Become a Windows whiz by creating your own keyboard shortcuts

Custom keyboard shortcuts to improve work efficiency! This article will guide you how to create custom shortcuts in Windows system and introduce some commonly used shortcuts and third-party tools.

First of all, it is crucial to understand existing shortcut keys. There are a lot of shortcut keys built in Windows, such as: Win D Show/hide desktop, Ctrl W Close window/tab page. Microsoft's official website provides a complete list of shortcut keys, which you recommend to check.

1. Create shortcut keys using Windows system

Creating shortcut keys for programs, files, or folders is very simple: in File Explorer, right-click on the target object and select "Create Shortcut". This creates a desktop shortcut icon, but is not a keyboard shortcut yet. Double-clicking the icon will open the corresponding program or folder.

Next, right-click the shortcut icon, select "Properties", and then click the "Shortcut Keys" tab. Press the key combination of your choice (must contain Shift, Ctrl, or Alt keys) in the Shortcut Key text box. Click OK to save the settings.

Now, press the key combination you set to quickly start the corresponding program, file, or folder without having to go through the Start menu or taskbar. Be careful to avoid existing shortcut key conflicts with the system or application.

2. Use third-party programs to create shortcut keys

Some third-party programs can help you create custom shortcuts. For example, WinHotKey is an easy-to-use and free tool that supports Windows 10. Click "New Hotkey" to configure new shortcut keys, select key combinations (must contain Shift, Alt, Ctrl, or Windows keys), and specify the corresponding action (open file, folder, or program).

AutoHotKey is a more advanced and free tool that allows you to create more complex shortcut keys such as input text snippets, display message boxes, etc., as well as launch programs, files, and folders. You need to create a script file (right-click on the desktop and select "New" -> "AutoHotKey Script") and write code to define the specific operations of the shortcut keys. AutoHotKey provides tutorials and documentation for your learning and use.

3. Create shortcut keys inside the application

Many applications also allow you to customize shortcuts. For example, in Microsoft Word, you can add new shortcuts via File -> Options -> Custom Ribbon -> Custom (next to Keyboard Shortcuts). You can set shortcuts for Word commands and choose whether to apply changes to all documents or specific documents/templates.

Adobe Photoshop also supports custom shortcuts. Open the settings interface via the Edit menu -> "Keyboard Shortcuts" or the shortcut Alt Shift Ctrl K. You can set shortcut keys for menu items, panels, and tools. Photoshop will issue a warning if the selected shortcut key already exists.

Through the above methods, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts according to your needs, significantly improving your work efficiency.

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