These Keyboard Shortcuts Will Unlock New Levels Of Productivity

Advertisement

Seconds you save with keyboard shortcuts can add up to a lot, making you much more productive in a computer-intensive job. Shortcuts can also make help you look like a wizard to your less-internet savvy friends, as observed in a recent Reddit threat.

Advertisement

So what are these magical secrets? Below are some that I use every day while editing Business Insider or doing anything else on a computer. Try picking them up one at a time and you'll find they become a natural part of your workflow.

Note: These are Mac shortcuts used in Chrome, but many are valid in other browsers and operating systems.

Complimentary Tech Event
Transform talent with learning that works
Capability development is critical for businesses who want to push the envelope of innovation.Discover how business leaders are strategizing around building talent capabilities and empowering employee transformation.Know More

?+a selects all. ?+c copies. ?+x cuts. ?+v pastes.

?+z undoes. ?+y redoes (in some cases ?+shift+z redoes).

Advertisement

?+n opens a new window. ?+t opens a new tab. ?+w closes a window. ?+shift+t opens the last closed tab.

?+tab changes to last-used application. While holding ?, pressing tab again or the arrow keys cycles through applications.

?+l highlights the URL bar.

?+number or ?+shift+] or ?+shift+[ select or cycle through tabs. Some applications require you to turn on this shortcut or have an alternate like ?+shift+arrow.

Tab cycles through text boxes or all page elements, depending on your settings. Shift+tab cycles backwards.

Advertisement

control+click serves as a right click function. (The Mac mouse doesn't have a right button)

?+click opens a link in a new tab.

Holding option while pressing the right/left buttons moves the cursor back or forward whole words. Holding shift+option while pressing the right/left buttons selects whole words. Holding option while pressing the up/down buttons moves the cursor back or forward whole paragraphs, and holding option+shift plus up/down selects whole paragraphs.

?+space brings up Spotlight search, which you can use to open apps, find files, etc. stored on your computer.

There are many other shortcuts, and I would advise searching online to find a shortcut for any function you use frequently. If I left off your favorite, please let us know in the comment section.

Advertisement