Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Microsoft has launched Windows 8 Consumer Preview 2 days back. It has gained lots of attention and got more than 1 million download in just 24 hours after the release. 

This new windows 8 is totally different from other previous version of windows. It is difficult for most of the users. But tablet and touch users will find it easy. Because it is mainly optimized for touch devices.


As i find that using this with the keyboard is really easy and fast. So you should remember some keyboard shortcuts. It supports all the previous shortcuts used in older version of windows. But there are many new added in this version. See the new keyboard shortcuts added in this version of the windows. And use all older windows shortcuts.

New hotkeys (Shortcuts) added in Windows 8 Consumer Preview
Key combination	Function
Windows-Space	Switch input language and keyboard layout.
Windows-O	Lock device orientation.
Windows-,	Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows-V	Cycle through toasts.
Windows-Shift-V	Cycle through toasts in reverse order.
Windows-Enter	Launch Narrator.
Windows-PgUp	Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the left.
Windows-PgDown	Move the Start Screen or a Metro-style application to the monitor on the right.
Windows-Shift-.	Move the gutter to the left (snap an application).
Windows-.	Move the gutter to the right (snap an application).
Windows-C	Open the Charms bar.
Windows-I	Open the Settings charm.
Windows-K	Open the Connect charm.
Windows-H	Open the Share charm.
Windows-Q	Open the Search pane.
Windows-W	Open the Settings Search app.
Windows-F	Open the File Search app.
Windows-Tab	Cycle through apps.
Windows-Shift-Tab	Cycle through apps in reverse order.
Windows-Ctrl-Tab	Cycle through apps and snap them as they cycle.
Windows-Z	Open the App Bar.
Windows-/	Initiate input method editor (IME) reconversion.
Windows-J	Swap foreground between the snapped and filled apps.