Were you aware that you can access Office applications using keyboard shortcuts? Yes, it’s true! If you regularly use the Office productivity suite and work with the Office applications, you can utilize keyboard shortcuts to launch them. Some modern keyboards even come with a specially designated Office key that simplifies the process of opening Office applications on a Windows 11/10 PC.
In this article, we will provide a list of various shortcut keys that can be used to quickly launch Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and other Microsoft-owned applications, including LinkedIn and Viva Engage (formerly known as Yammer).
Access Office applications using the Office key on a Microsoft Keyboard
The Office Logo Key is a special key that, when combined with other keys, creates keyboard shortcuts for Office applications. This key is present on many modern keyboards. However, if you don’t have an Office Key on your keyboard, there is a workaround to activate the hotkeys.
A Microsoft Keyboard is designed by Microsoft and includes a dedicated Office key. This key functions similarly to the function key and opens a specific Office application when pressed in combination with another key.
The Microsoft Wired Ergonomic Keyboard and the Microsoft Bluetooth Keyboard are two well-known Microsoft Keyboards that feature the Office key. If you have either of these keyboards, you can utilize the following shortcut keys to open Office applications:
- The Office Key: Pressing the Office Key alone opens the Office productivity suite if it is installed on your PC. Otherwise, it opens Office.com in your default browser.
- Office Key + W: This shortcut key opens the MS Word application when pressed for the first time. Subsequent presses open new windows of MS Word.
- Office Key + P: Use this shortcut key to open MS PowerPoint. Subsequent presses open new windows of PowerPoint.
- Office Key + X: This hotkey opens MS Excel. Subsequent presses open new windows of Excel.
- Office Key + O: This shortcut key opens MS Outlook. Subsequent presses activate the Outlook window without needing to click on it.
- Office Key + T: Use this hotkey to open Microsoft Teams. Subsequent presses activate the Teams window.
- Office Key + D: This shortcut key opens OneDrive in the File Explorer app. If the root OneDrive folder is already selected, pressing the hotkey activates the File Explorer window; otherwise, it opens a new File Explorer window with OneDrive selected.
- Office Key + N: This shortcut key opens the OneNote application when pressed for the first time. Subsequent presses open new windows of OneNote.
- Office Key + L: This shortcut key opens LinkedIn in a new tab in your default browser.
- Office Key + Y: This shortcut key opens Viva Engage in a new tab in your default browser.
Access Office applications using Keyboard Shortcuts on any Keyboard
For those using a regular keyboard without a dedicated Office key, there is an alternative method to activate the Office Key function.
Simply press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Win instead of the Office key to invoke the command. For example, use the following key combinations to launch the respective Office application or service:
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-W opens Word
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-P opens PowerPoint
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-X opens Excel
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-O opens Outlook
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-T opens Teams
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-D opens the OneDrive folder
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-N opens OneNote
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-L opens LinkedIn in your default browser
- Ctrl-Shift-Alt-Win-Y opens Viva Engage, formerly known as Yammer, in a new tab in your default browser
That’s all! We hope you find this information useful.
Read: Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator: Create customized keyboard layouts.
How can I open apps using Keyboard shortcuts?
You can create a keyboard shortcut for any Windows application by accessing the App’s Shortcut properties. Right-click on the app’s shortcut and select Properties. In the App Properties window, navigate to the Shortcut tab. Enter the desired keyboard shortcut in the Shortcut key field, then click on Apply > OK.
What is the shortcut key to open Office?
To open MS Office using a keyboard shortcut, you can press Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Win. If you have a Microsoft Keyboard with a dedicated Office Key, you can simply press the key to launch the MS Office application.
Read Next: Windows 11 Keyboard shortcuts that you should be aware of.
