10 Keyboard Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

Keyboard shortcuts let you perform common computer tasks using your keyboard instead of finding and clicking a button or menu option with your mouse.

You don’t need to memorize dozens of shortcuts to make them useful. Learning just a handful of common ones can make everyday tasks like copying text, undoing mistakes, saving files, finding information, and switching between programs much faster. I’ve also created a quick reference guide below that can be printed, saved, or bookmarked for reference.

Most of these shortcuts work in many different programs. Windows computers typically use the Ctrl (Control) key for these shortcuts, while Mac computers commonly use the Command (⌘) key.

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How to Read a Keyboard Shortcut

Keyboard shortcuts are usually written with a plus sign between the keys, such as:

Ctrl + C

You do not type the + sign.

Instead:

1. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
2. While holding Ctrl, press the C key.
3. Release the keys.

The letter is usually shown as a capital letter simply because it is easier to read. You do not need to capitalize the letter or hold the Shift key unless Shift is specifically listed as part of the shortcut.

For example:

Ctrl + C means hold Ctrl and press the C key normally.

It does not mean Ctrl + Shift + C.

This distinction is important because Shift is sometimes intentionally included in other keyboard shortcuts. If a shortcut requires Shift, it will usually be written out, such as:

Ctrl + Shift + S

On a Mac, shortcuts work similarly. For example:

Command + C or ⌘ + C

means:

1. Press and hold the Command key.
2. Press the C key normally.
3. Release the keys.

Once you understand this format, keyboard shortcuts become much easier to read and follow.

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10 Keyboard Shortcuts Everyone Should Know

What you want to do	Windows	Mac
Undo	Ctrl + Z	Command + Z
Redo	Ctrl + Y	Shift + Command + Z
Cut	Ctrl + X	Command + X
Copy	Ctrl + C	Command + C
Paste	Ctrl + V	Command + V
Select All	Ctrl + A	Command + A
Save	Ctrl + S	Command + S
Find	Ctrl + F	Command + F
Print	Ctrl + P	Command + P
Switch between open programs	Alt + Tab	Command + Tab

These shortcuts work in many common programs, although individual apps may sometimes use different shortcuts.

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Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference Guide

I’ve also created a printable Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference Guide that includes the Windows and Mac shortcuts from the table above, along with a simple cheat sheet explaining what each shortcut does.

You can access the guide using the link below. As a bonus tip, you can also bookmark the file in your browser so it’s easy to find whenever you need a quick reminder.

View the Keyboard Shortcuts Quick Reference Guide

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1. Undo: Ctrl + Z or Command + Z

Undo reverses the last action you performed.

This is one of the most useful shortcuts to know because it gives you an easy way to recover from many mistakes.

For example, you might use Undo if you:

• accidentally delete text
• move something you didn’t mean to move
• apply the wrong formatting
• paste something in the wrong place
• make an unwanted change to a document

In many programs, you can use Undo more than once to reverse several recent actions.

Windows: Ctrl + Z
Mac: Command + Z

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2. Redo: Ctrl + Y or Shift + Command + Z

Redo reverses an Undo.

For example, imagine you accidentally delete a paragraph and use Undo to bring it back. If you then realize you actually did want to delete it, Redo can restore the change.

Windows: Ctrl + Y
Mac: Shift + Command + Z

The exact Redo shortcut can vary in some programs, so if this shortcut doesn’t work, check the program’s Edit menu for its Redo command.

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3. Cut: Ctrl + X or Command + X

Cut removes something from its current location so you can place it somewhere else.

You can use Cut with things like:

• text
• images
• files
• folders

For example, if a paragraph is in the wrong place in a document, you can select it, cut it, and paste it into the correct location.

Windows: Ctrl + X
Mac: Command + X

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4. Copy: Ctrl + C or Command + C

Copy makes a copy of something without removing the original.

You can copy text, images, files, folders, and many other items.

For example, you might copy:

• an address from a website
• text from one part of a document to another
• a file into another folder
• information from an email

Windows: Ctrl + C
Mac: Command + C

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5. Paste: Ctrl + V or Command + V

After you cut or copy something, use Paste to place it somewhere else.

For example:

1. Select some text.
2. Copy it using Ctrl + C or Command + C.
3. Click where you want the copy to appear.
4. Paste it using Ctrl + V or Command + V.

Windows: Ctrl + V
Mac: Command + V

You’ll frequently use Cut, Copy, and Paste together, so these three shortcuts are especially useful to learn as a group.

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6. Select All: Ctrl + A or Command + A

Select All selects everything within the area you’re currently working in.

For example, it might select:

• all the text in a document
• all the files in a folder
• all the text in an email
• all the items in a list

Once everything is selected, you can perform another action such as copying, deleting, moving, or formatting it.

Windows: Ctrl + A
Mac: Command + A

Be aware of what you’re selecting before making another change. If you accidentally change or delete something, remember that Undo may be able to reverse it.

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7. Save: Ctrl + S or Command + S

Save stores the changes you’ve made to a file.

Windows: Ctrl + S
Mac: Command + S

Many modern programs automatically save your work, especially web-based programs such as Google Docs. However, Ctrl + S or Command + S is still a useful habit when working in programs where changes need to be saved manually.

You may also see a Save As option, which lets you save another copy of a file with a different name, format, or location.

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8. Find: Ctrl + F or Command + F

Find helps you search for specific text within many documents, webpages, spreadsheets, PDFs, and other programs.

For example, imagine you’re reading a long webpage about computer terminology and want to find the word “browser.”

Instead of scrolling through the entire page:

1. Press Ctrl + F on Windows or Command + F on Mac.
2. Type browser.
3. The program will locate matching text for you.

Windows: Ctrl + F
Mac: Command + F

This is one of the most useful shortcuts for finding information quickly.

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9. Print: Ctrl + P or Command + P

The Print shortcut usually opens the program’s print window.

Windows: Ctrl + P
Mac: Command + P

From there, you can typically choose options such as:

• which printer to use
• how many copies to print
• which pages to print
• page orientation
• color or black and white

Opening the print window does not normally print immediately, so you still have an opportunity to review the settings before printing.

Depending on the program, you may also be able to save a file as a PDF from the print window.

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10. Switch Between Open Programs: Alt + Tab or Command + Tab

You don’t have to click the taskbar or Dock every time you want to move between programs.

Windows: Alt + Tab
Mac: Command + Tab

For example, if you’re writing a document while referring to information on a website, you can quickly switch between your browser and document without using your mouse.

Hold down Alt on Windows or Command on Mac and press Tab to move through the open programs.

This shortcut becomes especially useful when you’re working with several programs at once.

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Bonus: Find and Replace

Once you’re comfortable using Find, you may also find Find and Replace useful.

Find and Replace searches for specific text and lets you replace it with something else.

For example, imagine you’ve typed a person’s name incorrectly throughout a long document. Instead of manually finding and changing every occurrence, you may be able to use Find and Replace to update them.

The keyboard shortcut for Find and Replace varies more between programs, so this is one case where it’s helpful to look in the program’s Edit menu or search its Help information.

In many Windows programs, including Microsoft Office applications, you’ll commonly encounter:

Ctrl + H

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You Don’t Need to Learn Them All at Once

Keyboard shortcuts are meant to make using your computer easier, not give you another list to memorize.

Start with the shortcuts that match tasks you already perform frequently.

For example, you might begin with:

Ctrl/Command + C = Copy
Ctrl/Command + V = Paste
Ctrl/Command + Z = Undo

Once those start to feel natural, add another shortcut.

Over time, you may find yourself automatically reaching for the keyboard instead of searching through menus, and that’s really the goal. Keyboard shortcuts are simply another way to tell your computer what you want it to do.

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