Touchpad Gestures and Keyboard Shortcuts
for Computers Running Windows 10

2016 July 29 [created]
2016 August 24 [latest update]

Contents

Touchpad Settings

Review your settings to make sure Windows is configured to your needs. Click on the Windows icon on the taskbar (or press the Windows logo key located to the left of the spacebar). Click on Settings, then Devices and select Mouse and Touchpad. Set the options therein as required. (Settings can also be accessed by clicking the Windows icon, choosing All Apps and scrolling down to Settings.)

Note: Touchpads that don't comply with Microsoft Windows 10 specifications might not implement some gestures or might not function as expected.

Touchpad Gestures

Gesture Action / Mouse Equivalent
1-finger tap Left mouse click
2-finger tap Right mouse click
3-finger tap Open Microsoft (Cortana) search
 
1-finger tap at the lower right corner of the screen Show desktop
 
1-finger double tap then drag Drag and drop / Select a block of text
 
2-finger slide up/down Scroll page up/down
2-finger pinch Zoom out
2-finger spread/stretch Zoom in
 
3-finger slide right or left (keeping fingers on touchpad) Show Task View — moving the three fingers (without lifting them off the touchpad) to a particular window preview will select it and bring it up after fingers are lifted
 
When a window is open
3-finger slide up Show Task View (preview of all open windows)
3-finger slide down Show desktop
 
When Task View is shown (after 3-finger slide up)
3-finger slide down Return to window prior to 3-finger slide-up
1-finger tap on desktop Return to window prior to 3-finger slide-up
 
For text
1-finger double tap Select the word
1-finger triple tap Select the paragraph
1-finger double tap then drag Select a block of text
Left touchpad click + other finger drag Select text

Keyboard Shortcuts
(the more useful ones in my opinion)

Keystrokes Action
Ctrl + A Select all
Ctrl + C Copy selection
Ctrl + D Delete selection and move to Recycle Bin
Ctrl + F Find
Ctrl + V Paste selection
Ctrl + X Cut selection
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + Z Undo
 
Esc Stop or abort current task
Alt + F4 Close current window
Ctrl + left mouse click (or 1-finger tap on touchpad) Select individual items
Shift + arrow key Select contiguous items / Select a block of text
Alt + Esc Go to / Bring up next open, non-minimized window
Alt + Tab Show Task View — pressing Tab repeatedly will cycle through the previews of open windows; releasing Alt key will bring up the selected window
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Open Task View (use mouse/touchpad to select, or Tab or left/right arrow keys to select then hit Enter)
Ctrl + Alt + Delete Show security options
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + an arrow key Change screen orientation (functionality may depend on installed graphics hardware)
Alt + spacebar Open shortcut menu for current app
Alt + left arrow Go back
Alt + right arrow Go forrward
 
Windows key Open or close Start
Windows key + A Open Action center
Windows key + D Show / Hide desktop
Windows key + E Open File Explorer
Windows key + I Open Windows 10 settings
Windows key + L Lock the PC
Windows key + M Minimize all windows
Windows key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop
Windows key + S Open search
Windows key + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar (use left/right arrow keys to cycle)
Windows key + X Open the Quick Link menu
Windows key + Tab Open Task view
Windows key + Up arrow Maximize current window
Windows key + Down arrow Downsize current window / Minimize current window
Windows key + Left arrow Snap the current window to the left side of the screen
Windows key + Right arrow Snap current window to the right side of the screen
Windows key + plus (+) Activate Magnifier (then use Windows key + plus/minus key to zoom in/out)
Windows key + Esc Exit Magnifier
Windows + Ctrl + D Add a virtual desktop
 
Within File Explorer
(Press Windows key + E to open a File Explorer window)
Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F Go to search box
Ctrl + N Open new File Explorer window
Ctrl + Shift + N Create new folder
Ctrl + W Close current window
Alt + Enter Open properties box for the selected item
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons

Snapping and Tiling Windows

Check the snap settings

Go to Settings > System > Multitasking

Using the touchpad

To snap to the side, double tap the title bar of the app/window with one finger and drag to the left/right edge of the screen. The window will resize to occupy half the screen. Lifting the finger will bring up a preview of other open apps/windows. If you wish select one to tile along with the current window.

To snap to the corner, double tap the title bar of the app/window with one finger and drag to one of the four corners of the screen to snap that corner. The window will resize to occupy a quarter of the screen.

Note: Dragging the window to the top edge of the screen will maximize the window.

Using the keyboard

To snap to one side, press the Windows key left/right arrow key simultaneously. The window will snap to the left/right and resize to occupy half the screen. Releasing the keys will bring up a preview of other open apps/windows. If you wish select one to tile along with the current window.

To snap to one corner, press the Windows key and left/right arrow key simultaneously; without releasing the Windows key press up/down arrow. The window will resize to occupy a quarter of the screen.

Using the mouse

To snap to the side, left click the title bar of the app/window and drag to the left/right edge of the screen and release the mouse key. The window will resize to occupy half the screen. If there are other open apps/windows a preview will be shown. If you wish select one to tile along with the current window.

To snap to the corner, left click the title bar of the app/window and drag to a corner of the screen and release the mouse key. The window will resize to occupy a quarter of the screen. If there are other open apps/windows a preview will be shown. If you wish select one to tile along with the current window.

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series Keyboard Shortcuts

Keystrokes Action
Fn + H Toggle the white LED indicator between power/battery status and hard drive activity
Fn + Ins Sleep
Fn + Esc Toggle the Fn-key lock
F2 (during boot-up) Enter BIOS settings

References