Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

Basic PC shortcut keys

Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys that will work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of these shortcut keys or try to memorize them. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.

Shortcut Keys	Description
Alt + F	File menu options in current program.
Alt + E	Edit options in current program
Alt + Tab	Switch between open programs
F1	Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
F2	Rename a selected file
F5	Refresh the current program window
Ctrl + N	Create a new, blank document in some software programs
Ctrl + O	Open a file in current software program
Ctrl + A	Select all text.
Ctrl + B	Change selected text to be Bold
Ctrl + I	Change selected text to be in Italics
Ctrl + U	Change selected text to be Underlined
Ctrl + F	Open find window for current document or window.
Ctrl + S	Save current document file.
Ctrl + X	Cut selected item.
Shift + Del	Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C	Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins	Copy selected item
Ctrl + V	Paste
Shift + Ins	Paste
Ctrl + K	Insert hyperlink for selected text
Ctrl + P	Print the current page or document.
Home	Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home	Goes to beginning of document.
End	Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End	Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home	Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End	Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow	Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow	Moves one word to the right at a time.
Ctrl + Esc	Opens the START menu
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Opens Windows Task Manager
Alt + F4	Close the currently active program
Alt + Enter	Open the Properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut, etc.)

PC shortcut keys for Special Characters

There are many special characters that can be created using keyboard shortcuts. Below are some of the more common and popular special characters and the keyboard shortcuts to create them.

Shortcut Keys	Special Character
Alt + 0224	à
Alt + 0232	è
Alt + 0236	ì
Alt + 0242	ò
Alt + 0241	ñ
Alt + 0228	ä
Alt + 0246	ö
Alt + 0252	ü
Alt + 0248	ø
Alt + 0223	ß
Alt + 0198	Æ
Alt + 0231	ç
Alt + 0191	¿
Alt + 0176	°  (degree symbol)
Alt + 0177	±  (plus/minus symbol)
Alt + 0153	™
Alt + 0169	©
Alt + 0174	®
Alt + 0128	€  (Euro currency)
Alt + 0162	¢  (Cent symbol)
Alt + 0163	£  (British Pound currency)
Alt + 0165	¥  (Japanese Yen currency)

General Windows keyboard shortcuts

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 or data CD that uses Autoplay, holding down the Shift key will prevent that CD from playing.

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.

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.
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. Simulates a right-click on selected item. This is useful if right-click is difficult or impossible using the mouse.

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 a Windows 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.

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.

Posted By: Sanjith

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