[Did You Know] Collection of some simple and easy to use Tips and tricks for Windows Explorer

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Today in this topic we are going to share some simple and easy to use Windows tips which might be unknown to many Windows users. These tips will help you in accessing hidden features of Windows and at the same time, it'll also save your time in doing various tasks in Windows.


So without wasting time, here we start our "Did You Know" guide:



You can Select an Item in Context Menu by Right-Click on it?


Whenever we right-click on Desktop, file, folder or anywhere else, we use left-click to select an item from the context menu but did you know you can also use right-click to select the item? It'll work the same way.


Right_Click_to_Select_Item



You can Double Click on Window Titlebar to Maximize the Window?


We generally click on Maximize button in a window titlebar to maximize the window but did you know you can double click on the window titlebar to maximize it quickly?


Double_Click_on_Titlebar_to_Maximize_Window



You can double-click on program's Icon in Window Titlebar to Close the Window?


Almost everyone clicks on Close button present in window titlebar to close the window. Some power users use keyboard shortcut "ALT + F4" to close the window but did you know you can double click on the program's icon shown at the extreme left of the window titlebar to close the window?


Double_Click_Program_Icon_to_Close_Window



You can Press "CTRL" key and Select Multiple Non-Consecutive Items?


Almost all of use know that we can use "CTRL + A" keyboard shortcut to select all items present in a folder. But if you want to select a few non-consecutive items in a folder and not all the items, you can simply press "CTRL" key and click on the desired items to select them.


Ctrl_Click_Select_Multiple_Items.png



You can Automatically Resize Columns in Details View by Double-Click on the Separator?


If you use Details view in Windows Explorer or any other program window and want to resize a column to see the whole content or that particular column, you'll drag-n-drop the column handler present in the header but did you know you can automatically resize the column to show full content by simply double-click on the column handler (separator between 2 columns)?


Auto_Size_Details_View_Columns



You can Press "CTRL" Key While Drag-n-Drop a File or Folder to Copy it?


When we drag-n-drop a file or folder to another folder in the same drive, Windows moves it to the destination folder. Did you know you can copy it instead of moving it by pressing "CTRL" key while drag-n-drop the file or folder?


Ctrl_Drag_to_Copy_Item



You can Press "SHIFT" Key While Drag-n-Drop a File or Folder to Move it?


When we drag-n-drop a file or folder to another folder in different drive, Windows copies it to the destination folder in other drive. Did you know you can move it instead of copying it by pressing "SHIFT" key while drag-n-drop the file or folder?


Shift_Drag_to_Move_Item



You can Press "ALT" Key While Drag-n-Drop a File or Folder to Create Shortcut?


Above mentioned both tricks allow you to either move or copy the file or directory but did you know you can create a shortcut of the file or folder in the destination folder instead of moving or copying it by pressing "ALT" key while drag-n-drop the file or folder?


Alt_Drag_to_Link_Item



You can Reveal Hidden Secret Options in Context Menu by Pressing "SHIFT" Key?


Windows Vista and 7 contain some secret context menu items which are normally hidden but can be accessed by pressing "SHIFT" key while right-clicking. So just press "SHIFT" key when you right-click on Desktop, file, directory or empty space in Explorer and you'll be able to access some secret options in context menu which are normally not shown.


As you can see in following screenshot, "Open in new process" and "Open command window here" options are enabled in drive's context menu because we pressed "SHIFT" key while right-clicking on it:


Hidden_Right_Click_Context_Menu_Items



You can Access Classic Context Menu in Windows 7 Superbar by Pressing "SHIFT" key?


When you right-click on a program button in Windows 7 Superbar (Taskbar), the default jumplist is shown but did you know you can press "SHIFT" key while right-clicking on the program button and Windows will show classic context menu instead of new jumplist?


Classic_Context_Menu_Taskbar_Buttons



Few More Small Tips-n-Tricks:

Press "ALT" key and double-click on a file, folder or drive and it'll open its Properties. You can press "ESC" key to quickly close a dialog box.Press "CTRL" key and double click on a folder or drive and it'll open it in a new window.Press "SHIFT" key and click on a program button in the Taskbar and it'll open a new instance of the same program.

Related: AskVG Articles


That's all for now. We'll keep updating this topic whenever we find a new tip or trick.


Did you enjoy the above mentioned tips? Is there any similar trick which you know and we didn't cover this topic? Please let us know in your comment ...


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