Using Shortcut Keys to open programs in Windows

You can use Shortcut Keys to open any program you can create a shortcut icon to (this includes any icon in the start menu). We would suggest that the best way to get started is to open programs that are already on your start menu. After you have set up the shortcut key, all you will need to do is press CTRL + ALT + [Your Assigned Key] and your program will open

To set up a shortcut key to open Microsoft Word:

1) Open your Start menu and find the icon you want to create a shortcut key for (don’t click it just yet).

2) Right click on the icon and click “Properties”

3) In the Shortcut tab, left click your mouse in the white box to the right of “Shortcut Key” – if you have not assigned a shortcut key yet it will say “None”.

4) One after the other (and keeping them all pressed), press the keys which you would like to use to open Word. “CTRL” and “ALT” are essential, but the last key is up to you. We would suggest “W” for Word.

5) Press “Ok”.

From now on, whenever you press “CRTL + ALT + W” your computer will open Microsoft Word for you. You don’t have to use your mouse at all and it will work regardless of where you are in Windows.

You can set up as many different Shortcut Keys as you would like by repeating these steps for other program shortcuts. After a while you get used to them and they really speed you up.