In the quest to maximize productivity and blitz through the flood of Windows 10 applications at top speed, ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’ aid as one secret weapon. Windows 10 offers you the option to create custom keyboard shortcuts that allow you to instantly launch apps or websites. There are a number of built-in keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10, but don’t just settle for the standard ones – its time you create your own, and unexpectedly, it’s very easy.
Jun 12, 2018 Creating file shortcuts in Windows 10 When I right click on a file and select Create Shortcut, the file highlights but in Windows 7 it was the shortcut that was highlighted making it easy to cut the shortcut and paste it into another folder. Is there a setting that can be changed in Windows 10 so it highlights the shortcut not the file? A new focus on the desktop brings new keyboard shortcuts for desktop users, so rejoice! Here are all the new keyboard shortcuts you need to know in Windows 10. From window management with Snap and Task View to virtual desktops and the Command Prompt, there are lots of new goodies for keyboard users in Windows 10.
Click on Windows Start button, scroll down to the App or Program for which you want. On the next screen, right-click on the Program icon and then click on Properties option in. On the properties screen, click on the Shortcut tab in case you are not already there. Once you click.
Create custom Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10
To speed up the process of working on your system, most of us would have created ‘desktop shortcuts’ or pinned the applications to the taskbar. This is one easy action to perform, it can be done easily either by dragging an application from the ‘Start Menu’ to the desktop or by right-clicking on an executable application and choosing the ‘Create Shortcut’ option. But, clicking on each shortcut demands some extra physical effort and sometimes minimizing all applications to get to the desktop to click on the shortcut. This is exactly why we need ‘Custom Keyboard Shortcuts’.
In Windows 10, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for numerous programs running on your system. From the traditional “desktop” applications to new-fangled “universal app” you can fling in a shortcut and open it instantly at top speed without upsetting your ongoing system activity.
Here is a step by step tutorial on how to create these shortcuts.
Add Custom Keyboard hotkeys to program and website desktop shortcuts:
This is one of the most basic approaches to adding custom keyboard shortcuts. Hotkeys can be added to any software or website shortcut by simply ‘right-clicking’ it and hitting ‘Properties’. Then select the ‘Shortcut’ tab as shown in the below screenshot:
The Properties window includes a ‘Shortcut key’ text box that allows you to enter a new/custom keyboard shortcut for the program or webpage.
Simply enter your preferred letters and set up the new hotkey. Note, this custom shortcut needs to be combined with ‘Ctrl + Alt’. So, if you select ‘N’, then the keyboard shortcut would be ‘Ctrl + Alt + N’.
Once, the custom keyboard shortcut is entered, hit the ‘Apply’ button and then click ‘OK’ to save changes and close the window.
Now to open your program or webpage with the new shortcut just press “Ctrl + Alt + N’, it will instantly open it as you set it up for.
When you are trying to create a custom keyboard shortcut for a “desktop app” or any application that is independent of the Windows Store and installs via direct download, you can use the start menu to create the shortcut. With this method, you can avoid the need to create separate shortcut icons on the desktop for every app.
To do this, click open the ‘Start Menu’. Search for the required app’s icon/tile in the Start Menu.
Note: If you are unable to find the desired app then click on ‘All Apps’ to simply navigate through all the applications installed on your computer.
When you find the application, ‘right click’ and scroll down to ‘More’ to click the option ‘Open file location’ option.
A new window opens with the shortcut icon. Right-click on the shortcut icon of the application and select Properties.
The Properties window will open where the shortcut combination can be added.
Note: Like the previous method, custom shortcut needs to be combined with Ctrl + Alt. So, if you select E, then the keyboard shortcut would be Ctrl + Alt + E.
Click Apply and then Ok.
Your custom shortcut key via shortcut menu is now created.
Final Thoughts
Usage and accessibility of different applications or website can’t get easier than this. By using this simple guide, you can easily and speedily create custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10 for your most-used apps.
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Create a Windows 10 keyboard macro
You can assign a key combination to open any app by using the keyboard in Windows 10. First, create a shortcut on the desktop for the app you want to open, then:
- Right click on the desktop shortcut, and select Properties
- Change the “Shortcut key,” using a combination of CTRL + ALT + a letter or a number
- Click ok, and you’ll be able to open your app using the keyboard combination you assigned
- Note that Windows will not alert you to conflicting keyboard combinations used by your other apps, so choose carefully
Applies to All Windows 10 Versions
There are different ways to create shortcuts to get to the app you want in Windows 10. For easy access, you can pin the Windows 10 app to the Start menu, Taskbar, or create a shortcut on the desktop. If the app is something you use on a daily basis in Windows 10, you want to open the app fast. That's where keyboard macros come in. If you have a Windows 10 PC that lacks a touchscreen or don't have access to a multi-button mouse, keyboard macros are what you want to use in Windows 10.
What is a macro?
As noted by a Bing search, A macro in computing is a 'single instruction that expands automatically into a set of instructions to perform a particular task.' Thus, a keyboard macro would equate to a keyboard shortcut that you type in to perform an action in Windows 10. Much like using CTRL + C to copy, CTRL + V to paste, and CTRL + Z to undo across Windows 10, keyboard macros are meant to save you time doing whatever you need to do.
Let's take a look a how to create a keyboard macro in Windows 10.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Create a Desktop Shortcut
- Open Command Prompt and run as administrator. Click Yes at the UAC (User Account Control) prompt
- In Command Prompt, type (or cut and paste) the following phrase without the quotation marks: 'explorer shell:AppsFolder'
A folder will open displaying all your Windows 10 apps. It may be easier to find your app if you change the view setting to 'Detailed.' Detailed will allow all your apps to be displayed in one column so your app is easier to find. - Right-click on an app and select 'Create shortcut.' In this example, I will create a keyboard macro for Arduino IDE.
- You will see a prompt that says the 'Windows can't create a shortcut here, would you like to create a shortcut on the desktop?' Click Yes.
- Once you have completed this step, go to your Windows 10 desktop. Right-click the app shortcut and select Properties.
- Change the Shortcut key. Here is where you create your keyboard macro. In Windows 10, a keyboard macro needs to start with CTRL + ALT + a letter and/or a number.
- Click OK when finished.
Custom Keyboard Shortcuts Win 10
Another thing to note is that any new software you install might also use your keyboard macros for other in-app functions. For example, when Photoshop Elements is open, 'CTRL + ALT + I' brings up the resize menu. Try to remember not to use the same keyboard macro combination twice. Unfortunately, Windows 10 does not alert you if there's a conflict with a different app that uses the same keyboard macro that you assigned for a different app.
Further reading: Keyboard, Keyboard Shortcuts, Microsoft, Windows 10