I expect most of the standard desktop keyboard shortcuts from Windows 7 will still work outside the Metro UI so I’m only going to focus on Windows 8 Metro Keyboard Shortcut keys here. If you see something missing from the list below, please drop it in the comments and I’ll add it to the chart. Also, be sure to check out our complete list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 if you’re no longer on Windows 8. Definition: Charms : Icons on the right which offer Search, Share, Start Menu, Devices, and Settings. Windows Key : Windows Logo Key on a standard keyboard built for the Microsoft Windows OS. App Key : Application Key picturing a Mouse Cursor on a Menu. Normally found to the Right of the Spacebar on a standard keyboard. ESC : Escape Key on a standard keyboard. Shift : Shift Key on a standard keyboard. ALT : ALT Key on a standard keyboard. PgUp / PgDown : The Page Up and Page Down Key on a standard keyboard. Metro UI : Touch sensitive Windows 8 UI based off the Windows 7 Phone Metro UI Interface. The Metro “desktop” hosts all Metro based Apps and Non-Metro based Icons.
Windows 8 Metro Keyboard Shortcut Keys
General Keyboard Shortcuts
F1 :: Display HelpF2 :: Rename the selected itemF3 :: Search for a file or folderF4 :: Display the Address bar list in Windows ExplorerF5 – Refresh the active windowF6 :: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktopF7 :: Check Spelling in open documentF10 :: Activate the menu bar in the active programCTRL+A :: Select all items in a document or windowCTRL+C :: Copy the selected itemCTRL+X :: Cut the selected itemCTRL+V :: Paste the selected itemCTRL+Z :: Undo an actionCTRL+Y :: Redo an actionSHIFT+DELETE :: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first (Outlook Tip also)SHIFT+F10 :: Display the shortcut menu for the selected itemSHIFT when you insert a CD :: Prevent the CD from automatically playingCTRL+ESC :: Open the Start menuCTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key :: Select a block of textCTRL+SHIFT+ESC :: Open Task ManagerCTRL+F4 :: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)CTRL+ALT+TAB :: Use the arrow keys to switch between open itemsCTRL+Mouse scroll wheel :: Change the size of icons on the desktopALT+ESC :: Cycle through items in the order in which they were openedALT+ENTER :: Display properties for the selected itemALT+F4 :: Close the active item, or exit the active programALT+SPACEBAR :: Open the shortcut menu for the active windowALT+UP ARROW :: View the folder one level up in Windows ExplorerALT+TAB :: Switch between open itemsALT+SHIFT+TAB :: Switch between open items in reverse orderWindows logo key + TAB :: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-DCTRL+Windows logo key + TAB :: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-DESC :: Cancel the current task
Did I miss one? Drop it in the comments. How do you close / exit out of it? Option 1 – If your on a tablet, just Swipe from Right side to Left and Tap Start after the Charm on the right shows up. Option 2 – If you have a keyboard, just press the Windows Key 1x. Press the Windows Key again to jump back to the Control Panel again. Option 3 – Press Windows Key + C to bring up the Charm Bar. Click the Start Button. One thing to understand is that all Metro style apps operate like mobile apps: that is to say, whenever they aren’t onscreen, they are suspended – completely locked out of using the CPU and GPU, although they stay in RAM. According to one of the Microsoft guys who was being interviewed on Wednesday on Channel 9 Live, if you open too many Metro style apps, Windows can choose to automatically close some of the suspended Metro style apps. I say that, basically to say that although the Metro style apps aren’t ‘closed’, it shouldn’t really make a difference to the performance of the apps that you’re currently running, because whatever is visible onscreen should have the full CPU and GPU at its disposal and the maximum numberof Metro apps that you can see at any one time is 2. The only real irritation in the apps not being truly ‘closed’, for me, is that whenever you go to use [Alt]+[Tab], there are far too many windows to tab through – sort of like a browser window where every page in your history is still open in its own tab. Hopefully the “Windows 8” Beta will improve this or at least introduce a way to close apps from an [Alt]+[Tab] type interface, similar to the app switching screen in Windows Phone Mango. I’m with you. I have a tablet and since there is no way to close the apps, when I slide from Left to Right to go between the apps, I have to go through the ones I want closed…. It would be nice if there was a “close” button since it’s not very easy to get into the Task Manager to kill the apps without a keyboard. That said, I’m sure they will have a simple solution once they progress beyond the Dev. Beta build. -S Checked what you’re referring to – had the RSS reader, weather, and twitter ruining. Hit the task manager and found them all running. Dont know if this is a result of running this in a VM or expected behavior. Bottom line is I was actually trying to hit task manager cause the VM locked up taking too many resources. Again thanks for the complete break down there. I know there are other places where this is talked about, but don’t remember where offhand. One place that this is discussed, though, is this session: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011/APP-409T BTW – Just did a full write-up on the NEW Task Manager w/Video – https://www.groovypost.com/review/new-run-windows-8-task-manager/ Hope this helps explain a few things. I think what we are used to is just an affect of what Microsoft trained us to think is normal. I think give it time and things will settle down a bit. “Grab an app and drag it down to the bottom edge of the screen to quit it” touch the screen on the top of the screen in the middle Drag your finger to the center of the screen. this will make the app into a smaller window in the center. now ” FLICK ” the window into the bottom midle of the screen and it will close. I know it seems hard but once you try it and understand it is very cool. here is video of a guy showing it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGbaAQyz8Q0 Just adding some subtle points about the Windows key. Use it to bring up metro UI. Use it again to head right back to desktop. Again to bring up metro UI. A toggle. Well, then again, if you’re in a metro app, use Windows key to get back to metro ui, and again to get back to desktop. So not really a toggle. But it does help get you out of more than the Esc key does, which is a great reason for the physical Windows key on tablets/Surface! Great article! In relation to my work, I really need the function for snipping tools. Is there any control key assign for it? If none, please guide me on the shortest possible way where i can easily apply it. Hope you can help me, I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much. Marilyn Comment Name * Email *
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