10 Windows key shortcuts for everyone
Tags: windows, productivity, mouse, keyboard
Published: 2019-10-07 15:04:12


Windows 10 is customary across most organizations. A daily users desktop is cluttered with many programs and task windows. A multi-monitor setup multiplies this clumsiness and navigating apps becomes a nightmare.

Follow these neat set of tricks and shortcuts to organize the desktop and enhance your user experience.

### 1. How to hide programs from your desktop
+ Click `Task View` button on **Taskbar**
+ Select `New Desktop` or use keyboard shortcut <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>D</kbd> to add a *Desktop 2*
+ Click `Task View`
+ Drag your distracting programs like *Chats*📱, *Email*📧, *Music Player*🎧 from *Desktop 1* to *Desktop 2*.
+ To navigate to Desktop 2 use
<kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>&rarr;</kbd>

A small laptop screen💻 can be transformed to a powerful workstation with a single keyboard shortcut

### 2. How to pin apps to the Taskbar.
+ Launch your programs in the order you want them to be pinned
+ Right click the program icon on **Taskbar** 
+ Select `Pin to taskbar`

The first pinned app can be launched using <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>1</kbd>

### 3. How to display a program in all your Desktops
+ Click `Task View` button on **Taskbar**
+ Right click the program window
+ Check `Show this window on all desktops`

Prevents duplicate launch of program while using <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>1</kbd> in *Desktop 2*

### 4. How to display contents of a program in Taskbar
+ Right click **Taskbar**
+ Select `Taskbar Settings`
+ Update *Combine taskbar buttons* to `When taskbar is full`
+ Under *Multiple Displays* turn on `Show taskbar on all displays`.

Moving **Taskbar** to the top of your screen might give you the same user experience of Internet browser tabs.


### 5. How to launch your favorite program using keyboard shortcut
+ Right click on your *Snipping tool* program icon in desktop
+ Click **Properties**
+ Select `Shortcut` tab
+ Click *Shortcut Key:*
+ Hit <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>S</kbd>

Now every time you hit <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>S</kbd> snipping tool will pop up.

### 6. How to run apps in Split Window
+ Active desktop window can be snapped to right side of screen
+ Hit <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>&rarr;</kbd>.
+ Click the desktop window you want to be snapped left.

Useful for comparing notes, dragging files, multi-tasking etc.

### 7. How to pin apps to your start menu for quick access
+ Right click your frequent *program* or *folder* icon
+ Select `Pin to Start`
+ Hit <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd> key to launch your *Start Menu*

Launch the program by clicking its icon from *Start Menu*.

### 8. How to group your programs in Start Menu
+ Navigate to **Start Menu**
+ Hover on top of a program
+ Click `Name group` to add custom group name like Work or Personal.
+ Drag and drop other apps to this group

Resize your favorite app tiles for easy access

### 9. How to configure your Mouse to automate shortcuts
+ Unleash your productivity by upgrading to a [Programmable Mouse](https://www.amazon.com/slp/programmable-mouse/s3zpn5o4wsup58o) 🖱.
+ Map the shortcut keys to mouse buttons as shown in the cover image

### 10. Useful  shortcuts


| Shortcut Key | Action |
| :------ | :----------- |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>D</kbd>    | *Show Desktop / Show Apps* |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>D</kbd>   | *Create Desktop 2* |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>&rarr;</kbd>   | *Switch to Desktop 2*  |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>Tab</kbd>  | *Task View*  |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>1</kbd> | *Taskbar App 1* |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>T</kbd>    | *Cycle Taskbar Apps* |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>&rarr;</kbd>    | *Snap window right* |
| <kbd>![Windows Key](http://i.stack.imgur.com/Rfuw7.png)</kbd>+<kbd>E</kbd>     | *Windows Explorer*  |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>Tab</kbd>    | *Switch Previous Window* |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>S</kbd>  | *Custom shortcut for Snipping tool* |


Whats your favorite <kbd>Shortcut</kbd>❔❔❔