Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
General Shortcuts
Use these keyboard shortcuts when working with files and folders within Windows
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| CTRL+A | Select All |
| CTRL+C | Copy |
| CTRL+X | Cut |
| CTRL+V | Paste |
| CTRL+Z | Undo |
| DELETE | Delete selected item (move to Recycle Bin) |
| SHIFT+DELETE | Delete item permanently without moving to Recycle Bin |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Search for a file or a folder |
| F4 | Display the Address Bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| F5 | Refresh the contents of the active window |
| F6 | Cycle through the screen elements in a window or the desktop |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
| CTRL while dragging an item | Copy the selected item |
| CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item | Create a shortcut to the selected item |
| SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop |
| 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 window |
| ALT+TAB | Switch between the open items |
| ALT+ESC | Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| BACKSPACE | View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| 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 |
Windows Explorer Shortcuts
The following shortcuts can be used within Windows Explorer.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| HOME | Display the top of the active window |
| END | Display the bottom of the active window |
| 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 |
| NUM LOCK+ * (Asterisk) | Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder |
| NUM LOCK+ + (Plus key) | Display the contents of the selected folder |
| NUM LOCK+ - (Minus key) | Collapse the selected folder |
Dialog Box Shortcuts
The following shortcuts can be used when a Windows dialog box is open.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| 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 |
| BACKSPACE | Open a folder one level up when a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
| F1 | Display Help |
| F4 | Display the items in the active list |
Accessibility Shortcuts
These shortcuts can be used to modify Windows Accessibility settings.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| Right SHIFT for eight seconds | Switch FilterKeys on or off |
| Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN | Switch High Contrast on or off |
| Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK | Switch the MouseKeys on or off |
| SHIFT five times | Switch the StickyKeys on or off |
| NUM LOCK for five seconds | Switch the ToggleKeys on or off |
Windows Natural Keyboard Shortcuts
Use these shortcuts to navigate Windows with a Windows Natural Keyboard
(The keyboard must have a Windows logo key next to the Alt key).
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| 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 open windows |
| Windows Logo+SHIFT+M | Restore all minimized windows |
| Windows Logo+F | Search for a file or a folder |
| CTRL+Windows Logo+F | Search for computers |
| 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 |
Text Editing
The following shortcuts can be used in text-editing programs, such as Notepad and WordPad.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|
| CTRL+A | Select All |
| CTRL+C | Copy |
| CTRL+X | Cut |
| CTRL+V | Paste |
| CTRL+Z | Undo |
| 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 a block of text one character at a time |
