While it is true, the vast majority of operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.) are adapted to offer their users, own predefined keyboard shortcuts that allow them to perform specific actions quickly and without even using your computer mouse. That is to say, those combinations of keys allow to take advantage of fast functions that the equipment supports .
However, although there are many default shortcuts that Windows 10 provides, in this case; for a large number of users they are not enough. From there, the importance and requirement of knowing how to create and customize your own keyboard shortcuts , so that you can decide what you prefer to happen when you press the keys you set yourself.
Given this facility to use own keyboard shortcuts and shortcuts in Windows 10 , we want to show you the processes to follow to create them quickly and customize them to your liking . With what, for effect, you can have a faster and easier experience on your computer.
Steps to create your custom shortcuts on your Windows 10 computer
If you want to create your own shortcuts on your computer with Windows 10 and thus streamline processes and activities on the PC , by wasting less time with the mouse and thus having less distractions; You have reached the indicated post.
In this section, we show you the steps you must take to create and customize your keyboard shortcuts , without any complications. These procedures to follow are:
Customize shortcuts for programs
One of the best features of Windows 10 is that it provides all its users with the best features to create key combinations for the programs they manage on their computer . In this way, these are shortcuts that allow access to specific software or tools that are installed on the computer.
In this sense and in reference to Windows, the most common shortcuts to manage specific actions on the PC can be: “ WIN + E ” to access a new File browser quickly, “ ALT + F4 ” used to open the dialog to shut down or restart Windows, or to close the current window, among others.
However, since these keyboard shortcuts are not enough or attractive for many Windows 10 users, there is a need to create and customize new ones from the shortcut . Being useful, specifically for software installed manually on your W10 computer, not counting programs from the Windows Store.
So, to carry it out with these softwares, the step by step you have to follow is the following:
- Initially, click on the «Start Menu» of the computer and proceed to search for the icon of the program in which you want to implement your own keyboard shortcuts. If it is not in that menu, you need to locate it in “ All applications ”. You can also do it from the main screen, if it is there.
- When you locate this software, select the following option: “ Open the file location “.
- After the above, right click on the mouse inside the new window and proceed to click on “ Properties ” (option found in the context menu).
- Finally, it is time to set the key combination you have thought of and be easier for you to remember . To do this, simply click on “ Shortcut ” and in the field “ Shortcut key “, enter the desired shortcut.
- Finally , you have to save the changes in « Apply » and voila.
Create shortcuts for Windows Store APPs
Now, in the case of Windows Store applications, the process to be executed is different because is not the previous option called “Open file location” , within the secondary menu to which you access through the right click of your mouse.
However, even if you don’t have this option, the procedure to create a keyboard shortcut is very simple to execute and also fast .
Thus, the following should be done:
- First of all, you should place yourself in the search magnifier that has Windows 10 at the bottom on the left. There, you should type “ cmd ” which refers to the command console of this operating system.
- You will then be redirected to a new window with a black background and there, you have to type “ explorer shell: AppsFolder ”, just where the cursor is displayed. Then click on “ Enter “.
- Once you do “ Enter ”, a file explorer with the name “ Applications ” will open, which shows all the icons of the installed programs in the computer. Thus, they contain everything you find in the Start Menu .
- Now, you have to locate the program you want to create a keyboard shortcut to proceed to right click on it and select the section “Create shortcut” , to confirm the warning and that it be displayed on the desktop of the computer.
- Finally, place the application on the main screen, right click on it and click on “ Properties ”. With this, a small window will open directly in the “ Shortcut ” section and in the “ Shortcut key ” box, you must enter what you want to enter like this directly to the program in question and click on “ Apply “. It’s all.
Create keyboard shortcuts using a program (AutoHotKey)
In order to create these shortcuts, there are also solutions such as AutoHotKey software , which facilitates, in a certain way, the process to create and customize keyboard shortcuts with total freedom. By this, we mean that you should not even combine the widely used letters “ Ctrl ” and “ Alt “.
Added to this, AutoHotKey integrates a variety of functions through which you can perform more actions that exceed the limits and go beyond creating keyboard shortcuts for the execution of certain applications . Since, also adds automatic text writing that has the ability to change “xq” to “because” or “sto” to “this” and so on.
However, it is important to note that once the program has been downloaded and installed, it is necessary to create a script or perform a “ scripting ” process. Since, with this, in a certain way you will be telling the program what to do . For that, do the following steps:
Download AutoHotkey Script for Windows
- To start, right-click on your desktop and locate “ New ” in the general menu or, “ Recently added ”.
- Then, click on the program, that is, on “ AutoHotkey Script “.
- Now, it is time to give the script a new name and it is valuable that it end with a .ahk extension, such as: “ ahk “.
- Then, locate the newly created file on your desktop and right click, for there select “Edit Script” .
- With all the above, a new window should appear that is probably the Notepad and in case For this to happen, you have completed the process correctly.
For your part, you can now make your own list of commands and functions that you wish to execute through this program. For example, in case you want to make a combination to enter the system calculator using the keys Windows + C , you must indicate this shortcut.
Taking into account that, the equivalent of the Windows key in the script is the numeral symbol “#” , then you must type it followed by the letter C and a couple of colon “:: ”That act as separators. To execute this, later you have to use the “ Run ” command and then type “ Calc ” to invoke the calculator.
Here we show you how it should look like:
Once the above is done, just g save the changes and run the software once again . If you see an icon in the system tray with a green H letter, it means that the program is running .
If you want to reload the script because you edited it after accessing AutoHotKey or want to change or stop it, right-click to see the entire menu presented by the program.
In short, you must learn all the tricks that AutoHotKey supports (by entering its official website) to do what you want with it and streamline all the actions you perform on your computer. Taking into account that, many computer keys such as “ Windows “, “ Ctrl “, etc. They are changed by simple signs. In addition, if you handle English well, it will be more helpful to understand the operation of AutoHotKey more quickly.
List of the most used keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10
Since Windows 10 includes such a variety of keyboard shortcuts to simplify the actions of its users to a large extent, it is necessary to know which are the most used and practical to execute them at any time.
Well, here we show you a list with the ones that are most useful, knowing in addition, their specific function:
- Windows Keys + Left : Locate the active window in the left half of the general screen.
- Windows Keys + Right : Locate the active window on the right:
- Windows Keys + Up : Place the active window at the top.
- Windows Keys + Below : It puts the active window at the bottom of the screen.
- Windows key + D : Minimizes all windows.
- Windows keys + Start : Minimizes all windows, except the one that is active.
- Windows + E keys : Open the file browser.
- Windows + T keys : Navigate between the windows of the taskbar.
- Windows keys + L : Block your session and is located on the unlock screen.
- Windows Keys + A number : Opens the window that is located in the position you correspond wave to the chosen number in the taskbar.
- Alt + F4 : Close the window that is active.
- Shift + Delete keys : delete a file directly, without going through the recycle bin.
- Windows keys + A : Enter the system actions or notifications center.
- Windows keys + I : Open the Windows settings page.
- Windows keys + X : Open the context menu of the start button .
- Windows + S keys : Start Cortana to receive written orders.
- Windows + Q keys : Start Cortana to receive voice commands.
- Windows keys + Alt + G : Start screen recording in the window you are in.
- Windows keys + Alt + R : Stop recording.
- Windows keys + G : Start the DVR application to record the screen.
- Windows keys + PrtScr : Proceed to take a screenshot and send it to your images folder automatically.