Useful Windows 8 Tweaks and Keyboard Shortcuts

Recently Windows 8(New Operating System) is out in market.Devices running on Windows 8 are emerging more and more day by day.To get the best experience from windows 8 you must be knowing how to use all the functionality properly.Here we listed some quick tweaks and keyboard shortcut keys for windows 8 users.

1. Enable Num Lock on the Windows 8 Logon Screen

Some user believes that there is a setting in Computer BIOS that num lock will not be enabled automatically on the logon screen. But let's think that you have enabled the user authentication while logon and your password will be in numerical. So, if you want to enter in the Operating System speedily you have to turn first Num Lock On then type, if in case you forget to turn on then password will be wrong. Here is the simple tweak to Enable Num Lock on the Windows 8 Logon Screen.

• Open "run" (Win Key + R), type "regedit" (without quote) and hit enter.
• After that one window will appear, as shown in below image.
• Now Browse to this location: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Keyboard
• Then edit the value of InitialKeyboardIndicators and set it to a value of 2.
• Done successfully.

2. Launch File Explorer with Drive List

In Windows 8 and Windows 7, when File Explorer is launched via the Task bar shortcut, Libraries are shown by default, which is not useful to us. But If I show the tweak that when you click on File Explorer via the Taskbar then My Computer opens with a drive list. Here is simple tweak to follow.

• Right Click on the File Explorer which is on the Taskbar.

• Then Select Properties, it will open File Explorer Properties.

• Now change the Target Location to the following:
  %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
• And click OK, you have done successfully.

3. Customise Default Programs for the Windows 8 Desktop

In Windows, when you click on any image on the desktop then it will not open in Image Viewer or otherwise if you play a video from a desktop then a full screen player emerges out. To avoid all this things we know that we have to set default programs for that. So, here is the simple tweak:

a) Image Viewers

• Click on the Windows Key from your Keyboard, type Default Programs and hit Enter.
  

  
•  Select set your default programs.
  
•  Select Windows Photo Viewer and then click set this program as default.
  

b) Video Players

•  Click on the Windows Key from your Keyboard, type Default Programs and hit Enter.
  
• Select set your default programs.
  
• On right hand side, you will see change program option. Click on that button.

• Select Windows Media Player (Any Player installed in your computer) and then click set this program as default.

c) PDF Viewer

•  Click on the Windows Key from your Keyboard, type Default Programs and hit Enter.
  

  
• Select Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
  
•  Select .pdf and then click Change program.
  
• Now, select Adobe Reader.
  

In this way, you can set default programs for various of extension.

4. Windows 8 Multi-Monitor Tweaks

While designing Windows 8, Microsoft keep the concept of multiple monitors support in mind. If you use multiple monitors then you can do different works on both of them and also works can be finished fast. For that you have to customize and also we have to put different wallpapers on specific monitors. This article is a compilation of multi-monitor tips that will help any Windows 8 power user. 

a) Taskbar Customization

Now, right click on Taskbar and select properties. You will see a pop-up properties window and on the bottom half of the Taskbar tab you will see the new Multiple Display options, as shown in below image:

There you will see the three options:

1. All Taskbars
2. Main taskbar and taskbar where window is open
3. Taskbar where window is open

So, select as per your requirement and many others options are also there to customize.

b) Background Customization

This is very simple tweak, you have to right click on the specific image and on which monitor you want to display select that. And also select position settings.

You can bring your Windows apps on desktop by dragging with the mouse and also you can switch multiple monitors by pressing Windows Key + Page up / Page down.

5. Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcut Guide:

Lastly I want to introduce Keyboard Shortcuts so that you can use Windows 8 quickly and efficiently. So, let's useful Keyboard Shortcuts to improve relationship with your new OS.

General Windows 8 Shortcuts

Win – Display Start Menu

Win + Mouse Scroll Wheel – Zoom in and out on the Start Menu

Win + L – Lock your PC and return to logon screen

Win + P – Projector options

Win + X – Admin tools menu

Win + Enter – Starts Windows Narrator

Win + (plus sign + ) – Screen zoom in

Win + (minus sign - ) – Screen zoom out

Win + Print Screen – Saves a screenshot in the picture library screenshot folder

Print Screen – Saves a screenshot to clipboard

Alt + Tab – Classic app switcher

Win + Tab – Metro app switcher

Alt + F4 – Close application (Desktop and Metro)

Tab – Select different items

Ctrl + C – Copy

Ctrl + X – Cut

Ctrl + V – Paste

Metro / Modern Shortcuts

Win + C – Displays charms

Win + Z – Displays app bar

Win + I – Settings side menu

Win + K – Devices menu

Win + H – Share menu

Win + F – File search

Win + Q – Application search

Win + W – Settings search

Win + (period . ) – Snap Metro app to the right

Win + Shift + (period.) – Snap Metro app to the left

Arrow keys + spacebar – Select app tile

Desktop Shortcuts

Win + D – Show Desktop

Win + M – Minimize to Desktop

Win + R – Run

Win + T – Taskbar previews

Win + U – Ease of Access Center

Win + Pause / Break – System Information

Win + comma – Peek at desktop

Ctrl + Shift + Escape – Task Manager

Win + Right Arrow – Aero snap right

Win + Left Arrow – Aero snap left

Win + Up Arrow – Aero snap full screen

Win + 1 through 9 – Launched applications pinned to the taskbar

File Explorer Shortcuts

Win + E – Open File Explorer    

Ctrl + N – Additional File Explorer window

Alt + F + P – Open Command prompt at current location

Alt + F + r – Open PowerShell prompt at current location

Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel – Change view

Ctrl + Shift + N – New Folder

Alt + Enter – Selected File/Folder Properties

F2 – Rename selected item

Ctrl + F1 – Show or Hide Ribbon

Alt + Up arrow – Navigate up a folder

Alt + Left Arrow – Navigate to previous folder

Alt + Right Arrow – Navigate forward

Desktop Internet Explorer 10

Ctrl + B – Favorites Manager
Ctrl + D – Add site to Favorites
Ctrl + I – Favorites List
Ctrl + G – Feeds
Ctrl + H – History
Ctrl + J – View Downloads
Ctrl + N – New Window
Ctrl + P – Print
Ctrl + Shift + P – Open In Private mode tab
Ctrl + T – New tab
Ctrl + K – Duplicate tab
Ctrl + W – Close tab
Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen closed tab
Ctrl + Tab – Switch between open tabs
Ctrl + R or F5 – Refresh Page
Ctrl + U – View Source
Ctrl + F or F3 – Find on page
Ctrl + E – Move cursor to address bar to search the web
Alt + Home – Homepage
Alt + Left Arrow – Back
Alt + Right Arrow – Forward
F10 – Menu bar
F11 – Toggle Full Screen Mode
F12 – Developer Tools

Metro Internet Explorer 10

Ctrl + E – Move cursor to address bar to search the web
Ctrl + F or F3 – Find on page
Ctrl + R or F5 – Refresh Page
Ctrl + P – Print
Ctrl + T – New tab
Ctrl + K – Duplicate tab
Ctrl + W – Close tab
Ctrl + Tab – Switch between open tabs
Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen closed tab
Ctrl + Shift + P – Open In Private Mode Tab
Ctrl + L or F4 – Open address bar
Alt + Left Arrow – Back
Alt + Right Arrow – Forward

All above are the useful Tweaks that you should know while using Windows 8. Share this post so that others also can know these Windows Tweaks. If you have any problem related these tweaks then put your comments in below comment box!!!

 Sohil R. Memon

About the Guest Author:

Hi,I am the founder of my Personal Blog - sohilmemon.com. I am a computer-junkie. I haven’t had any educational background related to computers, but it’s in my blood. I love to write articles on Blogging, Technology, Computers & Smartphones. You can stay connected me on Facebook, Follow me on Twitter.