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In the quest to maximize productivity and blitz through the flood of Windows 10 applications at top speed, 'Keyboard Shortcuts' aid as one secret weapon. Windows 10 offers you the option to create custom keyboard shortcuts that allow you to instantly launch apps or websites. There are a number of built-in keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10, but don't just settle for the standard ones - its time you create your own, and unexpectedly, it's very easy.
Create custom Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10
To speed up the process of working on your system, most of us would have created 'desktop shortcuts' or pinned the applications to the taskbar. This is one easy action to perform, it can be done easily either by dragging an application from the 'Start Menu' to the desktop or by right-clicking on an executable application and choosing the 'Create Shortcut' option. But, clicking on each shortcut demands some extra physical effort and sometimes minimizing all applications to get to the desktop to click on the shortcut. This is exactly why we need 'Custom Keyboard Shortcuts'.
In Windows 10, you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for numerous programs running on your system. From the traditional “desktop” applications to new-fangled “universal app” you can fling in a shortcut and open it instantly at top speed without upsetting your ongoing system activity.
Here is a step by step tutorial on how to create these shortcuts.
Add Custom Keyboard hotkeys to program and website desktop shortcuts:
This is one of the most basic approaches to adding custom keyboard shortcuts. Hotkeys can be added to any software or website shortcut by simply 'right-clicking' it and hitting 'Properties'. Then select the 'Shortcut' tab as shown in the below screenshot:
The Properties window includes a 'Shortcut key' text box that allows you to enter a new/custom keyboard shortcut for the program or webpage.
Simply enter your preferred letters and set up the new hotkey. Note, this custom shortcut needs to be combined with 'Ctrl + Alt'. So, if you select 'N', then the keyboard shortcut would be 'Ctrl + Alt + N'.
Once, the custom keyboard shortcut is entered, hit the 'Apply' button and then click 'OK' to save changes and close the window.
Now to open your program or webpage with the new shortcut just press “Ctrl + Alt + N', it will instantly open it as you set it up for.
When you are trying to create a custom keyboard shortcut for a “desktop app” or any application that is independent of the Windows Store and installs via direct download, you can use the start menu to create the shortcut. With this method, you can avoid the need to create separate shortcut icons on the desktop for every app.
To do this, click open the 'Start Menu'. Search for the required app's icon/tile in the Start Menu.
Note: If you are unable to find the desired app then click on 'All Apps' to simply navigate through all the applications installed on your computer.
When you find the application, 'right click' and scroll down to 'More' to click the option 'Open file location' option.
A new window opens with the shortcut icon. Right-click on the shortcut icon of the application and select Properties.
The Properties window will open where the shortcut combination can be added.
Note: Like the previous method, custom shortcut needs to be combined with Ctrl + Alt. So, if you select E, then the keyboard shortcut would be Ctrl + Alt + E.
Click Apply and then Ok.
Your custom shortcut key via shortcut menu is now created.
Final Thoughts
Usage and accessibility of different applications or website can't get easier than this. By using this simple guide, you can easily and speedily create custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10 for your most-used apps.
