Learn Common Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows

There are many ways to get around on your computer quicker and easier. Here are some of the keyboard shortcuts you can use.

Steps

In Windows Explorer Shortcuts

  1. Open Windows Explorer by touching ⊞ Win+E.
  2. Open the Run Dialog box by touching ⊞ Win+R.
  3. Make the Accessibility Utility Manager/Ease of Access Center show up by touching ⊞ Win+U.
  4. Make the Desktop show from any window by touching ⊞ Win+D.
  5. Open the Search Window by touching ⊞ Win+F3 together.
  6. Lock the computer by touching ⊞ Win+L.
  7. Minimize all windows by touching ⊞ Win+M.
  8. Focus your keyboard on the taskbar by touching ⊞ Win+B.
    • Tap Tab to switch between sections.
  9. Open the System Properties windows by touching ⊞ Win+Pause.
    • (Same as "My Computer --> Properties).
  10. Make a pop-up show with the icons of the currently running application by holding Alt and hitting Tab ↹ once.
    • While holding Alt hit Tab ↹ again and again to highlight the application. Release Alt to switch to the application.
  11. Switch applications. Switch between any applications running on your screen by touching Alt+Esc.
  12. Close application or shut-down a pop-up window. You can close the active window by touching Alt+F4.
  13. Use F1 key to access the Help menu for Windows. This main key can be used in any application or Windows software to enable the help menu for the program.
  14. Use F2 to rename a file.
  15. Make the address bar drop-down by pressing F4.
  16. Refresh the screen by pressing F5.
  17. Expand the directory tree of the selected folder in Windows Explorer by pressing Num ⇩+* keys together.
  18. Collapse the directory tree of the selected folder in Windows Explorer by pressing the Num ⇩+-.
  19. Open the Start Menu by touching Ctrl+Esc.
  20. Open the Windows Task Manager. Open the Task Manager from anywhere by touching Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Esc.
  21. Learn another shortcut to make the computer shutdown. This keyboard shortcut is ⊞ Win+U, then hit U+↵ Enter again.
    • This will only work on Windows XP.
  22. Access the Developer Tools(view the webpage in html, css, etc) by touching the F12 key.

In Internet Browsers

  1. Open a new tab with Ctrl+T.
  2. Open a new window with Ctrl+N.
  3. Press Alt+D to select the the web page address in the address bar (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Safari).
  4. Press F4 to view the most recently visited websites in the drop down box of the address bar (Internet Explorer only).

In Applications

  1. Make text bold with Ctrl+B , italicized with Ctrl+I , and underlined with Ctrl+U (these do not work in Notepad).
  2. Use ⇱ Home or ⇲ End to go the beginning or end of a line of text, respectively. Add Ctrl to either of these keys to go the beginning or end of the document.
  3. Change the font size. You can change font size by selecting the text and pressing either Ctrl+> or Ctrl+< . Note that this font sizing tip does not work in Notepad.
  4. Save a document by pressing Ctrl+S. This is common in just about any application, including Microsoft Word and Notepad.
    • Or you may press F12 for the Save-As selection on most applications. This also applies for most applications.

Miscellaneous

  1. Press ⇧ Shift, then drag the mouse over the files that you want to select, to select multiple files at once. Alternatively you can hold Ctrl and click on each file individually.
    • Ctrl+A Select All
    • Ctrl+C - Copy.
    • Ctrl+X - Cut
    • Ctrl+V - Paste
    • Ctrl+Z - Undo
    • Ctrl+Y - Redo



Tips

  • Certain browsers may use different key combinations.
  • Shortcuts may be different in languages other than English.
  • Note: You can run applications without loading explorer. In Task Manager terminate Explorer and select your application with "New Task".

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