Free · 60 seconds · 145 shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcut Game

Q: Why learn keyboard shortcuts?

Every trip to the mouse costs a second or two. Over a working day of copying, pasting, saving and formatting that adds up to many minutes, and over a year to days. Shortcuts also keep your hands on the keyboard, which makes typing faster too.

Q: Which shortcuts should I learn first?

Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), Ctrl+X (cut), Ctrl+Z (undo), Ctrl+S (save), Ctrl+A (select all) and Ctrl+F (find). They work in almost every program. Then Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U for formatting, and Ctrl+T, Ctrl+W and Ctrl+Tab for browser tabs.

Q: Why do some questions give me four choices on a computer?

Your browser and Windows keep a few shortcuts for themselves: Ctrl+W closes the tab, Ctrl+T opens one, Ctrl+Tab switches tabs, F11 goes full screen, Alt+Tab switches programs. Pressing them would leave the game, so those questions are multiple choice. Every other shortcut you press for real.

Q: Can I play on a phone?

Yes. Phones have no Ctrl key, so on a phone every question shows four choices and you tap the right keys. On a computer you can switch to choices too.

Q: Do these shortcuts work on a Mac?

Mostly, with the Command key in place of Ctrl: Cmd+C copies, Cmd+V pastes, Cmd+S saves. The game accepts Command as Ctrl, so Mac users can play too.

Q: Is my score saved?

No. The game runs on your device and nothing is stored or sent anywhere. Your best score is remembered only until you close the page.

Copy! Bold! New tab! The action appears, you press the keys. A different set every round.

Ready?

60 seconds. 10 points for every right shortcut; three in a row doubles them, six triples them.

Shortcuts from

Answer by

Cheat sheet

Every Shortcut in the Game

145 shortcuts for Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and your browser. Tap a group to open it.

Editing16

Copy the selectionEverywhereCtrl+C
PasteEverywhereCtrl+V
Cut the selectionEverywhereCtrl+X
Undo the last changeEverywhereCtrl+Z
Redo what you undidWord, Excel, WindowsCtrl+Y
Select everythingEverywhereCtrl+A
Find a word on the pageEverywhereCtrl+F
Find and replaceWord, ExcelCtrl+H
Paste as plain text (no formatting)Browsers, Gmail, DocsCtrl+Shift+V
Delete the whole word before the cursorEverywhereCtrl+⌫
Delete the word after the cursorWord, browsersCtrl+Del
Rename the selected fileWindows Explorer (also edits a cell in Excel)F2
Check the spellingWord, Excel, PowerPointF7
Select the next wordEverywhereCtrl+Shift+→
Select to the end of the lineEverywhereShift+End
Duplicate the selected slide, shape or objectPowerPoint (in Excel: fill down)Ctrl+D

Formatting16

Make the text boldWord, Excel, Gmail, DocsCtrl+B
Make the text italicWord, Excel, Gmail, DocsCtrl+I
Underline the textWord, Excel, Gmail, DocsCtrl+U
Centre the paragraphWord, PowerPointCtrl+E
Align the paragraph leftWord, PowerPointCtrl+L
Align the paragraph rightWord, PowerPointCtrl+R
Justify the paragraphWordCtrl+J
Insert a hyperlinkWord, Excel, Gmail, DocsCtrl+K
Make the font one size biggerWord, PowerPointCtrl+Shift+>
Make the font one size smallerWord, PowerPointCtrl+Shift+<
Subscript (like the 2 in H2O)Word, PowerPointCtrl+=
Superscript (like the 2 in x squared)Word, PowerPointCtrl+Shift++
Copy the formatting (format painter)Word, PowerPointCtrl+Shift+C
Paste the copied formattingWord, PowerPointCtrl+Shift+V
Change the case of the selected textWord, PowerPointShift+F3
Clear all formattingWord, PowerPoint (in Excel: select column)Ctrl+Space

Files10

Save the fileEverywhereCtrl+S
Save As (a new name or place)Word, Excel, PowerPointF12
Open a fileEverywhereCtrl+O
PrintEverywhereCtrl+P
Create a new document, workbook or windowEverywhereCtrl+N
Close the document or tabWord, Excel, browsersCtrl+W
Close the whole programWindowsAlt+F4
Open HelpEverywhereF1
Show the properties of the selected fileWindows ExplorerAlt+Enter
Delete a file without sending it to the Recycle BinWindows ExplorerShift+Del

Moving around11

Jump to the start of the lineEverywhereHome
Jump to the end of the lineEverywhereEnd
Go to the top of the documentWord, Excel, browsersCtrl+Home
Go to the end of the documentWord, Excel, browsersCtrl+End
Move the cursor one word to the rightEverywhereCtrl+→
Move the cursor one word to the leftEverywhereCtrl+←
Scroll down one screenEverywherePgDn
Scroll up one screenEverywherePgUp
Jump to the next box in a formForms, dialogs, websitesTab
Jump back to the previous box in a formForms, dialogs, websitesShift+Tab
Go to a page or cell numberWord, ExcelCtrl+G

Word12

Insert a page breakWordCtrl+Enter
Single line spacingWordCtrl+1
Double line spacingWordCtrl+2
Show or hide the formatting marks (the pilcrow)WordCtrl+Shift+8
Open the word countWordCtrl+Shift+G
Open the thesaurus for the selected wordWordShift+F7
Apply the Normal styleWordCtrl+Shift+N
Apply the Heading 1 styleWordCtrl+Alt+1
Select the current paragraph (triple-click does it too)WordCtrl+Shift+↓
Create a hanging indentWordCtrl+T
Insert a commentWordCtrl+Alt+M
Turn Track Changes on or offWordCtrl+Shift+E

Excel32

Insert today's date in a cellExcelCtrl+;
Insert the current time in a cellExcelCtrl+Shift+:
Turn filters on for the tableExcelCtrl+Shift+L
Select the whole columnExcelCtrl+Space
Select the whole rowExcelShift+Space
Fill the cell down from the one aboveExcelCtrl+D
Fill the cell from the one on its leftExcelCtrl+R
AutoSum the numbers aboveExcelAlt+=
Edit inside the selected cellExcelF2
Make a cell reference absolute ($A$1) in a formulaExcelF4
Open the Format Cells dialogExcelCtrl+1
Apply the currency formatExcelCtrl+Shift+$
Apply the percentage formatExcelCtrl+Shift+%
Apply the date formatExcelCtrl+Shift+#
Put a border around the selected cellsExcelCtrl+Shift+&
Hide the selected rowsExcelCtrl+9
Hide the selected columnsExcelCtrl+0
Go to the next worksheetExcelCtrl+PgDn
Go to the previous worksheetExcelCtrl+PgUp
Insert a new worksheetExcelShift+F11
Jump to the last filled cell in the columnExcelCtrl+↓
Select down to the last filled cellExcelCtrl+Shift+↓
Turn the data into a tableExcelCtrl+T
Start a new line inside the same cellExcelAlt+Enter
Show the formulas instead of the resultsExcelCtrl+`
Fill every selected cell with the same entryExcelCtrl+Enter
Copy the formula from the cell aboveExcelCtrl+'
Insert cells, rows or columnsExcelCtrl+Shift++
Delete cells, rows or columnsExcelCtrl+-
Make a chart from the selected data on a new sheetExcelF11
Make a chart from the selected data on the same sheetExcelAlt+F1
Flash Fill (finish the pattern Excel spots)ExcelCtrl+E

PowerPoint8

Start the slide show from the first slidePowerPointF5
Start the slide show from the current slidePowerPointShift+F5
Add a new slidePowerPointCtrl+M
Black out the screen during a showPowerPoint slide showB
White out the screen during a showPowerPoint slide showW
End the slide showPowerPoint slide showEsc
Group the selected shapesPowerPointCtrl+G
Ungroup the selected shapesPowerPointCtrl+Shift+G

Browser23

Open a new tabChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+T
Close the current tabChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+W
Reopen the tab you just closedChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+Shift+T
Switch to the next tabChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+Tab
Switch to the previous tabChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+Shift+Tab
Jump to the last tabChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+9
Jump to the address barChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+L
Go full screen (and back)Browsers, WindowsF11
Reload the pageBrowsers, Windows ExplorerF5
Reload the page ignoring the cacheChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+Shift+R
Bookmark this pageChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+D
Open the browsing historyChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+H
Open the downloads listChrome, EdgeCtrl+J
Open a private (incognito) windowChrome, EdgeCtrl+Shift+N
Zoom in on the pageBrowsers, WindowsCtrl++
Zoom out on the pageBrowsers, WindowsCtrl+-
Reset the zoom to 100%BrowsersCtrl+0
Go back to the previous pageBrowsers, Windows ExplorerAlt+←
Go forward againBrowsers, Windows ExplorerAlt+→
Open the developer toolsChrome, Edge, FirefoxF12
Open the Clear browsing data screenChrome, Edge, FirefoxCtrl+Shift+Del
Scroll down one screen on a web pageBrowsersSpace
Stop the page loadingBrowsersEsc

Windows17

Show the desktop (hide every window)WindowsWin+D
Open File ExplorerWindowsWin+E
Lock the computerWindowsWin+L
Take a screenshot of part of the screenWindowsWin+Shift+S
Copy the whole screen as a pictureWindowsPrtSc
Switch between open programsWindowsAlt+Tab
Open Task View (all windows and desktops)WindowsWin+Tab
Open Task ManagerWindowsCtrl+Shift+Esc
Open Windows SettingsWindowsWin+I
Open the Run boxWindowsWin+R
Open the emoji keyboardWindowsWin+.
Open the clipboard historyWindowsWin+V
Snap the window to the left half of the screenWindowsWin+←
Maximise the windowWindowsWin+↑
Minimise every windowWindowsWin+M
Open Windows SearchWindowsWin+S
Open the Ctrl+Alt+Del screenWindowsCtrl+Alt+Del

Good to know

Shortcut Questions

Why learn keyboard shortcuts?

Every trip to the mouse costs a second or two. Over a working day of copying, pasting, saving and formatting that adds up to many minutes, and over a year to days. Shortcuts also keep your hands on the keyboard, which makes typing faster too.

Which shortcuts should I learn first?

Ctrl+C (copy), Ctrl+V (paste), Ctrl+X (cut), Ctrl+Z (undo), Ctrl+S (save), Ctrl+A (select all) and Ctrl+F (find). They work in almost every program. Then Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I and Ctrl+U for formatting, and Ctrl+T, Ctrl+W and Ctrl+Tab for browser tabs.

Why do some questions give me four choices on a computer?

Your browser and Windows keep a few shortcuts for themselves: Ctrl+W closes the tab, Ctrl+T opens one, Ctrl+Tab switches tabs, F11 goes full screen, Alt+Tab switches programs. Pressing them would leave the game, so those questions are multiple choice. Every other shortcut you press for real.

Can I play on a phone?

Yes. Phones have no Ctrl key, so on a phone every question shows four choices and you tap the right keys. On a computer you can switch to choices too.

Do these shortcuts work on a Mac?

Mostly, with the Command key in place of Ctrl: Cmd+C copies, Cmd+V pastes, Cmd+S saves. The game accepts Command as Ctrl, so Mac users can play too.

Is my score saved?

No. The game runs on your device and nothing is stored or sent anywhere. Your best score is remembered only until you close the page.