Computer Shortcuts notes for competitive exams — Windows & Mac shortcuts for Word, Excel, PowerPoint & browsers with quick revision tables.
Section A: Windows (PC) Shortcuts
Windows General Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Windows Key | Open Start menu |
| Windows + D | Show/hide desktop |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows + L | Lock the computer |
| Windows + R | Open Run dialog box |
| Windows + Tab | Open Task View |
| Windows + I | Open Settings |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open windows |
| Alt + F4 | Close current window/application |
| Ctrl + Alt + Delete | Open security/task manager options |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager directly |
| F2 | Rename selected file/folder |
| Delete | Move file to Recycle Bin |
| Shift + Delete | Permanently delete file (skip Recycle Bin) |
Common Windows Editing Shortcuts (Used Across Most Apps)
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Ctrl + N | New file/document |
| Ctrl + O | Open file |
| Ctrl + S | Save file |
| Ctrl + P | Print |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| Ctrl + H | Find and Replace |
MS Word (Windows) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Ctrl + B | Bold text |
| Ctrl + I | Italic text |
| Ctrl + U | Underline text |
| Ctrl + E | Center align |
| Ctrl + L | Left align |
| Ctrl + R | Right align |
| Ctrl + J | Justify align |
| Ctrl + Enter | Insert page break |
| Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink |
| F7 | Spelling and grammar check |
| F12 | Save As |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy formatting (Format Painter) |
MS Excel (Windows) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Ctrl + Home | Go to cell A1 |
| Ctrl + End | Go to last used cell |
| Ctrl + Arrow Key | Jump to edge of data region |
| F2 | Edit selected cell |
| F5 | Go To dialog box |
| Ctrl + ; | Insert current date |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; | Insert current time |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Apply currency format |
| Alt + = | AutoSum |
| Ctrl + Page Up/Down | Move between worksheets |
| Ctrl + 1 | Open Format Cells dialog |
MS PowerPoint (Windows) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| F5 | Start slideshow from beginning |
| Shift + F5 | Start slideshow from current slide |
| Ctrl + M | Insert new slide |
| Ctrl + D | Duplicate selected slide |
| Esc | End slideshow |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Copy formatting |
| Tab | Move to next placeholder in slide |
Web Browser (Windows) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Ctrl + T | Open new tab |
| Ctrl + W | Close current tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen last closed tab |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch to next tab |
| Ctrl + L | Select address bar |
| Ctrl + D | Bookmark current page |
| F5 | Refresh page |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Open new incognito/private window |
| Ctrl + J | Open downloads |
Section B: MacBook (macOS) Shortcuts
Note: On Mac, the Command (Cmd) key replaces Windows’ Ctrl key in most shortcuts, and Option (Alt) key replaces Windows’ Alt key.
macOS General Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + Space | Open Spotlight Search |
| Command + Tab | Switch between open applications |
| Command + Q | Quit current application |
| Command + W | Close current window |
| Command + M | Minimize window |
| Command + Option + Esc | Force Quit application |
| Command + Delete | Move file to Trash |
| Command + Shift + Delete | Empty Trash |
| Control + Command + Q | Lock screen |
| Fn + Delete | Forward delete |
Common macOS Editing Shortcuts (Used Across Most Apps)
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + N | New file/document |
| Command + O | Open file |
| Command + S | Save file |
| Command + P | Print |
| Command + Z | Undo |
| Command + Shift + Z | Redo |
| Command + A | Select all |
| Command + C | Copy |
| Command + X | Cut |
| Command + V | Paste |
| Command + F | Find |
MS Word (Mac) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + B | Bold text |
| Command + I | Italic text |
| Command + U | Underline text |
| Command + E | Center align |
| Command + L | Left align |
| Command + R | Right align |
| Command + J | Justify align |
| Command + K | Insert hyperlink |
| Command + Enter | Insert page break |
| Fn + F7 | Spelling and grammar check |
MS Excel (Mac) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + Home | Go to cell A1 |
| Fn + Control + Right/Left | Move between worksheets |
| Command + 1 | Open Format Cells dialog |
| Command + Shift + $ | Apply currency format |
| Command + ; | Insert current date |
| Command + Shift + ; | Insert current time |
| Fn + F2 | Edit selected cell |
MS PowerPoint (Mac) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + Shift + Return | Start slideshow from beginning |
| Command + D | Duplicate selected slide |
| Command + M | Insert new slide |
| Esc | End slideshow |
Web Browser (Mac) Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Function |
|---|
| Command + T | Open new tab |
| Command + W | Close current tab |
| Command + Shift + T | Reopen last closed tab |
| Command + Option + Right/Left | Switch tabs |
| Command + L | Select address bar |
| Command + D | Bookmark current page |
| Command + R | Refresh page |
| Command + Shift + N | Open new incognito/private window |
Quick Revision Table (Most Asked Facts)
| Fact | Answer |
|---|
| Key used for shortcuts on Windows | Ctrl |
| Key used for shortcuts on Mac | Command (Cmd) |
| Shortcut to open Task Manager (Windows) | Ctrl + Shift + Esc |
| Shortcut to Force Quit an app (Mac) | Command + Option + Esc |
| Shortcut to lock screen (Windows) | Windows + L |
| Shortcut to open Spotlight Search (Mac) | Command + Space |
| Shortcut to open new browser tab | Ctrl + T (Windows) / Command + T (Mac) |
| Shortcut to start PowerPoint slideshow (Windows) | F5 |
| Shortcut to open File Explorer (Windows) | Windows + E |
| Shortcut for permanent delete (Windows) | Shift + Delete |
