Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

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 CD or other 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
Windows 7 and 8 only
Windows 8 only
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.