Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

ID: Q126449

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article lists keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Windows.


MORE INFORMATION

Mouse Click/Keyboard Modifier Combinations for Shell Objects

SHIFT+RIGHT CLICK:

Displays a context menu containing alternative verbs.

SHIFT+DOUBLE CLICK:

Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu).

ALT+DOUBLE CLICK:

Displays properties.

SHIFT+DELETE:

Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin.

General Keyboard-Only Commands

F1:

Starts Windows Help.

F10:

Activates menu bar options.

SHIFT+F10:

Opens a context menu for the selected item. This is the same as right-clicking an object.

CTRL+ESC:

Opens the Start menu. Use the ARROW keys to select an item.

CTRL+ESC, ESC:

Selects the Start button. Press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu.

ALT+DOWN ARROW:

Opens a drop-down list box.

ALT+TAB:

Switch to another running application. Hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window.

SHIFT:

Press down and hold the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the auto-run feature.

ALT+SPACE

Displays the main window's System menu. From the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window.

ALT+- (ALT+hyphen)

Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu. From the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window.

CTRL+TAB

Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) application.

ALT+<underlined letter in menu>

Opens the corresponding menu.

ALT+F4

Closes the current window.

ALT+DOWN ARROW:

Opens a drop-down list box.

CTRL+F4

Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window.

ALT+F6

Switch between multiple windows in the same program. For example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window.

Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts

For a Selected Object: 


   Key         Result
   ------------------------------------------------------------
   F2          Rename object

   F3          Find: All Files


   CTRL+X      Cut

   CTRL+C      Copy

   CTRL+V      Paste

   SHIFT+DEL   Delete selection immediately, without moving the
               item to the Recycle Bin.

   ALT+ENTER   Open the property sheet for the selected object.


To Copy a File:

Press down and hold the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To Create a Shortcut:

Press down and hold CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General Folder/Shortcut Control


   Key                        Result
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   F4                         Selects the Go To A Different Folder box
                              and moves down the entries in the box (if
                              the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer).

   F5                         Refreshes the current window.

   F6                         Moves among panes in Windows Explorer.

   CTRL+G                     Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95
                              Windows Explorer only).

   CTRL+Z                     Undo the last command.

   CTRL+A                     Select all the items in the current window.

   BACKSPACE                  Switch to the parent folder.

   SHIFT+CLICK Close Button   For folders, close the current folder plus
                              all parent folders.

Windows Explorer Tree Control


   Key                Result
   ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Numeric Keypad *   Expands everything under the current selection.

   Numeric Keypad +   Expands the current selection.

   Numeric Keypad -   Collapses the current selection.

   RIGHT ARROW        Expands the current selection if it is not
                      expanded, otherwise goes to the first child.

   LEFT ARROW         Collapses the current selection if it is expanded,
                      otherwise goes to the parent.

Property Sheet Control

CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB:

Move through the property tabs.

Accessibility Shortcuts


   Key                                Result
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   Tap SHIFT 5 times                  Toggles StickyKeys on and off.

   Press down and hold the right      Toggles FilterKeys on and off.
   SHIFT key for 8 seconds

   Press down and hold the NUM LOCK   Toggles ToggleKeys on and off.
   key for 5 seconds

   Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK       Toggles MouseKeys on and off.

   Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN   Toggles High Contrast on and off.

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Keys


   Key               Result
   ----------------------------------------------------------
   WINDOWS+R         Run dialog box

   WINDOWS+M         Minimize All

   SHIFT+WINDOWS+M   Undo Minimize All

   WINDOWS+F1        Help

   WINDOWS+E         Windows Explorer

   WINDOWS+F         Find Files or Folders

   WINDOWS+D         Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop

   CTRL+WINDOWS+F    Find Computer

   WINDOWS+TAB       Cycle through taskbar buttons

   WINDOWS+BREAK     System Properties dialog box

   Application key   Displays a context menu for the selected
                     item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType Software Installed


   Key               Result
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   WINDOWS+L         Log off Windows

   WINDOWS+P         Opens Print Manager

   WINDOWS+C         Opens Control Panel

   WINDOWS+V         Opens Clipboard

   WINDOWS+K         Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box

   WINDOWS+I         Opens Mouse Properties dialog box

   WINDOWS+A         Opens Accessibility Options(if installed)

   WINDOWS+SPACEBAR  Displays the list of IntelliType Hotkeys

   WINDOWS+S         Toggles the CAP LOCK key on and off

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands

TAB

Move to the next control in the dialog box.

SHIFT+TAB

Move to the previous control in the dialog box.

SPACEBAR

If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option button, this selects the option button.

ENTER

Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline).

ESC

Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button.

ALT+<underlined letter in dialog box item>

Move to the corresponding item.

Additional query words: 


Keywords          : kbenable kbenv win95 win98 
Version           : WINDOWS:95
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbinfo

Last Reviewed: April 2, 1999