Cheat Sheet:

Top Keyboard Shortcuts for Gamers

Yes, we’ve all been there before and yes, at that moment we’ve all set personal records for the greatest amount of profanity spouted in a few seconds’ time. While it would be dishonest to suggest that my insights will forever make those pesky popups disappear, we can provide an alternative. The best keyboard shortcuts for your personal computer! (Sorry Mac users, your kind is not welcome here… just kidding, don’t leave us). These top keyboard shortcuts will provide you with some sweet online tricks, not to mention drastically decrease the amount of time it takes to get back to that big match of yours, because after all, seconds could be the difference between victory and defeat.

Let’s start with the basics. Copying and pasting is a commonplace action both inside and outside of a game. Need to look up your opponent in a match made game? Want to save something repulsive, yet hilarious that your teammate said? Your new best friends are the following popular keyboard shortcuts: ctrl + c (copy), ctrl + x (cut), and ctrl + v (paste). Many games do not have the option of right-clicking and allowing you to copy. Therefore, some of you may already be familiar with these shortcuts or you fall into the other group that has decided to forego copying and pasting altogether. We assure you though, once you have memorized these keyboard shortcuts, you will save yourself a substantial amount of excess typing.

Some of the best keyboard shortcuts accomplish the simplest of things. Take alt + tab, for example. Need to switch programs at a lightning pace? Perhaps you’ve “stumbled” upon some unbecoming content online (*cough* 4chan) and need to switch programs before someone witnesses you on such a site? Add alt + tab to your repertoire. We insist. Ctrl + tab does the trick as well, sending you to the next tab over within your browser.

In a similar vein, you could hide your … “recreational” reading (or whatever kids call it these days) by pressing ctrl + t – though it might be a bit suspicious when someone sees you staring at a blank browser tab. Yes, that is what it does though and it will save you from having to maneuver your mouse each time.

Another top shortcut that is highly applicable to us gamers is Ctrl + Alt + Delete. This shortcut is ridiculously handy when you need to close a program that freezes, won’t close, is not visible on your task bar, and a whole host of other issues.

Trying to admire your beautiful desktop background or perhaps you’re lost in those hundreds of opened programs or tabs? Windows Key + m will minimize every program, sending you back to a clean desktop.

Here’s another popular keyboard shortcut for you. F5, yup it’s just F5. This shortcut is a hard refresh, clearing your cache and presenting a newly updated webpage for your pleasure and enjoyment.

Made a mistake? Ctrl + Z will erase most any mistake you make… on a computer that is. Ctrl + z is the undo shortcut. Undo your pastes, undo an errant brush stroke on your Paint masterpiece, undo losing the game for your team (just kidding, not this one).

Another best shortcut key (and actually my favorite) is ctrl + shift + t. We’ve all experienced the horrific event of accidentally closing a much needed tab, or (God forbid) our entire browser with a dozen tabs. Fret not! This shortcut will immediately restore a single tab or every single tab upon opening a new browser. You will never have to frantically search your history for those websites you closed again!

Though this last keyboard shortcut does have a number of applications for gamers, its claim to fame is being the first thing your opponent tells you to do within a competitive game. “Hey, press Alt + F4 to automatically win.” Nope, a win is not what’s in store for you, unless you seriously did not want to play that match at all. Alt + F4 closes any program that you are currently working on. If you do not play a toxic game, chances are this one is new to you.