The Most Useful Shortcut Key, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the shortcut key you think is the most useful!

Updated on Apr 24, 2024 08:02

In the digital age, efficiency is everything. Whether you’re navigating through complex software or simply browsing the internet, knowing the right shortcuts can transform your workflow. That’s why having a well-curated list of the most useful shortcut keys can be invaluable, saving you time and enhancing your computing experience. By participating in the voting process, you contribute to a collective effort to identify the most effective shortcuts. Your input helps ensure that the list reflects real-world utility and relevance. This dynamic ranking adjusts with each vote, continuously refining itself to showcase only the most impactful shortcuts as determined by users like you.

What Is the Most Useful Shortcut Key?

1

43
votes
Ctrl + C (copy) and Ctrl + V (paste)

Larry Tesler

These are probably the most commonly used shortcut keys, allowing users to quickly copy and paste text, images, and other content.
The shortcut key Ctrl + C is used to copy selected text or objects, while Ctrl + V is used to paste the copied content into a desired location.

Functionality: Allows users to easily duplicate and transfer content.

Operating System Compatibility: Supported in most operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Text and Object Compatibility: Works with various types of content, such as text, images, files, and folders.

Multiple Copy/Paste Support: Allows users to copy multiple items and paste them one by one.

Keyboard-Friendly: Efficiently performed using keyboard shortcuts, reducing the need for manual mouse operations.
2

37
votes
Ctrl + Z (undo)

Doug Engelbart

This shortcut key is a lifesaver when you make a mistake and need to undo your last action.
The 'Ctrl + Z' shortcut key is used to undo the previous action or revert changes in most computer programs.

Functionality: Undoes the previous action or reverts changes.

Compatibility: Supported in most computer programs across different operating systems.

Availability: Available in a wide range of software applications, including word processors, graphic editors, and video editors.

Ease of Use: Easily accessible with a simple keyboard combination (Ctrl + Z).

Reversibility: Can be used multiple times to undo multiple actions in succession.
3

11
votes
Ctrl + F (find)

Douglas Engelbart

This shortcut key allows users to quickly search for specific text on a webpage or document.
Ctrl + F (find) is a shortcut key combination that allows users to quickly search for specific text within a document or webpage.

Functionality: Searches for specific text within the active document or webpage

Activation: Pressing the 'Ctrl' key and the 'F' key simultaneously

Platform Support: Supported by most operating systems and applications

Ease of Use: Provides a convenient and efficient way to locate content within a large document or webpage

Accessibility: Enhances accessibility by allowing users to quickly navigate through text
4

27
votes
Büşra ÖZCOŞKUN · CC BY-SA 4.0

Ctrl + A (select all)

This shortcut key selects all the text or content in a document or webpage, making it easy to copy or delete everything at once.
Ctrl + A (select all) is a keyboard shortcut that allows users to quickly select all the content within a document or a specific area. It is commonly used to perform various actions on selected content, such as copying, cutting, deleting, or formatting.

Shortcut Key: Ctrl + A

Functionality: Selects all content within a document or specific area

Benefit: Saves time and effort by quickly selecting all content

Versatility: Compatible with most applications and operating systems

Ease of use: Simple and intuitive shortcut combination
5

8
votes
Alt + Tab (switch between windows)

Microsoft Corporation

This shortcut key allows users to quickly switch between open windows or applications, making multitasking much easier.
The 'Alt + Tab' is a keyboard shortcut used to switch between open windows or applications quickly. It allows users to navigate through their open windows without the need to manually click on each window.

Name: Alt + Tab (switch between windows)

Functionality: Switch between open windows or applications

Operating System Compatibility: Windows, Linux, Mac

Keyboard Compatibility: Standard keyboards with Alt and Tab keys

Activation Method: Hold down the 'Alt' key and press 'Tab' key
6

6
votes
Ctrl + S (save)

Various software developers

This shortcut key saves the current file or document, preventing users from losing any work in case of a power outage or computer crash.
The shortcut key 'Ctrl + S' is used to save a document or file in computer applications.

Functionality: Saves the current document or file

Platform compatibility: Works on most operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux)

Application support: Supported by a wide range of software applications

File formats: Can save various file formats (e.g., text files, documents, spreadsheets)

Autosave: Some applications automatically save changes periodically using 'Ctrl + S'
7

7
votes
Ctrl + P (print)

IBM

This shortcut key quickly opens the print dialog box, allowing users to print the current document or webpage.
The Ctrl + P shortcut key is used to quickly print documents or web pages.

Shortcut Type: Keyboard

Key Combination: Ctrl + P

Function: Print

Operating System Compatibility: Windows, macOS, Linux

Application Compatibility: Most applications and web browsers
8

9
votes
Ctrl + X (cut)

Doug Engelbart

This shortcut key cuts selected text or content, allowing users to move it to a different location or paste it elsewhere.
The 'Ctrl + X (cut)' shortcut key combination is used to cut selected content to the clipboard. When this shortcut key combination is pressed, the selected content is deleted from its original location and saved to the clipboard, allowing it to be pasted elsewhere.

Functionality: Cuts selected content to clipboard

Usage: Pressing 'Ctrl + X' simultaneously

Operating System: Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Application Support: Supported in various applications like text editors, word processors, image editors, file managers, etc.

Versatility: Can cut a wide range of content including text, files, images, and more
9

4
votes
LucaCV · CC BY-SA 4.0

Windows key + D (show desktop)

Microsoft

This shortcut key minimizes all open windows and shows the desktop, making it easy to access files or shortcuts.
The shortcut key Windows key + D is used to quickly minimize all open windows and show the desktop. It is a convenient way to access files, folders, or shortcuts on the desktop without closing any applications.

Shortcut key: Windows key + D

Function: Minimize all open windows and show desktop

Operating System: Windows

Version Compatibility: Compatible with most versions of Windows, including Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10

Accessibility: Can be easily accessed without using a mouse or touchpad
10

6
votes
Ctrl + Shift + T (reopen closed tab)

This shortcut key reopens the last closed tab in a web browser, which can be a real time-saver when you accidentally close an important tab.
The 'Ctrl + Shift + T' shortcut key reopens the most recently closed tab in a web browser.

Key Combination: Ctrl + Shift + T

Functional Category: Tab Management

Application Support: Web Browsers

Keyboard Layouts: QWERTY, AZERTY, QWERTZ, etc.

Operating Systems: Windows, macOS, Linux

Missing your favorite shortcut key?

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Discussion

Ranking factors for useful shortcut key

Frequency of use

The shortcut key should be frequently used and save time for the user.
Ease of use

The shortcut key should be easy to remember and execute to make it more user-friendly.
Importance

The shortcut key should be related to important and commonly used functions to increase its usefulness.
Accessibility

The shortcut key should be easily accessible and not require too many different keys to be pressed at once.
Compatibility

The shortcut key should be compatible with different operating systems and applications to make it widely usable.
Consistency

The shortcut key should follow a consistent and logical pattern across different applications to make it easier to remember and less confusing.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most useful shortcut key. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or shortcut is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

1738 views
156 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each shortcut once every 24 hours. The rank of each shortcut is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most useful shortcut key

Keyboard shortcuts have been around for decades, but they have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are designed to help computer users work more efficiently and save time by performing tasks with a few keystrokes rather than navigating through menus and toolbars. The most useful shortcut key varies depending on the task at hand and the software being used. However, some of the most commonly used shortcuts include Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste), Ctrl + Z (undo), and Ctrl + F (find). Learning and using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase productivity and streamline workflow. Many software programs have a list of available keyboard shortcuts in their help section, making it easy to learn and incorporate them into daily usage. So, whether you are a student, professional or just a computer user, mastering keyboard shortcuts can be a game-changer in terms of productivity and efficiency.