The one between caps lock key and fn key on the left side of the keyboard. There is another shift key on the right side in the same row. Here are some common keyboard shortcuts: Command-H: Go to the Home screen. Command-Space bar: Show or hide the Search field. Command-Tab: Switch to the next most recently used app among your open apps. Command-Shift-3: Take a screenshot. Command-Shift-4: Take a screenshot and immediately open. Shift App is the keyboard app that gives you various options on how it predicts your texts and what layout you use for letter input. Besides the standard QWERTY board, you can also use the alphabetical input or AZERTY keyboard (which is a fantastic option for European users or those in which English is a second language.) There are two methods to choose from to type words quickly: full and precise. Despite all the hardware talent, the damn shift key has successfully bumfuzzled Apple’s designers. — Ronald Ip (@iphoting) March 13, 2014 The shift key in iOS 7.1 ticks me off to no end. Shift Keyboard uses the built-in Apple Messages app on your Apple Watch to send messages to your contacts. Type out your message, tap the send button and you’ll be taken to the Messages app with your message ready to go!
The Shift key is a keyboard modifier key that allows a user to type a single capitalletter and change the top number keys to a symbol. For example, pressing and holding the Shift key while pressing 'a' generate a capital 'A' and pressing the Shift and the number '1' creates an exclamation mark on US keyboards.
On U.S. keyboards, the Shift key is the second largest key. It is on both the left and right side of the keyboard, below the Caps lock key, and Enter or Return key. The picture is a close up view and example of the Shift key.
TipUnlike the other modifier keys, the Shift key is found on Apple computer keyboards and performs the same function as the PC. Apple a1242 wired keyboard. With Apple keyboard shortcuts, the Shift is represented as an up arrow, similar to that shown in our example picture.
NoteWith some TeleType machines, the Shift key was used to get the characters on the top row of a key. There was no uppercase and lowercase characters.
Shift key locations
Below is an overview of a computer keyboard with the Shift keys highlighted in blue.
How to use the Shift key
To use the Shift key to capitalize letters, press and hold the Shift key, and push the letter you want to capitalize. On U.S. keyboards, hold Shift and press the numbers on the top of the keyboard to type the alternate symbols (e.g., !, @, #, and $) of those keys.
TipOn most computers (except those running OS X) if the Caps Lock key is enabled and you press the Shift key and a letter the letter will be lowercase.
The Shift key is also used with shortcut keys. For example, holding down the Shift key and pressing the arrow keys highlights text in the direction of the arrow key you press. Below are other examples of shortcuts that use the Shift key.
Shift key shortcuts
Also, the Shift key can is be used with shortcuts in the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open the Task Manager. |
Shift+Arrow Key | Holding down the Shift key while pressing an arrow keyhighlights text one character at a time in the direction of pressing the arrow key. If you also hold down Ctrl, it highlights one word at a time. |
Hold down Shift | In some versions of Windows, when a disc is inserted into the computer, software on the computer will automatically run. This feature is called autorun. If you hold the Shift key, you will disable this feature, and the software must be run manually, instead. Pressing and holding down the Shift key while pressing the Delete key or deleting a file deletes the file without sending it to the Recycle Bin. |
Shift+Tab | Moves back to the previous object. For example, pressing a tab while in a browser moves between each of the links on the web page. Pressing Shift+Tab moves between each of the links in the opposite direction. |
Press Shift five times | Open Sticky Keys. Once activated you can press both Shift keys at the same time to deactivate Sticky Keys. |
Hold down the Left Shift key for eight seconds | Open Filter Keys. |
Left Alt+Shift+Num Lock | Open Mouse Keys. |
Left Alt+Shift+Print Screen | Open High Contrast. |
How many Shift keys are on a keyboard?
On all computer keyboards today including PCs, Apple, and Chromebooks (desktops and laptops) there are two Shift keys.
NoteSome keyboards may not have the word 'Shift' on them but are still considered a Shift key. For example, there are some laptop keyboards with smaller Shift keys that only have an up arrow.
Why are there two Shift keys on the keyboard?
There are two Shift keys on a computer keyboard to help with capitalizing letters on both sides of the keyboard. For example, to make a capital 'z,' press and hold the right Shift key, then press the 'z' key to make a capital 'Z.' Trying to make a capital 'z' using only your left hand requires you to move your hand since the pinky cannot press both keys at the same time.
History of the Shift key
The first keyboard to have a Shift key was found on the Remington No. 2 typewriter introduced in 1878. It had one Shift key on the left side of the keyboard.
Note
Early punch card machines that entered data into a computer using a punch card did not use a Shift key.
Where is the Shift key on the iPhone and iPad?
On an iPhone or iPad, the Shift key is located at the bottom-left section of the on-screen keyboard. Apple server download. When the Shift key is gray, it is not enabled and letters are typed as lowercase. When the Shift key is white, and the up arrow is solid black, letters are typed as uppercase. When you tap the Shift key, the letters change from lowercase to uppercase on the on-screen keyboard. The reason for this is to let the user know the letters will be typed in uppercase.
Related pages
Apple Desktop Keyboard
Keyboard, Keyboard terms, Modifier key, Shift, Uppercase