Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

There are a number of keyboard shortcuts and combinations that you can make use of instead of your mouse or your taskbar options. This article will give you the list of the most common shortcuts used while using a Windows operating system.

Windows System

Windows Key: will open the Start menu
Windows Key+Break: will display the System Properties dialogue box
Windows Key+D: will minimize the windows to show the Desktop
Windows Key+E: will open Internet Explorer
Windows Key+F: will open the Search option for files and folders
Windows Key+F+CTRL: will open Search option for computer
Windows Key+F1: will display Help/Assistance option
Windows Key+L: will lock your Desktop
Windows Key+M: will minimize or restore all windows
Windows Key+R: will open the RUN option
Windows Key+TAB: will switch between open items
Windows Key+U: will open Utility Manager
ALT+ Hyphen: will display the Multiple Document Interface child window’s System menu
ALT+ ENTER: will view the properties for the selected object
ALT+ ESC: will cycle through the items in the order that they were opened
ALT+ F4: will close all the window that is open
ALT+ SPACEBAR: will display the System menu
ALT+TAB: switch from one open program to another on your taskbar.
F1: used to request help/assistance
SHIFT: If you press and hold down the SHIFT key while inserting a CD-ROM it will skip the automatic-run feature
SHIFT+DELETE: will delete the file permanently
CTRL+ESC: will open the Start Menu

In a General Folder and text programs

Ctrl + A: will select all items
Ctrl + B: will organize your Favorites in Internet Explorer
Ctrl + C: will copy the selected item
Ctrl + F: will open the Search options
Ctrl + H: will allow you to replace some text
Ctrl + N: will create a new folder
Ctrl + O: will open a new document
Ctrl + P: will print the selected document
Ctrl + S: will save the current document
Ctrl + V: will copy the selected item
Ctrl + W: will close the current window
Ctrl + X: will cut the current item
Ctrl + Y: will repeat the last action that has been cancelled
Ctrl + Z: will undo the last action

In a General Folder

F10: Opens Menu Bar options
CTRL+F4: list the address menu paths
SHIFT+F10: Opens right click shortcut menu
ALT+DOWN ARROW: will open a drop-down list box
ALT+SPACE: will list the window's System menu
ALT+Underlined Letter in Menu: Opens the menu

For a Selected Item a Folder

F2: used to rename the item
F3: Opens the Search option
F5: will refresh the current folder
F6: will move along the panes in Windows Explorer
CTRL+ X: Cut an item
CTRL+ C: Copy an item
CTRL+ V: Paste an item
SHIFT+DELETE: will delete this item permanently.
ALT+ENTER: will open the properties option for the selected item.
CTRL+ G: will open the “Go To� Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
CTRL+ A: will select all the items in the current window
BACKSPACE: will switch to the parent folder

For Microsoft Word

CTRL+ N: will promptly open a Word document
CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Word document
CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Word
CTRL+ S: will save the current document
CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document
CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action
CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action
CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text
CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text
CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text
CTRL+ A: will select the whole document
CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document
CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text
CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text
CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text

For Microsoft Excel

CTRL+ N: will promptly open an Excel document
CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Excel document
CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Excel
CTRL+ S: will save the current document
CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document
CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action
CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action
CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text
CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text
CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text
CTRL+ A: will select the whole document
CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document
CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text
CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text
CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text
F1: will prompt the Help option
F2: will edit the document
F3: will paste the name
F4: will repeat the last action
F5: will open the Go To option
F6: will switch to the next pane
F7: will launch the Spell Check option
F8: will allow the Extend Mode
F9: will recalculate all workbooks
F10: will activate the menu bar
F11: will open a new chart
F12: will save the document.

For Microsoft PowerPoint

F4: will repeat the last action
F5: will start a slide show
F6: will switch to the next pane in a clockwise way
CTRL+ EQUAL SIGN: will apply a subscript formatting
CTRL+ ADDITION SIGN: will apply a superscript formatting
CTRL+ BACKSPACE: will delete a word
CTRL+ F: will find a particular text
CTRL+ K: will insert a hyperlink
CTRL+ M: will insert a slide
CTRL+ I: will set the text into italics
CTRL+ D: will copy the current slide
CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved PowerPoint file
CTRL+ T: will open a Font dialogue
CTRL+ Y: will repeat last action
CTRL+ G: to view guides
SHIFT+ ALT+ LEFT ARROW: will promote a paragraph
SHIFT+ F3: will capitalize the text
SHIFT+ALT+ RIGHT ARROW: will demote a paragraph
SHIFT+F6: will switch to the previous pane in an anticlockwise way.

For Internet Explorer

F1: will display the Internet Explorer help
F11: will allow the full screen option
TAB KEY: will enable you to move through the items, address bar and links on your webpage
ALT+HOME: will go to your home page
ALT+LEFT ARROW: will go to the previous page
SHIFT+F10: will display a shortcut menu for the link
CTRL+TAB: will move forward between tabs
SHIFT+CTRL+TAB: will move back between frames
UP ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the beginning of the webpage
DOWN ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the end to the webpage
PAGE UP: will scroll by sections towards the beginning of the webpage
PAGE DOWN: will scroll by sections towards the end of the webpage
HOME: will move directly to the beginning of the webpage
END: will move directly to the end of the webpage
CTRL+F: will find some text on the page
F5: will refresh the current page
ESC: will stop loading the page
CTRL+ N: will open a new window
CTRL+ E: will open the Search option in the Explorer bar
CTRL+ I: will open the Favorites option in Explorer bar
CTRL+ H: will open the History option in Explorer bar