| Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications in all versions of Windows. Reverse the direction by pressing Alt + Shift + Tab at the same time. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Immediately bring up the Windows Task Manager in Windows 2000 and later. |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open the Windows Start menu in most versions of Windows. In Windows 8 this opens the Start screen and in Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager. |
| Alt + Esc | Switch between open applications on Taskbar in Windows 95 and later. |
| Alt + Space bar | Drops down the window control menu for the currently open Windows program in Windows 95 and later. |
| Alt + Enter | Opens properties window of selected icon or program in Windows 95 and later. |
| Shift + Del | Will delete any file or other object without throwing it into the Recycle Bin in Windows 95 and later. |
| 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. |
| Ctrl + Back space & Ctrl + Left or Right arrow | Pressing Ctrl + Backspace will delete a full word at a time instead of a single character. Holding down the Ctrl key while pressing the left or right arrow will move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Shift and then press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction while highlighting each word. |
| Ctrl + Z & Ctrl + Y | Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing Ctrl + Y would redo the undo. |
| Ctrl + F | Pressing Ctrl + F opens the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find text on the current page. |
| Ctrl + S | While working on a document or other file in almost every program pressing Ctrl + S saves that file. This shortcut key should be used frequently anytime you're working on anything important. |
| Ctrl + P | Open a print preview of the current page or document being viewed. For example, press Ctrl + P now to view a print preview of this page. |
| Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End | Ctrl + Home will move the cursor to the beginning of the document and Ctrl + End will move the cursor to the end of a document. |
| Page Up, Space bar, and Page Down | Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space bar also moves the page down one page at a time. Tip: If you are using the space bar to go down one page at a time press the Shift key and space bar to go up one page at a time. |
| F1 | Activates help for current open application. If you're at the Windows Desktop, this will activate the help for Windows. |
| F2 | Renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder in all versions of Windows. |
| F3 | Starts find or search when at the Windows Desktop in all versions of Windows. |
| 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 only works in programs that support multiple windows or tabs in the same program window. |
| F5 | Refresh |
| F6 | While in Windows Explorer, this will move the cursor to different Windows Explorer pane or in Windows 7 browse available drives. |
| F8 | Pressing F8 over and over as the computer is booting will start the computer in Safe Mode. |
| F10 | Activates the File menu bar in all versions of Windows. |
| WINKEY | Pressing the Windows key alone opens or hides the Windows Start menu. In Windows 8, this opens or hides the Start screen. |
| WINKEY + F1 | Open the Microsoft Windows help and support center. |
| WINKEY + Pause / Break key | Open the System Properties window. |
| WINKEY + D | Opens the Desktop to the top of all other windows. |
| WINKEY + E | Open Microsoft Windows Explorer. |
| WINKEY + F | Display the Windows Search or Find feature. |
| WINKEY + Ctrl + F | Display the search for computers window. |
| WINKEY + L | Lock the computer and switch users if needed (Windows XP and above only). |
| WINKEY + M | Minimizes all windows. |
| WINKEY + Shift + M | Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D. |
| WINKEY + R | Open the run window. |
| WINKEY + U | Open Utility Manager or the Ease of Access Center. |
| Windows XP only | |
| WINKEY + Tab | Cycle through open programs through the Taskbar. |
| Windows 7 and 8 only | |
| WINKEY + 1-0 | Pressing the Windows key and any of the top row number keys from 1 to 0 opens 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. |
| 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 |
| WINKEY + Home | Minimize all windows except the active window. |
| WINKEY + P | Change between the monitor and projection display types or how second screen displays computer screen. |
| WINKEY + T | Set the focus on the Taskbar icons |
| WINKEY + Left arrow | Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the left side for side by side viewing. |
| WINKEY + Right arrow | Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the right side for side by side viewing. |
| WINKEY + Up arrow | When in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to full size. |
| 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. |
| Windows 8 only | |
| WINKEY + , | Peek at the Windows Desktop. |
| 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. |
| WINKEY + Enter | Open Windows Narrator |
| WINKEY + C | Open the Charms. |
| WINKEY + G | Cycle through Desktop gadgets. |
| WINKEY + H | Open Share in Charms. |
| WINKEY + I | Open the Settings in Charms. |
| WINKEY + J | Switch between snapped apps. |
| WINKEY + K | Open Devices in Charms. |
| WINKEY + O | Lock the screen orientation. |
| 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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