create keyboard shortcuts custom

Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts for Anything in Windows 10

Speed up your workflow and get rid of repetitive tasks

Want to know how to create keyboard shortcuts to do anything on Windows 10? This guide will help. Surprisingly, it’s quite easy to create a quick keybind that can open programs, perform repeatable tasks, and speed up your workflow.

I’ll suggest a number of different options you can use to make keyboard shortcuts and provide some examples of how you can use them to their max potential.

Open Programs Quickly

I can see this shortcut option being useful for a large number of Windows 10 users. It’s quick and easy to set it up so that a quick shortcut can open any executable file. Here’s how to do it.

First, download the WinHotKey program from Directedge . It’s free to use. It’s a bit old, but it works and it’s clean. Once downloaded, go through the installer wizard, then launch WinHotKey. In WinHotKey, click New HotKey in the top left.

In the new window that appears, give the hotkey a name . After, choose what combination you’d like to trigger the shortcut. For example, I chose to do Windows+F2. After, you can click the Browse option to find the location of the executable you’d like to open.

Alternatively, you can just copy and paste the location. WinHotKey will automatically grab the application icon so that you are given visual context about it. You can now open your program with the hotkey you’ve specified.

You must make sure that your keyboard shortcut doesn’t conflict with any existing shortcuts, either Windows defaults or from within the WinHotKey interface. For example, Alt+F4 couldn’t be used. It’s best to stick to Windows + ’X’ combinations to avoid conflicts.

Automatically Type Text

If you consistently type the same sentences or words, you can automate it with WinHotKey too. To do this, click New Hotkey in WinHotKey, then click the drop down box under I want WinHotKey to: and select Type some text .

Now, type or paste the text into the box at the bottom of the new hotkey window. Finally, make sure to choose a new keyboard shortcut you haven’t used before.

There isn’t a limit on how many characters you use with this shortcut, but if there is a line break in anything you paste, it will end there. So, it’s best for copying single paragraphs, things like hashtags for Instagram or social links for YouTube descriptions.

Open Folders and Documents in Windows 10

WinHotKey can also be used to quickly open specific folders and documents within Windows 10. You can simply select the Open a Document or Open a Folder options under the I want WinHotKey to: dropdown box and then follow the same steps as above.

This time though, you’ll need to browse to a specific file or application. If you choose the open document option, most documents will work, so long as you have a supporting application defaulted to open those kinds of files. From my testing, I could get Photoshop, office apps like Excel, PDF files, and text files.

If a file didn’t work, Windows 10 will ask you to choose a default application for that file type, and then future hotkeys with that file type would then also work.

Use Autohotkey for Emojis

AutoHotkey is another application for Windows 10 that can help you to create more complex keyboard shortcuts. This software can be used to automate a large number of different tasks. You can download Autohotkey from their website for free.

Once you’ve downloaded it, extract the file to a memorable location. Then, in the directory, double click an .ahk file , then when asked, choose to browse what application should be used to open such files. Next, browse and navigate to AutoHotkeyU64 . This will allow you to run AutoHotkey scripts by double clicking them.

It’s very easy to use emojis on a smartphone, but there isn’t any easy way to do this on a computer by default. With Autohotkey, you can set up a number of emoji shortcuts. Here’s how to do it.

Creating a hotkey extension can be quite complex, but thankfully there are dozens of great autohotkey scripts on the internet. For creating emojis, we’d suggest this one .

On the page shared above, click the Raw button to be taken to a raw text file. Next, press Ctrl+A to select the entire code. Then press Ctrl+C to copy it all. After, open a Notepad file and paste the code there.

Now, click File in Notepad, then click Save as . Navigate to the directory you extracted Autohotkey. Next, click the Save as type drop down box and select All files. Now, name it Emoji.ahk and click Save.

To use this hotkey script, you’ll need to double click it each time you start your PC . After, you can type emoji codes like :smiley: to automatically use emojis. At any time, you can refer back to the Github link above to see which codes are used for each emoji.

More Advanced Autohotkey Scripts

The potential for more advanced Autohotkey scripts is quite impressive. You can read up on some of the best scripts here .  Some examples include the following:

• Magnify the screen with keybinds
• Use mouse gestures
• Drag windows easily
• Quickly access your favorite folders
• View upload/download speed via a small on-screen overlay

I hope that this guide on using Windows keyboard shortcuts has been useful. Did you learn anything? I hope so. Did you struggle with any of the suggestions in this guide? If so, send me a Tweet and I’ll be happy to help out as soon as possible.

Ollie stumbled upon writing online whilst participating in a mobile network forum back in 2011. Since then, he has developed an incredible passion for writing about all sorts of tech from smartphones, PC hardware, software, and everything in between. Read Ollie's Full Bio

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How to Make a Custom Keyboard Shortcut for Anything With AutoHotkey

Using keyboard shortcuts is one of the best ways to save time when working on your PC. Windows makes it easy to create keyboard shortcuts (ex: CTRL+ALT+W to open Word) that launch your favorite programs. And most individual programs, including Word, Chrome browser and Excel, have their own built-in shortcuts for important menu items. But what if the action you perform most often isn't available as a hot key?

AutoHotkey could change your computing life. The freeware Windows 10 program allows you to write your own keyboard shortcuts for any program you use (or for Windows in general), taking even multi-step tasks that would require a lot of typing and mouse movement and turning them into one key combos.

One could write a book on how to use all the advanced features of Autohotkey's scripting language, but to get you started, we'll provide a few basics. Below we show how to create a very simple keyboard shortcut that launches a website, build a "hotstring" that turns a short keyword into your entire email signature and a write a hotkey that that selects an item from a pulldown menu in Photoshop Elements, allowing you to crop with a single key stroke.

Before You Begin: Install AutoHotKey

Before you create an AutoHotKey Script, you need to download both the program itself and its editor.

1. Navigate to http://autohotkey.com , click Download and install the AutoHotKey app.

2. Also download and install SciTE4AutoHotkey . You'll use it as a text editor for creating shortcuts.

Creating a Simple Hotkey Script

You'll need to create and store all of your shortcuts in a single AutoHotkey File, which is simply a text file with the extension . ahk.  You need your AutoHotkey file running in the background when at all times, if you want to use its shortcuts. We therefore recommend that you save the file in your Startup folder, which is usually located at C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup .

While you can edit your .ahk file in any text editor, including Windows Notepad, we recommend using SCiTE4AutoHotkey, which you downloaded above, because it auto suggests AutoHotkey commands and lets you run your scripts just by hitting the F5 key. Let's make a very simple script that launches a website from anywhere in Windows, just by hitting a keyboard combo.

1. Open SCiTE4AutoHotkey.  You should see a blank document.

2. Hit CTRL + N to create a new document if the program doesn't already have a blank document open.

3. Type ^!m:: on the first line  and hit Enter. This signifies the hot key CTRL + ALT + m. For each hotkey you create, you must put a series of symbols which represent modifier keys (CTRL, ALT, Windows Key, etc), then a primary key (a,b,c,d, etc) and then two colons (::) as a delimiter.

4. Type Run, http://www.gmail.com on the second line. This is a command that tells the computer to "run" the gmail URL. It will launch that URL in your default browser (ex: Chrome, IE, Firefox). Note that "Run" is just one of hundreds of Autohotkey commands . In AutoHotkey, Each line of code is terminated by a line break, unlike in many other programming and scripting languages that end their lines with a semicolon (;).

5. Type Return on the third line. The word Return signifies that the shortcut code has ended. Then you can put other keyboard shortcuts below, within the same .ahk file.

6. Save your .ahk file. We recommend saving it to the Windows Start folder so that it runs in the background every time you start your computer. The Windows Start folder is usually located at C:\Users\[USERNAME]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup. Hit CTRL + S to get the save menu. Here, we'll name our file myhotkeys.ahk.

7. Hit F5 to run your script. You'll see a notice at the bottom of the SCiTE4Hotkey screen that shows your script is running. If there are any syntax errors in  your script, you'll get an error message in red.

8. Test your keyboard shortcut. It should work! In this case, hitting CTRL+ALT+M will load Gmail in your primary browser.

9. Select Stop Executing from the Tools Menu (or hit CTRL + Break) to terminate your script. You'll want to terminate your script and restart it (F5) every time  you make changes.

Creating a Hotstring to Autocomplete Text

With AutoHotkey, you can also create what's called a "hotstring," a short set amount of text that automatically turns into a larger piece of text (or even executes commands). Imagine if you could just type the text "mysig" into any program and have it automatically convert into your entire email signature. Here's how to create a simple hotstring that does just that, by adding to your .ahk file.

1. Enter the hotstring, surrounded by two colons (::) on either side, when editing your macro file in SciTE4AutoHotkey. In this example, we'll make it ::mysig::.

2. Type the autocomplete text directly after the final colon , without using a linebreak. Use the symbol `r to signify a carriage return and `n to signify a double return.

3. Enter Return on a separate line. 

Now, when you type the text "mysig" and hit the spacebar in any program, whether it's Microsoft Word or a web form, you'll get the signature text.

Creating a Hotkey for a Menu Item

Perhaps the best use of a custom keyboard shortcut is for selecting an important and frequently-used action from a menu. For example, to crop an image in Adobe Photoshop Elements, you have to go all the way up to the top navigation and select "Crop" from a pulldown menu. However, if you're constantly cropping images, you're wasting time and straining your shoulder by poking the mouse or touchpad. Here's how you can create a keyboard shortcut for a menu item in any program.

1.  Open Active Window Info (Window Spy). It's a small utility the AutoHotkey installer adds to your system when you first use it. Window Spy helps you learn the names of different windows and sections of windows so you can use them in your AutoHotkey script.

2. Open the app you want to write the shortcut for (ex: Photoshop Elements).

3. Hover your mouse over the pulldown menu you wish to access (ex: Image).

4. Hit Windows Key + A to freeze Window Spy's display so that it doesn't' change.

5 . Take note of the Window class , which is usually written as ahk_class [class] in the Window, Title, Class and Process section. With Photoshop Elements, this is ahk_class pseeditor.

6. Enter #IfWinActive ahk_class pseeditor (or the current class name for your app) on a new line in your .ahk macro file. This line shows ensures that your keyboard macro only activates if the Photoshop Elements window is active.

7. Enter your keyboard shortcut on the next line. Make sure whatever key combination you choose is not already in-use in the program. We'll use ^;:: (CTRL + ;) in this case because it's available.

8. Take note of the "Client" coordinates  (ex: 152, 23).

10. Open the pulldown and note the placement of your action item , crop. It is three steps down, which means that a user could activate it by hitting the down arrow on the keyboard three times and then hitting Enter.

11. Type Send {Down 3}{Enter} onto the next line. This tells the script to send three down arrow presses and one Enter press. To see a list of all keys you can send, check out AutoHotkey's reference page . Special keys like Down Arrow and Enter have brackets around them but regular letters do not.

12. Type Return on the next line.

Your script is now complete. There are other ways to write a script like this. For example, you could choose to send the letter P rather than three down arrows because, in Photoshop Elements, the letter P would jump you down to Crop. Depending on the program you choose and its menu structure, you may find that sending different key presses or mouse clicks is most effective.

Sharing Your Keyboard Shortcut File

If you want to share your AutoHotkey keyboard shortcut file with a friend, you have two choices:

• Send them the .ahk file (ex: myhotkeys.ahk) and make sure they install AutoHotkey so they can run it. However, not everyone wants to install a separate app.
• Compile your .ahk file into an .exe, which anyone can run on its own.

To compile your keyboard shortcut file, simply select Compile from the Tools menu.

An .exe version of the file (ex: myhotkeys.exe) will appear in the same directory as your .ahk file.

Tell your friend to put the .exe file (or the .ahk file if you choose that route) in the Windows Startup folder. That's usually  C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

Customize Windows 10

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• Customize Autoplay Menu
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How to create a custom keyboard shortcut in Word

You can create, modify, or remove existing keyboard shortcuts in Microsoft Word, and here's how in Office from Microsoft 365 or Office 2019.

Microsoft Word allows you to create custom keyboard shortcuts to quickly use a combination of keys to execute a command or macro, apply a style, and insert a symbol without the need of extra steps utilizing a mouse.

In addition to creating new shortcuts, whether you use the version of Office from Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 , Microsoft Word also lets you modify existing shortcuts or remove those you do not want.

In this Windows 10 guide, we will walk you through the steps of creating a custom keyboard shortcut for your most frequent Word commands. In addition, we will also outline the steps of removing a specific shortcut and resetting all custom settings to their defaults.

How to create custom keyboard shortcut in Word

How to remove custom keyboard shortcut in word.

• How to reset custom keyboard shortcut settings in Word  

To assign a custom keyboard shortcut to a command or item in Word, use these steps:

• Open Microsoft Word .
• Click on Options from the bottom-left corner. Quick note: If you have a blank document open, click the File menu to access the Options button. Alternatively, you can also right-click anywhere in the Ribbon and select the Customize the Ribbon option to access the settings.
• Click on Customize Ribbon .
• Under the "Customize the Ribbon and keyboard shortcuts" section, click the Customize button for "Keyboard shortcuts."
• In the Categories section, select the category that contains the command, macro, or style you want to customize.
• In the Command section, select the item to which you want to add a custom keyboard shortcut. Quick note: If the command has a shortcut already assigned, it will be listed under the "Current keys" section. You can always add more shortcuts for the same command or remove shortcuts as needed (see steps below).
• In the Press new shortcut key box, confirm the keyboard shortcut you want to use. Quick tip: You can use a number of key combinations. For example, you can use a function key, such as F3 and F4 , Alt and/or Ctrl + other keys like Alt + Ctrl + F7 . If the shortcut is already in use, you can still use it, but the keyboard shortcut will no longer be available for the other item.
• In the "Save changes in" option, select the Normal.dotm option to make the keyboard available for all documents.
• Click the Assign button.
• Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, you can now start using the keyboard shortcut to quickly run command, macro, style, font, or symbol.

While the ability to customize shortcuts is available in older versions, you should consider upgrading to Office from Microsoft 365. The subscription-based service offers a free upgrade and other benefits, such as sharing the apps with up to six family members and friends, and you get access to services like Microsoft Teams, Family Safety, Microsoft Editor, and 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Microsoft 365 gives you full access to all the Office apps and benefits like 1TB OneDrive storage and Skype minutes. You can also install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other apps on up to five devices, and depending on the subscription, you can share the account with up to six people.

To remove a keyboard shortcut in Word, use these steps:

• Click on Options from the bottom-left corner.
• In the Categories section, select the category that contains the command you want to customize.
• In the Command section, select the item from which you want to remove a custom keyboard shortcut.
• Under the "Current keys" section, select the shortcut you want to remove.
• Click the Remove button.

After you complete the steps, the shortcut will no longer be available in Microsoft Word.

How to reset custom keyboard shortcut settings in Word

To reset all the shortcut settings in Word, use these steps:

• Click the Reset All button.
• Click the Yes button.

Once you complete the steps, the keyboard settings will reset to their original configuration.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks
• Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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Mauro Huculak is technical writer for WindowsCentral.com. His primary focus is to write comprehensive how-tos to help users get the most out of Windows 10 and its many related technologies. He has an IT background with professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, and CompTIA, and he's a recognized member of the Microsoft MVP community.

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Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts to Do Anything on Windows and macOS

If the built-in keyboard shortcuts aren't enough for you, you can make some of your own..

Keyboard shortcuts are your not-so-secret weapon for maximizing your productivity and blazing through tasks at top speed. From dropping GIFs into chats to searching Wikipedia in an instant and everything in between, keyboard shortcuts can come in really handy. You don’t just have to settle for the standard list of shortcuts you get with Windows or macOS, though—you can easily create your own too. Here’s how.

Custom Windows Shortcuts

Windows 10 enables you to make your own custom keyboard shortcuts, but only up to a point—to launch specific shortcuts to files, folders and apps. The easiest way to create a shortcut is to right-click inside a File Explorer window or on the desktop, then choose New and Shortcut . Follow the instructions to tell Windows what you want to create a shortcut to.

Once the shortcut to the program, file or folder is created, right-click on it and choose Properties . On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key box, enter your chosen keystroke combination, and click OK to confirm. Note that your custom combination has to start with Ctrl+Alt , after which you can add a letter, number, or function key. That customization is helpful, but it doesn’t really let you go to town on your own custom shortcuts. To do that, you need the help of a third-party program.

WinHotKey is an older freeware program but still works in Windows 10. It runs from the notification area (system tray). Right-click its icon, click Configure , then choose New Hotkey from the dialog box that appears to create your shortcut. As the Windows OS has bagged most of the Win+whatever shortcuts for itself, you’ll probably need to add in a Ctrl or a Shift to make yours unique. You can launch applications, open files, open folders, or perform a number of actions on the current window (like minimizing it).

AutoHotkey is also worth a look—and is also free. This is more complex and is built around scripts. You need to create these scripts as small text files which can then be assigned shortcut keys of your choice. The benefit of this extra complexity is you can do just about anything with the program, from launching apps to inputting lines of text. For more detailed instructions for creating scripts, and some example ones you can modify, see the online documentation .

Comfort Keys Pro is another option, though you will have to pay $40 for it once the free trial has ended. You do get a lot for your money, though: an intuitive, clean interface for building up your custom keyboard shortcuts, which can link to apps, or files, or snippets of text, or anything you like. If you don’t want to start entirely from scratch, you can use the text macro templates provided, and there’s even a clipboard history manager you can use, too.

Finally, you can create your own custom keyboard shortcuts in a few applications, including Microsoft Word . Open Options from the main program menu, then choose Customize Ribbon and click Customize... next to the Keyboard shortcuts heading. You can do the same trick in Photoshop, too, via Edit and Keyboard Shortcuts —just select a tool or menu option to assign a shortcut to it.

Custom macOS Shortcuts

On the Mac, Apple offers a native option for attaching keyboard shortcuts to menus and actions. Open the Apple menu, then pick System Preferences , Keyboard , and Shortcuts . You can disable or enable any shortcut using the tick boxes to the left, or set a different keystroke combination by clicking on the shortcut you want to change and then hitting the replacement combination on your keyboard.

To set up a new shortcut for an app menu item, click App Shortcuts then the + (plus) button. You need to type out the exact menu label you want the shortcut to apply to (like “Delete” for example), and specify whether the shortcut should work in every app or one desktop program in particular, as well as enter the keyboard combination itself. Once you’ve clicked Add you’re up and running with your new macOS keyboard shortcut.

Under Services you can find options like capturing the screen and setting the desktop wallpaper, and all these options can have their own shortcuts too. If you want to add a new service to this list—importing tracks into the Music application maybe, creating new calendars, or many other actions—you can do this through the built-in Automator utility and then assign a keyboard shortcut afterwards.

You can do more with the help of a third-party program, like Alfred . Using customizable “hotkeys,” you can launch an application, take more control over Alfred itself, or launch a specific script or AppleScript to carry out an action. The option to create hotkeys needs the Powerpack purchase, which is £29 (about $40 at the time of writing).

From the Alfred Preferences pane, click Workflow , then click the + (plus) button in the bottom left—if you choose the Templates option you can see how hotkeys can be assigned to files, apps, web searches, system commands and more besides. You just choose your hotkey, your action, and your parameters (if necessary). Once you’re more confident, you can create these workflows from scratch following the full instructions here .

Then there’s Keyboard Maestro, which will set you back $36 (after a free trial) but which also offers you a lot of flexibility in terms of keyboard shortcut customization. You can assign a keyboard shortcut to just about anything by creating a macro (a series of commands) then assigning a hotkey to it. Open up Help and Tutorial for a more thorough guide, but to get up and running as quickly as possible, click the + (plus button) down at the bottom of the interface to create a new macro. You have to set a hotkey as the macro trigger, and you can then assign your action accordingly.

As on Windows, some individual programs have their own individual options for managing keyboard shortcuts as well, which means you can really tailor certain applications for speedy access and operation. In Word or Excel , for example, click Tools and Customize Keyboard to make changes. In Adobe Photoshop, meanwhile, you can set up your own shortcuts by selecting Edit and then Keyboard Shortcuts .

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Become a Windows whiz by creating your own keyboard shortcuts

May we present: the keys to productivity.

By David Nield | Published Nov 12, 2020 3:42 PM EST

Knowing the right keyboard shortcuts can make a big difference in how quickly you can get stuff done—and if the hotkeys you need aren’t available, it’s not difficult to create your own.

Whether you need to launch a specific application regularly, have a folder you need quick access to, or want to enable a particular tool, you can set up a keyboard combination to help.

But before you start experimenting with new Windows shortcuts, it’s a good idea to learn the ones that already exist. You might find that what you’re looking for is already available, but you’ll also ensure your new combos don’t duplicate those that are already set up.

We’ve previously covered some of our favorite picks , from Win+D to show or hide the desktop to Ctrl+W to close windows and tabs, but Microsoft also has a comprehensive list of shortcuts for you to refer to.

Feel like an expert now? Good. It’s time to make your own.

Create keyboard shortcuts with Windows

Building a new keyboard shortcut to a program, file, or folder in Windows is easy. In File Explorer, right-click on whatever you want to open with your keyboard combination, and choose Create shortcut .

A new icon will appear, which is the shortcut to the program, file, or folder—it’s not a keyboard shortcut yet. It’s the sort of shortcut you’d find on your desktop, linked to an application or a folder deeper within the operating system. Double-clicking this new icon will open up whatever you’ve linked to.

The trick is that this newly created shortcut can be assigned a shortcut key as well. Right-click on it and choose Properties , then Shortcut . Click in the box marked Shortcut key , then press your choice of keys to assign them (they should appear in the box). Click OK to confirm your choice.

Pressing your new combination of keys will launch whatever file, folder, or program you selected, saving you a trip to the Start menu or the taskbar.

You need to be careful not to duplicate other key combinations from Windows, or the apps you use, as you won’t get a warning if there’s a duplicate—it’ll just do what it was originally assigned to do. You’ll also need to use a couple of modifier keys (Shift, Ctrl, or Alt) in your combination to tell Windows that you want to activate a shortcut—you can’t just hit “s” and have Spotify launch itself, for example.

Create keyboard shortcuts with third-party programs

A handful of third-party programs will help you create custom keyboard shortcuts for Windows. WinHotKey is an older one, but it’s easy to use, still works fine on Windows 10, and won’t cost you anything.

With the program loaded on screen, click New Hotkey to configure your new shortcut. The next screen will let you specify a key combination—which must include Shift, Alt, Ctrl, or the Windows key—and then associate an action with it. Each shortcut can open a file or a folder, or launch a program.

AutoHotKey is a newer, more advanced shortcut creator, and it’s also free to use. It requires a bit more investment in terms of time and thought, but it lets you create more complex shortcuts for typing out fragments of text (like typing “tks” to tell someone “thanks a lot,”) and putting messages on screen (like a dialog box with the date), as well as launching specific apps, files, and folders.

You’ll need to create scripts by right-clicking on the desktop and choosing New , then AutoHotKey Script . These contain the code necessary for your shortcuts to work on Windows in response to your key presses, like making sure the “run” command launches programs and the “send” command types text.

Don’t worry if this sounds overwhelming—when you use AutoHotKey for the first time, you’ll be met with a brief tutorial that will guide you through some basic scripts. All the documentation you’ll need is also available online .

It doesn’t take long to grasp the basics, and once you do, you’ll be able to conduct a whole host of actions with just your fingers and keys.

Create keyboard shortcuts from inside your applications

You can add even more personalized keyboard shortcuts within many of the applications you use regularly. This option won’t be available in every program, but quite a few apps offer it, so it’s worth checking.

Microsoft Word, for example, includes the feature. With a document open in Word, choose File , Options , Customize Ribbon , and then Customize (next to “Keyboard shortcuts”) to start adding new ones. Use the Save changes in box to keep new shortcuts specific to a document or template, or just leave the default Normal.dotm value there to apply your changes to all future documents based on the default template.

You’ll see a list of commands available in Word, and creating keyboard shortcuts for them is as simple as selecting them from the list and hitting your preferred combination of keys. If the shortcut is already linked to a command, Word will tell you with a popup dialog box that also lets you disable existing shortcuts and add new ones.

Adobe Photoshop is another program that lets you customize keyboard shortcuts. Open the Edit menu and choose Keyboard Shortcuts to get started, or make use of the keyboard shortcut for the Keyboard Shortcuts dialog—it’s Alt+Shift+Ctrl+K .

You can set shortcuts for menu items, opening panels in the interface, and switching to specific tools—just select one of these entries in the list on screen, then click Add Shortcut , and press your chosen key combination. If you pick a shortcut that already exists, Photoshop will warn you (and switch the shortcut, if you want it to).

David Nield is a freelance contributor at Popular Science, producing how to guides and explainers for the DIY section on everything from improving your smartphone photos to boosting the security of your laptop. He doesn't get much spare time, but when he does he spends it watching obscure movies and taking long walks in the countryside.

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How To Create A Keyboard Shortcut in Windows 11

Key Takeaways:

• Keyboard shortcuts take you to the desired folder or application instantly when you press the key combinations.
• You can go to the Properties window to create custom keyboard shortcuts.
• There are also third-party applications that help assign keyboard shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcuts are hot favorites of people who spend a lot of time working on their PC. The shortcuts shorten the access time to folders and applications on your computer. Windows has its own comprehensive list of default keyboard shortcuts, but if you are wondering how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 , we have the answer.

Many shortcuts like Alt + Tab, Ctrl + F, and function keys are like second nature to us, making our work a lot easier. If you want to perform some task or open an individual item like an application very often, you can assign a keyboard shortcut to it. The shortcuts let our hands don’t leave the keyboard for long and thus increase our productivity. Dive in and discover how you can create custom shortcut combinations that improve your overall experience with your PC. You can also learn about how to change the screen resolution in Windows 11.

How To Create A Keyboard Shortcut In Windows 11

If you can create your own keyboard shortcuts, then why be satisfied with the ones provided by the operating system? With the fantastic features of Windows 11, creating shortcut key combinations is no big deal. A right-click on the application and selecting Properties will take you straight to the window where you can type in the keys. Read through this guide to understand different ways of shortcut creation.

How to Make a Keyboard Shortcut to Open a Folder

You might have to open some specific folder on your computer for work or personal purposes very often. Creating a keyboard shortcut is your best bet if it is a subfolder and takes time to navigate. Here is how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 to open a folder.

Note : Our task here is to create a desktop shortcut for the folder in the discussion. This desktop shortcut can then be assigned a keyboard shortcut. If you plan on keyboard shortcut assignments for multiple folders, create desktop shortcuts for all of them and assign keyboard shortcuts.

1. Let’s call the folder you want to create a keyboard shortcut for ‘Daily tasks.’ Search for the parent folder of this folder and navigate to Daily tasks. Right-click on the folder icon and select “Show more options” in the current shortcut menu.

2. In the context menu, select Send to > Desktop (create shortcut) using left mouse click. The desktop shortcut to Daily tasks is now created.

3. Go to your desktop and find the shortcut created. Right-click on it and select “Properties” in the context menu.

4. In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab seen on top. In the shortcut key field, enter the desired key. You will see that Ctrl + Alt will be automatically prefixed to the character you typed as it is necessary to begin shortcuts with Ctrl.

Here, the shortcut key becomes Ctrl + Alt + D. Click “OK” to save the changes.

Now, when you use the shortcut key Ctrl + Alt + D you just created, the folder opens on its own without going to the parent folder.

How to Create a Keyboard Shortcut to Open an Application Shortcut

You might be aware of desktop shortcuts and the shortcuts in the start menu and taskbar. Similarly, you must also be aware of custom scaling in Windows 11 . The app shortcuts found in these locations can be opened using keyboard shortcuts. Opening apps via keyboard shortcuts is impossible with common keyboard shortcuts in Windows. But we can create them manually and make our job simpler. Read on to learn how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 to open a shortcut.

Presenting a list of methods for different situations.

Option A: Create Shortcut Keys To Open Desktop Shortcuts

1. Right-click on the desktop app shortcut and select Properties.

2. In the Properties window, select the shortcut tab. Type the keyboard shortcut in the Shortcut key field, click the Apply button, and then the OK button to save the changes.

Option B: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts On Taskbar

Let’s check how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 with another option.

1. Right-click on the shortcut pinned to the taskbar like the file explorer or Google Chrome. Then, right-click on the app icon in the pop-up window and select Properties. Remember that this is different from the window menu you get by combining the Shift key and right-clicking of a taskbar button.

2. As you did in option A above, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes.

Option C: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts On The Start Menu

Let’s check another option for how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11.

1. Click the Start menu icon to open it. Right-click on the app icon you want to create a shortcut key for. Select Open file location. If you cannot find the app button, type it in the search box.

2. The file location will be opened now. Again, right-click on the application and select Properties.

3. Similar to option A, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes.

Option D: Create Shortcut Keys To Open The Shortcuts To All Apps On The Start Menu

1. Click the Start menu icon to open it. Click “All apps” below the search bar.

2. Right-click on the app button you want to create a shortcut key for. You can use the mouse scroll wheel to scroll down and do an app search. Select More > Open file location.

3. The file location will be opened now. Again, right-click on the application and select Properties.

4. In the properties window, type the desired keys in the shortcut key field and click “OK” to save the changes as you did in the above-mentioned keyboard shortcut methods.

With this method, you can open any app like the command prompt, control panel and any others you have downloaded.

How to Create Shutdown Shortcut for Windows 11

After a hectic day at work, shutting down your system is often the last thing you do after closing individual items. You will be delighted to know that this boring task can be accomplished instantly if you create a keyboard shutdown shortcut. The trick is to direct the shortcut to the shutdown.exe in the Win32 folder with extra instructions to complete the shutdown process. Let us see how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 for the shutdown.

1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop and select New > Shortcut.

2. In the Create Shortcut window, type the shutdown command in the location field. The shutdown command is –

Here, /s stands for shutdown, and /t is the wait time for the shutdown to occur. As we have given 00, the shutdown occurs immediately when the shutdown shortcut is used. Click “Next.”

3. Now, give a name for the shortcut and click “Finish.” You will see that a new shortcut for the shutdown has been created on your desktop.

When you double-click on the shutdown shortcut, your computer will shut down instantly.

Note : Similarly, you can create restart shortcut, hibernate shortcut and sleep shortcut. You can even create an additional keyboard shortcut for lock though there is already a built-in keyboard shortcut present in Windows 11. Here are the relevant commands for the same.

The command for restart shortcut:

The command for hibernate shortcut:

The command for sleep shortcut:

The command for shortcut for lock:

Remember to use the relevant command to do the specific task.

How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcut using WinHotKey App

Using third-party apps always works if you want to have some advanced features. For example, setting up keyboard shortcuts can be easily accomplished using the advanced shortcut creator WinHotKey app. It is free software with a quick setup. Plus, it takes up very little storage space and is compatible with Windows 11. As it is not a complex shortcut maker, you will love working with it to make shortcuts for individual items.

Here is how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 using the WinHotKey app.

1. Open WinHotKey  page in your browser window and click on the “FREE DOWNLOAD” button.

2. Click on “Softpedia Secure Download (US).”

3. Now, the WinHotKey setup wizard will be opened. Click “Next.”

4. Select “I accept the agreement” and click “Next.”

5. Select a destination location to download WinHotKey and click “Next.”

6. Select a Start menu folder and click “Next.”

7. Select the additional icons if you want and click “Next.”

8. Click the “Install” button.

9. Select “Launch WinHotKey” and click “Finish.”

10. Now, the WinHotKey configuration window will be opened. Select “New Hotkey” to create a new shortcut key.

11. Here, we are trying to create a hotkey to launch an application. You can select any other from the drop-down list. Click “Browse” in the current window to choose an application from the application window.

12. Select the application and click “Open.”

13. Select the keyboard key you want to include along with the Win key. We have selected the number 0 and checked the shift key. Other keys available are letters, numbers, and function keys F1-F12. You can deselect the Windows key if you wish.

14. Click “OK” to save the hotkey. Your keyboard shortcut assignment is successfully done.

Note : Additionally, the advanced button opens an advanced window to give parameters to dictate how to launch the apps with keyboard shortcuts. Once the parameters are selected, click “OK” to close the Advanced window.

You can use the custom keyboard shortcut created to open the app from now on.

Final Thoughts

Users who work a lot on their PC know the keyboard shortcuts are a boon. But very often, the keyboard combinations offered by Windows are not sufficient enough to boost productivity to a large extent. Luckily, users can often create their own shortcut keys for folders or programs they access. So, these shortcuts entirely depend on how each user uses their computer.

The article tells you about how to create a keyboard shortcut in Windows 11 . Hotkeys can be set to open applications or folders, in fact, anything on your PC that you access very often. If time permits, experiment with the third-party app we mentioned to assign your hotkeys for a customized experience.

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How to Create or Reassign Keyboard Shortcuts in Microsoft Office

Make commonly used tasks easier with custom hotkeys

In This Article

Jump to a Section

How to Customize Keyboard Shortcuts

• Creating 'Hotkeys'

Additional Tips

If you spend a lot of time in Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 , you can save time by customizing your own keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts are just one way to streamline how you work, but they can make a big difference, especially for tasks you use often. 

Shortcut assignments might vary depending on the operating system you're on and the software version you have installed.

Before looking at how to actually change a keyboard shortcut, let's open the appropriate window:

Open a Microsoft program, such as Word.

Navigate to File > Options  to open that program's options window, such as  Word Options  in MS Word.

Open the Customize Ribbon option from the left.

Choose the  Customize...  button on the bottom of that screen, next to Keyboard shortcuts: .

Creating 'Hotkeys'

The Customize Keyboard window is how you can control the hotkeys used in Microsoft Word (or whatever other program you've opened). Choose an option from the Categories: section and then pick an action for the hotkey in the Commands: area.

For example, maybe you want to change the shortcut key used to open a new document in Microsoft Word. Here's how:

Choose  File Tab  from the Categories: section.

Select  FileOpen  from the right pane, in the Commands: section.

One of the default shortcut keys ( Ctrl + F12 ) is shown here in the Current key: box, but next to it, in the Press new shortcut key: text box, is where you can define a new hotkey for this particular command.

Select that text box and then enter the shortcut you want to use. Instead of typing letters like Ctrl , just strike that key on your keyboard. In other words, hit the shortcut keys as if you were actually using them, and the program will auto-detect them and enter the appropriate text.

For example, hit the  Ctrl + Alt + Shift + O  keys if you want to use that new shortcut to open documents in Word.

You'll see a Currently assigned to: sentence show up under the Current keys: area after hitting the keys. If it says [unassigned] , then you're good to move on to the next step.

Otherwise, the shortcut key you entered is already assigned to a different command, which means that if you assign that same hotkey to this new command, the original command will no longer work with this shortcut. 

Choose  Assign  to make the new keyboard shortcut apply to the command you selected.

You can now close any open windows relating to the settings and options.

• You can remove custom and built-in keyboard shortcuts by returning to Step 4 in the first set of instructions above. In that  Customize Keyboard  window, just select a hotkey from the Current keys: box, and use the  Remove  button to delete it.
• Setting too many custom keyboard shortcuts can get confusing. Create them sparingly for those functions that do not already have a shortcut assigned to them. Reserve this method of reassigning or creating keyboard shortcuts for tasks that you use often.
• The quickest way to restore all the original shortcut keys is to return to the Customize Keyboard  screen mentioned above. Use the  Reset All...  button to reset all the hotkeys to their default, original settings.
• To view the program's default keyboard shortcuts in one simple place, select Help in the upper-right corner, and then select it again if you're using the Ribbon menu. Search for Shortcuts and find the program you're interested in, like Word, to see Microsoft's list of keyboard shortcuts.

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How to Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

During your busy day you might find yourself opening or re-opening specific software repeatedly. While there’s nothing wrong with a shortcut on the desktop or using pinned taskbar shortcuts, custom shortcuts can really cut down the amount of time you spend hunting and opening software. After all, your keyboard is in front of you at all times – why not use it? Here are some options for you to create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.

Utilising Your Pinned Applications

If you use pinned applications on your taskbar , you may be surprised to learn that you’ve already set up hotkeys for them! All you have to do is hold down the Win key on your keyboard and push the number that corresponds to the position of the app on your taskbar like, for instance, in this picture.

If you pressed “Windows Key + 1.” you’d open Internet Explorer. If you did “Windows Key + 2,” you’d open Windows Explorer, and “Windows Key + 3” wouldopen the Store app. This means that apps pinned to your taskbar already have their own shortcut for it! You can pin apps either by right-clicking a shortcut and clicking “Pin to Taskbar” or right-clicking an app already on the taskbar and pinning it that way instead.

Creating a Shortcut

But what if you don’t want to pin software to your taskbar? Thankfully, Windows 10 has custom shortcuts functionality outside of pinned taskbar apps. All you need is a shortcut on hand, and you’re good go to.

First, right-click the shortcut of the program you want to make a shortcut for. Click Properties.

Then, click on the “Shortcut” tab if you’re not taken to it by default.

Here you’ll see a range of different options to change. The one you’re looking for is called “Shortcut key” and should be set to “None.” Click within the box that says “None,” then press a character key on your keyboard. Windows 10 should automatically create a “Ctrl + Alt” combination with the key that you just pressed. Make sure to test the shortcut before you set it, as something else might already be using that specific shortcut combination!

Once you OK out of the window, you’ll be able to press the key combination you defined to launch the app.

What If There’s No Shortcut?

But what if you can’t find a shortcut for what you want to open? Perhaps it’s buried somewhere in your files, or it’s a system-based application which naturally doesn’t have shortcuts on the desktop. How do you make a keyboard shortcut for it?

To do this, we need to open the Applications folder. You can do this by opening the Run window (You can do so with Win + R – there’s another shortcut for you!) and typing shell:AppsFolder into the box and clicking OK.

This will show you a huge list of executables, including applications which don’t usually have shortcuts on the desktop. You can sort them by name if you want to find the one you’re looking for faster. Once you’ve found it, however, you’ll come across a snag; when you right-click an application, no “Properties” option appears!

However, if you look through the menu, you’ll find “Create shortcut.” If you click this, you can then create a shortcut that appears on your desktop. You can then set a hotkey for it through the usual method.

Keeping It Short

Creating custom keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 can make opening applications really easy. Thankfully, it’s not difficult whatsoever, and if you have pinned software on your taskbar, you already have some set up!

How often do you use keyboard shortcuts in work or daily life? How do you set them up? Let us know below.

Simon Batt is a Computer Science graduate with a passion for cybersecurity.

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How-To Geek

How to create custom keyboard shortcuts with autohotkey.

There are some things that are just a pain to type---especially when you have to type them over and over and over.

Quick Links

What is autohotkey, how to install autohotkey, how to create your first autohotkey script, going further: run programs, remap shortcuts, and more.

There are some things that are just a pain to type---especially when you have to type them over and over and over. Or even worse, if they thing you want to type doesn't exist on your keyboard. What do you do if you're using an American keyboard and need to drop a € into a document?

I was having this problem. I was getting annoyed, and even worse, I was making mistakes. I needed to curb my annoyance and make sure these monotonous things I had to type repeatedly were consistent and correct. The hunt was on for solutions. Turns out there is one answer to both problems: AutoHotKey.

At its core, AutoHotkey (AHK) is a scripting platform. With just a tiny bit of "code," you can create a script that runs in the background and allows you to do just about anything with a hotkey you set. If there's a keyboard shortcut you want to change, you can remap it. If there is a phrase you type regularly, you can assign a key combination to it. If there are a series of commands you manually run on a regular basis, AHK can run them all with a simple key combo.

Don't be scared by words like "scripting platform" and "code," though. AutoHotkey is extremely simple to get started with, especially if you're just assigning basic hotkeys to basic commands. Chances are, you can learn what you need to over the course of a single afternoon. Let's go through some basic examples of what AutoHotkey can do to get you started.

Head to AutoHotkey's website  to download the program. On the main page is a big green button that says “Download” on it. Clicking on that will take you to the download page. Here you can on a teal download button to get the latest version.

NOTE: Some antivirus programs will flag AutoHotkey as malware. This is a false positive. AutoHotkey is extremely powerful, and while it isn't dangerous on its own, it is a scripting language---which means you could create malware with it if you had the desire to. But don't worry about downloading the base AutoHotkey program itself; it will not harm your computer.

Once the installation file has downloaded, double click on it to begin installing AutoHotkey. Nearly all users will want to use the Express Installation button. Custom installation gives you options around default behaviors and install location. Leaving the defaults in place is best.

Once it's installed, you're ready to get to the fun stuff: writing your first script.

Running the AutoHotkey application now won't actually do anything but launch its help page. To get started, you need to have a script that tells AutoHotkey about your custom keyboard shortcuts. So let's start by creating one.

Right-click on your Desktop (or any other folder) and choose New > AutoHotkey script. This will create a new file with the .ahk extension in that folder. Name the file whatever you want, then right-click on it and open it in Notepad. (or a more code-friendly program like Notepad++ , if you have it). There will be some text in the file. For simple scripts like were demonstrating here, it can be removed. As you get more advanced, you may want to leave it in.

You will be given a nearly-blank slate for you to create the keyboard shortcuts of your dreams. Here are a couple examples.

Let’s start with a real simple character insertion script. I have a script I use every day to allow me to type common characters from German that aren’t on my English keyboard. Let's say I want to type the ß character whenever I press Alt+Shift+S on my keyboard. In AutoHotkey, that would look like this:

!+s:: Send, ß

Let's break that bit of text down:

• ! is the symbol for the Alt key
• + is the symbol for the Shift key
• s stands for (obviously) the S key
• :: denotes what you want the preceeding keys to run when pressed together
• Send, is a command that types the proceeding text
• ß is the text we want the command to type.

Essentially, this command says "When Alt, Shift, and S are pressed at the same time, type ß."

You can add other modifiers, too. For example, if you add the < symbol before your hotkey (so it reads <!+s:: Send, ß , you can tell AutoHotkey to only run the command if the Left Alt key is used.

My entire German-symbol-hotkey script looks like this:

<!a:: Send, ä

<!o:: Send, ö

<!u:: Send, ü

<!+a:: Send, Ä

<!+o:: Send, Ö

<!+u:: Send, Ü

<!+s:: Send, ß

<!+$:: Send, €

If you know the name of the character you wish to add to your script, searching for it in Google is probably the quickest way to find it. If not, you can look for it on an ASCII or Unicode table.

You can take this further than just individual characters, too. If you find yourself regularly struggling to translate complex, obnoxious, or just plain long character strings from your brain to your fingers, AutoHotkey is your new best friend. In my other job, I often have to reach out to individuals at other institutions to discuss security items on projects without any introduction from the people I work with. This requires I explain who I am and why I'm contacting them. Instead of typing out this whole message I use a hotstring in AHK. The script looks like this:

The :*: at the beginning tells AHK to watch for the sting that follows it. In this case that string is ncm (short for "new cold message" in my head). So any time I type the letters ncm in a box, it will swap them with the string of text that follows the :: in the script. Not only have I turned a paragraph worth of typing into three keystrokes, I know it's going to be right every time.

This could be accomplished with a hotkey instead of hotscript too. You could replace :*:ncm in the script with !+n and have the same string of text show up with you pressed Alt+N on your keyboard.

AutoHotkey also has the ability to pull basic info from your computer. For example, it can get today's date. So if you're someone who is entering the date into a lot of fields, this script could be a lifesaver.

If you run this script, AutoHotkey will drop the current date in wherever your cursor is. You can play with things like formatting ( dd/MM/yyyy versus MM/dd/yyyy for example) in the script as well.

AutoHotkey can do a lot more than insert text (although that is one of its more common uses). You can also use it to run a program when you press a certain key, remap shortucts like Alt+Tab to hotkeys of your choice, or remap buttons on your mouse. If you get really deep, you can even create dialog boxes or full-fledged programs with AutoHotkey.

You can see the different symbols for hotkeys in AutoHotkey's documentation . You can also see their beginner's tutorial for even more examples of stuff you can do in a script. If you ever get stuck, the AutoHotkey forum is a great place to search, ask questions, and learn more about what AutoHotkey can do.

12+ Custom Windows Keyboard Shortcuts for the Geek in You

Windows includes hundreds of keyboard shortcuts, but you can create your own shortcuts to nearly anything you'd like. Here's how to customize your Windows shortcuts.

We've shared the benefits of keyboard shortcuts for some time. Whether you're saving time in Office programs or web apps , keyboard shortcuts let you zip through commands without the mouse slowing you down.

You might know some of the essential Windows keyboard shortcuts , but did you know that you can set up your own shortcuts, too? Let's look at the variety of ways that Windows 10 allows you to create custom shortcuts for even more productivity.

Create a Shortcut to Any App

Windows 10 does a better job of keeping Modern apps out of your face than Windows 8 did . The All Apps part of the Start Menu still contains all your Modern apps and regular desktop software, however. At first glance there's no easy way to make shortcuts to these apps, but it's actually easy to do.

Open the versatile Run command by pressing Windows Key + R and type Shell:AppsFolder  to open the Applications folder inside a File Explorer.

Here, you can view all your installed apps, Modern or standard . Once you locate one that you want to create a shortcut to, right-click it and choose Create shortcut . You'll be told that the shortcut appears on the desktop, which is exactly what we want to do.

Next, it's probably a good idea to create a folder on the desktop to hold all of our shortcuts to avoid cluttering it up . Right-click and choose New > Folder . Call this Shortcuts or whatever you like, and place the shortcut to your app inside the folder. Then, right-click on the shortcut icon and choose Properties .

Under the Shortcut tab, click inside the Shortcut key box and type a key that you want to launch this app. Windows will add Ctrl + Alt to this, but you can change it to Ctrl + Shift + [Key] or even Ctrl + Shift + Alt + [Key] . You can even choose non-character keys like Home or Page Up . Make sure you don't duplicate a shortcut of your favorite software, which could be confusing.

Click OK and that's all you have to do for an instant shortcut to any app! Repeat the above process for as many apps as you like. You can keep them all tidy in a folder for easy access. To remove a keyboard shortcut, just delete the app shortcut.

Add a Shortcut to a Website

You can use the above method to add a keyboard shortcut to any website you like, too. To send a website shortcut to your desktop, you can use Chrome to create a mini app for that site. If you don't want to use Chrome, you can drag and drop a browser bookmark (or a URL) from any browser onto your desktop.

Once you've done that, just-right click on the new website shortcut and add a key combination in the shortcut box per the above. It will open in your default browser when pressed.

Shut Down With a Shortcut

While there are plenty of ways to shut down or reboot your computer , you can add one that's even faster. To start, right-click anywhere on your desktop and choose New > Shortcut . You can type several different tasks when it asks for a location:

• shutdown.exe -s -t 00 -f will create a shortcut to shut down the computer immediately and force-close any open programs.
• shutdown -r -t 00 -f will restart Windows with the same parameters.
• shutdown.exe –L logs off your account.

After you enter this, go ahead and give it a friendly name. Then, you can place it in the shortcuts folder we made earlier, and use the same method to assign it a keyboard shortcut.

Jump to Common Utilities and Folders Easily

Using the New > Shortcut option, you can create a shortcut to any tool that is accessible through Run or Command Prompt commands. While you can make shortcuts for some ( like the Calculator ) using the above methods, there are plenty of Windows utilities you might like to keep close at hand:

• A single \ will create a shortcut to open the root of your C: drive.
• Similarly, a . is a shortcut to your User folder, containing your Documents and other folders.
• Typing .. creates a shortcut to the Users folder , great if you manage multiple accounts on your PC.
• appwiz.cpl brings you right to the Programs and Features menu so you can uninstall software.
• osk will launch the on-screen keyboard.
• perfmon launches the powerful Performance Monitor .
• msinfo32 shows detailed information about your system.

Go Beyond Windows Defaults

These methods let you create shortcuts to lots of Windows utilities , but for even more power (or some help), you can turn to third-party software.

One tool that makes creating custom shortcuts easy is WinHotKey . This software hides in your System Tray; you can open it with the shortcut Win + Ctrl + F11 . After a simple installation, you'll be greeted with the main menu. It shows a sampling of basic Windows shortcuts; to add your own, click New Hotkey .

Adding a new shortcut here is similar to doing it within Windows dialogue boxes. Choose a brief name for the shortcut, and select the key combination you'd like. Then, you can decide if you want your hotkey to launch software, open a document or folder, type text, or move windows around.

If you choose to launch a program, document, or folder, you'll need to browse out to the location of said file. There are better, full-featured programs for text expansion , and Windows includes shortcuts for resizing windows, so you don't really need those.

For complete control over custom shortcuts, advanced users should look into AutoHotKey . This powerful tool lets you re-assign keys and with some practice, you can do pretty much anything imaginable with the keyboard .

What Shortcuts Will You Create?

Anyone can use the default shortcuts to get around faster, but setting custom shortcuts gives you quick access to the items you need most. Whether that's a program you use all the time, or a Windows utility you can't live without, you'll never have to mouse through five menus to get there again with these tips.

Want to become a shortcut guru? Check out how you can get around Windows with just your keyboard .

If you run into problems with some of these shortcuts, it might be a keyboard fault. For example, here's how to fix a faulty Windows key .

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Customize keyboard shortcuts

• 5 contributors

In the Shortcuts page of Settings , you can view the defined shortcuts for Microsoft Edge DevTools, define your own shortcut for a specific action, or use a preset to match the default shortcuts from Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

For the default keyboard shortcuts, see Keyboard shortcuts .

Match keyboard shortcuts from Visual Studio Code

To match the keyboard shortcut in the Microsoft Edge DevTools for an equivalent action in Visual Studio Code:

To open DevTools, right-click the webpage, and then select Inspect . Or, press Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows, Linux) or Command+Option+I (macOS). DevTools opens.

In the Settings panel, select the Shortcuts page.

In the upper right, in the Match shortcuts from preset dropdown list, select Visual Studio Code instead of DevTools (Default) .

For example, to pause or continue running a script in Visual Studio Code, you press F5 . But with the DevTools (Default) preset, to pause or continue running a script, you press F8 . When you change the preset to Visual Studio Code , you now also press F5 in DevTools, just like in Visual Studio Code.

• Microsoft Visual Studio Code
• Visual Studio Code Keyboard shortcuts for Windows (PDF file)

Edit the keyboard shortcut for a DevTools action

Select the action you want to customize. For example, in the Debugger section, select the Pause script execution action.

To bind the shortcut keys to the action, ensure the text box next to the action has focus, and then use the keyboard to select the shortcut keys.

To bind more than one shortcut combination to an action, select Add a shortcut , make sure the text box next to the action has focus, and then use the keyboard to select the shortcut keys.

Select your new keyboard shortcut to trigger the action in DevTools.

Icons and buttons

To reset all shortcuts, click the Restore default shortcuts button.

If a keyboard shortcut is currently assigned to one action, it can't be assigned to another action. Instead, delete the keyboard shortcut from the previous action, and then add that keyboard shortcut to the new action.

• Keyboard shortcuts
• Navigate DevTools with assistive technology
• Run commands in the Command Menu
• Customize DevTools

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Additional resources

• PC & Mobile

How to Add New Custom Hotkeys to Windows 10

Matthew Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of software articles for sites such as Bright Hub. He has an A - Level in ICT, at grade C, and is proficient with a number of software packages. Check out his book at http://battlesofthepacificwar.blogspot.co.uk/. Battles of the Pacific War 1941 -1945 recalls where, when and how the Pacific War was won and lost within the battlefields of the Pacific. Read more November 7, 2022

One of the most powerful features in Windows 10 is the ability to set up your own custom hotkeys. The OS is certainly known for customizations, making the user experience more personalized, like the ability to add new shortcuts in the context menu .

Using various hotkeys lets you start programs, load websites, and do many other tasks with a keystroke. There are several built-in keyboard shortcut options in Windows 10, and there are also powerful third-party tools that will give you access to more options.

In this article, you’ll find helpful information on using both approaches to create customized Windows 10 hotkeys.

Adding Hotkeys to Program and Website Desktop Shortcuts

First, let’s try one of the most basic approaches to adding hotkeys. You can add a hotkey to any software or website shortcut on the desktop.

• Click the Shortcut key box and enter a new keyboard shortcut for the program or web page. Just enter a letter there to set up the new hotkey. Note that the shortcut will be the letter combined with Ctrl + Alt . So if you type “I,” then the keyboard shortcut would be Ctrl + Alt + I . You can also enter one of the function keys (F1 through F12 on most keyboards).
• Select Apply and then click OK to close the window.
• Press your new hotkey to test it out, and it should open the program or web page you specified.

Set up Shutdown, Restart, and Logoff Keyboard Shortcuts

You can also create shutdown, logoff, and reboot hotkeys in Windows 10 without using third-party packages.

• Press Next and type a suitable title for the shortcut. For example, you can name the shortcut “shutdown” if the shortcut shuts down Windows.

• Give the shortcut a hotkey.
• Select OK to exit the window.

Now, pressing that key and Ctrl + Alt will shut down, restart, or log you out of Windows 10, depending on what you entered in the first text box of the Create Shortcut wizard.

Adding Custom Hotkeys With Third-Party Software

You can do a lot more with extra third-party software. There are a few programs available for Windows 10, and some of those are free programs. WinHotKey is one of the packages you can use to set up customized Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. Add it to Windows 10 from the WinHotKey Softpedia page. Click the DOWNLOAD NOW button there to save the setup wizard, and then open that to add WinHotKey to windows.

The WinHotKey window in the shot above includes a list of default Windows 10 hotkeys. Note that you can’t edit those with this package. What you can do is set up new keyboard shortcuts that open software or documents or adjust the active window.

• Click the I want WinHotKey to : drop-down list and select Launch an Application , Open a Document , or Open a Folder .
• Click Browse to select what action hotkey will open when you press it.
• Choose from a variety of keyboard combinations for the hotkeys by selecting the Alt , Shift , Ctrl , and Windows checkboxes. Then click the Along with the key : drop-down list to add a unique key to the hotkey.
• Press the OK when you’ve selected all the required options.

The new keyboard shortcut should then be listed on the WinHotKey window, along with the others. Press the hotkey to try it out. It will open the software, document, or folder you selected.

You can also set up some window hotkeys with this package.

• Select the Control the Current Window option from the I want the WinHotKey to: drop-down list.

• Choose your action from the drop-down list.

Another useful software package to set up customized hotkeys with is NirCmd, which is available for most Windows platforms. You can add the utility to Windows 10 from this NirSoft page . Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Download NirCmd or Download NirCmd 64-bit to save the file (depending on whether or not you are running the 64-bit version of Windows).

Since NirCmd saves as a compressed zip, you’ll also need to select its compressed file in File Explorer and press the Extract all button. Choose a path to extract the folder.

Once NirCmd is extracted, you can set up Desktop shortcuts with the Command-Line Utility and turn them into hotkeys.

• Press Browse and select the NirCmd executable path from there, but DO NOT click next just yet.

• Click on the new NirCmd desktop shortcut. If the volume isn’t already muted, this will complete the action.
• Turn the NirCmd shortcut into a mute hotkey by right-clicking it, selecting Properties , and entering a key in the Shortcut key text box.

You can set up a variety of NirCmd hotkeys in much the same way. For example, if you add “ setsysvolume 65535 ” to the end of the NirCmd path instead of “ mutesysvolume 2 “, the hotkey will maximize the volume when pressed. Alternatively, adding “ emptybin ” to the end of the path would set up a shortcut that empties the Recycle Bin.

As you can see, Windows 10 features both in-house hotkey customizations, as well as third-party hotkey integration. The NirCmd and WinHotKey programs offer more keyboard shortcut options than Windows 10 does by default. With these hotkeys, you can open software, shut down the pc, restart Windows 10, adjust volume settings, and much more.

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How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts: In every operating system, Keyboard shortcuts play the vital role. Because you can perform many tasks faster. So, Windows 10 is also rich in Keyboard shortcuts. Microsoft added many new keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 for its new functions and features. But, Windows 10 also give the option to create your own custom keyboard shortcuts for any Software and apps. With this feature, you can access or open any app and software faster. So, you can set custom shortcut keys for your favorite or frequently used software/app. It saves a lot of time because you can open a software/app within seconds.

There are many third-party tools available to do this. These tools and software’s provides some extra options and features to create custom hotkeys. With third-party tools, you can create shortcut keys to launch the applications/software, open the folder, open a document, control or resize the windows etc. But, if you want to create hotkeys to launch software or apps then, You don’t need to install any third-party software to do this. Because Windows 10 provides this option itself.

In Windows 10, for custom hotkey, you need to press 3 keys. You can set shortcut keys with CTRL + ALT + Other_Key . But, with a third-party tool, you can create shortcut keys with any keys like Windows key + N, Windows Key + M, Ctrl + H, Windows Key + CTRL + N etc. So, third-party tools give some extra features. But, it is your choice, whether you want to use a third-party tool or not.

However, you can also create the shortcut keys to shutdown, restart or log off your PC/Laptop. But, here is the complete guide to creating your own shortcut keys for software and apps.

4 Ways to Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

• Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Softwares.
• Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Apps.
• Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Folder.
• Using a Third-party Tool.

1. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Softwares

From Desktop – If Software Shortcut Icon Available On The Desktop:

You can easily keyboard shortcuts from desktop icons. With this method, you can create shortcut keys only for the software, that’s icon is on the desktop. Software icon/shortcut must be available on the desktop. If the shortcut icon of any software is not available on the desktop, then you need to do this from the start menu. Below are the steps.

• Now click on the Apply button. If any pop-up message appears, then Click on the Continue button to provide an administration permission to change the settings. After that, click on the OK button.

That’s it. Now press the keyboard shortcut that you created and the software will open.

From Start Menu – If Software Shortcut Icon isn’t Available On The Desktop:

If the shortcut is not available on the desktop, then, you can also do this from the start menu. You just need to open software icon location from the start menu. Below are the steps.

• Now click on the input field area of a Shortcut Key option.
• Now click on the Apply and OK button. Click on the Continue button if any pop-up message or windows appear for administration purpose.

2. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Apps

However, you can’t create the hotkeys for apps from the start menu. Because there is no option in Windows 10 to do this. But, you can do this from the ‘command prompt’ or ‘Run command’ by opening “Applications” folder. After opening “Applications” folder, you need to create a shortcut for the particular app or software.

• Now the Applications folder will be open. You will see the icons of all software and apps. You can’t create any keyboard shortcuts from these icons. Because these are not the shortcuts. You need to create the shortcut for the application for creating the keyboard shortcut.

Now check the hotkey/Keyboard shortcut key that you created.

3. Create Keyboard Shortcuts To Open Folder

Like a software and apps, you can also create the keyboard shortcut to open the folder. You just need to create the shortcut icon of the folder to do this.

• Right-click on the folder and create the shortcut icon of the folder by clicking on the “Create Shortcut” option.
• Now r ight click on the folder’s shortcut icon and click on the input field of a Shortcut key . Press any key and you will see the shortcut key like “Ctrl + Alt + Pressed_key.” Apply the changes and click on the continue button if any popup message appears.

4. Create Keyboard Shortcuts Using Third-Party Tool

You can also download a third-party tool to create your own keyboard shortcuts. These software/ tools consume some memory of RAM. But, you can easily create hotkeys within seconds for any software and app. You need to browse the icon of software from the tool. WinHotKey is a great and lightweight tool for this purpose. This tool is free to use. Download it from below link.

Download WinHotKey

After download, install it on your PC and open it. Click on the “New Hotkey” option and set the keyboard shortcut as you need.

Features of WinHotKey:

• Create a hotkey to launch or open application/software.
• Create Hotkey to open the document.
• Create a hotkey to open the folder.
• To Control the current Window (Maximize/minimize, resize, restore, move the current window).

Final Words

So, guys, this is the guide on  How To Create Custom Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts . However, you can easily do this from Windows 10 without any tool. Because Windows provides the option to create custom keyboard shortcuts for shortcut icons. The third-party tool provides some extra options. But, these tools run in the background. So, write in the comments, if you face any problem with creating your own custom keyboard hotkeys.

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Best information for windows os shortcut Thanks

Hi Gagan, Thanks for your input. I needed a more extended version of hotkey, so I found AHK – Auto Hot Key: https://www.autohotkey.com/

it is actually an Open Source tool to write scripts for Windows.

I am constantly being asked to enter my e-mail address in order to sign in to Portals and lots of other things. I want to be able to simply press a hot key for this to happen. Is there a way I can do this? I am on a desk top with Win 10 ( modified to resemble Win7 as much as possible.)

Use a clipboard editor. Windows has it’s own but you might have to turn it on in settings. I don’t know why it’s off by default. Or use a third party. I use Arsclip even though it’s a bit of a dog interface-wise it more than does the job for me.

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How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10?

When it comes to working on Windows 10, there are many inbuilt services on your PC that will make you do anything faster. In the case of opening an app, you can either go for the long way or the short way. The long way is to find and click on an application. The short way is by entering a keyboard shortcut. In this article, we’ll go through the steps which will help you to create custom keyboard shortcuts in windows 10 .

How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

Creating a Custom Keyboard Shortcut in Windows 10

Since many people prefer the short way, here are the steps that will help you to create a keyboard shortcut for an application in Windows 10 :

Step 1: Type Command Prompt in the search bar and click Run as administrator to open the application with administrative privileges.

Step 2: In the Command Prompt window, type explorer shell;AppsFolder and hit enter.

Step 3: A window will open up and show you the apps that are currently installed on your PC. Now, find the app for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut.

Step 4: Right-click on it and click Create shortcut .

Step 5: A shortcut of the chosen application will be created on the desktop. Now, right-click on it and hit Properties .

Step 6: You will see a shortcut key box. Enter a key combination in the box. Then, click on Apply and hit OK .

Creating a keyboard shortcut helps you to bypass the hassle of finding and clicking on an application in order to open it. You can just hit the default key combination and open the application in a matter of seconds.

Related Articles: Windows Shortcut Keys General Keyboard Shortcuts For Visual Studio Code How to Create a Desktop Shortcut in Windows?

Explore our Comprehensive Guide to Computer Shortcut Keys , where we cover a wide range of shortcuts, including Windows, Linux, Excel, Gmail, YouTube, and many more.

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How to remap keys in Windows 11 with PowerToys Keyboard Manager

Posted: 12 November 2023 | Last updated: 12 November 2023

The Keyboard Manger module of PowerToys can help you with a couple of things. The first is keyboard remapping - which means changing the function of a particular key. You may have a keyboard that you absolutely love, but find that there is one key - such as Shift or Alt, for example - which you feel is in an awkward position or you find you miss when you try to press it. With key remapping, you can change its position by adjusting the function of another key.

There is a related issue with keyboard shortcuts. There are lots of well-known keyboard shortcuts, such as Ctrl + C for copying, but they are not all logical or easy to remember. So why not create your own shortcuts with Keyboard Manager? We'll show you how.

• Install PowerToys and activate Keyboard Manager
• Remapping keys to give them new functions
• Creating custom shortcuts

Tools and Requirements

• Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Microsoft PowerToys

Step by step guide

1. enable keyboard manager.

With PowerToys installed, you should start by checking that the Keyboard Manager module is enabled. There are a few ways to do this. The first is to left-click the PowerToys system tray icon, click the More button and then move the Keyboard Manager toggle to the On position. The second option is to head to the Dashboard section of PowerToys and enable the toggle from here. Finally, you can move to the Keyboard Manager section of the app, and you will find a toggle labelled Enable Keyboard Manager .

2. Launch keyboard remapper

If you have not already visited the Keyboard Manager section of PowerToys, do so by clicking the link in the left-hand navigation bar. Beneath the Keys heading, click the Remap a key link to open the keyboard remapper in a new window. The Remap keys window will look rather sparse to start with as it is a list of remaps - so you will need to create your first entry.

3. Start to remap a key

There are two stages to remapping a key - choosing the key that you want to change (the Select column) and indicating what you want it to do (the To send column). For example, if you wanted to change you keyboard so that when you press the letter D an F is typed instead, you would have D in the Select column and F in To send . Click the + button and then use the drop-down menu to select the key that you would to change. We've mentioned changing D to type F, but you can also change other keys such as Shift to act as Page up .

4. Selecting a new function

Having selected the key you want to change the function of, you need to indicate how Windows should interpret a press of that key. In the To send column, use the second drop-down menu to select your preferred function. You can repeat these last steps as many times as you need to create all of the remaps you need. If you make a mistake, or change your mind about a remap you have created, you can simply click the trash can icon next to the relevant entry in the list to delete it.

5. Remap a key to a shortcut

Keyboard shortcuts are great, but some can be unwieldy as they require you to press a lot of keys at once. A simple solution is to select an unused key of your keyboard and remap it so that when you press it, a keyboard shortcut you use frequently is activated. As before, use the Select column to choose the key you want to change the function of, but then click the Select button in the To send column. You can then press the keys of the keyboard shortcut to remap it to your chosen key - here we have changed the function of the ` key to perform a Ctrl + C (copy) shortcut.

6. Shortcut remapping options

Another option is to use a keyboard shortcut to mimic pressing a single key. This might sound odd, but it can be helpful if you either have a broken key, or if your keyboard is missing a key that you would like to be able to use - Page Up and Page Down are missing from many keyboards, for example. To do this, or to change how an existing shortcut work, click the Remap a shortcut link in the Shortcuts section of the Keyboard Manager.

7. Remap a shortcut to a key

Remapping a shortcut to a key is pretty much the opposite of step 5. Click the Select button in the Select column and then press the keys you would like to use as your keyboard shortcut before clicking OK . Now use the drop-down menu in the To send column to select the key that the shortcut should activate. Again, you can repeat this process for as many remappings as you need.

8. Changing keyboard shortcuts

You may not like the keys involved in an existing keyboard shortcut - perhaps you feel that pressing Ctrl + C to copy something is awkward and would prefer it to be Alt + C instead. To make this change, click + to add a new shortcut remapping, press the Select button in the Select column and then press the key combination you'd like to use before clicking OK (in this example, Alt + C ). Click Select in the To send column and press the key of the shortcuts you are replacing ( Ctrl + C in this example) before clicking OK .

9. Limiting shortcuts to particular apps

It is also possible to create shortcuts that only work in a particular app. So you could, for instance, want to use Ctrl + E to search in Word rather than the usual Ctrl + F . To make this change, create a new shortcut so that pressing Ctrl + E acts as if Ctrl + F has been pressed - use the previous step as a guide. You will then need to type the name of the process for the app in question (winword.exe for Word) in the Target app column.

10. Stop a key from functioning

Another use of keyboard remapping is to render a particular key useless. This is something you may want to do if you find that you accidentally press a key a lot, for example. It is an option to use with caution and you may have forgotten an instance in which a key is useful, but if you are certain, here's what to do. Create a new remap as in steps 3 and 4, but do not select anything in the To send column. When you click OK to save the remap, PowerToys will warn you about the lack of functionality as a reminder. Click Continue anyway if you are sure.

Final Thoughts

Keyboard Manager is a great example of a utility that places you in full control of your PC, and this is to be celebrated. After all, you're the one using your PC, so it should work the way you want it to. Unfortunately, Windows includes very limited options for making changes to low-level settings such as how the keyboard functions, so it is great that Keyboard Manager exists.

Whether you are looking to eliminate a source of frustration with the keyboard you use, or you are hoping to accelerate your workflow and improve your productivity, this is a utility that can help. We have suggested a few ways in which Keyboard Manager might be able to help you out, but you will almost certainly think of more. Experiment and see what you can come up with!

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Hot keys and keyboard shortcuts

There are keyboard shortcuts that allow you to navigate the Zoom settings without using your mouse. They are listed in this article and also available in your Zoom desktop client settings , under Keyboard Shortcuts .

Prerequisites for hot keys and keyboard shortcuts

• Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux:  Global minimum version  or higher
• Zoom mobile app for iOS (iPad): Global minimum version or higher

Note : Some keyboard shortcuts require versions higher than the global minimum version, so if some options are missing, Zoom recommends updating to the latest version and checking again. 

You can view and edit keyboard shortcuts in your Keyboard Shortcuts settings.

• Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.

Edit shortcuts

You can edit a shortcut by clicking on the shortcut and then pressing the shortcut key that you would like to use. 

Some of the shortcuts can be used as global shortcuts, meaning they will work even when Zoom is not in focus. To enable a shortcut globally, check the option next to the shortcut. 

Available shortcuts

• Ctrl+Alt+Shift : Change focus to Zoom Meeting controls (on top when sharing screen)
• PageUp : View the previous page of video participants in gallery view
• PageDown : View the next page of video participants in gallery view
• Alt : Toggle the option Always show meeting controls  in General settings
• Alt+F1 : Switch to Speaker view 
• Alt+F2 : Switch to Gallery view 
• Alt+F4 : Close the current window
• Alt+V : Start/stop video
• Alt+A : Mute/unmute audio
• Alt+M : Mute/unmute audio for everyone except host (for host only)
• Alt+S : Open share screen window or stop screen share if already sharing Note : This will only work when meeting control toolbar has focus.
• Alt+Shift+S : Show/hide windows and applications available to share Note : This will only work when meeting control toolbar has focus.
• Alt+T : Pause or resume screen share  Note : This will only work when meeting control toolbar has focus.
• Alt+R : Start/stop local recording
• Alt+C : Start/stop cloud recording
• Alt+P : Pause/resume recording
• Alt+N : Switch camera
• Alt+F : Enter or exit full screen mode
• Alt+H : Show/hide in-meeting chat panel
• Alt+U : Show/hide participants panel
• Alt+i : Open invite window
• Alt+Shift+i : Copy invitation link
• Alt+Y : Raise/lower hand
• Alt+Q : Display prompt to end or leave meeting
• Alt+Shift+R : Begin remote control
• Alt+Shift+G : Revoke/give up remote control permission
• Ctrl+2 : Read active speaker name
• Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H : Show/hide floating meeting controls
• Ctrl++ : Increase chat display size
• Ctrl+- : Decrease chat display size
• Alt+Shift+T : Screenshot
• Ctrl+W : Hide current chat session
• Ctrl+Up : Go to previous chat
• Ctrl+Down : Go to next chat
• Alt+Left : Back in chat history
• Alt+Right : Forward in chat history
• Ctrl+N : Start a new chat
• Ctrl+L : Focus to list of all chats and channels
• Ctrl+U : Focus keyboard to latest message in current group chat or channel
• Ctrl+Alt+i : Add member to current group chat or channel
• Alt+N : Jump to start of new messages in the current group chat or channel

Note : There are also additional shortcuts for editing chat messages .

• Ctrl+P : Call highlighted phone number
• Ctrl+Shift+A : Accept inbound call
• Ctrl+Shift+E : End current call
• Ctrl+Shift+D : Decline inbound call
• Ctrl+Shift+M : Mute/unmute call
• Ctrl+Shift+H : Hold/unhold call
• Ctrl+Shift+T : Transfer call
• Alt+F4 : Close current window
• Ctrl+F : Search
• F6 : Navigate among Zoom popup windows.
• Ctrl + Tab : Switch to next product tab. 
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab : Switch to previous product tab. 
• Ctrl + 1-8 : Switch to the specified product tab. 
• Ctrl + 9 : Switch to the last product tab. 
• Alt+L : Switch between Portrait and Landscape views
• Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D : Start network diagnostic

You can view and edit keyboard shortcuts in your Accessibility settings.

• Command(⌘)+J : Join meeting
• Command(⌘)+Control+V : Start meeting
• Command(⌘)+D : Schedule meeting
• Command(⌘)+Control+S : Screen share using direct share
• Command(⌘)+Shift+A : Mute/unmute audio
• Command(⌘)+Control+M : Mute audio for everyone except the host (only available to the host)
• Command(⌘)+Control+U : Unmute audio for everyone except host (only available to the host)
• Space: Push to talk. Press and hold to temporarily unmute
• Command(⌘)+Shift+V : Start/stop video
• Command(⌘)+Shift+N : Switch camera
• Command(⌘)+Shift+S : Start/stop screen share
• Command(⌘)+Shift+T: Pause or resume screen share
• Command(⌘)+Shift+R : Start/stop local recording
• Command(⌘)+Shift+C : Start/stop cloud recording
• Command(⌘)+Shift+P: Pause/resume recording
• Command(⌘)+Shift+W : Switch between speaker view and gallery view
• Ctrl+P : View the previous page of video participants in gallery view
• Ctrl+N : View the next page of video participants in gallery view
• Command(⌘)+U : Show/hide participants panel
• Command(⌘)+Shift+H : Show/hide in-meeting chat panel
• Command(⌘)+I : Open invite window
• Command(⌘)+Shift+I : Copy invite link
• Option+Y : Raise hand/lower hand
• Ctrl+Shift+R : Begin remote control
• Ctrl+Shift+G : Revoke/give up the remote control permission
• Command(⌘)+Shift+F : Enter or exit full screen
• Command(⌘)+Shift+M : Switch to minimal window
• Command(⌘)+Shift+D : Enable/disable dual monitor mode .
• Control+Option+Command+H : Show/hide floating meeting controls
• Command(⌘)+2 : Read active speaker name
• Ctrl+\ : Toggle the Always Show meeting controls option in General settings
• Command(⌘)+T : Screenshot
• Command(⌘)++ : Increase chat display size
• Command(⌘)+- : Decrease chat display size
• Command(⌘)+[  : Back in chat history
• Command(⌘)+]  : Forward in chat history
• Command(⌘)+N : New chat
• Command(⌘)+F : Search chat
• Command(⌘)+ Option+i : Add member to current group chat or channel
• Command(⌘)+Shift+L : Focus to list of all chats and channels
• Command(⌘)+Control+N : Jump to start of new messages in current group chat or channel
• Command(⌘)+Shift+U : Focus on latest message in current group chat or channel
• Control+Shift+C : Call highlighted phone number  or search directory
• Control+Shift+A : Accept inbound call
• Control+Shift+D : Decline inbound call
• Control+Shift+E : End the current call
• Control+Shift+M : Mute/unmute call
• Control+Shift+H : Hold/unhold call
• Control+Shift+T : Transfer call
• Command(⌘)+W : Close current window
• Command(⌘)+Option + Shift + D : Start network diagnostic
• Control + Tab : Switch to next product tab. 
• Control + Shift + Tab : Switch to previous product tab. 
• Command(⌘) + 9 : Switch to the last product tab. 
• Command(⌘) + 1-8 : Switch to the specified product tab. 
• Command(⌘)+L : Switch between Portrait and Landscape views

• Ctrl+\ : Toggle the Always show meeting controls  option in General settings
• Alt+V : Start/stop video
• Alt+A : Mute/unmute my audio
• Alt+M : Mute/unmute audio for everyone except the host (available only to the host)
• Alt+S : Start/stop screen sharing
• Alt+T : Pause/resume screen sharing
• Alt+U : Open or close participants panel
• Alt+I : Open the invite window
• Alt+Shift+G : Revoke remote control permission
• Ctrl+W : Close current chat session
• Ctrl+Shift+A : Accept inbound call.
• Ctrl+Shift+D : Decline inbound call.
• Ctrl+Shift+E : End current call.
• Ctrl+Shift+M : Mute/unmute mic.
• Ctrl+Shift+H : Hold/unhold call.
• Alt+Shift+Left : Collapse all chat sections 

If you are using an iPad with a keyboard, the following shortcuts are available in a Zoom meeting:

• Command + Shift + A : Mute/unmute my audio
• Command + Shift + V : Start/stop my video
• Command + Shift + H : Display/hide chat
• Command + Shift + M : Minimize meeting
• Command + U : Display/hde manage participants
• Command + W : Close the front window, such as the participants or meeting settings window

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• Outlook email

How to insert emoji and smiley in Outlook

In this article, you’ll learn how to make your Outlook messages more attractive and expressive by inserting smileys and other emojis in your emails. Whether you want to add a smiley face, a thumbs up, a head slap or a cute animal, we've got you covered with this guide.

In today's digital age, online communication has evolved far beyond mere words. We've found creative ways to express our emotions, humor, and personality by using small images known as "emojis" or "smileys". Microsoft Outlook has adapted to this trend, letting us incorporate emojis into emails. Depending on the device and platform you're using, there are different ways to insert smileys in Outlook. In this article, you’ll find some handy tips and tricks to spice up your emails with emojis.

How to insert emoji in Outlook

If you're using Outlook on your Windows or Mac computer, take advantage of the built-in emoji keyboard to insert smileys and various emojis into your emails. Here's how to do it:

• While composing your message, position the cursor within the email body or subject where you'd like to add an emoji.
• On Windows, press Windows key + . (period) or Windows key + ; (semicolon)
• On a Mac, press Control + Command + Space
• In the panel that appears, you can explore various categories or type a keyword directly in your message to find the emoji you're looking for.
• Click on your chosen emoji, and it will be inserted into your message at once.

Note. The emoji selection panel is only available on Windows 10 or Windows 11 with the English language pack.

How to add emojis and smileys as symbols

Another way to insert emojis into Outlook emails is by using the Symbols feature. To do this, follow these steps:

• Select the emoji you like and click the Insert button.
• Click the Close button to close the dialog box and return to your message.

Outlook emoji shortcuts

Microsoft Outlook makes it easy to convey emotions in your emails using emoticon keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts consist of combinations of punctuation marks and letters arranged to resemble a human face. For instance, you can use the following shortcuts:

• :) or :-) to brighten your message with a smiley face 😊
• :( or :-( to express a touch of sorrow with a sad face 😟
• ;) or ;-) to add a playful wink 😉

To revert an emoji icon back to a text emoticon , just use the Undo shortcut Ctrl + Z .

Note. These Outlook emojis shortcuts only work in the email body but not in the subject line.

Create custom shortcuts for emojis in Outlook

To create your own shortcuts for any emoji you want, make use of the AutoCorrect feature. Here's how:

• In your Outlook message, click the Insert tab, and then click Symbol > More Symbols .
• In the Symbol dialog box, select the emoji you desire. To get directly to smileys, select "Segoe UI Emoji" for Font and "Extended Characters – Plane 1" for Subset .

• In the AutoCorrect dialog box, input your preferred shortcut in the Replace box, making sure the associated emoji is displayed in the With box.
• Click Add to incorporate the shortcut.

Now, you can use your custom keyboard shortcut to insert an emoji in Outlook emails. For instance, if you’ve assigned a shortcut like (y) to a thumbs-up emoji, you can type it whenever you want to add 👍 to your email. Also, you can utilize a familiar acronym like LOL or ROTFL for a laughing emoji 😂 to convey your amusement or hilarity, or SMH (shaking my head) for a person facepalming 🤦 to display frustration or embarrassment.

How to get and use custom emojis in Outlook

If you find Outlook's built-in selection lacking, you can easily import custom smileys from the web or use your own emoji icons stored on your computer. Here are the steps to do that:

• In the message you are composing, place the cursor where you wish to insert an emoji.

• You will be provided with an option to search for online images powered by Bing. In the search bar, enter "smiley" or any specific emoji you desire, and press Enter . Make sure to check the box next to Creative Commons only to avoid any copyright issues.

Tip. If you prefer to use your own emojis stored on your computer as pictures, follow a similar approach. Click Pictures > This Device , browse for your custom smileys and insert them into a message as needed.

How to insert smileys in Outlook web app

While Outlook on the web may not have the AutoCorrect feature to create custom emoji shortcuts like the desktop version, it still offers a couple of easy ways to insert smileys into your messages.

Add common emoticons automatically

Insert smileys using emoji keyboard.

If you are looking for more expressive and diverse ways to communicate your emotions, you can use the built-in emoji panel in the Outlook web app. Here are the steps to access it:

• Position your cursor where you want to insert an emoji and type a colon (:) to trigger the emoji picker.

• This will open a panel with various emoji categories and options. You can browse through the categories or use the search box to find a specific emoji. Once you've found it, click on the icon to insert it into your email.

How to add emojis in Outlook mobile app

When using Outlook mobile app on your iOS or Android device, adding smileys and all kinds of emojis in your messages is a breeze. Just use the native emoji keyboard to enhance your messages with emotions, reactions, or preferences. Here's how:

• Tap on the smiley face icon on your mobile keyboard.
• This will open a panel with various emoji categories and options. You can swipe through the categories or use the search box to find an appropriate one.
• Once the desired emoji is found, tap on it to insert it into your email.

That’s how to get and use emojis in different Outlook apps. Whether you're celebrating achievements, sharing exciting news, or just looking to brighten someone's day, smileys can help you communicate in a fun and engaging way. So, go ahead and add a touch of flair to your emails by using these emoji techniques! 😊📧

You may also be interested in

• How to use Outlook drafts as email templates
• How to delete or resend a message stuck in Outlook Outbox
• How to create an Outlook template with attachment

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Learn WordPress

Working faster with the command palette

In this tutorial, discover the Command Palette — an essential tool to enhance your Site Editor experience. Quickly navigate your site, create content, and execute commands with ease.

Learning outcomes

• Defining the Command Palette.
• Accessing the Command Palette.
• Exploring the various types of commands.
• Highlighting the benefits of using the Command Palette.

Comprehension questions

• What type of commands will enhance your workflow?

Introduction

Good day, and welcome to Learn WordPress. In this tutorial, we are going to explore how you can work faster and improve your Site Editor experience using the Command Palette.

Here are the learning outcomes for this lesson. Firstly, we will define what the Command Palette is. Secondly, we will look at how we can access the Command Palette and finally we will explore how we can use the Command Palette effectively as well as highlight the benefits.

The Command Palette allows you to navigate to different areas of your site quickly, create new pages and posts, and execute other commands.

How to access the Command Palette

To access the Command Palette, simply open the Site Editor or a page or a post and use the keyboard shortcut command K on Mac or control K on Windows. You can also find it in the sidebar of the site view by clicking on the Search icon or the title bar of a template or page. Once you open the Command Palette, you will see a list of available commands.

Types of commands

Let’s dive into some of the useful commands you can find in the palette. Let’s try our first command and type open styles. This command allows you to quickly open the style editing interface where you can customize the site-wide styles of your website, such as typography, colors, and layout. If you want to make your way to the patterns area quickly you can merely type in Patterns and select. Here you can manage, add, and delete custom patterns as well as header and footer template part patterns.

What about adding a new page or post? Well, if you type in ‘Add,’ you will see you can quickly add a new post or page, and when I select ‘Add a new page,’ I can start editing content right away. The Command Palette also allows you to navigate to a specific page, for example. So let’s make our way to my About page to see this in action, and here you will see it takes us directly to the Site Editor, and now we can open up the page and continue editing.

If you want to add custom CSS the Command Palette also provides a shortcut to do so. It’s perfect when you need to apply specific customizations to your site’s design.

Benefits of the Command Palette

Now, let’s talk about the benefits of the Command Palette. By providing quick access to frequently used actions, the Command Palette streamlines your workflow in the Site Editor. Instead of navigating through multiple menus and settings, you can execute commands with a few simple keystrokes, saving you valuable time and effort.

Imagine you are editing a page in the Site Editor, and then when you’re done, you want to create a custom template. Instead of searching through various menus, you can open the Command Palette, type ‘Templates’, and select Templates. Templates will open up instantly, allowing you to add a new template or edit others.

More commands

In addition to the commands we’ve discussed, the Command Palette offers a wide range of actions to enhance your editing experience. Here are a few more notable commands you can explore. First up is to view your site on the front end quickly. If you were editing a page in the post editor, you also have the option to preview the page in a new tab. When you type in ‘Toggle’ you will be able to activate or deactivate certain features. For example Spotlight mode, if you select Spotlight mode, it will grey out all the blocks you are not working on and highlight the blocks you are editing. To turn it off, merely select Spotlight mode again. You can also use the Command Palette to activate Distraction-free mode, for example. Distraction-free mode creates a focused writing experience by hiding various parts of the editor interface, allowing you to focus on your content without any interference. Feel free to experiment with these commands and discover how they can further streamline your editing process.

Keyboard shortcuts

If you open a template or a page and click on the three vertical dots on the top right, you will also be able to access the keyboard shortcuts for your site if this is something you are keen to explore.

In conclusion, the Command Palette is a game changer for the Site Editor. With its quick access to frequently used actions and commands, it empowers you to work more efficiently and save valuable time. Thank you for watching, and visit Learn WordPress for more tutorials and training material.

Workshop Details

• Length 5 mins
• Topic Site Editor
• Related Version 6.4
• Language English
• Subtitles English
• Transcript View
• Print View View

I am an Instructional Designer for the WordPress open-source project sponsored by Automattic. I am a strong supporter of the open-source movement. I have a background in education and content development. I am a husband, father, dreamer and lifelong learner.

Customize keyboard shortcuts

You can customize keyboard shortcuts (or shortcut keys) by assigning them to a command, macro, font, style, or frequently used symbol. You can also remove keyboard shortcuts. You can assign or remove keyboard shortcuts by using a mouse or just the keyboard.

Use a mouse to assign or remove a keyboard shortcut

Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon .

At the bottom of the Customize the Ribbon and keyboard shortcuts pane, select Customize .

In the Save changes in box, select the current document name or template that you want to save the keyboard shortcut changes in.

In the Categories box, select the category that contains the command or other item that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to or remove a keyboard shortcut from.

In the Commands box, select the name of the command or other item that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to or remove a keyboard shortcut from.

Any keyboard shortcuts that are currently assigned to that command or other item appear in the Current keys box, or below the box with the label Currently assigned to .

To assign a keyboard shortcut do the following:

Begin keyboard shortcuts with CTRL or a function key.

In the Press new shortcut key box, press the combination of keys that you want to assign. For example, press CTRL plus the key that you want to use.

Look at Current keys (or Currently assigned to ) to see whether the combination of keys is already assigned to a command or other item. If the combination is already assigned, type a different combination.

Important:  Reassigning a combination of keys means that you can no longer use the combination for its original purpose. For example, pressing CTRL+B changes selected text to bold. If you reassign CTRL+B to a new command or other item, you will not be able to make text bold by pressing CTRL+B unless you restore the keyboard shortcut assignments to their original settings by selecting Reset All at the bottom of the Customize Keyboard dialog box.

Select Assign .

Note:  If you use a programmable keyboard, the key combination CTRL+ALT+F8 might already be reserved for initiating keyboard programming.

Remove a keyboard shortcut

In the Current keys box, select the keyboard shortcut that you want to remove.

Select Remove .

Use just the keyboard to assign or remove a keyboard shortcut

Press ALT+F, T to open the Word Options dialog box.

Press DOWN ARROW to select Customize Ribbon .

Press the TAB key repeatedly until Customize is selected at the bottom of the dialog box, and then press ENTER.

In the Categories box, press DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW to select the category that contains the command or other item that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to or remove a keyboard shortcut from.

Press the TAB key to move to the Commands box.

Press DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW to select the name of the command or other item that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to or remove a keyboard shortcut from.

Any keyboard shortcuts that are currently assigned to that command or item appear in the Current keys box, or below the box with the label Currently assigned to .

Press the TAB key repeatedly until the cursor is in the Press new shortcut key box.

Press the combination of keys that you want to assign. For example, press CTRL plus the key that you want to use.

Press the TAB key repeatedly until the Save changes in box is selected.

Press DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW to highlight the current document name or template in which you want to save the keyboard shortcut changes, and then press ENTER.

Press the TAB key repeatedly until Assign is selected, and then press ENTER.

To remove a keyboard shortcut

Press the SHIFT+TAB key repeatedly until the cursor is in the Current keys box.

Press DOWN ARROW or UP ARROW to select the keyboard shortcut that you want to remove.

Press the TAB key repeatedly until Remove is selected, and then press ENTER.

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