Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts.

Windows General Keyboard Shortcuts

Keys	Action
CTRL+C	Copy
CTRL+X	Cut
CTRL+V	Paste
CTRL+Z	Undo
DELETE	Delete
SHIFT+DELETE	Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin
CTRL while dragging an item	Copy selected item
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item	Create shortcut to selected item
F2	Rename 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 within a document
CTRL+A	Select all
F3	Search for a file or folder
ALT+ENTER	View properties for the selected item
ALT+F4	Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+Enter	Displays the properties of the selected object
ALT+SPACEBAR	Opens the shortcut menu for the active window
CTRL+F4	Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously
ALT+TAB	Switch between open items
ALT+ESC	Cycle through items in the order they were opened
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F4	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	Carry out the corresponding command
F10	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	Refresh 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 into the CD-ROM drive	Prevent the CD from automatically playing

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Keys	Action
CTRL+TAB	Move forward through tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through tabs
TAB	Move forward through options
SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through options
ALT+Underlined letter	Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option
ENTER	Carry out 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	Display Help
F4	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

Natural keyboard shortcuts

You can use the following keyboard shortcuts with a Microsoft Natural Keyboard or any other compatible keyboard that includes the Windows logo key (

) and the Application key (

Keys	Action
	Display or hide the Start menu
+BREAK	Display the System Properties dialog box
+D	Show the desktop
+M	Minimize all windows
+Shift+M	Restores minimized windows
+E	Open My Computer
+F	Search for a file or folder
CTRL+ +F	Search for computers
+F1	Display Windows Help
+ L	Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain
+R	Open the Run dialog box
+U	Open Utility Manager

Accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Keys	Action
Right SHIFT for eight seconds	Switch FilterKeys on and off
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN	Switch High Contrast on and off
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK	Switch MouseKeys on and off
SHIFT five times	Switch StickyKeys on and off
NUM LOCK for five seconds	Switch ToggleKeys on and off
+U	Open Utility Manager

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Keys	Action
END	Display the bottom of the active window
HOME	Display the top of the active window
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)	Collapse the selected folder
LEFT ARROW	Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder
RIGHT ARROW	Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder

Notes

You must associate a password with your user account to secure it from unauthorized access. If you do not have a password associated with your user account, pressing the +L will not prevent other users from accessing your account information.
Some keyboard shortcuts may not work if StickyKeys is turned on in Accessibility Options. If you are connected to Windows through Microsoft Terminal Services Client, some shortcuts have changed. For more information, see the online documentation for Terminal Services Client.