This article lists the most common shortcuts used in a Windows operating system.

The keyboard shortcuts can be used in different ways, such as: Navigation (running a new application, showing the desktop, locking the desktop, etc.) Power management (shutting down the computer, restarting the computer, etc.) Screenshots (Saving a screenshot, copying a screenshot, etc.) Text editing (going to the start of line, going to the previous word, etc.)

Windows system

Windows Key: will open the Start menu Windows Key+Break: will display the System Properties dialogue box Windows Key+D: will minimize the windows to show the Desktop Windows Key+E: will open Internet Explorer Windows Key+F: will open the Search option for files and folders Windows Key+F+CTRL: will open Search option for computer Windows Key+F1: will display Help/Assistance option Windows Key+L: will lock your Desktop Windows Key+M: will minimize or restore all windows Windows Key+R: will open the RUN option Windows Key+TAB: will switch between open items Windows Key+U: will open Utility Manager ALT+ Hyphen: will display the Multiple Document Interface child window's System menu ALT+ ENTER: will view the properties for the selected object ALT+ ESC: will cycle through the items in the order that they were opened ALT+ F4: will close all the windows that are open ALT+ SPACEBAR: will display the System menu ALT+TAB: switch from one open program to another on your taskbar. F1: used to request help/assistance SHIFT: If you press and hold down the SHIFT key while inserting a CD-ROM it will skip the automaticrun feature

SHIFT+DELETE: will delete the file permanently CTRL+ESC: will open the Start Menu

In a General Folder and text programs

Ctrl + A: will select all items Ctrl + B: will organize your Favorites in Internet Explorer Ctrl + C: will copy the selected item Ctrl + F: will open the Search options Ctrl + H: will allow you to replace some text Ctrl + N: will create a new folder Ctrl + O: will open a new document Ctrl + P: will print the selected document Ctrl + S: will save the current document Ctrl + V: will copy the selected item Ctrl + W: will close the current window Ctrl + X: will cut the current item Ctrl + Y: will repeat the last action that has been cancelled Ctrl + Z: will undo the last action

In a General Folder

F10: opens Menu Bar options CTRL+F4: list the address menu paths SHIFT+F10: opens right click shortcut menu

ALT+DOWN ARROW: will open a drop-down list box ALT+SPACE: will list the window's System menu ALT+Underlined Letter in Menu: opens the menu

For a selected item in a folder

F2: used to rename the item F3: opens the Search option F5: will refresh the current folder F6: will move along the panes in Windows Explorer CTRL+ X: cut an item CTRL+ C: copy an item CTRL+ V: paste an item SHIFT+DELETE: will delete this item permanently. ALT+ENTER: will open the properties option for the selected item. CTRL+ G: will open the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only) CTRL+ A: will select all the items in the current window BACKSPACE: will switch to the parent folder

For Microsoft Word

CTRL+ N: will promptly open a Word document CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Word document CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Word CTRL+ S: will save the current document

CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text CTRL+ A: will select the whole document CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text

For Microsoft Excel

CTRL+ N: will promptly open an Excel document CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved Excel document CTRL+ W: will close the current window without exiting Excel CTRL+ S: will save the current document CTRL+ P: will promptly print the current document CTRL+ Z: will undo the last action CTRL+ Y: will restore an undone action CTRL+ X: will cut the selected text CTRL+ C: will copy the selected text CTRL+ V: will paste the selected text CTRL+ A: will select the whole document CTRL+ F: will search for a specific text in the current document CTRL+ B: will bold the selected text CTRL+ I: will put in italics the selected text CTRL+ U: will underline the selected text

F1: will prompt the Help option F2: will edit the document F3: will paste the name F4: will repeat the last action F5: will open the Go To option F6: will switch to the next pane F7: will launch the Spell Check option F8: will allow the Extend Mode F9: will recalculate all workbooks F10: will activate the menu bar F11: will open a new chart F12: will save the document.

For Microsoft PowerPoint

F4: will repeat the last action F5: will start a slide show F6: will switch to the next pane in a clockwise way CTRL+ EQUAL SIGN: will apply a subscript formatting CTRL+ ADDITION SIGN: will apply a superscript formatting CTRL+ BACKSPACE: will delete a word CTRL+ F: will find a word/words in the text CTRL+ K: will insert a hyperlink CTRL+ M: will insert a slide CTRL+ I: will set the text into italics CTRL+ D: will copy the current slide CTRL+ O: will open a previously saved PowerPoint file CTRL+ T: will open a Font dialogue CTRL+ Y: will repeat last action

CTRL+ G: to view guides SHIFT+ ALT+ LEFT ARROW: will promote a paragraph SHIFT+ F3: will capitalize the text SHIFT+ALT+ RIGHT ARROW: will demote a paragraph SHIFT+F6: will switch turn the previous pane anticlockwise

For Internet Explorer

F1: will display the Internet Explorer help F11: will allow the full screen option TAB KEY: will enable you to move through the items, address bar and links on your webpage ALT+HOME: will go to your home page ALT+LEFT ARROW: will go to the previous page SHIFT+F10: will display a shortcut menu for the link CTRL+TAB: will move forward between tabs SHIFT+CTRL+TAB: will move back between frames UP ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the beginning of the webpage DOWN ARROW KEY: will scroll towards the end of the webpage PAGE UP: will scroll by sections towards the beginning of the webpage PAGE DOWN: will scroll by sections towards the end of the webpage HOME: will move directly to the beginning of the webpage END: will move directly to the end of the webpage CTRL+F: will find some text on the page F5: will refresh the current page ESC: will stop loading the page CTRL+ N: will open a new window CTRL+ E: will open the Search option in the Explorer bar CTRL+ I: will open the Favorites option in Explorer bar CTRL+ H: will open the History option in Explorer bar

For Windows Media Player

ALT + 1 (2 or 3): 50% zoom (100% or 200%) ALT + Enter: toggle full screen Esc: Exit from full screen ALT + Left arrow: take a step back in your navigation history ALT + Right arrow: move forward in your navigation history CTRL + 1: switch to full screen CTRL + 2: switch to skin mode CTRL + B: previous (item or chapter) CTRL + F: next (item or chapter) CTRL + M: toggle shuffle CTRL + T: toggle repeat CTRL + M: show/hide the Classic Menus (menu bar) CTRL + N: create a new playlist CTRL + O: open file CTRL + P: Play/Pause CTRL + S: stop reading CTRL + S CTRL + U: specify a URL or file path Ctrl + Shift + C: enable/disable captions and subtitles F2: rename selected item F3: add media files to the library F5: update information F6: increase the size of the album cover Shift + F6: reduce the size of the album cover F7: disable volume F8: decrease volume F9: increase volume