Tired of dragging the mouse every time you want to perform even the most basic tasks on the computer? Here’s help. Did you know, for example, that you don’t need the mouse to select text, switch between programmes, or open and close browser windows?

Microsoft Windows, Word, PowerPoint and Excel have a number of hidden keyboard shortcuts that will make using the computer easier and faster. Here are 10 such useful shortcuts that you must know…

Opening & closing tabs

Done watching a YouTube video or reading an article on browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox etc and want to close tabs, or the whole window? To close a single tab in these web browsers, hit Ctrl + W; whereas Ctrl + Shift + W will close the whole window.

Accidentally closed a tab you were viewing on web browsers? You can reopen such tabs by Ctrl + Shift + T if the window is still open. To open new tabs, just click Ctrl + T.

Increasing & decreasing the font in Word

Preparing a project on Microsoft Word and need to change the font size many times? Instead of using the mouse every time for increasing the font of any text, you can just select it and click Ctrl + ]. Similarly, Ctrl + [ decreases the font size of the selected text.

Switching between windows

We often find ourselves switching between windows while working and using the mouse every time can be tedious. You can toggle between windows in all versions of Windows using Alt + Tab keys, making the task easier when you work.

In Windows 7 and 8, you can use Windows key + Tab to switch between programmes. Though Alt + Tab works here too, the Windows key + Tab combo gives a cascading effect which is pleasing to the eye.

Opening windows side-by-side

While working, you will often use the internet for research, but switching between the web browser and document is not always convenient. Instead, you can put the two windows side by side and work easily.

To do this, open the Word document, hit Windows + Left arrow key to push it to the left half of the display. Now, open the browser and click Windows + Right arrow key to slide the window to the right half.

Deleting files and capturing screenshots

You can delete files just by selecting them and hitting the Del key. But such documents are just deleted from the folder, not the computer; they are still in the Recycle Bin. If you want to delete a document in one go, just hit the Shift + Del combo.

Capturing screenshots depends only on the keyboard. Just hit the Print Screen button (pssssst… it is next to the Scroll Lock key) if you are using a desktop. Laptops have the Function (Fn) key, so use the Fn + Print Screen combo to take screenshots.

Finding word count and changing all-caps to upper/lower case

While making any project using Word, you will find yourself checking the word count every few minutes. Instead of going to the Tool menu and selecting Word Count option each time, you can simply select the text and hit Alt + T + W.

Another frequent MS Word task is changing text in all caps to upper/lower case. You don’t have to write the whole sentence again in such a case, just select the text and hit Alt + F4.

Going directly to desktop and locking the PC

The Windows key on the keyboard is not just to open the Start menu; it can help perform several tasks with ease. If you have opened several windows and want to go directly to the desktop, just hit Windows key + D. Hit it again to go back to the window you were using last. If you want to lock the computer, just hit Windows + L.

Selecting text in Word

Selecting text in any Word document is quite common for all users and you probably hate dragging the mouse every time. If you want alternatives, then Windows has a few nifty tricks up its sleeve for you.

You can hit Shift + Home to select text from the start of the line to where the cursor is, while Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow key will select the text from the starting of the paragraph to where the cursor is. Similarly, Shift + End selects the text from where the cursor is to the end of the line and Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow key selects it from the point of the cursor to the end of the paragraph.

Key PowerPoint shortcuts

PowerPoint is another frequently used programme on Windows. If you have too many slides and don’t want to scroll down to go to a particular slide, you can just hit the slide number and Enter key together, for eg 9 + Enter. Adding a new slide just needs the Crtl + M command and repeat the last action with F4.

Want to show your work to someone? Click F5 to start the presentation from the first slide or Shift + F5 to start it from the current slide. Want to increase or decrease font size? Just select the text and hit Ctrl + Shift + > or Ctrl + Shift + < combos, respectively.