Computer Keyboard Shortcuts for Beginners

Keyboard shortcuts let you do a task by pressing a key combination instead of hunting with the mouse. The five every beginner should know first are Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste), Ctrl + Z (undo), Ctrl + S (save) and Alt + Tab (switch between open windows). Learning even ten shortcuts will make your everyday computer work noticeably faster and less tiring.

Why shortcuts are worth learning

Every time you reach for the mouse, click a menu, and hunt for a button, you lose a few seconds. Do that hundreds of times a day and it adds up. Shortcuts keep your hands on the keyboard and get the same job done in a fraction of the time. They also make you look confident in a job or an exam practical.

How to read a shortcut

Ctrl + C means: hold the Ctrl key, then press C, then release both. The + doesn't mean press the plus key. Some shortcuts use two modifier keys, like Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

The essential shortcuts to learn first

A few more that help every day

• Ctrl + F — find a word on a page or in a document.
• Ctrl + N — open a new window or document.
• Windows + D — show the desktop (minimise everything).
• Windows + E — open File Explorer.
• Alt + F4 — close the current program.
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc — open Task Manager (to close a stuck program).

Worked example

You're writing in MS Word and want to move a paragraph. Select it, press Ctrl + X (cut), click where it should go, and press Ctrl + V (paste). Made a mistake? Ctrl + Z undoes it. Done? Ctrl + S saves. Four shortcuts, no mouse menus, a few seconds.

Pro tips

• Learn five shortcuts at a time until they're automatic, then add five more.
• Ctrl is used with letters for most editing shortcuts; the Windows key is for system tasks.
• Most Ctrl shortcuts work the same across Word, Excel, browsers and email.

Common mistakes

• Pressing the keys one after another. Hold the first key while pressing the second.
• Looking for a "+" key. The + in Ctrl + C just means "together", not the plus key.
• Giving up too soon. Shortcuts feel slow for a day, then suddenly faster than the mouse. Stick with them.

Key takeaways

• Shortcuts do tasks with key combinations instead of the mouse.
• Start with copy, cut, paste, undo, save, select all and Alt+Tab.
• Hold the modifier key (Ctrl, Alt, Windows) while pressing the second key.
• Most Ctrl shortcuts work across all programs.

Practice task

For the next hour of computer work, use only the keyboard for copy, paste, undo and save. Keep a note of which shortcut saved you the most time. Tomorrow, add Alt + Tab and Ctrl + F.

Get comfortable and fast on a computer in the Basic Computer Course (BCC) at HCI.