We all know how to use a computer, click with the mouse, double-click, drag those icons and type texts on the keyboard. But did you know that you can make using your computer much easier and faster by using keyboard shortcuts? Of course, not at that level like Hollywood movies and series where they hack the whole world using the keyboard and a couple of finger movements, but still - keyboard shortcuts are a very useful and cool thing.

Here we will go through Windows shortcuts as the most basic, and then through some more popular programs. After this text, within a few days of using shortcuts you will be more efficient, faster and more elegant on the computer.

Windows:

Copying files, folders, icons, text... doesn't have to be a long-term job, simply mark what you want to copy and press CTRL + C, go to the desired place where you want to paste the file, folder, icon, text... and press CTRL + V. If you want to cut the file instead of copying, use CTRL + C instead CTRL + X.

The best thing about these three shortcuts is that they work in 95% programs (Photoshop for image elements, Firefox/Chrome for text, etc…).

CTRL + Z is the always needed and popular undo. If you deleted something or did something wrong, you can probably go back a step with these two buttons. It's the opposite CTRL + Y - regular action.

ALT + TAB will switch you out of apps using nice animations and large icons. You no longer need to search down the ribbon for your program and switch windows by clicking the mouse.

ALT + F4 will close the active window. This is a powerful shortcut, so be careful not to accidentally close the window or application you need.

Speaking of powerful cards, this is the king of abbreviations: CTRL + ALT + DELETE will open the task manager where you can see all open programs, windows, background applications, computer memory, processor operation and a lot of other useful information.

The function keys at the top of the keyboard are VERY useful and here are a few keys and their… function: F1 will open help, F2 It is used to rename a file, folder.., F3 is for searching files or folders in Windows Explorer, F4 will show you the paths of the folder you are in, F5 it is used to refresh the active window (which you rarely need in Windows, but if your system is slow and you are not sure if it shows the contents of the folder well... there is F5), F6 is used to cycle between the elements of the active window.

ALT + ENTER serves to show you the options of the marked item.

CTRL + A is an extremely useful shortcut: it will mark all items in the active window/folder. If you want to mass copy something (remember – CTRL + C), CTRL + A is your combination.

CTRL + D will delete marked items (they go to the Trash, Recycle Bin). If you want to skip the Recycle Bin and permanently delete the file: SHIFT + D (be careful: you won't be able to restore this file in that case).

This isn't technically a keyboard tab since it's combined with a mouse, but here's a bonus tip: if you hold down the CTRL key and click icons with the mouse (left click), you'll highlight the clicked icons. Similarly, if you click on a file, hold down the SHIFT key, and click on another file in that folder, you'll highlight all the files between those two.

If you use two or more monitors with WIN + CTRL + LEFT/RIGHT ARROW move the active window to the left/right monitor.

Words:

F1 and in Word it starts help. And the combination SHIFT + F1 previews text formatting (a slightly more advanced Word option).

SHIFT + F2 will copy the text, but you can also use CTRL + C (as in windows).

SHIFT + F3 will Capslock or reduce the highlighted text. Quite a useful thing.

F4 the button does a simple but cool thing: it will repeat your last action again.

F5 button opens the Go To window, where you can find and replace text. This will also help you SHIFT + F4 which repeats Find text (or Go to…).

F7 button will activate the spell checker (usually it is English spelling, unless you have installed Croatian spelling).

F9 is for refreshing the Word document.

F12 is for quick document saving (Save as..).

SHIFT + F12 is to save the document (Save option).

CTRL + A it works here too and will mark everything in the document. CTRL + B will set the selected text to be bold, CTRL + D opens font options, CTRL + E, CTRL + J, CTRL + R changes types of paragraph centering, CTRL + G is the same Go to... or Go to... window, CTRL + I is to italicize the text, CTRL + K is to create a link, a link on the marked text - a couple of quick and useful shortcuts.

CTRL + S will also save the document.

CTRL + U will underline the text.

CTRL + P will print the document for you.

As you can see, Word also has a lot of useful abbreviations that will save you time if you learn them.

Firefox/Chrome:

Here we will try to combine two of the most popular and powerful Internet browsers. They also have useful abbreviations.

ALT + LEFT/RIGHT ARROW - return to the previous window/go to the next window (or in English: Goback/ Goforward).

F5 is also refresh. In browsers, F5 is even more useful.

F11 You want the browser to be over the entire monitor, full screen.

CTRL + ENTER is a small thing that some people might like: it completes the link you type with the .com part. SHIFT + ENTER will add the .net part, a CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER adds the .org part to the link you type.

CTRL + D will add the page to your bookmarks, while with CTRL + SHIFT + B you can view your bookmark pages (Firefox) or CTRL + SHIFT + O for Chrome.

CTRL + J opens a window with downloads.

CTRL + N will open a new window, and if you want a new tab, that's it CTRL + T. CTRL + W closes the tab.

CTRL + P it also works in browsers as a print key combination.

CTRL + TAB Moves you through open tabs. CTRL + SHIFT + TAB It also moves you through the open tabs, but backwards.

END will move you to the bottom of the page, a HOME button at the top of the page.

CTRL + H is history or the history of surfing.

For Chrome only:

CTRL + SHIFT + T reopens the last closed tab.

These are just some of the abbreviations, for just some of the programs. There are more keys here that you might want to remember, but this is enough for a start. Trust me, if you master these shortcuts, you'll act like a super advanced computer user who doesn't use keyboard shortcuts, but more importantly: You'll find it easier to use Windows, Word, and Firefox/Chrome.