General Windowskeyboard shortcuts
Alt
+ Tab
Switch
between open applications in all versions of Windows. Reverse the direction
by pressing Alt + Shift + Tab at the same time.
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Ctrl
+ Tab
Switches
between program groups, tabs, or document windows in applications that
support this feature. Reverse the direction by pressing Ctrl + Shift
+ Tab at the same time.
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Alt
+ double-click
Display
the properties of the object you double-click on
in Windows 95 and later. For example, doing this on a file would display its
properties.
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Alt
+ Print Screen
Create
a screen shot only for the active
program window in all versions of Windows. For example, if you opened the
calculator and did this only the calculator window would be created as a
screen shot. If just the Print Screen key is
pressed the whole screen will be made into a screen shot.
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Ctrl
+ Alt + Del
Open
the Windows option screen for locking computer, switching user, Task Manager, etc. in later versions of Windows.
Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del multiple times will reboot the
computer.
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Ctrl
+ Shift + Esc
Immediately
bring up the Windows Task Manager in
Windows 2000 and later.
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Ctrl
+ Esc
Open
the Windows Start menu in most
versions of Windows. In Windows 8 this will open the Start screen and in Windows 3.x this would
bring up the Task Manager.
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Alt
+ Esc
Switch
between open applications on Taskbar in
Windows 95 and later.
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Alt
+ Space bar
Drops
down the window control menu for the currently open Windows program in
Windows 95 and later.
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Alt
+ Enter
Opens properties window of selected icon or program
in Windows 95 and later.
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Shift
+ Del
Will
delete any file or other object without throwing it into theRecycle Bin in Windows 95 and
later.
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Hold
down the Shift key
When
putting in an audio CD or other CD that uses Autoplay,
holding down the Shift key will prevent that CD from playing.
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Windows
function key shortcuts
Below
is a listing of keyboard shortcuts that use the keyboard
function keys. See our what
are F1 through F12 keys page for a full listing of what function keys
do with all other programs.
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F1
Activates
help for current open application. If you're at the Windows Desktop, this
will activate the help for Windows.
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F2
Renames
a highlighted icon, file, or folder in
all versions of Windows.
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F3
Starts
find or search when at the Windows Desktop in
all versions of Windows.
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F4
In
Windows 95 and later this opens the drive selection or address bar when
browsing files in Windows Explorer.
· Pressing Alt
+ F4 closes the current open program window without a prompt in all
versions of Windows.
· Pressing Ctrl
+ F4 closes the open window within the current active window in
Microsoft Windows. This will only work in programs that support multiple
windows or tabs in the same program window.
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F6
While
in Windows Explorer, this will move the
cursor to different Windows Explorer pane or in Windows 7 browse available
drives.
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F8
Pressing
F8 over and over as the computer is booting will start the computer in Safe Mode.
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F10
Activates
the File menu bar in all versions
of Windows.
· Simulates a right-click on selected item. This is useful
if right-click is difficult or impossible using the mouse.
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Windows
keyboard key shortcuts
Below
is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a
Microsoft Windows 95 or later and using a keyboard with aWindows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the
Windows key is represented by "WINKEY" and because not all these
shortcuts will work in all versions of Windows we've mentioned what versions
of Windows support each Windows key shortcut key.
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All versions of
Windows
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WINKEY
Pressing
the Windows key alone will open or hide the WindowsStart
menu. In Windows 8, this will open or hide the Start screen.
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WINKEY
+ F1
Open
the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
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WINKEY
+ Pause / Break key
Open
the System Properties window.
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WINKEY
+ D
Opens
the Desktop to the top of all
other windows.
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WINKEY
+ E
Open
Microsoft Windows Explorer.
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WINKEY
+ F
Display
the Windows Search or Find feature.
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WINKEY
+ Ctrl + F
Display
the search for computers window.
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WINKEY
+ L
Lock
the computer and switch users if needed (Windows XP and above only).
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WINKEY
+ M
Minimizes all
windows.
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WINKEY
+ Shift + M
Undo
the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
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WINKEY
+ R
Open
the run window.
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WINKEY
+ U
Open
Utility Manager or the Ease of Access Center.
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Windows XP only
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WINKEY
+ Tab
Cycle
through open programs through the Taskbar.
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Windows 7 and 8
only
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WINKEY
+ 1-0
Pressing
the Windows key and any of the top row number keys from 1 to 0 will open the
program corresponding to the number of icon on the Taskbar. For example, if the first icon on the
Taskbar was Internet Explorer pressing WINKEY + 1 would open that program or
switch to it if already open.
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WINKEY
+ (Plus (+) or Minus (-))
Open
Windows Magnifier and zoom in with the plus symbol (+) and zoom out with the
minus symbol (-).
· Press the WINKEY
+ ESC to close the Magnifier
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WINKEY
+ Home
Minimize all
windows except the active window.
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WINKEY
+ P
Change
between the monitor and projection display types or how second screen
displays computer screen.
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WINKEY
+ T
Set
the focus on the Taskbar icons
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WINKEY
+ Left arrow
Shrinks
the window to 1/2 screen on the left side for side by side viewing.
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WINKEY
+ Right arrow
Shrinks
the window to 1/2 screen on the right side for side by side viewing.
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WINKEY
+ Up arrow
When
in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to full
size.
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WINKEY
+ Down arrow
Minimizes
the screen. Also, when in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut
takes the screen back to a minimized size.
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Windows 8 only
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WINKEY
+ ,
Peek
at the Windows Desktop.
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WINKEY
+ .
Snap
a Windows App to the sides of the screen. Pressing it multiple times will
switch between the right and left-hand side of the screen or unsnap the app.
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WINKEY
+ Enter
Open
Windows Narrator
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WINKEY
+ C
Open
the Charms.
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WINKEY
+ G
Cycle
through Desktop gadgets.
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WINKEY
+ H
Open
Share in Charms.
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WINKEY
+ I
Open
the Settings in Charms.
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WINKEY
+ J
Switch
between snapped apps.
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WINKEY
+ K
Open
Devices in Charms.
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WINKEY
+ O
Lock
the screen orientation.
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WINKEY
+ X
Open
the power user menu, which gives you access to many of the features most
power users would want to use such as Device Manager, Control Panel, Event
Viewer, Command Prompt, and much more.
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