Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
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CREDIT: Stockxpert |
Time is money, and every bit of time you save means time you can spend on other important projects. Whether you're word processing or creating spreadsheets, keyboard shortcuts can help you shave minutes off your tasks.
We've compiled a list of some of the best Windows keyboard shortcuts to help you become more efficient at navigating Windows and the related Microsoft programs. There are a number of other shortcuts, which can be identified by looking for underlined letters in the menus. To access these, press the Alt key and the underlined letter.
Word processing shortcuts
First, some common shortcuts that are especially applicable to word processing:
| CTRL + C | Copy |
| CTRL + X | Cut |
| CTRL + V | Paste |
| CTRL + Z | Undo |
| CTRL + Shift + any arrow key | Highlight a block of text |
| Shift + any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document |
| CTRL + A | Select all |
| 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 |
| Alt + Tab | Switch to another running program |
| Alt + F6 | Switch between multiple windows in the same program |
Desktop and Windows Explorer shortcuts
These are applicable to the desktop or Windows Explorer:
| 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 |
| Alt + Enter | View the properties for the selected item |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active item, or quit the active program |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
| Shift + F10 | Open the shortcut menu for the selected item |
| CTRL + ESC | Open the Start menu |
| Backspace | View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| Windows Logo + L | Lock the computer without using CTRL + Alt + Delete |
| Num Lock + * | Display all subfolders under selected folder |
| Num Lock + + (plus sign) | Display contents of the selected folder |
| Num Lock + - (minus sign) | Collapse the selected folder |
Function keys
Ever wonder what those function keys do? Here are the commands associated to the F keys along the top of your keyboard:
| F1 key | Get help on the active window |
| F2 key | Rename the selected item |
| F3 key | Search for a file or a folder |
| F4 key | Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| F5 key | Update the active window |
| F6 key | Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
| F7 key | Does not have a function in Windows, but does in programs like Word |
| F8 key | Boot your computer in safe mode |
| F9 key | Does not have a function in Windows, but does in certain programs |
| F10 key | Activate the menu bar options |
| F11 key | View any IE page in full view |
| F12 key | Does not have a function in Windows, but does in certain programs |
Internet Explorer shortcuts
Here are a few shortcuts to use in Internet Explorer (IE):
| CTRL+B | Open the Organize Favorites dialog box |
| CTRL+E | Open the Search bar |
| CTRL+F | Open the Find utility |
| CTRL+H | Open the History bar |
| CTRL+I | Open the Favorites bar |
| CTRL+L or CTRL+O | Open the Open dialog box |
| CTRL+N | Start another instance of the current browser with the same Web address |
| CTRL+P | Open the Print dialog box |
| CTRL+W | Close the current window |
Don't see what you need? Check out these resources for more keyboard shortcuts.
