Windows: 8 Desktop and Window Management Shortcuts

If you are serious about productivity, one of the best "upgrades" you can pull up in your computer knowledge arsenal is learning a few nifty Windows shortcuts to manage your desktop and the arrangement of your windows. Here are 8 Windows shortcuts that uses the Win key to organize the open program windows on your desktop:

1. Win+Home: Clear all but the active window.


2. Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop.


3. Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window.


4. Shift+Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window vertically.


5. Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it's maximized.


6. Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to the side of the current monitor, additional presses will push the application to the next monitor edge, then center, then opposite edge continuing in this pattern across all available monitors.


7. Shift+Win+Left/Right arrows: Move the window to the monitor on the left or right.


8. Win+G: Display/Hide your Windows Sidebar Gadgets

There are a lot more shortcuts you can do with other keys, I just thought that learning some of these great shortcuts utilizing the under-hyped Windows key will definitely save you a few mouse clicks.