What began as an email to staff at my school has become something that I look forward to each week.  I love to investigate new resources for those that teach and for those not necessarily in a classroom.  I hope that you can find things here that you can use!

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Last week, we looked at keyboard shortcuts using the “Ctrl” key + letters of the alphabet.  This week, we will look at the keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key + letters of the alphabet.

 

Press this key     To do this

Windows logo key     Open or close Start.

 

Windows logo key  + A     Open Action center

 

Windows logo key  + B     Set focus in the notification area.

 

Windows logo key  + C     Open Cortana in listening mode. This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, select Start  > Settings  > Cortana, and turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key + C. Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere.

 

Windows logo key  + D     Display and hide the desktop.  Students use this one to hide games they are playing as you walk by.

 

Windows logo key  + Alt + D     Display and hide the date and time on the desktop.

 

Windows logo key  + E     Open File Explorer.

Windows logo key  + F     Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.

 

Windows logo key  + G     Open Game bar when a game is open.  Disabled at school, but on a home computer this allows you to record your screen.

 

Windows logo key  + H     Start dictation.

 

Windows logo key  + I     Open Settings.

 

Windows logo key  + J     Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.  When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip.  Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored.

 

Windows logo key  + K     Open the Connect quick action.

 

Windows logo key  + L     Lock your PC or switch accounts.

 

Windows logo key  + M      Minimize all windows.  Students use this one to hide games they are playing as you walk by.

 

Windows logo key  + O     Lock device orientation.

 

Windows logo key  + P     Choose a presentation display mode.

 

Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Q     Open Quick Assist.

 

Windows logo key  + R     Open the Run dialog box.

 

Windows logo key  + S     Open search.

 

Windows logo key  + Shift + S     Take a screenshot of part of  your screen. 

 

Windows logo key  + T     Cycle through apps on the taskbar.

 

Windows logo key  + U     Open Ease of Access Center.

 

Windows logo key  + V     Open the clipboard. Note To activate this shortcut, select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard, and turn

on the toggle under Clipboard history. 

 

Windows logo key  + Shift + V     Cycle through notifications.

 

Windows logo key  + X     Open the Quick Link menu.

 

Windows logo key  + Y     Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.

 

Windows logo key  + Z     Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode.

 

Windows logo key  + period (.) or semicolon (;)     Open emoji panel.

 

Windows logo key  + comma (,)     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     Open Task view.  Easy way for you to see if students are hiding games.

 

Windows logo key  + Up arrow     Maximize the window.  Students use this one to hide games they are playing as you walk by.

 

Windows logo key  + Down arrow     Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window. Students use this one to hide

games they are playing as you walk by.

 

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 except 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  + Ctrl + Enter     Turn on Narrator.

 

Windows logo key  + Plus (+)     Open Magnifier.

 

Windows logo key  + forward slash (/)     Begin IME reconversion.

 

Windows logo key  + Ctrl + V      Open shoulder taps.

 

Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + B      Wake PC from blank or black screen