Besides introducing new features, Windows 8 operating system also has new keyboard shortcut hotkeys to use these features. With support for apps from Windows Store, there are number of shortcuts to use apps based functionalities. There are dedicated keyboard shortcuts to use charms bar, narrator program, toggling metro user interface, search pane, navigating apps, viewing notifications, peek at desktop, starting IME editor and much more. Checkout following listing of keyboard shortcut for using Windows 8 operating system more efficiently through quick hotkeys.
Listing of Keyboard hotkeys for new Windows 8 OS
Shortcut HotKeys | Functions |
| Windows | Toggles between Metro Start Screen & Desktop |
| Windows + Space | Switch input language & keyboard layout |
| Windows + Enter | Launch Narrator program |
| Windows + Print Screen | Captures Screenshot of the screen & saves in Pictures folder |
| Window + PgUp | Move Start Screen or Metro style app to the monitor on the left |
| Windows + PgDown | Move Start Screen or Metro style app to the monitor on the right |
| Windows + C | Open the Charms bar |
| Windows + F | Open the File Search app |
| Windows + H | Open the Share charm |
| Windows + I | Open the Settings charm |
| Windows + J | Swap foreground between snapped and filled apps |
| Windows + K | Open the Connect charm (devices) |
| Windows + O | Lock device orientation |
| Windows + Q | Open the Search pane |
| Windows + V | Cycle through Notification toasts |
| Windows + W | Open the Settings Search app |
| Windows + X | Bring the quick launch menu |
| Windows + Z | Open the App Bar |
| Windows + / | Initiate input method editor (IME) reconversion |
| Windows + Shift + . | Move the gutter to the left (snap an application) |
| Windows + . | Move the gutter to the right (snap an application) |
| Windows + , | Temporarily peek at desktop |
| Windows + Tab | Cycle through apps |
| Windows + Shift + Tab | Cycle through apps in reverse order |
| Windows+ Shift + V | Cycle through Notification toasts in reverse order |
| Windows + Ctrl + Tab | Cycle through apps and snap them as they cycle |
If you know any other keyboard shortcut for Windows 8 that is not present in the list above, share with us by adding a comment below.