Everyday Computer Shortcuts: Windows 11 & Mac (Printable)
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You do not need to memorise a keyboard to make a computer easier to use. This guide is for beginners, public library patrons, and anyone who wants a straightforward way to copy a sentence, find a word, save a document, or make a webpage easier to read. No school or library account is required. Start with an ordinary document or a webpage that does not contain private information, and practise one action at a time.
Choose the Windows column for a Windows 11 computer and the Mac column for an Apple computer. Ctrl means Control. Cmd means Command, the Mac key marked with a looped symbol. A plus sign between key names means hold those keys together; it does not mean you must type a plus sign unless Plus is named as the key. Release the keys when the action is finished. Menu instructions tell you what to click when a task needs more than a single key combination.
The full table includes browsing, window controls, and screenshots. The Print this page button produces a short black-and-white summary with type at least 16 points tall. The free PDF contains the complete guide rather than only that summary. You can download it directly without providing an email address. Browser examples use Chrome, while a few document examples use Word; other applications can behave differently.
Everyday computer shortcuts
Hold the first key, tap the next key, then release both. Cmd means the Command key on a Mac.
Browser examples use Chrome. Other apps can use different shortcuts. Alt+F4 closes only the active window; it does not close every app.
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Copy selected text | Ctrl+C | Cmd+C |
| Cut selected text | Ctrl+X | Cmd+X |
| Paste copied text | Ctrl+V | Cmd+V |
| Paste without formatting (Chrome / Docs) | Ctrl+Shift+V | Cmd+Shift+V |
| Undo the last action | Ctrl+Z | Cmd+Z |
| Redo (Word) | Ctrl+Y | Cmd+Y |
| Select everything in the active document | Ctrl+A | Cmd+A |
| Find a word on this page | Ctrl+F | Cmd+F |
| Save a document | Ctrl+S | Cmd+S |
| Print a document or webpage | Ctrl+P | Cmd+P |
| Close current browser tab / Word document | Ctrl+W | Cmd+W |
| Close the active window only | Alt+F4 | Cmd+Shift+W (Chrome); Cmd+W in many apps |
| Switch between open apps | Alt+Tab | Cmd+Tab |
| Show the desktop | Windows+D | Fn+F11 (or Fn+H on supported Macs) |
| Lock the computer | Windows+L | Ctrl+Cmd+Q |
| Deal with an unresponsive app | Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager; select app > End task | Option+Cmd+Esc opens Force Quit; select app |
| Open a new browser tab | Ctrl+T | Cmd+T |
| Reopen the last closed browser tab | Ctrl+Shift+T | Cmd+Shift+T |
| Make a webpage bigger | Ctrl+Plus (+) | Cmd+Plus (+) |
| Make a webpage smaller | Ctrl+Minus (-) | Cmd+Minus (-) |
| Reset webpage size | Ctrl+0 | Cmd+0 |
| Capture part of the screen | Windows+Shift+S | Shift+Cmd+4 |
| Capture the entire screen | Windows+PrtScn | Shift+Cmd+3 |
Tips
Practise without losing your place
First highlight a few words, copy them, and paste them into an empty practice document. Copy leaves the original words where they are. Cut removes the selected words so they can be moved elsewhere. If you remove something by mistake, try Undo immediately. Save your practice file with a name you can recognise, then use Find to locate one word inside it. These small repetitions are more useful than trying every command at once.
Make the screen easier to read
Zoom changes the size of a webpage on your screen; it does not change the words themselves. Try increasing the size, reducing it, and returning to the default size with the reset command. If a shortcut does not work, click inside the document or webpage first. The same keys can do something else when the address bar, a dialog box, or another application has the focus.
Use public computers safely
Locking a computer temporarily protects the session, but it is not the same as signing out. When you finish on a shared computer, sign out of websites and your computer session according to the site's instructions. Remove downloaded files that contain personal details. Alt+F4 closes only the active window, not every app; Ctrl+W usually closes the active tab or document. Save important work before closing either one. Force Quit or End task is for an unresponsive app and can discard unsaved work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an account or email address?
No. This guide, its large-print summary, and its PDF download are free to use without signing in or submitting an email address.
Does Alt+F4 close every program?
No. Alt+F4 closes the active window. Ctrl+W usually closes the current browser tab or document. Save unsaved work before closing a window.
Why does a shortcut sometimes do nothing?
The intended app or document may not have focus, the app may use a different shortcut, or your keyboard may require Fn for a function key. Click inside the intended window and check its menus.
Is locking the screen the same as signing out?
No. Locking leaves your session running. On a shared computer, sign out of websites and the computer session when you finish.
Related pages
Official sources
- Apple: Mac keyboard shortcuts
- Google: Docs keyboard shortcuts
- Microsoft: Word keyboard shortcuts
- Google: Chrome keyboard shortcuts
- Microsoft: Windows keyboard shortcuts
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13