0 Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Codes

The re-imaging touch-first Window 8 comes with a lot of new touch gestures that are never existed in any previous Windows systems. To make it also workable on a non-touch device, pretty much all these touch gestures have their keyboard shortcuts, and mouse equivalents. That means in order to make most out of it, you need not only learn the new keyboard shortcuts and mouse movements, but also the touch gestures as well. The more you learn and use of them, the more you feel comfortable about this new UI.

Derick Campbell, director of engineering for Microsoft Research Connections, made some effort and compiled a comprehensive Windows 8 Shortcut cheat sheet that lists most of the common keyboard shortcuts and their equivalent mouse movement and touch gesture. The cheat sheet is named Windows 8 Consumer Preview – Ultimate Shortcuts Guide, stored and shared on docs.com, Microsoft’s official Office Web Application site.

Metro App and Start Page Shortcuts
Keyboard	Mouse	Touch
Win	Hover bottom left corner ->clickcorner(repeat).	Swipe from right edge in ->Start.
Win + Tab (release Tab,  repeat)	Hover top left corner ->click corner (repeat).	Swipe from left edge in then out -> App. Or swipe from left edge in.
Win + Tab (release Tab, repeat), Delete	Hover top left corner then down ->right click App -> Close.	Swipe from left edge in then out ->drag App all the way to bottom of screen.
Alt + F4	Hover top middle ->click and drag app all the way to the bottom.	Swipe from top edge all the way to the bottom.
Win + Z	In App, right-click open space. On Start, right-click a Tile.	Swipe from bottom edge or topedge.
Win + . (requires 1366x768 resolution)	Hover top edge, click and drag app to right. Or select split line, drag right.	Swipe from top edge, drag app to right. Or select split line, drag right.
Win + Shift + .	Hover top edge, click and drag app to left. Or select split line, drag left.	Swipe from top edge, drag app to right. Or select Split line, drag left.
Ctrl + -	Hover bottom right corner ->click corner (Summary View icon.) Or Ctrl + Scrollwheel down.	Pinch in.
Ctrl + =	Click open area.Or Ctrl + Scrollwheel down.	Pinch out.
Ctrl+Alt+Del	Alternatives: Start Page -> [User] -> Lock, Sign Out, or Switch Account. Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Task Manager. Hover top right corner then down -> Settings -> Power	Hold Win button and press Power button.
PgDn	Scroll wheel down.	Slide left.
PgUp	Scroll wheel up.	Slide right.
Arrows, Space, Tab	Move mouse, right-click Tile(s), click command	Swipe tile(s), tap command.
Metro Charm Shortcuts
Keyboard	Mouse	Touch
Win + C	Hover top right corner then move down.	Swipe from right edge.
Win + F	Hover top right corner -> Search -> Files.	Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files.
Win + W	Hover top right corner -> Search -> Settings.	Swipe from right edge -> Search -> Files.
Win + Q	Hover top right corner -> Search.	Swipe from right edge -> Search.
Typing on Start Page	Hover top right corner -> Search.	Swipe from right edge -> Search.
Win + H	Hover top right corner -> Share.	Swipe from right edge -> Share.
Win + I	Hover top right corner -> Settings.	Swipe from right edge -> Settings.
Win + K	Hover top right corner ->Devices.	Swipe from right edge ->Devices.
Desktop Shortcuts
Keyboard	Mouse	Touch
Win + D	Click Desktop tile.	Start page -> Desktop tile.
Win + E	Click Explorer tile.	Start page -> Explorer tile.
Win + I	Hover top right corner -> Settings.	Swipe from right edge -> Settings.
Win + X	Hover bottom left corner -> right click.
Win + R	Hover bottom left corner ->right click -> Run.
Win + T	Hover bottom left corner -> right click ->click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click.	Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app
Alt + Tab (release Tab,  repeat)	Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click.	Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app
Alt + 1 to 9	Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> click -> Hover across Taskbar -> click.	Start page -> Desktop tile -> Taskbar app
Other Shortcuts
Keyboard	Mouse	Touch
Win + L	Start Page -> [User] -> Lock.	Start Page -> [User] -> Lock.
Win + P	Hover top right corner then move down -> Devices -> Second screen.	Swipe from right edge ->Devices -> Second screen.
Win + ,
Win + O
Win + V
Win + Shift + V
Win + U	Hover bottom left corner -> right click -> Control Panel -> Ease of Access -> Ease of Access Center
Win + Enter
Win + =
Win + -
Internet Explorer Shortcuts
Ctrl + Tab	Right-click an empty area -> Tab	Swipe from top edge -> Tab
Ctrl + Shift + P	Right-click an empty area ->(+)	Swipe from top edge ->(+)
Ctrl + T	Right-click an empty area -> 3 dots ->InPrivate	Swipe from top edge -> 3 dots ->InPrivate
Ctrl + F4	Right-click an empty area -> Tab (x)	Swipe from top edge -> Tab (x)
Tab Shift + Tab Enter	Click the item you want.	Tap the item you want.
Ctrl + P
	Right-click an empty area -> Page tools -> View on the Desktop
Ctrl + L Alt + D
Backspace	Move mouse to mid-left edge -> Click back.	Slide right.
Shift + Backspace	Move mouse to mid-right edge -> Click forward.	Slide left.