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Using shortcut keys in Windows
General shortcut keys in Windows
|
To do this |
Press this |
| Activate the program’s menu bar |
F10 or ALT |
| Carry out a command on the menu | ALT + underlined letter in Menu |
| Close the current window in Multiple Document Interface (MDI) programs. | CTRL+F4 |
| Close the current window or quit a program | ALT+F4 |
| Copy a selected item | CTRL+C |
| Cut a selected item | CTRL+X |
| Paste a selected item | CTRL+V |
| Delete the selected item | DELETE |
| Undo action (sometimes this can’t be achieved) | CTRL+Z |
| Display Help on the selected dialog box item | F1 |
| Display the current window's system menu | ALT+SPACEBAR |
| Display the shortcut menu for the selected item (same as right mouse click) | SHIFT+F10 |
| Display the Start menu |
CTRL+ESC (or the ‘Windows’ key alone) |
| Display the system menu for MDI programs |
ALT+HYPHEN (-) |
| Switch to the window you last used | ALT+TAB (Switch between windows by holding down ALT while repeatedly pressing TAB.) |
Shortcut keys for the desktop, My Computer, and Windows Explorer
| Bypass AutoPlay when inserting a CD |
SHIFT while inserting the CD |
| Copy a file | CTRL while dragging the file |
| Create a shortcut | CTRL+SHIFT while dragging the file |
| Delete a selected item without placing it in the Recycle Bin | SHIFT+DELETE |
| Display Search pane for Files or Folders | F3 |
| Display the selected item's shortcut menu | Application key*1 |
| Refresh the contents of the active window | F5 |
| Rename the selected item | F2 |
| Select all items | CTRL+A |
| View a selected item's properties | ALT+ENTER or ALT+(double-click) |
*1 You can use the Application key if you have
a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or any
other compatible keyboard that includes the Application key.
Shortcut keys for My Computer and Windows Explorer only
| Move backward to a previous view | ALT+LEFT ARROW |
| Move forward to a previous view | ALT+RIGHT ARROW |
| View the folder one level up | BACKSPACE |
Shortcut keys for Windows Explorer only
| Collapse the current selection if it is expanded OR Select the folder one level up |
LEFT ARROW |
| Collapse the selected folder | NUM LOCK + HYPHEN(-) |
| Expand the current selection if it is collapsed OR Select the first subfolder |
RIGHT ARROW |
| Expand all folders below the current selection | NUM LOCK+ * |
| Expand the selected folder | NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN (+) |
| Switch between left and right panes | F6 |
Short cuts using the windows key (between Ctrl and Alt)
| Start Menu | W (Windows key alone) |
| Explorer – opens Windows Explorer | W+E |
| Desktop (toggles desktop) | W+D |
| Run window | W+R |
| Find (=search) window | W+F |
| Minimise all windows | W+M |
| Logon screen (Windows XP) | W+L |
| Switch User (Windows XP) | W+Q (must have XP Powertoys) |
See also the Windows Help files for:
• Using shortcut keys in Windows
• Using Accessibility shortcut keys
• Using Internet Explorer keyboard shortcuts
• Turning on shortcuts for accessibility features
• Displaying extra keyboard Help in programs
• Using shortcut keys for the desktop, My Computer, and Windows
Explorer
• Using shortcut keys in dialog boxes
• Using the Windows key
• Shortcut keys for Magnifier
• Using the Accessibility wizard
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