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
- How to Use and Configure Windows 10’s Gestures on a Laptop Touchpad
- Touchpad gestures for Windows 10 — Official list of touchpad gestures for Windows 10.
- Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows — Official and comprehensive list of keyboard shortcuts for various versions of Windows.
- Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Series Quick Start Guide
- How do I enter the System Setup (BIOS)?