One thing that is clear from the feedback on my previous article on hidden Windows 7 features: we love our keyboard shortcuts. So here are a few more selected shortcuts.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
| Desktop Shortcuts | |
 |
Open or close the Start menu. |
| + R |
Open the Run dialog box. |
| + D |
Display the desktop. |
| + Spacebar |
Preview the desktop. |
| + P |
Choose a presentation display mode. |
| Window Management | |
| + M |
Minimize all windows. |
| + Shift + M |
Restore minimized windows to the desktop. |
| + Up Arrow |
Maximize the window. |
| + Left Arrow |
Maximize the window to the left side of the screen. |
| + Right Arrow |
Maximize the window to the right side of the screen. |
| + Down Arrow |
Minimize the window. |
| + Home |
Minimize all but the active window. |
| + Shift + Up Arrow |
Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen. |
| + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow |
Move a window from one monitor to another. |
| Task Switching | |
| + T |
Cycle through programs on the taskbar. |
| + Tab |
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D. |
| Ctrl + + Tab |
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D. |
| Ctrl + + B |
Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area. |
| + G |
Cycle through gadgets. |
| Taskbar Shortcuts | |
| + number |
Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program. |
| Ctrl + + number |
Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
| Alt + + number |
Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
| Windows Explorer Shortcuts | |
| + Pause |
Display the System Properties dialog box. |
| + E |
Open Computer. |
| + F |
Search for a file or folder. |
| + L |
Lock your computer or switch users. |
If you are interested in drinking from the fire hose, here is the definitive list of shortcuts.
Win+E and Alt+F4 are probably my most used shortcuts. Since these shortcuts make bringing up Explorer very “cheap” in time/effort, I do it all the time and kill them immediately with Alt+F4 once the job is done. Making this a habit reduces the amount of windows one needs to keep “active” or “around”.