Most Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac and Windows

Published: 19 Apr 2025

Keyboard shortcuts make everyday computer tasks faster and easier. Whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows laptop, knowing the right shortcut keys for MacBook or control A to Z shortcut keys can save you time. This guide explains all major keyboard shortcut keys for Mac, Windows, and laptops, including Alt, Ctrl, and Command key functions. We also cover lock screen shortcuts, app-closing tricks, and more.

Table of Content

Why Use Keyboard Shortcut Keys?
Understanding Modifier Keys: Ctrl, Alt, and Command
Common Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (A to Z)
MacBook Shortcut Keys – Full List
Popular Universal Shortcuts (Mac & Windows)
Fixing Alt F4 Not Working or Ctrl Key Issues
Other Useful Shortcut Key Combos
Using Shortcut Keyboard in Laptop Workflows
Conclusion
FAQ’s About Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac and Windows

Why Use Keyboard Shortcut Keys?

Shortcuts are combinations of keys that do a task without needing a mouse. Common actions like copying, pasting, switching apps, or closing tabs are just one key press away using control keys on keyboard like Ctrl, Alt, or Command key on keyboard. They also help when your trackpad or mouse isn’t working.

Using shortcut key on screen keyboard or physical keys boosts speed in daily tasks like:

Text editing
Browser navigation
File management
Window control
Screen lock/unlock

Understanding Modifier Keys: Ctrl, Alt, and Command

Modifier keys like Ctrl, Alt, and Command are used with other keys to perform quick shortcuts. They help you save time by completing tasks faster, like copying or opening apps.

Let’s take a look at how these keys work together to make your work easier!

Ctrl Key on Keyboard

Used mostly in Windows systems.
Popular in ctrl A to Z shortcut keys (e.g., Ctrl + C to copy).
Known as the control key function key.

Alt Key / Alt Button

Found on both Mac and Windows keyboards.
Works with Alt + Tab, Alt + F4 shortcut, etc.
Some apps assign special tasks to Alt key combos.

Command Key on Mac

The command key on keyboard replaces Ctrl in macOS.
Examples: Command + C (Copy), Command + Q (Quit app).
Works like Ctrl in Windows.

Common Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows (A to Z)

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + A	Select all items
Ctrl + B	Bold selected text
Ctrl + C	Copy selected content
Ctrl + D	Bookmark in browser / delete in file manager
Ctrl + E	Center text
Ctrl + F	Find in a document or page
Ctrl + G	Go to a line in text editors
Ctrl + H	Replace text
Ctrl + I	Italic text
Ctrl + J	Downloads in browsers
Ctrl + K	Insert link
Ctrl + L	Highlight address bar
Ctrl + M	Indent paragraph
Ctrl + N	New window
Ctrl + O	Open file
Ctrl + P	Print page
Ctrl + Q	Close application (varies)
Ctrl + R	Refresh page
Ctrl + S	Save file
Ctrl + T	Open new browser tab
Ctrl + U	Underline
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + W	Close current tab
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + Y	Redo
Ctrl + Z	Undo

These ctrl keyboard shortcuts improve typing, editing, and browsing in all versions of Windows.

MacBook Shortcut Keys – Full List

Shortcut	Function
Command + A	Select all
Command + B	Bold text
Command + C	Copy
Command + D	Duplicate file
Command + E	Eject disk
Command + F	Find
Command + G	Find next
Command + H	Hide app
Command + I	Get info
Command + J	View settings
Command + K	Connect to server
Command + L	Address bar in Safari
Command + M	Minimize window
Command + N	New file
Command + O	Open file
Command + P	Print
Command + Q	Quit app
Command + R	Reload page
Command + S	Save
Command + T	New tab
Command + U	View source code
Command + V	Paste
Command + W	Close window
Command + X	Cut
Command + Y	Quick look
Command + Z	Undo

These macbook shortcut keys work across Finder, Safari, Word, and most macOS apps.

Popular Universal Shortcuts (Mac & Windows)

Shortcut	Windows	Mac
Lock screen keyboard shortcut	Win + L	Control + Command + Q
Switch apps	Alt + Tab	Command + Tab
Screenshot	Win + Shift + S	Command + Shift + 4
Close app	Alt + F4	Command + Q
Force quit	Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Option + Command + Esc
Show desktop	Win + D	Command + F3
Virtual desktops	Win + Ctrl + D	Control + Up Arrow

For lock mac keyboard shortcut, try Control + Command + Q. For mac lock keyboard shortcut settings, go to System Preferences > Security.

Fixing Alt F4 Not Working or Ctrl Key Issues

Sometimes shortcuts like Alt F4 not working happen due to:

Active FN key (try pressing FN + Esc to unlock)
Sticky keys enabled
Background apps blocking keys
Hardware issues (test with external keyboard)

Similarly, if your ctrl key on keyboard doesn’t respond:

Test with Notepad or a browser
Update drivers
Disable accessibility settings temporarily
Restart your system

Use an on-screen keyboard to confirm hardware vs software issues.

Other Useful Shortcut Key Combos

Now that you know about the function keys, let’s look at some other easy shortcut combos that can make your tasks even faster. These key combinations will help you get things done quickly and easily.

Let’s check out some of the most useful shortcuts you can use today!

Alt Key Shortcuts (Windows)

Alt + Tab = Switch apps
Alt + Enter = Open file properties
Alt + Space = Window menu
Alt + F4 = Close app
Alt + Shift + Tab = Switch apps in reverse

Alt Button on Mac (Option Key)

Option + Delete = Delete full words
Option + Command + Esc = Force quit
Option + Click = Open in new window

Ctrl Key Shortcuts

Ctrl + Shift + N = New folder
Ctrl + Shift + T = Reopen closed tab
Ctrl + Alt + Delete = Security menu
Ctrl + F4 = Close window/tab

Using Shortcut Keyboard in Laptop Workflows

Whether you’re editing documents, managing files, or surfing the internet, using a shortcut keyboard in laptop helps:

Perform actions faster
Reduce hand movement
Avoid repetitive stress injuries
Work efficiently without a mouse

It’s also helpful when using a shortcut key on screen keyboard, especially for accessibility or touchscreen devices.

Conclusion

Keyboard shortcuts make a huge difference in how fast and smoothly you work. From Ctrl A to Z shortcut keys on Windows to the command key on keyboard for Mac users, these tricks save time every day. Knowing which macbook shortcut keys or alt button combos to use can improve productivity instantly. Whether you want to close an app using Alt F4 shortcut, lock your Mac, or copy/paste content, this list covers it all. Practice these keyboard shortcut keys for Mac and Windows daily to master your system faster.

FAQ’s About Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac and Windows

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions related to Keyboard Shortcuts for Mac and Windows:

What is the shortcut to lock Mac screen?

Use Control + Command + Q. It locks the screen immediately on macOS.

How can I use Alt F4 on a laptop?

Press FN + Alt + F4 if it doesn’t work alone. This closes the active window.

What does Ctrl F4 do?

It closes the active tab or document without exiting the app entirely.

How can I fix shortcut keys not working?

Try restarting, updating drivers, or checking FN key lock and Sticky Keys settings.

What is the shortcut for screen lock in Windows?

Use Windows + L. It instantly locks the screen.

What’s the difference between Ctrl and Command key?

Ctrl is used in Windows. Command is its equivalent on Mac systems.

What does Alt + Enter do?

It shows file or folder properties in Windows Explorer.

Can I use shortcut keys on the on-screen keyboard?

Yes, Windows allows shortcuts even using the on-screen keyboard.

Why is Alt F4 not working on my laptop?

FN key might be active. Try FN + Alt + F4 or use external keyboard for testing.

Are Mac shortcuts the same as Windows?

Some are similar, but Mac uses Command instead of Ctrl and has unique combos.