Top 10 Useful Keyboard Shortcuts with the Windows Key You Need to Know

If your desktop background features a loved one and you want to take a moment to admire them, or simply relieve some work stress, the Windows + Spacebar shortcut is a game-changer.

Pressing this combination will make all open windows transparent, allowing you to fully view your desktop background. Once you release the Windows key, everything returns to its original state.

Windows 7 introduced a handy feature that allows users to pin applications to the Taskbar for quick access.

To speed things up, you can use the Windows + 1, 2, 3... shortcut, where the numbers correspond to the pinned apps in the Taskbar, starting from the left, right next to the Start button.

If using Windows combined with number keys helps you quickly open pinned apps on the Taskbar, how do you access previously opened applications?

The shortcut Windows + T allows you to cycle through the apps currently open on your Taskbar. Simply press it once to highlight the first app, and keep pressing to move to the second, third, and so on.

Need to zoom in for a clearer view or shrink your screen to relieve eye strain? The combination of Windows + the Plus key allows you to zoom in on the area where your cursor is. Press it multiple times to zoom in further.

Conversely, the Windows + Minus key will zoom out the screen. This feature is incredibly useful when you're working on your computer for extended periods.

By pressing the Windows + Pause/Break combination, you can skip several clicks and quickly open the System Properties window. Here, you'll find all the essential information about your computer.

If you need to work with two windows side by side, this keyboard shortcut is quite handy. Pressing Windows + Left Arrow will immediately move the open window to the left side of your screen.

Similarly, Windows + Right Arrow will push the open window to the right side. This shortcut is especially useful for those who multitask with multiple windows at once.

This shortcut lets you minimize or maximize windows with ease. Pressing Windows + Down Arrow will minimize the current window. If pressed multiple times, it will continue to minimize until the window is reduced to the Taskbar.

On the other hand, Windows + Up Arrow will restore the window to its original size, bringing it back to full view.

If you're working in a public space or an office and need to step away from your computer for a while, the Windows + L shortcut will quickly lock your computer and bring you to the login screen. This requires you to re-enter your password to resume work, ensuring that no one can interfere with your machine.

Starting from Windows Vista, Microsoft introduced a new and visually stunning 3D way to switch between open windows using the keyboard. This shortcut is a fantastic upgrade over the classic Alt + Tab combination from previous versions.

If you're juggling multiple programs and feel like your screen is getting cluttered, this is where the Windows + M shortcut comes in handy. It quickly minimizes all open windows and returns you to the desktop, leaving everything neatly tucked away on the taskbar. To restore the minimized windows, just use the shortcut Windows + Shift + M.