Using Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows
Keyboard short cuts can save huge amounts of time when it comes to using a computer, many people know about CTRL+C to copy and CTRL+V to paste, but how about F2 to rename a file? Windows 7 has introduced some new additional combinations which really help with window navigation and management but previous versions of Windows (Vista, XP) also support many shortcuts which can really speed up your workflow.
Apple users are not left out either as OSX supports an equally varied collection of shortcuts – some of which are pretty similar to their Windows alternatives – just switch the Apple key for the CTRL key.
Windows Shortcuts
Windows 7 Specfic key combinations
| Win+Home | Clear all but the active window |
| Win+Space | All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop |
| Win+Up arrow | Maximize the active window |
| Win+Down arrow | Minimize the window/Restore the window if it’s maximized |
| Win+Left/Right arrows | Dock the window to each side of the monitor (If you’ve got dual monitors, adding Shift to the mix (e.g., Win+Shift+Right arrow) will move the window to the adjacent monitor) |
| Win+T | Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar |
| Win+P | Adjust presentation settings for your display |
| Win+(+/-) | Zoom in/out |
| Shift+Click a taskbar item | Open a new instance of that application |
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 |
| 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 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 |
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 , 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 |
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 |
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