Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

By computertips Last updated Jan 2, 2016

Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Keys									Description
Alt + Tab									Switch between open applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab									Switch backwards between open applications.
Alt + double-click									Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab									Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab									Same as above but backwards.
Alt + Print Screen									Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.
Ctrl + Print Screen									Creates a screen shot of the entire screen
Ctrl + Alt + Del									Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc									Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager.
Alt + Esc									Switch Between open applications on taskbar.
F1									Activates help for current open application.
F2									Renames selected Icon.
F3									Starts find from desktop.
F4									Opens the drive selection when browsing.
F5									Refresh Contents to where you were on the page.
Ctrl + F5									Refreshes page to the beginning of the page.
F10									Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10									Simulates right-click on selected item.
F4									Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4									Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4									Closes Window in Program.
F6									Move cursor to different Windows Explorer pane.
Alt + Space bar									Drops down the window control menu.
Ctrl + (the ‘+’ key on the keypad)									Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer
Alt + Enter									Opens properties window of selected icon or program.
Alt + Space bar									Open the control menu for the current window open.
Shift + Del									Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.
Holding Shift									Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.
Holding Shift									When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.
Enter									Activates the highlighted program.
Alt + Down arrow									Display all available options on drop down menu.
* (on the keypad)									Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the keypad)									Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
– (on the keypad)									Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

Shortcut Keys	Description
WINKEY	Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
WINKEY + F1	Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
WINKEY + F3	Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook.
WINKEY + D	Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M	Minimizes all windows.
WINKEY + SHIFT + M	Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
WINKEY + E	Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab	Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F	Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL + F	Display the search for computers window.
WINKEY + F1	Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R	Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause / Break key	Open the system properties window.
WINKEY + U	Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L	Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).