Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Computers

Essential Keyboard Commands for Windows Computers
Basics
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Windows Logo: Open or close Start menu

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Application key: Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (same as right-clicking)

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TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box/window

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SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box/window

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SPACEBAR: Same as clicking a button, checking or unchecking a check box, or selecting an
option.

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ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)

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ESCAPE: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button

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Arrow keys: Moves about within a fixed space (e.g. within a text document, within a webpage, a
folder, or between menu items); in particular, can be used to open and close menus or tree views

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Windows Logo+D or Windows Logo+M: Minimize all windows and go to desktop

Controls for working with a window


ALT: Goes to menu bar (or ribbon tab)

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ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu with the underlined letter

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CTRL+O: Opens the Open dialog box

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CTRL+N: Opens a new (blank) window under the same application

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CTRL+S: Saves changes to a file; if not previously saved, opens the Save As dialog box

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CTRL+P: Opens the Print dialog box to print the file

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ALT+F4: Closes the current window

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ALT+TAB: Switch to another open window; hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key
to view the task-switching window; hold down ALT key and press TAB repeatedly to cycle
through all open windows

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CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next tab or sub window, if any

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ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can
restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)

Internet Explorer


ALT+D: Go to address bar (to type in website)

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F5: Refreshes the page

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ESCAPE: Stop loading the page

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ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE: Go to previous page

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ALT+RIGHT ARROW: Go to next page

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CTRL+D: Adds page to Favorites

Common navigation controls


LEFT or RIGHT ARROW: Moves left or right by one character

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CTRL+LEFT or RIGHT ARROW: Moves left or right by one word

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UP or DOWN ARROW: Moves up or down by one line

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CTRL+UP or DOWN ARROW: Moves up or down by one paragraph

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HOME or END keys: Moves to the beginning or end of the line

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CTRL+HOME or END: Moves to the beginning or end of the document or webpage

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PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN: Moves up or down by several lines (one screen)

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CTRL+PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN: Moves to the top of the previous or next page

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SHIFT+(any of the above navigation controls): Selects text from cursor to new location of cursor

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CTRL+A: Select all

Common editing controls


CTRL+C: Copy

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CTRL+X: Cut

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CTRL+V: Paste

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CTRL+Z: Undo

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CTRL+Y: Re-do

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BACKSPACE or DELETE: Deletes one character to the left or right of the cursor respectively

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CTRL+BACKSPACE or DELETE: Deletes one word to the left or right of the cursor

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CTRL+B: Bold

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CTRL+U: Underline

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CTRL+I: Italic

Folder and file navigation


F2: Rename object

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F5: Refreshes the current window

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CTRL+Z: Undo the last command

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CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window

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SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin

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ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

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BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder

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CTRL+SPACEBAR: Selects or Unselects an object

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CTRL+ARROW KEY: moves to another item without selecting it