Windows Shortcut Keys

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

SHIFT+RIGHT CLICK - Displays a context menu containing alternative verbs.
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.

F1 - Starts Windows Help.
F10 - Activates menu bar options.
SHIFT+F10 - Opens a context 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, ESC - Selects the Start button. (Press TAB to select quick launch, the taskbar, system tray)
ALT+DOWN ARROW - Opens a drop-down list box.
ALT+TAB - Switch to another running application. Hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window.
Press down and hold the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the auto-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) application.
ALT+ - Opens the corresponding menu.
ALT+F4 - Closes the current window.
ALT+DOWN ARROW - Opens a drop-down list box.
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.

F2 - Rename object
F3 - Find: All Files
CTRL+X - Cut
CTRL+C - Copy
CTRL+V - Paste
SHIFT+DEL - Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin.
ALT+ENTER - Open the property sheet for the selected object.
To Copy a File - Press down and hold the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.
To Create a Shortcut - Press down and hold CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

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.

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.

Tap SHIFT 5 times - Toggles StickyKeys on and off.
Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for 8 seconds - Toggles FilterKeys on and off.
Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for 5 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.

WINDOWS - Start Menu
WINDOWS+R - Run dialog box
WINDOWS+M - Minimize All
SHIFT+WINDOWS+M - Undo Minimize All
WINDOWS+F1 - Help
WINDOWS+E - Windows Explorer
WINDOWS+F - Find Files or Folders
WINDOWS+D - Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
CTRL+WINDOWS+F - Find Computer
CTRL+WINDOWS+TAB - Moves focus from Start, to Quick Launch bar, to System Tray. Use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on Quick Launch bar and System Tray
WINDOWS+TAB - Cycle through taskbar buttons
WINDOWS+BREAK - System Properties dialog box
Application key - Displays a context menu for the selected item

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 button, this selects the option button.
ENTER - Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline).
ESC - Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button.
ALT+ - Select menu item.