Do you want to work faster on a computer? Learn a few shortcut keys. This page lists the computer shortcut keys from A to Z, the Ctrl + letter shortcuts that work in Windows, Microsoft Word and web browsers. You will also find the Mac version of each one, a list of other handy keyboard shortcuts, and a printable shortcut keys chart for your desk or classroom wall.

What is a shortcut key?

A shortcut key (or keyboard shortcut) is a key, or a group of keys, that you press to give the computer a command. It does the same job as clicking a button or a menu with the mouse.

For example, to copy some text you could right-click and choose Copy. Or you could just press Ctrl + C. The shortcut is quicker because your hands stay on the keyboard.

Why use shortcut keys?

• They save time. One key press can replace three or four mouse clicks.
• They help you type and edit without stopping to find the mouse.
• They work in many different apps, so you only learn them once.
• They are useful when a mouse or touchpad is not working.

How to press a key combination

Most shortcuts on this page use the Ctrl (Control) key. You will find Ctrl at the bottom left and bottom right of the keyboard. When you see Ctrl + C, do this:

1. Hold down the Ctrl key. Keep holding it.
2. Tap the letter key (C) once.
3. Let go of both keys.

You do not need to press both keys at exactly the same time. Ctrl goes down first and comes up last. You do not need Shift or Caps Lock either: Ctrl + c and Ctrl + C are the same shortcut.

New to the keyboard? First read Keyboards and Keyboard Layout to learn where the keys are, then practise with Typing using a QWERTY Keyboard. Good typing and shortcut keys work well together.

Computer shortcut keys A to Z (Ctrl + letter)

This table shows the most common use of each Ctrl + letter shortcut in Windows. Some letters do different jobs in different apps, so the table tells you when that happens. “Word” means Microsoft Word. “Browser” means Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. On a Mac, use the Command (Cmd ⌘) key instead of Ctrl for most shortcuts.

Shortcut	What it does	Mac equivalent (Cmd + letter)	Example use
Ctrl + A	Select all (all the text in a document or all the files in a folder).	Cmd + A	Select your whole essay before you change the font.
Ctrl + B	Bold. Makes the selected text bold. Press it again to turn bold off.	Cmd + B	Make the title of your project bold.
Ctrl + C	Copy the selected text, picture or file.	Cmd + C	Copy a sentence so you can use it again.
Ctrl + D	Word: open the Font dialog box. Browser: bookmark the page. File Explorer: delete the selected file (sends it to the Recycle Bin).	Cmd + D (Word: Font box; browser: bookmark; Finder: duplicate the file)	Bookmark a useful revision website.
Ctrl + E	Word: centre the text. Browser: search the web from the address bar. File Explorer: go to the search box.	Cmd + E (Word: centre)	Centre the heading of a letter in Word.
Ctrl + F	Find a word on the page or in the document.	Cmd + F	Find the word “volcano” on a long web page.
Ctrl + G	Word: Go To a page number. Browser and Google Docs: jump to the next match after using Find.	Cmd + G = find next. (Word Go To: Cmd + Option + G)	Jump straight to page 5 of a long report.
Ctrl + H	Word and Google Docs: Find and Replace. Browser: open your History.	Word: Control + H for Replace. Browser history: Cmd + Y. (Cmd + H hides the app.)	Replace “colour” with “color” everywhere at once.
Ctrl + I	Italic. Makes the selected text slanted.	Cmd + I	Write the name of a book in italics.
Ctrl + J	Word: justify the text (straight left and right edges). Browser: open your Downloads.	Word: Cmd + J. Browser downloads: Cmd + Shift + J	Find a worksheet you just downloaded.
Ctrl + K	Word and Google Docs: insert a hyperlink. Browser: search the web from the address bar.	Cmd + K (add a link)	Turn the words “my school website” into a link.
Ctrl + L	Word: align text to the left. Browser and File Explorer: jump to the address bar.	Cmd + L (Word: left align; browser: address bar)	Type a new web address without using the mouse.
Ctrl + M	Word: indent the paragraph (move it in from the left). No common standard use in browsers.	Word: Control + Shift + M. (Cmd + M minimises the window.)	Indent a quotation in your English essay.
Ctrl + N	New. Opens a new document, or a new window in a browser or File Explorer.	Cmd + N	Start a new blank document for your notes.
Ctrl + O	Open a file that is saved on your computer.	Cmd + O	Open last week’s homework file.
Ctrl + P	Print the document or web page.	Cmd + P	Print the shortcut chart on this page.
Ctrl + Q	No common standard use in Windows. Word: remove paragraph formatting. Some other apps use it to quit.	Cmd + Q quits the whole app on a Mac. Save your work first!	In Word, clear odd spacing or alignment from a paragraph.
Ctrl + R	Word: align text to the right. Browser and Windows: reload (refresh) the page or window.	Cmd + R (Word: right align; browser: reload)	Reload a web page that did not load properly.
Ctrl + S	Save your work.	Cmd + S	Save your project often, so you do not lose it.
Ctrl + T	Browser and File Explorer: open a new tab. Word: make a hanging indent.	Cmd + T (new tab)	Open a new tab to research your topic.
Ctrl + U	Word and Google Docs: underline text. Browser: show the page’s HTML source code.	Cmd + U (underline). Browser source: Cmd + Option + U	Underline an important key word.
Ctrl + V	Paste what you last cut or copied.	Cmd + V	Paste a copied sentence into a new paragraph.
Ctrl + W	Close the current tab, document or window.	Cmd + W	Close a browser tab you have finished with.
Ctrl + X	Cut. Removes the selected item so you can paste it somewhere else.	Cmd + X	Move a paragraph from the end of your story to the start.
Ctrl + Y	Redo. Brings back something you just undid (Word and Windows). Google Docs: repeat the last action (Redo is Ctrl + Shift + Z). No common standard use in browsers.	Word: Cmd + Y. Most Mac apps: Cmd + Shift + Z	Bring back a word you undid by mistake.
Ctrl + Z	Undo. Takes back your last action. Press it again to undo more.	Cmd + Z	Undo a paragraph you deleted by accident.

Shortcuts that change from app to app

A shortcut belongs to the app you are using at that moment. That is why one letter can do two jobs. Here are the ones that surprise students most:

• Ctrl + E, L, R and J line up text in Word (centre, left, right, justify). In a browser, Ctrl + L and Ctrl + E take you to the address bar, Ctrl + R reloads the page, and Ctrl + J opens Downloads.
• Ctrl + D opens the Font box in Word but adds a bookmark in a browser. In File Explorer it deletes the selected file.
• Ctrl + H is Find and Replace in Word and Google Docs, but History in a browser.
• Ctrl + T opens a new tab in a browser, but makes a hanging indent in Word.
• Ctrl + U underlines in Word, but shows the page’s source code in a browser.
• Ctrl + Q and Cmd + Q can close an app in some programs. Save first!

Tip: if you are not sure, hover the mouse over a button. The little pop-up (tooltip) often shows its shortcut.

Google Docs and Chromebooks

Good news: Google Docs and Chromebooks use mostly the same Ctrl shortcuts. Ctrl + A, B, C, F, H, I, K, O, P, S, U, V, X and Z all work the same way. There are a few differences:

• To line up text in Google Docs, add Shift: Ctrl + Shift + L (left), Ctrl + Shift + E (centre), Ctrl + Shift + R (right) and Ctrl + Shift + J (justify).
• Redo in Google Docs is Ctrl + Shift + Z.
• Google Docs saves your work for you automatically.
• Press Ctrl + / in Google Docs to see a list of its shortcuts.

Top 10 shortcuts every student should know

1. Ctrl + C – Copy
2. Ctrl + V – Paste
3. Ctrl + X – Cut
4. Ctrl + Z – Undo
5. Ctrl + Y – Redo
6. Ctrl + A – Select all
7. Ctrl + S – Save
8. Ctrl + F – Find
9. Ctrl + P – Print
10. Ctrl + B – Bold

Learn these ten first. Use them every day for a week and they will become a habit.

Other handy keyboard shortcuts

These shortcuts do not use a Ctrl + letter pattern, but they are very useful. The Windows key is the key with the Windows logo, next to Alt.

Shortcut	What it does	Mac equivalent
Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows. Keep holding Alt and tap Tab to move through them.	Cmd + Tab
Windows + D	Show the desktop. Press it again to bring your windows back.	Fn + H, or Command + Mission Control
Windows + E	Open File Explorer to see your files and folders.	Cmd + N in Finder (new Finder window)
Windows + L	Lock the computer. Use it when you walk away from a shared computer.	Control + Cmd + Q
Windows + Shift + S	Take a screenshot of part of the screen. It is copied so you can paste it.	Shift + Cmd + 4 (or Shift + Cmd + 5)
Ctrl + Shift + T	Browser: reopen the tab you closed by mistake.	Cmd + Shift + T
Ctrl + Alt + Delete	Open the security screen. From here you can lock, sign out, change your password or open Task Manager.	Option + Cmd + Esc (Force Quit an app)
F2	Rename the selected file or folder in File Explorer.	Select the file and press Return
F5	Refresh (reload) the window or web page. In Word, F5 opens Go To.	Cmd + R
Alt + F4	Close the window or app you are using.	Cmd + W (close window) or Cmd + Q (quit app)
Ctrl + Backspace	Delete the whole word to the left of the cursor.	Option + Delete
Shift + arrow keys	Select text one letter (or one line) at a time.	Shift + arrow keys
Home / End	Jump to the start / end of the line you are typing on.	Cmd + Left arrow / Cmd + Right arrow
Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End	Jump to the very start / very end of the document.	Cmd + Up arrow / Cmd + Down arrow

Printable shortcut keys chart

Want a copy for your desk? Press Ctrl + P (or Cmd + P on a Mac) to print this page. In the print settings, you can choose “Pages” to print only the page with this chart.

Try it: a 5-minute shortcut challenge

Open Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Then follow these steps without using the mouse:

1. Type this sentence: Shortcut keys help me work faster on the computer.
2. Press Ctrl + A to select all of it.
3. Press Ctrl + B to make it bold.
4. Press Ctrl + C to copy it.
5. Press End, then Enter to start a new line.
6. Press Ctrl + V to paste. Now you have two copies.
7. Press Ctrl + Z to undo the paste. Then press Ctrl + Y (or Ctrl + Shift + Z in Google Docs) to redo it.
8. Press Ctrl + S to save your work.

Challenge: time yourself. Then try again and see if you can beat your time!

Quick check

Test yourself. Think of your answer first, then click “Show answer”.

1. Which shortcut undoes your last action?

Show answer

Ctrl + Z (Cmd + Z on a Mac).

2. You want to move a paragraph to a new place. Which two shortcuts do you use?

Show answer

Ctrl + X to cut it, then Ctrl + V to paste it in the new place.

3. What does Ctrl + J do in Microsoft Word? What does it do in a web browser?

Show answer

In Word, it justifies the text. In a browser, it opens your Downloads.

4. How do you press Ctrl + S correctly?

Show answer

Hold down Ctrl, tap S once, then let go of both keys. It saves your work.

5. You closed a browser tab by mistake. Which shortcut brings it back?

Show answer

Ctrl + Shift + T reopens the last closed tab (Cmd + Shift + T on a Mac).

Keep learning

Shortcut keys are easier when you know the keyboard well. Read Keyboards and Keyboard Layout to learn about the different parts of a keyboard. Then build your speed with Typing using a QWERTY Keyboard.

© 2026 Vedesh Kungebeharry. All rights reserved.