Tips · Shortcuts
The 12 Keyboard Shortcuts Worth Learning (and Why They Save You Hours)
Watch someone who's fast on a computer and you'll notice they barely touch the mouse. That's not talent, it's shortcuts. Every time you move your hand to the mouse, find a menu and click, you lose a couple of seconds and your train of thought. Do that a few hundred times a day and it's real time, every single day.
The good news: you don't need to memorize hundreds. About a dozen cover most of what you do.
Why bother?
- Speed. Copy, paste and undo with your fingers already on the keys is several times faster than right-clicking.
- Focus. You stay in what you're doing instead of hunting through menus.
- They work almost everywhere. The same shortcuts work in your browser, email, Word, Google Docs, Photoshop and most other apps.
- Comfort. Less mouse time means less strain on your wrist and shoulder.
- Rescue moves. Undo and reopen a closed tab will save you from a lot of "oh no" moments.
The 12 to learn first
On a Mac, use Command (⌘). On Windows and Linux, use Ctrl. (Not sure why they're different? We explain it in Command+C vs Control+C.)
| What it does | Mac | Windows & Linux |
|---|---|---|
| Copy | ⌘ + C | Ctrl + C |
| Cut | ⌘ + X | Ctrl + X |
| Paste | ⌘ + V | Ctrl + V |
| Undo | ⌘ + Z | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | ⌘ + Shift + Z | Ctrl + Y (or Ctrl + Shift + Z) |
| Select all | ⌘ + A | Ctrl + A |
| Find on the page | ⌘ + F | Ctrl + F |
| Save | ⌘ + S | Ctrl + S |
| New browser tab | ⌘ + T | Ctrl + T |
| Close tab or window | ⌘ + W | Ctrl + W |
| Reopen the tab you just closed | ⌘ + Shift + T | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Switch between apps | ⌘ + Tab | Alt + Tab |
A few bonus favorites
- Bigger or smaller text on a web page: ⌘ or Ctrl with + or −. Press ⌘ + 0 or Ctrl + 0 to reset.
- Search your whole computer: ⌘ + Space on a Mac, or just tap the Windows key and start typing.
- Screenshot: ⌘ + Shift + 4 lets you drag to capture part of the screen on a Mac. On Windows, Windows key + Shift + S does the same.
- Lock your screen when you step away: Control + ⌘ + Q on a Mac, Windows key + L on Windows.
How to actually make them stick
- Pick three a week. Start with copy, paste and undo. Next week add find, select all and save.
- Put a sticky note on your monitor with this week's three.
- Peek at the menus. In almost every app, the shortcut is printed right next to the menu item. Every time you click a menu, read the shortcut and use it next time.
- Force yourself for a few days. It feels slower at first. By the end of the week, it'll be automatic.
Want a hand?
Our Workflow & AI training sessions cover shortcuts, faster ways to work with files and email, and tools that take the busywork off your plate. It's one of the fastest ways to get hours back every week.