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. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer.
General keyboard shortcuts
| 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
| 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
[Windows Key] Display or hide the Start menu.
[Windows Key] +BREAK Display the System Properties dialog box.
[Windows Key] +D Show the desktop.
[Windows Key] +M Minimize all windows.
[Windows Key] +Shift+M Restores minimized windows.
[Windows Key] +E Open My Computer.
[Windows Key] +F Search for a file or folder.
CTRL+ [Windows Key] +F Search for computers.
[Windows Key] +F1 Display Windows Help.
[Windows Key] + L Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain.
[Windows Key] +R Open the Run dialog box.
[Windows Key] +U Open Utility Manager.
Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
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.
[Windows Key] +U Open Utility Manager.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
| 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. |
| Windows Run Commands | |
| Accessibility Controls | access.cpl |
| Add Hardware Wizard | hdwwiz.cpl |
| Add/Remove Programs | appwiz.cpl |
| Administrative Tools | control admintools |
| Automatic Updates | wuaucpl.cpl |
| Bluetooth Transfer Wizard | fsquirt |
| Calculator | calc |
| Certificate Manager | certmgr.msc |
| Character Map | charmap |
| Check Disk Utility | chkdsk |
| Clipboard Viewer | clipbrd |
| Command Prompt | cmd |
| Component Services | dcomcnfg |
| Computer Management | compmgmt.msc |
| timedate.cpl | ddeshare |
| Device Manager | devmgmt.msc |
| Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* | directx.cpl |
| Direct X Troubleshooter | dxdiag |
| Disk Cleanup Utility | cleanmgr |
| Disk Defragment | dfrg.msc |
| Disk Management | diskmgmt.msc |
| Disk Partition Manager | diskpart |
| Display Properties | control desktop |
| Display Properties | desk.cpl |
| Display Properties (w/Appearance Tab Preselected) | control color |
| Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility | drwtsn32 |
| Driver Verifier Utility | verifier |
| Event Viewer | eventvwr.msc |
| File Signature Verification Tool | sigverif |
| Findfast | findfast.cpl |
| Folders Properties | control folders |
| Fonts | control fonts |
| Fonts Folder | fonts |
| Free Cell Card Game | freecell |
| Game Controllers | joy.cpl |
| Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) | gpedit.msc |
| Hearts Card Game | mshearts |
| Iexpress Wizard | iexpress |
| Indexing Service | ciadv.msc |
| Internet Properties | inetcpl.cpl |
| IP Configuration (Display Connection Configuration) | ipconfig /all |
| IP Configuration (Display DNS Cache Contents) | ipconfig /displaydns |
| IP Configuration (Delete DNS Cache Contents) | ipconfig /flushdns |
| IP Configuration (Release All Connections) | ipconfig /release |
| IP Configuration (Renew All Connections) | ipconfig /renew |
| IP Configuration (Refreshes DHCP & Re-Registers DNS) | ipconfig /registerdns |
| IP Configuration (Display DHCP Class ID) | ipconfig /showclassid |
| IP Configuration (Modifies DHCP Class ID) | ipconfig /setclassid |
| Java Control Panel (If Installed) | jpicpl32.cpl |
| Java Control Panel (If Installed) | javaws |
| Keyboard Properties | control keyboard |
| Local Security Settings | secpol.msc |
| Local Users and Groups | lusrmgr.msc |
| Logs You Out Of Windows | logoff |
| Microsoft Chat | winchat |
| Minesweeper Game | winmine |
| Mouse Properties | control mouse |
| Mouse Properties | main.cpl |
| Network Connections | control netconnections |
| Network Connections | ncpa.cpl |
| Network Setup Wizard | netsetup.cpl |
| Notepad | notepad |
| Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) | nvtuicpl.cpl |
| Object Packager | packager |
| ODBC Data Source Administrator | odbccp32.cpl |
| On Screen Keyboard | osk |
| Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) | ac3filter.cpl |
| Password Properties | password.cpl |
| Performance Monitor | perfmon.msc |
| Performance Monitor | perfmon |
| Phone and Modem Options | telephon.cpl |
| Power Configuration | powercfg.cpl |
| Printers and Faxes | control printers |
| Printers Folder | printers |
| Private Character Editor | eudcedit |
| Quicktime (If Installed) | QuickTime.cpl |
| Regional Settings | intl.cpl |
| Registry Editor | regedit |
| Registry Editor | regedit32 |
| Remote Desktop | mstsc |
| Removable Storage | ntmsmgr.msc |
| Removable Storage Operator Requests | ntmsoprq.msc |
| Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) | rsop.msc |
| Scanners and Cameras | sticpl.cpl |
| Scheduled Tasks | control schedtasks |
| Security Center | wscui.cpl |
| Services | services.msc |
| Shared Folders | fsmgmt.msc |
| Shuts Down Windows | shutdown |
| Sounds and Audio | mmsys.cpl |
| Spider Solitare Card Game | spider |
| SQL Client Configuration | cliconfg |
| System Configuration Editor | sysedit |
| System Configuration Utility | msconfig |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan Immediately) | sfc /scannow |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan Once At Next Boot) | sfc /scanonce |
| System File Checker Utility (Scan On Every Boot) | sfc /scanboot |
| System File Checker Utility (Return to Default Setting) | sfc /revert |
| System File Checker Utility (Purge File Cache) | sfc /purgecache |
| System File Checker Utility (Set Cache Size to size x) | sfc /cachesize=x |
| System Properties | sysdm.cpl |
| Task Manager | taskmgr |
| Telnet Client | telnet |
| User Account Management | nusrmgr.cpl |
| Utility Manager | utilman |
| Windows Firewall | firewall.cpl |
| Windows Magnifier | magnify |
| Windows Management Infrastructure | wmimgmt.msc |
| Windows System Security Tool | syskey |
| Windows Update Launches | wupdmgr |
| Windows XP Tour Wizard | tourstart |
| Wordpad | write |