Have a look at a list of useful keyboard shortcuts in the new OS flavor

Mar 5, 2012 21:31 GMT  ·  By

If you have had the chance to take a look at the new Windows 8 Consumer Preview from Microsoft, you already know that it looks much like Windows 7 when in desktop mode. In fact, it is so similar with the older client that it even offers support for the same keyboard shortcuts as Windows 7 does, in addition to bringing some more such key combinations into the mix.

One should agree that it is always a great idea to learn new ways to move through an operating system, especially if it is the platform you use on a daily basis.

With Windows 8, things might appear a bit complicated at first, especially if you haven’t had the chance to learn too much regarding the platform.

The fact that Windows 8 has been designed with touch optimizations into the mix might also pose problems for some people when they install it on a desktop PC with keyboard and mouse.

However, things are actually easier than they might appear, and we already explained some of the ways in which users can move through the platform with ease.

At first, they will get on the new Metro Start Screen, from where they would certainly want to go to the Desktop. Running applications and moving between them is easy, the same as is Shutting Down the PC in Windows 8, although there is no visible button at hand.

Now, we’ll have a look at some of the keyboard shortcuts that might prove of great help when running Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

First, we should note that the usual key sequences in Windows are available in Consumer Preview as well, including Windows (Logo) Key + E, which will launch Windows Explorer, or Windows Key + D, to get to the Desktop.

You can bring up the Charms Bar with Windows + C, or launch Search with Windows + F. Here’s a list of the Keyboard combinations we found in Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

Windows = gets you to the Metro start screen, or back and forth between it and the desktop (you can also use it to toggle between the Start Screen and the last accessed Metro App Win + E = launches Windows Explorer Win + D = gets you to the Windows desktop Win + , (comma) = peek at the desktop Win + C = brings up the Charms menu, where you can search, share, and change settings. Win + K = launches the Devices charm Win + H = gets you to the Share charm Win + I = gets you to the Settings charm (you can access settings for the app, or Network, Volume, Power, Brightness and Notifications settings) Win + W = launches the Metro Settings search screen Win + F = gets you to the Metro File search screen Win + Q = search within the current application (Metro app) Win + Z = launches the App Bar for the current application Win + . (period) = snaps the Metro application to the right side of the screen Win + Shift + . (period) = snaps the Metro app to the left side of the screen Win + J = toggle focus between snapped apps Win + Page Up / Down = moves the current app to the other monitor Win + Tab = opens the Metro application switcher menu, switches between applications Alt + Tab = toggle between running applications (keep Alt pressed while hitting tab to move between all running apps) Alt + F4 = close application Ctrl + Shift + Esc = launches the task Manager Ctrl + Alt + Del = brings up the screen to launch the Task Manager, Switch users, Lock computer, Sign out or Shut down the PC Win + P = brings up the settings for multiple monitors Win + U = launches the Ease of Access window Win + R = Run Win + L = locks the computer Win + X = brings up a menu for accessing various system tools Win + M = minimizes all windows (gets you to the desktop when in a Metro app)

If we missed possible keyboard combinations that might be useful in Windows 8 Consumer Preview, tell us in the comment section below.

You can download the Windows 8 Consumer Preview Build 8250 from Softpedia via this link.