Working with applications is easier than you might think! Just tap the Windows key and type the name of a program to quickly open any application. To get into an application's file menu, just tap Alt, then use arrow keys to move through the menus. To switch between open programs, hold Alt and press Tab, and use Alt and F4 to close any application.
| Task | Keyboard Command |
|---|---|
| Opening a program | Windows key, then type name of program |
| Maximize window | Windows key + up arrow |
| Snap window to left or right | Windows key + left/right |
| Navigating the file menu | Alt, arrow keys |
| Navigate file menu with shortcut keys | Tap Alt, then enter the menu shortcut key. Shortcut keys are indicated with an underlined letter, and your screen reader will announce the underlined letter after reading the menu option. |
| Switching between open programs | Alt + tab |
| Saving a file | Ctrl + S, or use Alt to navigate the file menu |
| Closing a program | Alt + F4 |
Navigating the Ribbon (Microsoft Apps)
In Microsoft applications (like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel), the file menu is called the "Ribbon". The Ribbon hosts a wide variety of options to help you make the most of these applications. Just like the file menu in other applications, you can tap Alt to get up into the Ribbon, and you can use the arrow keys to move through the options. If there is a certain feature that you utilize regularly, you may want to memorize the shortcut keys for that task. Your screen reader will announce these shortcut keys as you move through the available options in the Ribbon.
| Task | Keyboard Command |
|---|---|
| Access the ribbon | Alt |
| Navigate file menu with shortcut keys | Tap Alt. Shortcut keys are visually indicated with an underlined letter and will be read aloud by the screen reader. To use, just tap the indicated shortcut keys after you’ve tapped Alt. |
| Basic Ribbon navigation | Arrow keys |
| Move between groups of items in ribbon | Ctrl + left/right arrows |