Programming Windows 8 is fun, but if you do not have a proper touch screen, the following short cut keys should help out.
| ALT + F4 | Close the app |
| Arrow Key, ALT + Arrow Down | Move Metro App Down |
| Arrow Key, ALT + Arrow Left | Move Metro App Left |
| Arrow Key, ALT + Arrow Right | Move Metro App Right |
| Arrow Key, ALT + Arrow Up | Move Metro App Up |
| Arrow Key, App Key | Display Unpin Option and Advanced Metro Icon Icons |
| Arrow Keys | Select Metro Apps Left, Right, Up, Down |
| CTRL + Arrow Left | Move 1 Page Left on Metro UI Menu |
| CTRL + Arrow Right | Move 1 Page Right on Metro UI Menu |
| ESC | Return to Previous App |
| Windows Key | Jump between Start Metro Desktop and Previous App |
| Windows Key | Toggles between the Start screen and the foremost running app (Metro-style) or the Windows Desktop. |
| Windows Key + . | Move Metro App Split Screen Right or (Cycle through the different application layouts) |
| Windows Key + 1, Windows Key + 2, etc. – | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right. |
| Windows Key + B | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and select the tray notification area. |
| Windows Key + C | Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay. (Note that this shortcut displays the charms in the lower left of the screen and not on the right as would be the case using touch.) |
| Windows Key + D | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows). |
| Windows Key + E | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed. |
| Windows Key + Enter | Launch Narrator |
| Windows Key + F | Search Files using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows Key + H | Open Share Charm |
| Windows Key + I | Display Settings pane for the Start screen (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language). |
| Windows Key + K | Opens Connect Charm |
| Windows Key + L | Lock PC and return to Lock screen. |
| Windows Key + M | Launch Classic Desktop with Arrow Key Desktop Icon Selection |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize the selected Explorer window. |
| Windows Key + O | Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs. |
| Windows Key + P | Display the new Project (for “projection”) pane for choosing between available displays. |
| Windows Key + PgDown | Move Tiles to the Right |
| Windows Key + PgUp | Move Tiles to the Left |
| Windows Key + Q | Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows Key + R | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Run box. |
| Windows Key + S | Open App Search |
| Windows Key + Shift + . | Move Metro App Split Screen Left |
| Windows Key + Shift + V | Cycle through toasts in reverse order |
| Windows Key + spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
| Windows Key + T | Launch Classic Desktop with Arrow Key Icon Selection |
| Windows Key + U | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and launch the Ease of Access Center. |
| Windows Key + V | Cycle through toasts |
| Windows Key + W | Open Search Settings |
| Windows Key + X | Open Windows 8 Advanced Tools Context Menu |
| Windows Key + X | Switch to the (classic) Windows desktop and display the Windows Mobility Center application. |
| Windows Key + Y | Peek at the Desktop |
| Windows Key + Z | Display the App Bar in a Metro-style app. (or right click in the UI) |
| In Classic mode | |
| Windows Key | Toggles between the Windows desktop environment and the new Start screen. |
| Windows Key + 1, Windows Key + 2, etc. | Launch the nth shortcut in the Windows taskbar. So WINKEY + 1 would launch whichever application is first in the list, from left to right. |
| Windows Key + B | Select the tray notification area. |
| Windows Key + C | Display Charms and time/date/notification overlay. |
| Windows Key + D | Toggle Show Desktop (hides/shows any applications and other windows). |
| Windows Key + E | Launch Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed. |
| Windows Key + F | Search Files using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows Key + I | Display Settings pane for Windows Desktop (also provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power, and Language). |
| Windows Key + L | Lock PC and return to Lock screen. |
| Windows Key + M | Minimize the selected Explorer window. |
| Windows Key + O | Toggle orientation switching on slate and tablet PCs. |
| Windows Key + P | Display the new Project (for “projection”) pane for choosing between available displays. |
| Windows Key + Q | Search (within) Apps using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows Key + R | Display Run box. |
| Windows Key + U | Launch Ease of Access Center. |
| Windows Key + W | Search Settings using the new Windows Search pane. |
| Windows Key + X | Display Windows Mobility Center application. |
| Windows Key + ARROW KEYS | Aero Snap. |
John Marshall… Visio MVP Visio.MVPs.org
