Work faster, work smarter
Keyboard shortcuts offer a faster way to work than just relying on the mouse and on-screen options. Your keyboard is good for more than just entering text. Even if you only learn a few basic shortcuts, you will be a more effective computer user.
Keyboard shortcuts also help you prevent repetitive motion injuries. Keyboard shortcuts simplify how we work with computers. This can help reduce the strain on our bodies. You might be wondering how a keyboard shortcut can reduce strain on your hands, shoulders and back, but over a time this can add up to millions of clicks saved in a lifetime of computer use.
Keyboard shortcuts also help you learn where the keys are. This also saves time and is good for both typing and gaming.
General Keyboard Shortcuts
Note that these shortcuts are for Windows and may be different in a different operating system.
| • | CTRL+C (Copy) |
| • | CTRL+X (Cut) |
| • | CTRL+V (Paste) |
| • | CTRL+Z (Undo) |
| • | DELETE (Delete) |
| • | 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) |
| • | F2 key (Rename the 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 in a document) |
| • | CTRL+A (Select all) |
| • | F3 key (Search for a file or a folder) |
| • | ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item) |
| • | ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program) |
| • | ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object) |
| • | ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window) |
| • | CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously) |
| • | ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items) |
| • | ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened) |
| • | F4 key (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 (Perform the corresponding command) |
| • | F10 key (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 key (Update 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-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing) |
| • | CTRL+SHIFT+ESC (Open Task Manager) |
Windows Logo Key Shortcuts
| • | Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu) |
| • | Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop) |
| • | Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows) |
| • | Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows) |
| • | Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer) |
| • | Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder) |
| • | Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help) |
| • | Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager) |
Microsoft Internet Explorer Shortcuts
| • | CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box) |
| • | CTRL+E (Open the Search bar) |
| • | CTRL+F (Start the Find utility) |
| • | CTRL+H (Open the History bar) |
| • | CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar) |
| • | CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box) |
| • | CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address) |
| • | CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L) |
| • | CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box) |
| • | CTRL+R (Update the current Web page) |
| • | CTRL+W (Close the current window) |
See this page on the Microsoft support website for more information.
