Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

When I have a lot of work to do on the computer, I get tired of using the mouse. The mouse is too slow, and becomes uncomfortable to use after a time. So these are some ways you can use the keyboard to do your work. You can do almost everything from the keyboard.

Keys for windows and dialog boxes.
Entries are in aproximately alphabetic order.

APPLICATION

DESKTOP

DIALOG

DOCUMENT

EXCEL

MENU

TEXT

EXPLORER
In an application window, to do this Press
Help (Most applications) F1
Activate the menu F10
Activate the menu ALT
Carry out the Move application window (Microsoft Excel, Word, etc...) CTRL+F7
Carry out the Size application window (Microsoft Excel, Word, etc...) CTRL+F8
Close the current window or quit a program ALT+F4
Do not save the documents (when closing an application). SHIFT+ALT+N
Maximize or restore the application window (Microsoft Excel, Word, etc...) CTRL+F10
Open the application window Control menu ALT+SPACEBAR
Select the highlighted item (single click) SPACEBAR
Show the Windows Start menu CTRL+ESC
Switch between aplications shown on the taskbar ALT+ESC
Switch to the next program ALT+TAB
Switch to the previous program ALT+SHIFT+TAB
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In the desktop, to do this Press
Help F1
Boot into safe mode or bypass system files SHIFT+BOOT
Close the current window or quit a program ALT+F4
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+C
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+INS
Cut selected item to the clipboard CTRL+X
Cut selected item to the clipboard SHIFT+DEL
Paste the contents of the clipboard CTRL+V
Paste the contents of the clipboard SHIFT+INS
Delete immediately without placing the item in the Recycle Bin SHIFT+DEL
Find a folder or file F3
Restart windows without rebooting SHIFT+RESTART
Show the Windows Start menu CTRL+ESC
Switch between aplications shown on the taskbar ALT+ESC
Switch to the next program ALT+TAB
Switch to the previous program ALT+SHIFT+TAB
View item properties ALT+ENTER
View the shortcut menu for the selected item SHIFT+F10
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In a dialog box, to do this Press
Choose a toolbar button in a dialog box ALT+ number (1 is the leftmost button, 2 is the next, and so on)(only numbers on the top row of keyboard)
Cancel the command and close the dialog box ESC
Close the selected drop-down list box ESC
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+C
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+INS
Cut selected item to the clipboard CTRL+X
Cut selected item to the clipboard SHIFT+DEL
Paste the contents of the clipboard CTRL+V
Paste the contents of the clipboard SHIFT+INS
Move to the next option or option group TAB
Move to the previous option or option group SHIFT+TAB
Move between options in the active drop-down list box or between some options in a group of options Arrow keys
Move to an option in a drop-down list box Letter key for the first letter in the option name you want (when a drop-down list box is selected)
Open the Save In or Look In list F4
Open the selected drop-down list box ALT+DOWN ARROW
Perform the action assigned to the active button (the button with the dotted outline), or select or clear the active check box SPACEBAR
Perform the action assigned to the default command button in the dialog box (the button with the bold outline ¾ often the OK button) ENTER
Select all CTRL+A
Select a folder in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu) ALT+0 to select the folder list; arrow keys to select a folder
Select an option, or select or clear a check box ALT+ letter, where letter is the key for the underlined letter in the option name
Switch to the next tab in a dialog box CTRL+TAB or CTRL+PAGE DOWN
Switch to the previous tab in a dialog box CTRL+SHIFT+TAB or CTRL+PAGE UP
View the folder one level up BACKSPACE
Return to top of page.
In a document, to do this Press
Bold selected text CTRL+B
Close the active document CTRL+F4
Close the active document CTRL+W
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+C
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+INS
Cut selected item to the clipboard CTRL+X
Cut selected item to the clipboard SHIFT+DEL
Paste the contents of the clipboard CTRL+V
Paste the contents of the clipboard SHIFT+INS
Go to the begining of the active document CTRL+HOME
Go to the end of the active document CTRL+END
Italicise selected text CTRL+I
Move one character to the left or right LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
Move one word to the left or right CTRL+LEFT ARROW or CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move to the beginning of the entry HOME
Move to the end of the entry END
Open the document window Control menu ALT+HYPHEN(-)
Open a document CTRL+O
Print document CTRL+P
Restore the active workbook window / document CTRL+F5
Save the active document CTRL+S
Select all the text CTRL+A
Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry SHIFT+HOME
Select from the insertion point to the end of the entry SHIFT+END
Select or unselect one character to the left SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one character to the right SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the left CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the right CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Spell check the selected text or active document F7
Start a new document CTRL+S
Switch to the next workbook window / document CTRL+F6
Switch to the previous workbook window / document CTRL+SHIFT+F6
Underline selected text CTRL+U
View the shortcut menu for the selected item SHIFT+F10
View item properties ALT+ENTER
Return to top of page.
In Excel, to do this Press
Bold selected text CTRL+B
Bring up search box SHIFT+F5
Close the active workbook window / document CTRL+F4
Close the active workbook window / document CTRL+W
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+C
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+INS
Cut selected item to the clipboard CTRL+X
Cut selected item to the clipboard SHIFT+DEL
Paste the contents of the clipboard CTRL+V
Paste the contents of the clipboard SHIFT+INS
Go to the begining of the active document CTRL+HOME
Go to the end of the active document CTRL+END
Insert new worksheet ALT+SHIFT+F1
Italicise selected text CTRL+I
Minimize the workbook window to an icon CTRL+F9
Maximize or restore the workbook window CTRL+F10
Open a workbook window / document CTRL+O
Print document CTRL+P
Restore the active workbook window / document CTRL+F5
Spell check the selected text or active document F7
Start a new workbook window / document CTRL+N
Strikethrough selected text CTRL+5
Switch to the next workbook window / document CTRL+F6
Switch to the previous workbook window / document CTRL+SHIFT+F6
Underline selected text CTRL+U
View the shortcut menu for the selected item SHIFT+F10
Return to top of page.
In a menu, to do this Press
Move between options in the active drop-down list box or between some options in a group of options Arrow keys
Move to an option in a drop-down list box Letter key for the first letter in the option name you want (when a drop-down list box is selected)
Perform the action assigned to the default command button in the dialog box (the button with the bold outline, often the OK button) ENTER
Return to top of page.
In a text box, to do this Press
Bold selected text CTRL+B
Italicise selected text CTRL+I
Move to the beginning of the entry HOME
Move to the end of the entry END
Move one character to the left or right LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW
Move one word to the left or right CTRL+LEFT ARROW or CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Print document CTRL+P
Select from the insertion point to the beginning of the entry SHIFT+HOME
Select from the insertion point to the end of the entry SHIFT+END
Select all the text CTRL+A
Select or unselect one character to the left SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one character to the right SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the left CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW
Select or unselect one word to the right CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW
Underline selected text CTRL+U
Return to top of page.
In Windows Explorer, to do this Press
Choose a toolbar button in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu) ALT+ number (1 is the leftmost button, 2 is the next, and so on)(numbers on the top row of keyboard)
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+C
Copy selected item to the clipboard CTRL+INS
Cut selected item to the clipboard CTRL+X
Cut selected item to the clipboard SHIFT+DEL
Paste the contents of the clipboard CTRL+V
Paste the contents of the clipboard SHIFT+INS
Delete immediately without placing the item in the Recycle Bin SHIFT+DEL
Go to the begining of the list CTRL+HOME
Go to the end of the list CTRL+END
Find a folder or file F3
Rename an item F2
Refresh a window F5
Select all the text CTRL+A
Update the files visible in the Open or Save As dialog box (File menu) F5
View the shortcut menu for the selected item SHIFT+F10
View item properties ALT+ENTER
Note: Most Windows applications use Windows Explorer to perform the open and save as functions, so; shortcuts that work in Windows Explorer will also work in open and save as dialogs.

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These all work with Microsoft products. These will also work with many other programs, but of course; this depends on how the program was written. Use this list as a guide, then experiment to see what works for your programs.

For an explaination of file types, see

I have found a great site for computer help, it's Computer Hopes free computer help.Try it out.

For information on the keyboard ASCII codes see ASCII Chart.

Last updated on 2003 April 10.

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