If you spend as much time in front of a computer as I do, learning a shortcut which can save a few seconds off a common task can be significant. Throw in the fact that I’m also a bit lazy… and it should explain why I’m always looking around for new Keyboard Shortcuts. The majority of Windows
7 keyboard shortcuts remain the same from Windows Vista and XP (thank you for that Microsoft), so many of the shortcuts I’ve compiled in this post should look familiar. If you have a favorite I’ve missed or you find a new one however, please be sure to tell me about it in the comments so I can add it to the list!
Windows 7 and Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows logo key:: Open or close the Start menu
Windows logo key + Left Arrow Key:: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
Windows logo key + Right Arrow Key:: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
Windows logo key + Left Arrow 2x:: Snap current window left across multiple monitors for side-by-side viewing
Windows logo key + PAUSE:: Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key + D:: Display the desktop
Windows logo key + M:: Minimize all windows
Windows logo key + SHIFT+M:: Restore minimized windows to the desktop
Windows logo key + E:: Open Computer
Windows logo key + F:: Search for a file or folder
CTRL+Windows logo key + F:: Search for computers (if you are on a network)
Windows logo key + L:: Lock your computer or switch users
Windows logo key + R:: Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key + T:: Cycle through programs on the taskbar
Windows logo key + TAB:: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB:: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar
by using Windows Flip 3-D
Windows logo key + SPACEBAR:: Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
Windows logo key + G:: Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
Windows logo key + U:: Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key + X:: Open Windows Mobility Center
Windows logo key + Any number key:: Open the Quick Launch shortcut that is in the position that
corresponds to the number. For example, Windows logo key + 1 :: Launch the first shortcut in the
Quick Launch menu.
Windows Key + S:: OneNote Screen Clipping Tool (Requires OneNote)
Windows Key + =:: Open Magnifier Tool
General Keyboard Shortcuts
F1:: Display Help
F2:: Rename the selected item
F3:: Search for a file or folder
F4:: Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer
F5– Refresh the active window
F6:: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F7:: Check Spelling in open document
F10:: Activate the menu bar in the active program
CTRL+A:: Select all items in a document or window
CTRL+C:: Copy the selected item
CTRL+X:: Cut the selected item
CTRL+V:: Paste the selected item
CTRL+Z:: Undo an action
CTRL+Y:: Redo an action
SHIFT+DELETE:: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first (Outlook Tip
also)
SHIFT+F10:: Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
Hold SHIFT when you insert a CD:: Prevent the CD from automatically playing
CTRL+ESC:: Open the Start menu
CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key:: Select a block of text
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC:: Open Task Manager
CTRL+F4:: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open
simultaneously)
CTRL+ALT+TAB:: Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel:: Change the size of icons on the desktop
ALT+ESC:: Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
ALT+ENTER:: Display properties for the selected item
ALT+F4:: Close the active item, or exit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR:: Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT+UP ARROW:: View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
ALT+TAB:: Switch between open items
ALT+SHIFT+TAB:: Switch between open items in reverse order
Windows logo key + TAB:: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB:: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar
by using Windows Flip 3-D
ESC:: Cancel the current task
Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
CTRL+click:: Open links in a new tab in the background
CTRL+SHIFT+click:: Open links in a new tab in the foreground
CTRL+T:: Open a new tab in the foreground
CTRL+TABor CTRL+SHIFT+TAB:: Switch between tabs
CTRL+W:: Close current tab (or the current window if tabbed browsing is disabled)
ALT+ENTER:: Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar
CTRL+n{where n is a number between 1 and 8}Switch to a specific tab number
CTRL+9:: Switch to the last tab
CTRL+ALT+F4:: Close other tabs
CTRL+Q:: Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off
ALT+M:: Open the Home menu
ALT+R:: Open the Print menu
ALT+J:: Open the RSS menu
ALT+O:: Open the Tools menu
ALT+L:: Open the Help menu
F1:: Display Help
F11:: Toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window
TAB:: Move forward through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
SHIFT+TAB:: Move back through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
ALT+HOME:: Go to your home page
ALT+RIGHT ARROW:: Go to the next page
ALT+LEFT ARROWor BACKSPACE:: Go to the previous page
SHIFT+F10:: Display a shortcut menu for a link
CTRL+TABor F6:: Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed
browsing is disabled)
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB:: Move backward between frames (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
CTRL+F:: Find on this page
F5:: Refresh the current webpage
CTRL+F5:: Refresh the current webpage, even if the time stamp for the web version and your
locally stored version are the same
ESC:: Stop downloading a page
CTRL+O:: Open a new website or page
CTRL+N:: Open a new window
CTRL+W:: Close the current window (if you only have one tab open)
CTRL+S:: Save the current page
CTRL+P:: Print the current page or active frame
CTRL+I:: Open Favorites
CTRL+H:: Open History
CTRL+J:: Open Feeds
ALT+P:: Open the Page menu
ALT+T:: Open the Tools menu
ALT+H:: Open the Help menu
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
CTRL+TAB:: Move forward through tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB:: Move back through tabs
TAB:: Move forward through options
SHIFT+TAB:: Move back through options
ALT+underlined letter:: Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
ENTER:: Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
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
Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcuts
Windows logo key + SPACEBAR:: Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar
Windows logo key +G:: Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
TAB:: Cycle through Sidebar controls
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
END:: Display the bottom of the active window
HOME:: Display the top of the active window
F11:: Maximize or minimize the active window
CTRL+N:: Open a new window
CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel:: Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
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 the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder
ALT+D:: Select the Address bar
ALT+LEFT ARROW:: View the previous folder
ALT+RIGHT ARROW:: View the next folder
RIGHT ARROW:: Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Keyboard Shortcuts you will never use!
Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN(or PRTSCRN) :: Turn High Contrast on or off
Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK:: Turn Mouse Keys on or off
SHIFT five times:: Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Hold NUM LOCK for five seconds:: Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Windows logo key +U:: Open the Ease of Access Center
SHIFT with any arrow key:: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select
text within a document
CTRL with any arrow key+SPACEBAR:: Select multiple individual items in a window or on the
desktop
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW:: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+LEFT ARROW:: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+DOWN ARROW:: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+UP ARROW:: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
EmoticonEmoticon