Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

This is a listing of some common shortcut keys in different versions Microsoft Windows.

Some shortcut keys below are not supported in all versions of Windows.
The shortcut keys on this page are only applicable for Windows in general, if you are looking for shortcut keys for a specific application (i.e. Excel, Word, etc..) please see the links at site of this page.

Use at your own risk.

Alt + (double-click)

Open Properties dialog of selected item.

Alt + Enter

Opens properties window of selected item.

Alt + Esc

Switch Between open tasks available on the taskbar.
Close the top (focused) window.

Alt + Tab

Switch between open windows.

Alt + Tab + Shift

Switch between open windows, backward.

Ctrl + Alt + Delete (or Del)

Bring up the Windows Task Manager, or reboot computer.

Ctrl + Esc

Bring up the Windows Start menu.

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

Autofit the widths of all columns (if available) in current window.

Ctrl + F4

Close sub window/tab.

Ctrl + Tab

Switch between existing tabs (within a window).

Ctrl + Tab + Shift

Switch between existing tabs (within a window), backward

F1

Open Help for Windows or focused application.

F2

Rename.

F3

Find/Search.

F4

Select drives or display the list of drives

F5

Refresh.

F6

Switch focus to the address bar (if exists).

F10

Switch focus to the top menu bar.

Shift + F10

Same as mouse right-click on the select item.

Print Screen

Capture a screenshot of the entire desktop to clipboard.

Print Screen + Alt

Capture a screenshot of just the top(focused) window to clipboard.

Shift + Delete (or Del)

Permanently delete selected file(s)/folder(s) (bypass recycle bin)

Shift (hold while inserting an audio CD to drive)

Prevent autoplay. * (keypad) on Windows Explorer.
Expand all sub-directories from the selected item.

+ (keypad) on Windows Explorer.

Expand only the first level of selected item.

- (keypad) on Windows Explorer.

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Most keyboards have a Windows Key (key with a Windows icon). This key provides additional shortcuts for Microsoft Windows. Below is a list of the shortcut keys by combining the Windows key and other keys.

WINDOWS-KEY	Bring up the Windows Start menu.
WINDOWS-KEY + F1	Bring up the Windows Help.
WINDOWS-KEY + e	Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINDOWS-KEY + f	Windows Search.
WINDOWS-KEY + Ctrl + f	Search for computers
WINDOWS-KEY + d	Minimizes all and bring up desktop, or restore all
WINDOWS-KEY + l	Lock the computer (Windows XP & newer).
WINDOWS-KEY + m	Minimizes all windows.
WINDOWS-KEY + Shift + M	Restore all. Opposite with WINDOWS-KEY + M and WINDOWS-KEY + D.
WINDOWS-KEY + r	Open the run window.
WINDOWS-KEY + u	Utility Manager.
WINDOWS-KEY + Tab	Cycle through the programs on task bar.
WINDOWS-KEY + Pause/Break	Open the System Properties window.