Here are some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts:
To | Press |
Copy. | CTRL+C |
Cut. | CTRL+X |
Paste. | CTRL+V |
Undo. | CTRL+Z |
Delete. | DELETE |
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin. | SHIFT+DELETE |
Copy selected item. | CTRL while dragging an item |
Create shortcut to selected item. | CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item |
Rename selected item. | F2 |
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. | CTRL+RIGHT ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. | CTRL+LEFT ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph. | CTRL+DOWN ARROW |
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph. | CTRL+UP ARROW |
Highlight a block of text. | CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys |
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document. | SHIFT with any of the arrow keys |
Select all. | CTRL+A |
Search for a file or folder. | F3 |
View properties for the selected item. | ALT+ENTER |
Close the active item, or quit the active program. | ALT+F4 |
Opens the shortcut menu for the active window. | ALT+SPACEBAR |
Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. | CTRL+F4 |
Switch between open items. | ALT+TAB |
Cycle through items in the order they were opened. | ALT+ESC |
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. | F6 |
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer. | F4 |
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. | SHIFT+F10 |
Display the System menu for the active window. | ALT+SPACEBAR |
Display the Start menu. | CTRL+ESC |
Display the corresponding menu. | ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name |
Carry out the corresponding command. | Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu |
Activate the menu bar in the active program. | F10 |
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. | RIGHT ARROW |
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. | LEFT ARROW |
Refresh the active window. | F5 |
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. | BACKSPACE |
Cancel the current task. | ESC |
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive | Prevent the CD from automatically playing. |
Use these keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes:
To | Press |
Move forward through tabs. | CTRL+TAB |
Move backward through tabs. | CTRL+SHIFT+TAB |
Move forward through options. | TAB |
Move backward through options. | SHIFT+TAB |
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option. | ALT+Underlined letter |
Carry out the command for the active option or button. | ENTER |
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. | SPACEBAR |
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. | Arrow keys |
Display Help. | F1 |
Display the items in the active list. | F4 |
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box. | BACKSPACE |
If you have a Microsoft Natural Keyboard, or any other compatible keyboard
that includes the
Windows logo key
and the Application key
, you can use these
keyboard shortcuts:
To | Press |
Display or hide the Start menu. | |
Display the System Properties dialog box. | +BREAK |
Show the desktop. | +D |
Minimize all windows. | +M |
Restores minimized windows. | +Shift+M |
Open My Computer. | +E |
Search for a file or folder. | +F |
Search for computers. | CTRL+ +F |
Display Windows Help. | +F1 |
Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain. | + L |
Open the Run dialog box. | +R |
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. | |
Open Utility Manager. | +U |
Helpful accessibility keyboard shortcuts:
To | Press |
Switch FilterKeys on and off. | Right SHIFT for eight seconds |
Switch High Contrast on and off. | Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN |
Switch MouseKeys on and off. | Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK |
Switch StickyKeys on and off. | SHIFT five times |
Switch ToggleKeys on and off. | NUM LOCK for five seconds |
Open Utility Manager. | +U |
Keyboard shortcuts you can use with Windows Explorer:
To | Press |
Display the bottom of the active window. | END |
Display the top of the active window. | HOME |
Display all subfolders under the selected folder. | NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*) |
Display the contents of the selected folder. | NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+) |
Collapse the selected folder. | NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-) |
Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder. | LEFT ARROW |
Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder. | RIGHT ARROW |