Notepad Shortcut Keys You Must Know

Introduction

Table of Contents

Notepad is one of the simplest yet most powerful tools in Windows. At first glance, it looks basic, but once you start using keyboard shortcuts, you realize how fast and efficient it can become. Instead of using the mouse every time, shortcut keys let you perform actions instantly, saving both time and effort.

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In this article, we’ll cover all the important Notepad shortcut keys you must know, along with their uses. These shortcuts will improve your productivity whether you are a student, writer, or programmer.

Why Use Shortcut Keys in Notepad?

Shortcut keys make work faster because:

They save time compared to clicking menus.
They increase focus (hands stay on the keyboard).
They are beginner-friendly (easy to learn).
They improve efficiency for repeated tasks like copy-paste or saving files.

👉 If you use Notepad daily, learning these shortcuts will make your workflow much smoother.

Basic Shortcut Keys in Notepad

Here are the most commonly used shortcuts:

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + N	Create a new document
Ctrl + O	Open an existing file
Ctrl + S	Save the current file
F12	Save As (open Save dialog)
Ctrl + P	Print the current file
Alt + F4	Exit Notepad

✅ These shortcuts are essential for managing files quickly.

Editing Shortcuts

Notepad has simple editing features, but with shortcuts, they become very quick:

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + C	Copy selected text
Ctrl + X	Cut selected text
Ctrl + V	Paste text
Ctrl + Z	Undo last action
Ctrl + Y	Redo (reverse undo)
Ctrl + A	Select all text
Del	Delete selected text

👉 With these, you can manage text much faster than using the right-click menu.

Navigation Shortcuts

Moving around in large files is easier with these shortcuts:

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + F	Find text in the document
F3	Find next occurrence of the search term
Ctrl + H	Replace text in the document
Ctrl + G	Go to a specific line number
Home	Move cursor to the beginning of the line
End	Move cursor to the end of the line
Ctrl + Home	Jump to the beginning of the file
Ctrl + End	Jump to the end of the file

✅ These shortcuts are very useful when editing code or long notes.

Formatting Shortcuts

Although Notepad doesn’t have advanced formatting like Word, some features can still be accessed quickly:

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl + Shift + S	Change font style (opens Font dialog)
Alt + O → W	Enable/Disable Word Wrap
Alt + O → F	Change font using menu

👉 If you often switch between plain and wrapped text, the Word Wrap shortcut will save time.

Date and Time Shortcut

One hidden gem in Notepad is the F5 key:

Shortcut	Function
F5	Insert current Date and Time

👉 This is extremely useful for journaling, logs, or any notes where you want to add timestamps quickly.

Function Key Shortcuts

Notepad also supports function keys for quick access:

Shortcut	Function
F1	Open Notepad Help
F5	Insert date and time
F10	Activate menu bar
Shift + F10	Open right-click menu for selected text

Shortcut Keys for Menus (Alt + Key)

In Notepad, you can also access menu items quickly by pressing Alt followed by a letter.

For example:

Alt + F → Open File menu
Alt + E → Open Edit menu
Alt + O → Open Format menu
Alt + V → Open View menu (in Windows 11)
Alt + H → Open Help menu

👉 Once the menu opens, you can press the underlined letters for sub-options.

Custom Shortcut Trick (Windows Hotkeys)

Although Notepad itself doesn’t allow creating custom shortcuts, you can assign one to its desktop shortcut:

Right-click on Notepad shortcut → Properties.
Go to Shortcut tab.
In the “Shortcut Key” field, assign your own (like Ctrl + Alt + N).
Click Apply → OK.

Now you can launch Notepad instantly with your chosen key combination.

Tips to Master Notepad Shortcuts

Start with the basic shortcuts (Ctrl + S, Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V) and then move to advanced ones.
Practice using F5 for timestamps — very handy for quick notes.
If you use Notepad for coding, learn Ctrl + F, Ctrl + H, Ctrl + G to navigate faster.
For frequent writing, keep Word Wrap shortcut in mind to avoid scrolling.

Advantages of Using Shortcuts in Notepad

Speed – Work is completed faster.
Accuracy – Less chance of misclicking menus.
Convenience – Ideal for professionals who type a lot.
Professional Workflow – Coders, writers, and students can work like pros.

Conclusion

Notepad may look like a basic tool, but when you use shortcut keys, it transforms into a much more efficient editor. From creating and saving files to navigating, editing, and inserting date-time stamps, these shortcuts make everything faster and smoother.

If you use Notepad regularly, learning these keys is not optional—it’s essential. With just a little practice, you’ll find yourself working quicker and more productively than ever before.