Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

The Windows Key

The Windows key or Windows logo key was introduced by Microsoft to improve Windows functionality through the use of keyboard-based shortcuts. This key is usually located near the space bar, between the Ctrl and Alt keys. When you press the Windows key with other specific keys, you are able to accomplish different tasks:

windows-key Displays and closes the Start Menu
windows-key+ E Opens a new Explorer Window
windows-key+ D Minimizes all windows and shows the Desktop
windows-key+ D Opens all windows and takes you right back to where you were
windows-key+ F Displays the Find all files dialog box
windows-key+ L Lock your Windows XP computer
windows-key+ M Minimizes all open windows
windows-key+ SHIFT+M Un-Minimize all applications. Restores all previously open windows
windows-key+ R Displays the Run command
windows-key+ F1 Displays the Windows Help menu
windows-key+ PAUSE/BREAK PAUSE/BREAK Displays the Systems Properties dialog box
windows-key+ U Displays the Utility Manager with Narrator, Magnifier, etc.

General Keyboard 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)
  • F2 key (Rename the selected item)
  • 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)
  • 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)

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

  • CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
  • ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
  • ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
  • ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
  • ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
  • CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
  • ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
  • CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
  • CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer Navigation

  • CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
  • CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
  • CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
  • CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
  • CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
  • CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
  • CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
  • CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
  • CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
  • CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
  • CTRL+W (Close the current window)

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)

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