Whether you’re viewing this Blog in Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or the various versions of Internet Explorer there generally are a couple tips under the hood which you are not aware of. Many of these tips are vastly going to increase your productivity when browsing the internet. These browser tips range from increasing the font size to even recovering old tabs. After you’re done reading this you will be a certified multitasking guru. To get you started, try using CTRL+F to find a tip within this article.
Most browsers these days like to keep standards in their shortcut convention. You’ll tend to find many of the shortcuts you use in a browser like Mozilla Firefox is compatible in Google’s Chrome browser.Here is a list, in no order, that I believe are most beneficial to me:
- Manipulating Page Size
My biggest pet-peeve is when I go to a website and I promise you I have to use binoculars to read the information presented to me. Luckily, there are ways around that, either by holding CTRL and using either +/- to increase or decrease, or hold CTRL and scroll your mouse accordingly. - Stopping a page from loading
Now why would someone want to not load a page? Generally, I fat-finger an address and the quickest way to stop the page from loading is by pressing the ESC button. This will halt the page from loading, and I can then correct my mistake. - Opening a Blank New Tab
Tabbed browsing has become the norm for most popular browsers. When you want to navigate to a new page but keep the current one open, just press CTRL+T and a Blank Tab will appear. - Opening a Link in a Tab
Ever see a link that you want to go to in a new tab? Without using the previous technique by opening a blank tab, simply use the mouse-wheel when clicking on a tab. This is called a middle click. - Closing a Window
If you’re done viewing a window or tab that you have opened simply press CTRL+W or, like the technique from the previous tip, use the middle click and the Tab will magically disappear. - Recovering a Closed Tab
Just used the last technique to test on a tab but want it back? This one might be a handful — literally. Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+T will reopen that closed Tab. Never lose one again! - Navigating Through Tabs
If you’re like me, chances are you have about 10+ Tabs open at all times. From e-mails to articles to a YouTube video, or even checking your social updates, navigating through the cluster of Tabs can be a hassle. Clicking through them is no longer needed. To navigate to the next tab, simply press CTRL+TAB and to get to the previous tab CTRL+SHIFT+TAB.
- Navigating to the Address Bar
All hands on deck, or keyboard, whichever you prefer. We’ve gotten to most of the important tips but we cannot forget accessing the Address Bar. This is done by pressing both CTRL+LNote: in Internet Explorer, it is ALT+D - Navigating to the Search Bar
You may be wondering, thanks for the address bar, but what about the search? Yep there’s an app for that a shortcut for that. CTRL+K is the nifty trick that handles navigating to the Search Bar, although most browsers will take you to your default search if typed in the address bar. - Full Screen Mode
I believe this to be the most important to a better browser experience. When combined with Manipulating the Page Size it can vastly improve your productivity on the web. Pressing F11 on your keyboard will automatically put your browser in Full Screen Mode, to exit this, simply press F11 again.
For more Browser Specific Shortcuts see: Google Chrome , Mozilla Firefox , and Internet Explorer
