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October 2, 2024
Using keyboard shortcuts is probably not something new to most people. Ctrl-Z to Undo, Ctrl-C to Copy, Ctrl-V to Paste have been around since the early 1980s. Ctrl-Alt-Delete is perhaps the most important one to know, since it's how you get to the "Change a Password" option. Keyboard shortcuts like these work the same as using the Shift key to get a capital letter. You hold down the first key, then tap the second key. With Ctrl-Alt-Delete, you hold down the Ctrl and the Alt keys, then tap the Delete key.
Today, my Tech Tip is focusing on just two of my two favorite shortcuts using the "Windows Key" or "Win-Key" or "WinKey" on the windows laptops, and the "Search Key" on Chromebooks. I've often been greeted by questioning looks when I reference the Windows Key, so that tells me there are probably a few folks out there who aren't aware of its presence.Β
The WinKey by itself opens and closes the start menu. But my favorite use of it, is when you use the WinKey with the period button...πππ Yes. That's right. You get Emojis. What you may have thought was only allowed on your π²βοΈπ, is also available on your π»π₯οΈ. Pressing WinKey-Period brings up an Emoji pallet that may look too basic at first, but play around with it and you'll find all the great ones in there, as well as GIF options, and more.
My second favorite WinKey shortcut is WinKey-L.Β This is a shortcut I use all the time, and if you ever need to leave your computer unattended, you should too. WinKey-L instantly locks your screen. It doesn't log you out or put your computer to sleep, it just locks the computer so you have to put your password in to use it again. This is an excellent solution when your computer starts downloading and/or installing a large update and you want to leave it running but don't want to leave it signed in. ππ
This article here has some other great ideas on how to use the WinKey if you want to dive deeper.Β
Now, for those of you with Chromebooks, the WinKey is not an option. But you have a "Search Key" the Windows users don't, and that key has its own set of Super Powers.Β For my two favorites, "Search-L" will lock your screen the same as WinKey-L does with Windows. And "Search-Shift-Space" will get you emojis too, though admittedly it's not quite as easy to remember that one. π’
Hopefully this was useful!
-Rich
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