Press the Sum Sq button in Statistics mode |
T | Press the S.D. button in Statistics mode |
Ctrl+T | Press the Inv S.D. button in Statistics mode |
D | Press the CAD button in Statistics mode |
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