If you use a HHKB keyboard, you want to keep both hands on the keyboard as much as possible. You can use shortcut keys to perform some of the mouse operations on the keyboard. We will introduce some useful shortcuts recommended for beginners who are starting to use HHKB on a Windows 11 PC.
With HHKB, you can reduce the use of the mouse by utilising some shortcut keys.
Let's review 10 basic shortcuts that can be used in conjunction with the "Ctrl" key, such as copy and paste. These are shortcuts that are used frequently, not just with HHKB, so many of you may already know them, but if there are any shortcuts you are not using, try them out.
| 10 Basic Shortcut Keys | |
| 「Ctrl」＋「A」 | Select all |
| 「Ctrl」＋「C」 | Copy |
| 「Ctrl」＋「X」 | Cut |
| 「Ctrl」＋「V」 | Paste |
| 「Ctrl」＋「S」 | Save |
| 「Ctrl」＋「D」 | Delete |
| 「Ctrl」＋「F」 | Search |
| 「Ctrl」＋「P」 | |
| 「Ctrl」＋「W」 | Close |
| 「Ctrl」＋「Esc」 | Open the Start menu |
The "HHKB HYBRID Type-S" and "HHKB HYBRID" support Bluetooth connection and can be connected wirelessly to a PC. When pairing, remember to use a shortcut. First, press the "Fn" + "Q" keys to enter pairing standby mode. HHKB can be paired with up to four devices which you can freely switch between. You can use the same HHKB at home, in the office, on a mobile or a tablet.
The four-device settings are assigned the numbers 1 to 4. If pairing in standby mode, press "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "1" to "4" to pair with the corresponding device.
You can switch between paired devices with the shortcut keys "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "1" to "4". Also, if you want to switch from a wireless connection to a USB connection, press "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "0", and if you want to cancel pairing mode, press "Fn" + "X".
To delete pairing with a device, press "Fn" + "Q", then press "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "BS (Delete)" + "1" to "4". To delete all pairing information at once, press "Fn" + "Z" + "BS (Delete)".
If you use both Windows and Mac, remember the shortcuts for switching modes: "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "W" for Windows mode, and "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "M" for Mac mode. These are the initials, so they're easy to remember.
8 shortcut keys for using HHKB
| 「Fn」＋「Q」 | Pairing standby mode |
| 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「1」～「4」 | Pairing |
| 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「0」 | Switching to a USB connection |
| 「Fn」＋「X」 | Cancel pairing mode |
| Press "Fn" + "Q", then "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "BS (Delete)" + "1" to "4" | Delete pairing with device |
| Press "Fn" + "Q" then "Fn" + "Z" + "BS (Delete)" | Delete all pairing information |
| 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「W」 | Windows Mode |
| 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「M」 | Mac Mode |
One thing you should definitely remember are the shortcut keys that usually require you to use your mouse but can easily be done by just using your keyboard. Although HHKB doesn't have a dedicated function key, you can perform various operations by pressing the "Fn" key and a number.
You can change file names and folder names by pressing the "F2" key. If you select multiple files and press the "F2" key to change the file name of one of them, they will all be renamed simultaneously with the same string and a sequential number, such as "File name (1)".
The "F5" key is the refresh key. It refreshes the desktop, Explorer, browser, and other screens.
The Windows key can also be used in combination with other keys to perform various actions. The first thing I want you to use is "Win" + "Z" to open the "Snap Layout" pane. "Snap Layout" is a standard feature of Windows 11, and you can adjust the size of the window to a specified split ratio and specify the display position. It's convenient because you can adjust it to the right half of the screen or the left third in one go.
Pressing "Win" + "Tab" opens the Task View, so you can switch windows while viewing the thumbnails. To switch windows even more easily, press "Win" + number key. This will switch to the nth app from the left among the apps pinned to the taskbar. If it is not running, it will start it up. This shortcut key does not work with a keyboard with a numeric keypad, but works fine with an HHKB.
Currently, the Windows Insider Preview, a preview version of Windows 11, is equipped with an AI chat function called Windows Copilot. I'm already using it, and it's very convenient to be able to operate Windows in a natural language. The shortcut key to launch Windows Copilot is "Win" + "C". Currently, it opens a Microsoft Teams chat, but in the near future it may become the most used shortcut key.
| 5 Essential shortcut keys you should remember | |
| When multiple files are selected, press "F2" to change the name of one of them. | Change the file name to the same string + sequential number, such as "File name (1)" |
| 「F5」 | Screen refresh for desktop, Explorer, browsers, etc. |
| 「Win 」＋「Z」* | Open Snap Layout |
| 「Win」＋「Tab」 | Show Task View |
| 「Win」＋「C」* | Starts Windows Copilot |
|
*This feature is only available on Windows 11 |
|
Copy and paste is often used when writing text, but "Ctrl" + "V" only pastes the most recently copied string. If you want to paste something that you copied before that, use the shortcut key "Win" + "V". The clipboard history will be displayed, and you can select any string from the copied history and paste it.
Many people use the shortcut key "Ctrl" + "Z" to undo a mistake. However, it is common to repeat the same action after undoing it. In such cases, press the shortcut key "Ctrl" + "Y" to redo the action you undid.
| 2 keyboard shortcuts to remember if you often write long texts | |
| 「Win」＋「V」 | View Clipboard History |
| 「Ctrl」＋「Y」 | Redo |
To take a screenshot, press the Win + Fn + Psc keys. A screenshot of the entire screen will be saved in the Pictures -> Screenshots folder. If you want to take a screenshot of a specific window or area, press Win + Shift + S. The screen will go dark, and you can select the area you want to capture from the menu that appears at the top.
Press the "Win" + "Shift" + "S" keys to display the screenshot menu, then select the shooting mode.
When you want to check memory usage or launch Task Manager, it can be lengthy to search through the menus. Remember the shortcut "Ctrl" + "Shift" + "Esc" to launch it in one go.
To organise you data, it is better not to place files or folders on the desktop, but in reality, many people do. When you want to access a file or folder on the desktop, press the "Win" + "D" keys to minimize the file/ folder/ window and easily display the desktop.
| 4 shortcut keys to remember to improve your typing efficiency | |
| 「Win」＋「Fn」＋「PSc」 | Full screen screenshot |
| 「Win」＋「Shift」＋「S」 | Take a screenshot of a specific window or area |
| 「Ctrl」＋「Shift」＋「Esc」 | Launch Task Manager |
| 「Win」＋「D」 | Show Desktop |
| These are 29 shortcut keys to help you master the HHKB keyboards. Of course, you don't have to memorize them all at once. Remembering the operations that usually require you to reach for the mouse is probably a good start. If you can remember even 10 shortcuts, you will notice that your efficiency will improve dramatically. |
| 10 Basic Shortcut Keys | ||
| 1 | 「Ctrl」＋「A」 | Select all |
| 2 | 「Ctrl」＋「C」 | Copy |
| 3 | 「Ctrl」＋「X」 | Cut |
| 4 | 「Ctrl」＋「V」 | Paste |
| 5 | 「Ctrl」＋「S」 | Save |
| 6 | 「Ctrl」＋「D」 | Delete |
| 7 | 「Ctrl」＋「F」 | Search |
| 8 | 「Ctrl」＋「P」 | |
| 9 | 「Ctrl」＋「W」 | Close |
| 10 | 「Ctrl」＋「Esc」 | Open the Start menu |
| 8 shortcut keys for using HHKB | ||
| 11 | 「Fn」＋「Q」 | Pairing standby mode |
| 12 | 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「1」～「4」 | Pairing |
| 13 | 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「0」 | Switch to USB connection |
| 14 | 「Fn」＋「X」 | Cancel pairing mode |
| 15 | Press "Fn" + "Q", then "Fn" + "Ctrl" + "BS (Delete)" + "1" to "4" | Delete pairing with device |
| 16 | Press "Fn" + "Q" then "Fn" + "Z" + "BS (Delete)" | Delete all pairing information |
| 17 | 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「W」 | Windows Mode |
| 18 | 「Fn」＋「Ctrl」＋「M」 | Mac Mode |
| 5 Essential Shortcut Keys You Should Remember | ||
| 19 | When multiple files are selected, press "F2" to change the name of one of them. | Change the file name to the same string + sequential number, such as "File name (1)" |
| 20 | 「F5」 | Screen refresh for desktop, Explorer, browsers, etc. |
| 21 | 「Win 」＋「Z」 * | Open Snap Layout |
| 22 | 「Win」＋「Tab」 | Show Task View |
| 23 | 「Win」＋「C」 * | Start Windows Copilot |
| 2 keyboard shortcuts to remember if you often write long texts | ||
| 24 | 「Win」＋「V」 | View clipboard history |
| 25 | 「Ctrl」＋「Y」 | Redo |
| 4 shortcut keys to remember to improve your typing efficiency | ||
| 26 | 「Win」＋「Fn」＋「PSc」 | Full screen screenshot |
| 27 | 「Win」＋「Shift」＋「S」 | Take a screenshot of a specific window or area |
| 28 | 「Ctrl」＋「Shift」＋「Esc」 | Launch Task Manager |
| 29 | 「Win」＋「D」 | Show Desktop |
| *This feature is only available on Windows 11. | ||
Author: Tomonori Yanagiya
IT and business writer. He started writing about PCs, the Internet, and gadgets around the time Windows 98 was released, and now he is following the cutting edge of SaaS, which is mainly used in the business world. He also runs a restaurant and liquor store, and explains and introduces IT and DX from a manager's perspective
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