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I found these invaluable as sometimes without touch gesture I couldn’t access Windows 8 Native app settings and Windows+I became invaluable. So here is a reprint of all official Windows 8 shortcuts published by a previous Microsoft consumer guide. I hope readers find these helpful in navigating around the DUAL UI that is Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. So let me know if you found this guide helpful and if you have any favorite shortcuts that you use!
Windows 8 App and Start Page Shortcuts |
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| Keyboard | Shortcut Result | Mouse | Touch |
| Win | Open Start Page or Last App (alternating). | Hover bottom left corner -> click corner (repeat). | Swipe from right edge in -> Start. |
| Win + Tab
(release Tab, repeat) |
Open next App (rotate through Metro Apps, Desktop is one App). | Hover top left corner -> click corner (repeat). | Swipe from left edge in then out -> App.
Or swipe from left edge in. |
| Win + Tab (release Tab, repeat), Delete | Close a background App. | Hover top left corner then down -> right click App -> Close. | Swipe from left edge in then out -> drag App all the way to bottom of screen. |
| Alt + F4 | Close active App. | Hover top middle -> click and drag app all the way to the bottom. | Swipe from top edge all the way to the bottom. |
| Win + Z | Open the App commands bar. | In App, right-click open space.
On Start, right-click a Tile. |
Swipe from bottom edge or top edge. |
| Win + . (requires 1366×768 resolution) | Snap App right. Move the split to the right. (Desktop is a single App.) | Hover top edge, click and drag app to right.
Or select split line, drag right. |
Swipe from top edge, drag app to right.
Or select split line, drag right. |
| Win + Shift + . | Snap App left. Move the split to the left
(Desktop is a single App.) |
Hover top edge, click and drag app to left.
Or select split line, drag left. |
Swipe from top edge, drag app to right.
Or select Split line, drag left. |
| Ctrl + – | On Start Page, Zoom Out. | Hover bottom right corner -> click corner (Summary View icon.) Or Ctrl + Scroll wheel down. | Pinch in. |
| Ctrl + = | On Start Page, Zoom back In. | Click open area. Or Ctrl + Scroll wheel down. | Pinch out. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Access to Lock, Switch User, Sign out, Change a password, Task Manager, Ease of Access, and Power down choices. | Alternatives: Start Page -> -> Lock, Sign Out, or Switch Account. Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Task Manager. Hover top right corner then down -> Settings -> Power | Hold Win button and press Power button. |
| PgDn | Move Start page tiles to the left. | Scroll wheel down. | Slide left. |
| PgUp | Move Start page tiles to the right. | Scroll wheel up. | Slide right. |
| Arrows, Space, Tab | Move active tile, Select, move Focus | Move mouse, right-click Tile(s), click command | Swipe tile(s), tap command. |
Windows 8 Charm Shortcuts |
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| Keyboard | Shortcut Result | Mouse | Touch |
| Win + C | Open Charms (also shows Date/Time/Power/Net). | Hover top right corner then move down. | Swipe from right edge. |
| Win + F | Open Search Charm on Files. | Hover top right corner -> Search -> Files. | Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files. |
| Win + W | Open Search Charm on Settings. | Hover top right corner -> Search -> Settings. | Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files. |
| Win + Q | Open Search Charm on Active App
(on right side only if supported by App). |
Hover top right corner -> Search. | Swipe from right edge -> Search. |
| Typing on Start Page | Search Apps. | Hover top right corner -> Search. | Swipe from right edge -> Search. |
| Win + H | Open Share Charm. | Hover top right corner -> Share. | Swipe from right edge -> Share. |
| Win + I | Open Settings Charm (plus Start Settings and Metro Help). | Hover top right corner -> Settings. | Swipe from right edge -> Settings. |
| Win + K | Open Devices Charm. | Hover top right corner -> Devices. | Swipe from right edge -> Devices. |
Windows 8 Desktop Shortcuts |
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| Keyboard | Shortcut Result | Mouse | Touch |
| Win + D | Show Desktop. | Click Desktop tile. | Start page -> Desktop tile. |
| Win + E | Open Windows Explorer. | Click Explorer tile. | Start page -> Explorer tile. |
| Win + I | Open Settings Charm (plus Control Panel, Personalization, PC Info, and Desktop Help). | Hover top right corner -> Settings. | Swipe from right edge -> Settings. |
| Win + X | Open Desktop quick menu (it’s like a mini Start Menu!) | Hover bottom left corner -> right click. | |
| Win + R | Open Run Dialog. | Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Run. | |
| Win + T | Cycle through Desktop apps on the Taskbar | Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click. | Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app |
| Alt + Tab
(release Tab, repeat) |
Open next App (rotates through Apps, Desktop apps each have one place in rotation). | Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click. | Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app |
| Alt + 1 to 9
|
Open the pinned Taskbar application | Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click. | Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app |
Other Shortcuts |
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| Keyboard | Shortcut Result | Mouse | Touch |
| Win + L | Lock Computer. | Start Page -> -> Lock. | Start Page -> -> Lock. |
| Win + P | Second screen options. | Hover top right corner then move down -> Devices -> Second screen. | Swipe from right edge -> Devices -> Second screen. |
| Win + , | Desktop peek (to see notifications I believe) | ||
| Win + O | Lock screen rotation (if PC detects this) | ||
| Win + V | Cycle through toasts. | ||
| Win + Shift + V | Cycle through toasts in reverse. | ||
| Win + U | Ease of Access Center | Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Control Panel -> Ease of Access -> Ease of Access Center | |
| Win + Enter | Launch Narrator. | ||
| Win + = | Magnifier, Zoom In. | ||
| Win + – | When Magnified, Zoom Out. | ||
Internet Explorer Shortcuts |
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| Ctrl + Tab | Cycle through open Tabs | Right-click an empty area -> Tab | Swipe from top edge -> Tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Open an InPrivate Tab | Right-click an empty area -> (+) | Swipe from top edge -> (+) |
| Ctrl + T | Open a new Tab | Right-click an empty area -> 3 dots -> InPrivate | Swipe from top edge -> 3 dots -> InPrivate |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active Tab | Right-click an empty area -> Tab (x) | Swipe from top edge -> Tab (x) |
| Tab
Shift + Tab Enter |
Move forward through items on a Web page.
Move backwards. Activate the selected item. |
Click the item you want. | Tap the item you want. |
| Ctrl + P | Print page. | ||
| View page on Desktop IE (good for opening pages with Adobe Flash). | Right-click an empty area -> Page tools -> View on the Desktop | ||
| Ctrl + L
Alt + D |
Open Address bar (includes frequent and pinned pages). | ||
| Backspace | Go back to previous Web page | Move mouse to mid-left edge -> Click back. | Slide right. |
| Shift + Backspace | Go forward to previous Web page | Move mouse to mid-right edge -> Click forward. | Slide left. |
We are influencers and brand affiliates. This post contains affiliate links, most which go to Amazon and are Geo-Affiliate links to nearest Amazon store.
I have been obsessed with computers, tech, gadgets and games since the early 1980’s having grown up on the Commodore 64 and Amiga computers.
By day I work in the IT Security Industry and have been in IT for over 20 years. On my spare time I am a Vlogger, Blogger, Streamer, Gadget Reviewer, affiliate marketer, influencer and entertainer. I am also an avid movie fan, TV Show fan, Anime fan, video game fan and fan of trying anything and everything new.