Windows Shortcut Keys
- Windows: Display the Start menu
- Windows + D: Minimize or restore all windows
- Windows + E: Display Windows Explorer
- Windows + F: Display Search for files
- Windows + Ctrl + F: Display Search for computer
- Windows + F1: Display Help and Support Center
- Windows + R: Display Run dialog box
- Windows + break: Display System Properties dialog box
- Windows + shift + M: Undo minimize all windows
- Windows + L: Lock the workstation
- Windows + U: Open Utility Manager
- Windows + Q: Quick switching of users (Powertoys only)
- Windows + Q: Hold Windows Key, then tap Q to scroll thru the different users on your PC
Windows XP Shortcut Key Combinations
Windows 7’s new shortcut keys get all the attention these days. Many people forget that every
version of Windows has offered hundreds of shortcut keys. For example,
here are some of Windows XP’s most popular keyboard shortcuts, separated
into categories. (Extra perk: Most of Windows XP’s keyboard shortcuts
work in Windows 7, as well.)
Cutting, pasting, and deleting shortcuts
| CTRL+C | Copy |
| CTRL+X | Cut |
| CTRL+V | Paste |
| CTRL+Z | Undo |
| DELETE | Delete |
| SHIFT+DELETE | Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin |
| CTRL while dragging an item | Copy the selected item |
| CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item | Create a shortcut to the selected item |
Moving the cursor in Windows
| CTRL+RIGHT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word |
| CTRL+LEFT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word |
| CTRL+DOWN ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph |
| CTRL+UP ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
Dialog box Windows shortcuts
| CTRL+TAB | Move forward through the tabs |
| CTRL+SHIFT+TAB | Move backward through the tabs |
| TAB | Move forward through the options |
| SHIFT+TAB | Move backward through the options |
| ALT+Underlined letter | Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option |
| ENTER | Perform the command for the active option or button |
| SPACEBAR | Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box |
| Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons |
| F1 key | Display Help |
| F4 key | Display the items in the active list |
| BACKSPACE | Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
Windows Key shortcuts
| Windows Logo | Display or hide the Start menu | |||
| Windows Logo+BREAK | Display the System Properties dialog box | |||
| Windows Logo+D | Display the desktop | |||
| Windows Logo+M | Minimize all of the windows | |||
| Windows Logo+SHIFT+M | Restore the minimized windows | |||
| Windows Logo+E | Open My Computer | |||
| Windows Logo+F | Search for a file or a folder | |||
| CTRL+Windows Logo+F | Search for computers on a network | |||
| Windows Logo+F1 | Display Windows Help | |||
| Windows Logo+ L | Lock the keyboard | |||
| Windows Logo+R | Open the Run dialog box | |||
| Windows Logo+U | Open Utility Manager |
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
| END | Display the bottom of the active window |
| HOME | Display the top of the active window |
| NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign | Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder |
| NUM LOCK+Plus sign | Display the contents of the selected folder |
| NUM LOCK+Minus sign | Collapse the selected folder |
| LEFT ARROW | Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder |
| RIGHT ARROW | Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder |
Miscellaneous keyboard shortcuts for Windows computing
| F2 key | Rename the selected item |
| CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Highlight a block of text |
| SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document |
| CTRL+A | Select all |
| F3 key | Search for a file or a folder |
| ALT+ENTER | View the properties for the selected item |
| ALT+F4 | Close the active item, or quit the active program |
| ALT+ENTER | Display the properties of the selected object |
| ALT+SPACEBAR | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
| CTRL+F4 | Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously |
| ALT+TAB | Switch between the open items |
| ALT+ESC | Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened |
| F6 key | Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
| F4 key | Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| SHIFT+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
| ALT+SPACEBAR | Display the System menu for the active window |
| CTRL+ESC | Display the Start menu |
| ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name | Display the corresponding menu |
| Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu | Perform the corresponding command |
| F10 key | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
| RIGHT ARROW | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
| LEFT ARROW | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
| F5 key | Update the active window |
| BACKSPACE | View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| ESC | Cancel the current task |
| SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive | Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing |
| CTRL+SHIFT+ESC | Open Task Manager |
