13 Computer Shortcuts

The following is a list of our favorite keyboard shortcuts that will allow you to get more done in less time. All of the shortcuts will work in any major browser and on Macs and PCs, but Mac users should replace “CTRL” with the Apple key.

1. CTRL + F. Find. This command pulls up a search box in your browser and lets you search for the characters you have entered. If you’re like me and you find yourself scanning pages late at night with watery eyes trying to find something very specific – stop! Hit CTRL + F, type in what you’re looking for and hit Enter. You can then quickly cycle through each entry on the page of the characters you entered or learn that the page you are searching does not have what you are looking for.

Note: This command also works inside Microsoft Office programs.

2. CTRL + T. Open a New Tab. This is a browser command that allows you to open up a new tab to browse another website without replacing the one you are on. This command is best used when you want to compare one site to another.

A variation of this is CTRL + Left Clicking on a Hyperlink. Let’s say you are looking at plasma TV’s online and want to find the best price. You do a search in Google and want to quickly compare all of the sites on the first page of the search results to one another. Without going to any of the sites, you can can hold down CTRL on your keyboard and then left click on the link with your mouse and all the sites will load in different tabs at the top of your browser. You can then quickly cycle through the tabs ( CTRL + Tab) comparing each site’s content.

I also use this when I’m on a page and want to click a link, but do not want to leave the page I’m on. For example, if I’m on a checkout page about to pay for something and there’s a link to the return policy, I can hold down CTRL and click on the link to read it without the risk of losing the item I’m about to buy. The new page will be open in a new tab and I can click on the tab without affecting the page I was on, read it and then return to the old page, located in a separate tab.

Note: This is the only command listed that is only for the Internet. All other shortcuts can be used online and off.

Basic Every Day Shortcuts:

3. CTRL + S. Save. This is your best friend. Use it constantly. Everyone knows how to save, but not everyone knows or uses CTRL + S. The half-second of inconvenience of going up to the top of the page and selecting Save from the File menu is enough to prevent most people from saving every few heartbeats like they should. Trust me on this one.

4. CTRL + Z. Undo. This will literally undo the last thing you did and take you one step back. This is extremely useful. If life had this trick the divorce rate would be cut in 1/2.

5. Home. This key is usually located in the top right corner of your keyboard and will send you to the very top of the page, whether it’s a document or a web page.

6. End. The opposite of Home and always located next to it. This sends you to the bottom of the page.

Note: Page Up and Page Down will move you up and down the page in increments.

7. CTRL + C. Copy

8. CTRL + V. Paste

9. CTRL + X. Cut

10. CTRL + B. Bold

11. CTRL + I. Italicize

12.  CTRL + U. Underline

13. F5. Hard refreshes your browser. You can also press CTRL + Click the Refresh Icon in your browser for the same effect.

General Tips:

There is probably a shortcut to perform anything you do frequently on your computer already. If in doubt, ask us and we can help. If you use Google or Yahoo for your online searches, both have search bars that you can easily install into your browser so you can search without going to their site first.

Using the search function on most websites will quickly help you locate what you are looking for and learning how to use a search engine to take full advantage of it’s search capabilities can help you generate new business and contact people you wouldn’t have been able to find otherwise. An excellent article on this can by found on Money.com.

We would love to hear any additional tips, questions or comments you may have.

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