Efficient Navigation of your Computer
-
Use the Search Function.
Use ALT + Tab. Once you’ve got all these windows open, you need a way to quickly scroll between them. This can easily be done by pressing the ALT and Tab keys. Holding these two buttons at the same time will prompt a dialogue box to appear in the middle of your screen. This box will display all of your currently open applications. You can either use the mouse to hover over these to select them, cycle through them by continuing to press the tab key, or using the mouse’s scroll wheel. This trick is useful for those of us who work on a lot of windows at the same time.
-
Use the Scroll Wheel.
Minimize all Windows. Having all these open windows constantly in your face can be distracting. If you feel the need to minimize these windows, don’t waste your time clicking in the corner of the page. Take care of all of them at the same time by clicking the bottom-right corner of your screen, where there is a little blank box. This will immediately display your desktop, minimizing your open windows in the process. If you don’t feel like using the mouse, you can also simultaneously press the windows key and ‘D’ to perform the same action.
-
Use the Taskbar.
The Taskbar is the blue bar on the bottom of your screen that is riddled with icons. The important thing to note about this is that when items are stored here, by right-clicking and selecting “pin to taskbar”, you can open them by holding down the windows key, and pressing the number corresponding to the position of the icon. If the application is already open, you can use this shortcut to either select or minimize it.
-
Use Windows key + L.
Security risks are a big part of IT. When you’re called away from your computer for any reason, it is a good idea to lock it. Not everyone can spend the time to click through menus when they need to leave their desk. Using the Windows key and ‘L’, you can easily lock your screen, making it impossible for anyone without your password to gain access.
-
Make your Own Shortcuts.
If the shortcuts provided aren’t quick enough, you can set applications on your desktop to open with custom shortcuts.This is done by right-clicking the icon, selecting ‘properties’, and clicking the ‘shortcuts’ menu.Then input a custom shortcut into the ‘shortcut key’ section. This will allow you to open that application with the keystroke you entered.
Shortcuts like these make it easy to control your work space. And, as we all know, the ability to navigate your station is paramount to getting your work done. We hope this post has helped to increase your productivity!