Complete List of Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows XP, Vista & 7

Complete List of Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts

General keyboard shortcuts
CTRL+C (Copy)
CTRL+X (Cut)
CTRL+V (Paste)
CTRL+Z (Undo)
CTRL+B: Bold
CTRL+U: Underline
CTRL+I: Italic
DELETE (Delete)
SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)
CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)
CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)
CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)
CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)
CTRL+A (Select all)
F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)
ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)
ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)
ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)
ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)
F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)
F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)
CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)
F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)
RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)
LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)
F5 key (Update the active window)
BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)
ESC (Cancel the current task)
SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager)

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects
SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
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

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
If you press SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes, you enable extended selection mode. In this mode, you can use an arrow key to move a cursor without changing the selection. You can press CTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again. Extended selection mode cancels itself when you move the focus to another control.CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
TAB (Move forward through the options)
SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
F1 key (Display Help)
F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)
CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)
TAB (Move forward through the options)
SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)
ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)
ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)
SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)
Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)
F1 key (Display Help)
F4 key (Display the items in the active list)
BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft natural keyboard shortcuts
Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)
Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)
Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)
Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)
Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)
SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)
NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)
Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
END (Display the bottom of the active window)
HOME (Display the top of the active window)
NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)
NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)
LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)
RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Shortcut keys for Character Map
After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts: RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
UP ARROW (Move up one row)
DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
END (Move to the end of the line)
CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected)
RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)
LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)
UP ARROW (Move up one row)
DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)
PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)
PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)
HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)
END (Move to the end of the line)
CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)
CTRL+END (Move to the last character)
SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) main window keyboard shortcuts
CTRL+O (Open a saved console)
CTRL+N (Open a new console)
CTRL+S (Save the open console)
CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)
CTRL+W (Open a new window)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)
ALT+F4 (Close the console)
ALT+A (Display the Action menu)
ALT+V (Display the View menu)
ALT+F (Display the File menu)
ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC console window keyboard shortcuts
CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)
ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)
SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)
F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)
F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)
CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)
CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)
ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)
F2 key (Rename the selected item)
CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote desktop connection navigation
CTRL+ALT+END (Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box)
ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)
ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)
ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)
ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)
CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)
ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)
CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)
CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Microsoft Internet Explorer navigation
CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)
CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)
CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)
CTRL+H (Open the History bar)
CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)
CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)
CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)
CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)
CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)
CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)
CTRL+W (Close the current window)

Other information
Some keyboard shortcuts may not work if StickyKeys is turned on in Accessibility Options.
Some of the Terminal Services client shortcuts that are similar to the shortcuts in Remote Desktop Sharing are not available when you use Remote Assistance in Windows XP Home Edition.
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Complete List of Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts: 

Function KeysShortcut Key Function(s)
F1 Start Help (supported in most applications).
F2 Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop.
F3 Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only).
F4 Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes). For example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list.
F5 Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and some other applications.
F6 Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer.
F10 Send focus to the current application’s menu.


Miscellaneous KeysShortcut Key Function(s)
Arrow Keys Basic navigation – move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on.
Backspace Move up one level in the folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only).
Delete Delete selected item(s) or selected text.
Down arrow Open a drop-down listbox.
End Go to end of line when editing text, or to the end of file list.
Enter Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text.
Esc Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel).
Home Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or to the beginning of file list.
Page Down Scroll down one screen.
Page Up Scroll up one screen.
PrintScreen Copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard.
Space Bar Toggle a checkbox that is selected in a dialog box, activate the command button with the focus, or toggle the selection of files when selecting multiple files with Ctrl.
Tab Move focus to next control in a dialog box or window (hold Shift to go backward).


Alt Key CombinationsShortcut Key Function(s)
Alt Send focus to the menu (same as F10). Also turns on the menu in applications where it is no longer used by default, such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.
Alt-x Activate menu or dialog control, where letter x is underlined (if the underlines are not visible, pressing Alt will display them).
Alt-double-click (on icon) Display Properties sheet.
Alt-Enter Display Properties sheet for selected icon in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. Also switches command prompt between windowed and full-screen display.
Alt-Esc Drop active window to bottom of pile, which, in effect, activates next open window.
Alt-F4 Close current window; if Taskbar or Desktop has the focus, exit Windows.
Alt-hyphen Open the current document’s system menu in a multiple document interface (MDI) application.
Alt-numbers When used with the numbers on the numeric keypad only, inserts special characters corresponding to their ASCII codes into many applications. For example, press the Alt key and type 0169 for the copyright symbol. Check characters map for full list of codes.
Alt-PrintScreen Copy active window as a bitmap to the Clipboard.
Alt-Shift-Tab Same as Alt-Tab, but in the opposite direction.
Alt-Space Bar Open the current window’s system menu.
Alt-Tab Switch to the next running applicationhold Alt while pressing Tab to cycle through running applications.
Alt-M When the Taskbar has the focus, minimize all windows and move focus to the Desktop.
Alt-S When the Taskbar has the focus, open the Start menu.


Ctrl Key CombinationsShortcut Key Function(s)
Ctrl-A Select all; in Windows Explorer, selects all files in the current folder. In word processors, selects all text in the current document.
Ctrl-Alt-x User-defined accelerator for a shortcut, in which x is any key.
Ctrl-Alt-Delete Show the logon dialog when no user is currently logged on; otherwise, switch to the Windows Security dialog, which provides access to Task Manager and Log Off, as well as switching to another user, allowing you to change your password or lock the computer. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete to access the Task Manager when Explorer crashes or your computer becomes unresponsive.
Ctrl-arrow key Scroll without moving selection.
Ctrl-click Use to select multiple, noncontiguous items in a list or in Windows Explorer.
Ctrl-drag Copy a file.
Ctrl-End Move to the end of a document (in many applications).
Ctrl-Esc Open the Start menu; press Esc and then Tab to move focus to the Taskbar, or press Tab again to move focus to the Taskbar, and then cycle through the toolbars on the Taskbar every time you press Tab.
Ctrl-F4 Close a document window in an MDI application.
Ctrl-F6 Switch between multiple documents in an MDI application. Similar to Ctrl-Tab; hold Shift to go in reverse.
Ctrl-Home Move to the beginning of a document (in many applications).
Ctrl-Space Bar Select or deselect multiple, noncontiguous items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer.
Ctrl-Tab Switch among tabs in a tabbed dialog or Internet Explorer; hold Shift to go in reverse.
Ctrl-C Copy the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. Also interrupts some command prompt applications.
Ctrl-F Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only).
Ctrl-V Paste the contents of the Clipboard.
Ctrl-X Cut the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard.
Ctrl-Z Undo; for example, erases text just entered, and repeals the last file operation in Windows Explorer.


Shift Key CombinationsShortcut Key Function(s)
Shift While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay.
Shift-arrow keys Select text or select multiple items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer.
Shift-click Select all items between currently selected item and item on which you’re clicking; also works when selecting text.
Shift-click Close button Close current folder and all parent folders (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only).
Shift-Alt-Tab Same as Alt-Tab, but in reverse.
Shift-Ctrl-Tab Same as Ctrl-Tab, but in reverse.
Shift-Ctrl-Esc Open the Task Manager.
Shift-Delete Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin.
Shift-double-click Open folder in two-pane Explorer view.
Shift-Tab Same as Tab, but in reverse.


Windows Logo Key (WIN) CombinationsShortcut Key Function(s)
WIN Open the Start menu.
WIN-Tab If the Aero interface is active, this activates Windows Flip 3D.
WIN-Pause/Break Display System Control Panel applet.
WIN-Space bar Display the Sidebar.
WIN-D Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop.
WIN-E Start Windows Explorer.
WIN-F Launch Search.
Ctrl-WIN-F Search for a computer on your network (requires Active Directory).
WIN-L Lock computer, requiring password to regain access.
WIN-M Minimize current window.
Shift-WIN-M Undo minimize current window.
WIN-R Display Run dialog.
WIN-U Open the Ease of Access Center.


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Complete List of Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts: 



Windows 7 boasts a lot of great new shortcuts, but I'm focusing on several of my favorites. Check out the video above for a closer look. For those of you who prefer text to video, here are all of the shortcuts I highlighted:
Win+Home: Clear all but the active window
Win+Space: All windows become transparent so you can see through to the desktop
Win+Up arrow: Maximize the active window
Win+Down arrow: Minimize the window/Restore the window if it's maximized
Win+Left/Right arrows: Dock the window to each side of the monitor (If you've got dual monitors, adding Shift to the mix (e.g., Win+Shift+Right arrow) will move the window to the adjacent monitor.)
Win+T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar.
Win+P: Adjust presentation settings for your display
Win+(+/-): Zoom in/out
Shift+Click a taskbar item: Open a new instance of that application



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Complete List of Windows Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts: 

Left/right arrow
Move cursor backward/forward one character.

Ctrl + left/right arrow
Move cursor backward/forward one word.

Home/End
Move cursor to beginning/end of line.

Up/down arrow
Scroll up (and back) through list of stored commands (called the Command Buffer or History). Each press of the up key recalls the previous command and displays it on the command line.

Page Up/Down
Recall oldest/most recent command in buffer.

Insert
Toggle insert/overtype mode (block cursor implies overtype mode).

Esc
Erase current line.

F1
Repeat text typed in preceding line, one character at a time.

F2 + key
Repeat text typed in preceding line, up to first character matching key.

F3
Repeat text typed in preceding line.

F5
Change the template for F1, F2, and F3 (described earlier) so that earlier commands are used as the template; press F5 repeatedly to cycle through the entire command buffer.

F6
Place an end-of-file character (^Z) at current position of command line.

F7
Show all entries in Command Buffer (History).

Alt-F7
Clear all entries in Command Buffer (History).

chars + F8
Entering one or more characters chars followed by F8 will display the most recent entry in the Command Buffer beginning with chars. Pressing F8 again will display the next most recent matching command, and so on. If no characters are specified, F8 simply cycles through existing commands in buffer.

F9 + command#
Display designated command on command line; use F7 to obtain numbers.

Ctrl-C
Interrupt the output of most Command Prompt applications.