Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of keys that perform an action when pressed together. For example, pressing “Ctrl + C” on a Windows PC or “Command + C” on a Mac will copy the selected item. Using keyboard shortcuts can greatly increase productivity and efficiency for computer users.
Keyboard shortcuts are useful for several reasons. First, they allow tasks to be done faster by avoiding having to navigate through menus and submenus with the mouse. This saves significant time, especially for common commands that are used repeatedly. Shortcuts also help keep hands on the keyboard, improving typing flow and speed.
In addition, keyboard shortcuts can reduce arm and wrist strain compared to excessive use of the mouse. They also make it easier for power users to multitask and use computer programs more productively. Overall, keyboard shortcuts are an essential component of efficient computer use for everyone from casual to experienced users.
What Does the Delete Key Do?
The delete key is a key found on most keyboards that performs the function of deleting characters or files. When typing text, pressing the delete key will remove characters to the right of the cursor’s current position. When managing files and folders, pressing delete while a file is selected will immediately remove that file without sending it to the recycle bin or trash (1).
The main purpose of the delete key is to quickly and permanently remove files, folders, text or other data. Unlike some other keyboard shortcuts like cut or backspace, pressing delete erases the selected item straight away without temporarily storing it elsewhere first. This can help quickly clear out unwanted data but also carries a higher risk of accidentally deleting important files. The delete key is a powerful shortcut that should be used with care (1).
1. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/how-to-delete-wihout-a-delete-key/78a16cc7-8a20-4ab0-ae7a-4cf43d601819
Delete Key Shortcut
The most common keyboard shortcut to delete files is the Delete or Del key. On Windows PCs, pressing Delete will immediately delete the selected file, sending it to the Recycle Bin. According to YouTube user All Things Howell, “The Delete key is a shortcut key to delete files permanently in Windows” (1). On Mac computers, pressing Delete or Del will move the selected file to the Trash, where it can be permanently deleted or restored (2).
The Delete key is typically found in the middle row of a standard QWERTY keyboard layout. It is often labeled as “Del” or has a delete symbol on it. Some laptop keyboards combine the Delete and Backspace key into one key, but both functions can be accessed by pressing it.
Users should be careful when pressing Delete, as files are immediately removed without a confirmation prompt. However, deleted files can be recovered if they are still in the Recycle Bin or Trash. Permanently deleting files requires emptying the Recycle Bin/Trash or using Shift + Delete.
Using the Delete Shortcut
The delete shortcut key allows you to quickly remove files without having to go through the steps of dragging them to the trash or recycle bin. To use the delete shortcut:
On a Windows PC, select the file(s) you want to delete and press the Delete key. This will immediately and permanently delete the files bypassing the recycle bin. You can also right-click on a file and select Delete from the context menu.
On a Mac, select the file(s) and press Command + Delete. This will move the files to the trash allowing you to restore if needed. To immediately delete files on a Mac, press Option + Command + Delete. You can also Control-click a file and select Move to Trash.
The delete shortcut key enables you to quickly remove unnecessary files without going through extra steps. However, use caution as deleted files can not be recovered unless you first moved them to the recycle bin.
Source: https://ansyskm.ansys.com/forums/topic/ansys-discovery-creating-custom-shortcuts/
Delete Shortcut On Mac vs PC
The delete key location differs between Mac and PC keyboards. On a typical PC keyboard, the Delete key is located in the top-right corner next to the Backspace key. Pressing Delete on a PC will delete content to the right of the cursor.
On a Mac keyboard, the Delete key is located in the bottom-right corner. It may also be labeled with a Delete symbol or as Forward Delete. Pressing this key on a Mac deletes content to the right of the cursor, just like on a PC.
So while both PCs and Macs have a Delete key that serves the same purpose, the physical location of the key differs between the two platforms. Mac keyboards put the Delete key in the bottom-right area rather than the top-right. This is important to note if you switch between using a Mac and a PC.
Permanently Deleting Files
Pressing Shift+Delete on your keyboard is a handy shortcut to permanently delete files on Windows. When you use the normal Delete key, files get sent to the Recycle Bin. However, the Shift+Delete shortcut bypasses the Recycle Bin entirely and performs a complete, irrecoverable deletion.
This shortcut works because the Shift key tells Windows you want to override the default delete behavior. Holding Shift while pressing Delete accesses the permanent deletion feature. So instead of just moving files to the Recycle Bin, Shift+Delete erases files immediately and prevents you from retrieving them.
According to this article, Shift+Delete “removes the file or folder instantly without sending it to Recycle Bin.” The article notes you should be very careful using this shortcut, as “the deleted data is gone for good.”
Restoring Deleted Files
If you accidentally delete a file, there are several options for trying to recover it. The first step is to check your computer’s Recycle Bin or Trash folder, as files are often moved here when deleted instead of being permanently erased. If you can’t find the file there, try using your operating system’s Restore Previous Versions feature (System Restore on Windows or Time Machine on Mac), which lets you roll back to an earlier state of your computer before the file was deleted. There are also many third party data recovery software options available such as Recuva (https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva) and EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard that can scan your hard drive and reconstruct deleted files.
Data recovery software uses sophisticated algorithms to scan a drive and piece files back together. This is possible because when a file is deleted, only the reference to the data’s location on the disk is removed. The actual contents remain intact until being overwritten by new data. The sooner data recovery is attempted, the better the chances of recovering a deleted file intact before portions get overwritten. However, fragments of files can often still be recovered after some overwriting has occurred. Data recovery software like Recuva (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/how-to-recover-deleted-files/) can recover files from hard drives, memory cards, USB drives, and other storage devices as long as the drive is readable and hasn’t been too heavily overwritten.
If no backups exist and software cannot recover a deleted file, another option as a last resort is to utilize a data recovery service. These professionals use specialized tools to reconstruct data from drives through techniques like disk imaging, data carving, file signature analysis, and disk forensic tools. This can be expensive but may be able to recover data when other options have failed.
Deleting vs Moving to Trash/Recycle Bin
There is an important difference between permanently deleting a file versus moving it to the trash or recycle bin on your computer. When you delete a file using the delete shortcut key, it will typically bypass the trash/recycle bin and be permanently removed from your system. However, moving a file to the trash/recycle bin usually just relocates it there for temporary storage before permanent deletion.
For example, on Windows computers, using the delete shortcut key will permanently erase files without placing them in the Recycle Bin first. However, actions like right-clicking and selecting “Delete” will send the file to the Recycle Bin instead. On Mac computers, the delete shortcut key will move items to the Trash folder rather than permanently deleting them immediately (source).
The trash/recycle bin acts as a temporary holding place for deleted files. Users can often restore files from the trash if they change their mind. However, once the trash is emptied, the files are generally gone for good. So the delete shortcut provides a quicker, more permanent deletion, while moving to trash gives users a chance to recover those files if needed.
Other Delete Shortcuts
In addition to Delete and Backspace, there are some other useful keyboard shortcuts to delete content on your computer:
- Ctrl + Delete: This shortcut will delete the word to the right of your cursor in a text document or email.
- Ctrl + Backspace: This will delete the word to the left of your cursor.
- Alt + Delete: On some computers, this shortcut will permanently delete a selected file instead of moving it to the Recycle Bin/Trash.
- Shift + Delete: Holding down Shift while pressing Delete bypasses the Recycle Bin/Trash and permanently deletes files.
These alternative delete shortcuts can help you quickly remove content without having to highlight it or reach for your mouse. They are especially useful for rapidly editing text documents or emails.
Conclusion
In summary, the keyboard shortcut to delete a file on Windows is Control + D and on Mac is Command + Delete. Using keyboard shortcuts can help speed up your workflow tremendously. The delete shortcut permanently removes files from your hard drive, so caution should be exercised. Deleted files can sometimes be recovered using data recovery software. Other delete shortcuts include Shift + Delete to bypass the Recycle Bin/Trash and permanently delete files. The key learnings are that keyboard shortcuts like delete can help improve efficiency, but permanently deleting files is irreversible, so understanding the difference between deleting and moving a file to the Recycle Bin/Trash is important.