MS Windows Keyboard Shortcut Keys

[MikesRJ 558]

While working in a graphics program, and using "keyboard shortcuts" to perform routine tasks, I realized many users here may not know what a keyboard shortcut is, or even that they existed.

By pressing one, two, or a three key combination at the same time, you can perform tasks which normally take several mouse movements and several clicks to perform. The lists below cover about all the shortcut key combos you would ever use. Hope you find it useful.

Windows system key combinations

F1: Help

CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu

ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs

ALT+F4: Quit program

SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently

Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows program key combinations

CTRL+C: Copy

CTRL+X: Cut

CTRL+V: Paste

CTRL+Z: Undo

CTRL+B: Bold

CTRL+U: Underline

CTRL+I: Italic

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects

SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands

SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)

ALT+double click: Displays properties

SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General keyboard-only commands

F1: Starts Windows Help

F10: Activates menu bar options

SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object

CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)

CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Opens Windows Task Manager

ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box

ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)

SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature

ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)

CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program

ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu

ALT+F4: Closes the current window

CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window

ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell objects and general folder/Windows Explorer shortcuts

For a selected object:

F2: Rename object

F3: Find all files

CTRL+X: Cut

CTRL+C: Copy

CTRL+V: Paste

SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin

ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General folder/shortcut control

F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)

F5: Refreshes the current window.

F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer

CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)

CTRL+Z: Undo the last command

CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window

BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder

SHIFT+click+Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer tree control

Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection

Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection

Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.

RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child

LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties control

CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility shortcuts

Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off

Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off

Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off

Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off

Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Microsoft Natural Keyboard keys

Windows Logo: Start menu

Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box

Windows Logo+M: Minimize all

SHIFT+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all

Windows Logo+F1: Help

Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer

Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders

Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop

CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer

CTRL+Windows Logo+TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)

Windows Logo+TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons

Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box

Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType software installed

Windows Logo+L: Log off Windows

Windows Logo+P: Starts Print Manager

Windows Logo+C: Opens Control Panel

Windows Logo+V: Starts Clipboard

Windows Logo+K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box

Windows Logo+I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box

Windows Logo+A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)

Windows Logo+SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys

Windows Logo+S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Dialog box keyboard commands

TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box

SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box

SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.

ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)

ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button

ALT+underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

[Rollerman 290]

Copied & saved for future reference.... :dunno:

[HorseFixer 2,013]

:dunno:

[Operator 7]

Thanks a bunch Mike! This helps. Copied it, on "paper".

[tunahead72 2,543]

Very nice Mike, thanks!

My favorite:

CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer

:dunno:

[MikesRJ 558]

But only when connected to a network!

Very nice Mike, thanks!

My favorite: CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer