Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

Shortcut Keys

3.x

9x

ME

NT

2K

XP

Vista

7

Description

Alt + Tab

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Switch between open applications.

Alt + Shift + Tab

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Switch backwards between open applications.

Alt + double-click

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.

Ctrl + Tab

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature.

Alt + Print Screen

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.

Ctrl + Print Screen

X

X

X

X

Creates a screen shot of the entire screen

Ctrl + Alt + Del

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Reboot the computer and brings up the Windows task manager.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

X

X

X

X

Immediately bring up the Windows task manager.

Ctrl + Esc

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager.

Alt + Esc

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Switch Between open applications on taskbar.

F1

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Activates help for current open application.

F2

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Renames selected Icon.

F3

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Starts find from desktop.

F4

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Opens the drive selection when browsing.

F5

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Refresh Contents to where you were on the page.

Ctrl + F5

X

X

Refreshes page to the beginning of the page.

F10

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Activates menu bar.

Shift + F10

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Simulates right-click on selected item.

F4

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar.

Alt + F4

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Closes Current open program.

Ctrl + F4

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Closes Window in Program.

F6

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Move cursor to different Windows Explorer pane.

Alt + Space bar

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Drops down the window control menu.

Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad)

X

X

X

X

X

X

Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer

Alt + Enter

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Opens properties window of selected icon or program.

Alt + Space bar

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Open the control menu for the current window open.

Shift + Del

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.

Holding Shift

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.

Holding Shift

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.

Enter

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Activates the highlighted program.

Alt + Down arrow

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Display all available options on drop down menu.

* (on the keypad)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.

+ (on the keypad)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.

- (on the keypad)

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.