General Keyboard Shortcuts

General Keyboard Shortcuts

The shortcuts covered are broken up into groups based on the main key involved in activating them. So, let's take a look at what we can do with the ALT, CTRL, SHIFT, andWindows Keys, as well as a few combinations.

CTRL+A

Select all

CTRL+C

Copy

CTRL+X

Cut

CTRL+V

Paste

CTRL+Z

Undo

CTRL+F4

Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously

CTRL+SHIFT

While dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)

CTRL+ESC

Display the Start menu

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC

Task Manager

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

F2

Rename the selected item

F3

Search for a file or a folder

F4

Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer

F5

Update / Refresh the active window

F6

Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F10

Activate the menu bar in the active program

SHIFT+DELETE

Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin

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

SHIFT+F10

Display the shortcut / context menu for the selected item

SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM

Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing

ALT+ENTER

View the properties for the selected item

ALT+F4

Close the active item, or quit the active program

ALT+SPACEBAR

Open the shortcut/system menu for the active window

ALT+TAB

Switch between the open items

ALT+ESC

Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name

Display the corresponding menu

BACKSPACE

View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

Pressing SHIFT+F8 in extended selection list boxes enables extended selection mode. Now you can use an arrow key to move the cursor without changing the selection. PressCTRL+SPACEBAR or SHIFT+SPACEBAR to adjust the selection. To cancel extended selection mode, press SHIFT+F8 again.

CTRL+TAB

Move forward through the tabs

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB

Move backward through the tabs

TAB

Move forward through the options

SHIFT+TAB

Move backward through the options

ALT+Underlined letter

Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option

ENTER

Perform 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

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

A large majority of the keyboards today include the Windows logo key in the bottom left area. Pressing this key by itself will open the Start menu, it can also be used in conjunction with other keys to produce some very handy shortcuts !

Windows Logo

Display or hide the Start menu

Windows Logo+BREAK

Display the System Properties dialog box

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+F

Search for computers

Windows Logo+F1

Display Windows Help

Windows Logo+L

Lock the Workstation

Windows Logo+R

Open the Run dialog box

Windows Logo+U

Open Utility Manager

Windows Logo+TAB

Cycle through taskbar buttons

Windows Logo

Highlight a block of text

MMC Pre-Configured Consoles Shortcuts

Microsoft Management Console (MMC), hosts administrative tools to administer networks, computers, services, and other system components. The below shortcuts can also be open at the Run line. Open the MMC by the following 'Start-Run-MMC', or in the spirit of shortcuts'WINDOW LOGO+R-MMC'. The pre-configured consoles cover a wide array of tasks and services.

CERTMGR.msc

Certificates

CIADV.msc

Indexing Service

COMPMGMT.msc

Computer Management

DEVMGMT.msc

Device Manager

DFRG.msc

Disk Defragmenter

DISKMGMT.msc

Disk Management

EVENTVWR.msc

Event Viewer

FSMGMT.msc

Shared Folders Management

GPEDIT.msc

Group Policy Editor

LUSRMGR.ms

Local Users and Groups

NTMSMGR.msc

Removable Storage Manager

NTMSOPRQ.msc

Removable Storage Operator Requests

PERFMON.msc

System Performance Monitor

RSOP.msc

Resultant Set of Policy

SECPOL.msc

Local Security Settings

SERVICES.msc

Services

WMIMGMT.msc

Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)

Firefox and Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts Keyboard Shortcuts

Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts most of which can be used in both Firefox and Internet Explorer.

.

ALTt+LEFT ARROW (BACKSPACE)

Back.

ALTt+RIGHT ARROW (SHIFT+BACKSPACE)

Forward.

ALTt+HOME

Home.

F5

Reload / Refresh.

F+11

Full Screen

CTRL+SHIFT+DELETE

Clear all private data.

SHIFT+CLICK

Open link in new window.

CTRL+CLICK

Open link in new tab.

CTRL+F5

Reload / Refresh (overide cache).

ESC

Stop.

END

Bottom of Page.

HOME

Top of Page

CNTRL+I

Bookmarks / Favorites

CTRL+U

Page source

CTRL+P

Print

CTRL ++

Zoom In

CTRL --

Zoom Out

CTRL+O

Zoom Reset

CTRL+F (F3)

Search (again)

SHIFT+F3L

Find previous

CTRL+E

Web Search

CTRL+F4

Close tab

ALT+F4

Close Window

CTRL+N

New Window.

CTRL+T

New Tab

CTRL+TAB

Next Tab

CTRL+SHIFT+TABX

Previous Tab

CTRL+(1-8)

Select Tab (1 to 8).

CNTRL+9

Select Last Tab

CNTRL+SHIFT+D

Bookmark All Tabs

CNTRL+D

Bookmark This Page

CNTRL+J

Downloads

CNTRL+H

History.

CNTRL+SHIFT+J

Error Console.

Control Panel Applets Shortcuts

Some of the Control Panel applets can be conjured from the Start-Run line using their full name and CPL extension. See my main shortcuts page for links to more detailed and useful examples.

ACCESS.cpl

Accessibility controls

APPWIZ.cpl

Add/Remove Programs

CONTROL DESKTOP

Display properties

CONTROL FOLDERS

Folders properties

CONTROL KEYBOARD

Keyboard properties

CONTROL MOUSE

Mouse properties

CONTROL NETCONNECTIONS

Network connections properties

CONTROL PRINTERS

Printers and faxes

CONTROL SCHEDTASKS

Scheduled tasks

DESK.cpl

Display properties

FONTS

Open Fonts Panel

FIREWALL.cpl

Windows Firewall Settings

HDWWIZ.cpl

Add hardware

INETCPL.cpl

Configure Internet Explorer and Internet properties

INTL.cpl

Regional settings

JOY.cpl

Game controllers

MAIN.cpl

Mouse properties and settings

MAIN.cpl KEYBOARD

Keyboard settings

MMSYS.cpl

Sounds and Audio

NCPA.cpl

Network connections

NUSRMGR.cpl

User accounts

ODBCCP32.cpl

ODBC Data Source Administrator

User accounts

POWERCFG.cpl

Power configuration

STICPL.cpl

Scanners and Cameras

SYSDM.cpl

System properties

TELEPHON.cpl

Phone and modem options

TIMEDATE.cpl

Date and time properties

WUAUCPL.cpl

Automatic Updates

WSCUI.cpl

Security Center

Run Line Commands Shortcuts

A large number of these will launch from the 'Start-Run' line, others will need to be run within the command shell (open the interpreter 'Start-Run-CMD'). To view the command syntax type 'command /?'.

...

My Computer

..

\Documents and Settings\

.

\Documents and Settings\{Current User}\

BOOTCFG

Configures, queries, or changes Boot.ini file settings.

CALC

Calculator

CHARMAP

Character Map

CHKDISK

Repair damaged files / hdd surface

CLEANMGR

Disk cleanup tool

CLIPBRD

Windows Clipboard viewer

CLICONFG

SQL client configuration

CMD

Start a new Command shell

CONTROL

Opens the Control Panel

DCOMCNFG

DCOM user security

DEBUG

Assembly language programming tool

DEFRAG C:

Disk Defragmenter

DRWATSON / DRWTSON32

Windows program error debugger tool

DRIVERQUERY

Displays a list of all installed device drivers and their properties.

VERIFIER

Driver verifier utility.

DXDIAG

DirectX Diagnostic Tool

EUDCEDIT

Private character editor

EXPLORER

Windows Explorer

FONT

Font folder

FTP

File Transfer Protocol client

HOSTNAME

FSQUIRT

Bluetooth transfer wizard

Returns the computer name

IPCONFIG

Displays IP configuration for all network adapters

IEXPLORE

Starts Internet Explorer

LOGOFF

Logs you out of Windows

MMC

Microsoft Management Console

MAGNIFY

Windows Magnifier

MSPAINT

Microsoft Paint

MSCONFIG

System Configuration Utility

MSINFO32

System information

MSTSC

Creates connections to terminal servers / remote computers.

NBTSTAT

Display protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT (NetBIOS over TCP/IP).

NET USE

Connects / disconnects a computer from a shared resource, displays information about computer connections.

NETSTAT

Display current TCP/IP network connections and protocol statistics

NOTEPAD

Opens Notepad

NSLOOKUP

Lookup IP addresses on your local (DNS) NameServer

OPENFILES

Queries or displays open files

OSK

On screen keyboard

PERFMON

Performance monitor

PING

Verifies IP-level connectivity to another TCP/IP

REGEDIT

Windows Registry Editor

REGSVR32

Registers .dll files as command components in the registry.

SFC

System File Checker

SCHTASKS

Schedules commands and programs to run

SNDREC32

Sound Recorder

SNDVOL32

Soundcard volume control

SYSTEMINFO

Displays detailed configuration information about a computer and its operating system

SYSKEY

secure the Windows Security Accounts Manager database

SHUTDONW

Allows you to shut down or restart a local or remote computer

TASKMGR

WINDOWS Task Manager

TELNET

Telnet client

TRACERT

(Trace Route) route-tracing utility

WINCHAT

Microsoft Chat

WINWORD

Opens Microsoft Word

WORDPAD

Opens Wordpad

WUPDMGR

Takes you to the Windows Update site

RUN | www.cnn.com

View Site

RUN mailto:someone@somewhere.com

New Email Message

Microsoft Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts

Currently utilized in Outlook 2007. Very handy considering that Outlook can organize your contacts, tasks, notes emails and much more.

CTRL+1

Switch to Mail.

CTRL+2

Switch to Calendar.

CTRL+3

Switch to Contacts.

CTRL+4

Switch to Tasks.

CTRL+5

Switch to Notes.

CTRL+PERIOD

Switch to NEXT MESSAGE (with message open).

CTRL+COMMA

Switch to PREVIOUS MESSAGE (with message open).

CTRL+SHIFT+A

Create APPOINTMENT

CNTRL+SHIFT+B

Open ADDRESS BOOK

CTRL+SHIFT+C

Create a CONTACT

CTRL+SHIFT+D

DIAl a new call

CTRL+SHIFT+E

Create a FOLDER

CTRL+SHIFT+F

Advanced FIND

CTRL+SHIFT+G

FLAG for FOLLOW UP dialog box

CTRL+SHIFT+J

Create a JOURNAL entry

CTRL+SHIFT+L

Create a DISTRIBUTION LIST

CTRL+SHIFT+M

Create a MESSAGE

CTRL+SHIFT+Q

Create a MEETING request

CTRL+SHIFT+N

Create an ITEM (depending on the module-mail-tasks-etc-)

CTRL+SHIFT+P

Create a new SEARCH FOLDER or display the FONT dialog box.

CTRL+SHIFT+K

Create a TASK

CTRL+SHIFT+U

Create a TASK REQUEST

CTRL+SHIFT+X

Create a FAX

CTRL+ALT+W

Expand the SEARCH Query Builder.

ALT+S

SEND message

ALT+F2

Show or hide the To-Do Bar.

ALT+O

Display the Format menu.

CNTRL+R

REPLY to a message

CNTRL+SHIFT+R

REPLY to ALL messages

CNTRL+K

Check NAMES

CNTRL+O

OPEN received message.

CNTRL+F

FORWARD a message

CNTRL+Q

MARK message as READ

CNTRL+U

MARK message as UNREAD

CNTRL+S

SAVE item in drafts folder

CNTRL+D

DELETE item

CNTRL+E or F3

FIND a message or other item.

CTRL+Y

Go to a different FOLDER.

CNTRL+CLICK

OPEN link in its own tab in the background

CNTRL+SHIFT+CLICK

OPEN link in its own tab in the foreground

F7

Launch SPELL CHECKER

F4

SEARCH for text within a message or other item.

F9

Start a SEND/RECEIVE all defined Send/Receive groups with Include this group in Send/Receive (F9).

SPACEBAR

In the Reading Pane, page down through text.

SHIFT+SPACEBAR

the Reading Pane, page up through text.

INSERT

Add a QUICK FLAG to an unopened message

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation Shortcuts

Terminal Services, renamed as Remote Desktop Services from Windows Server 2008 R2 onwards, allows a user to access applications and data on a remote computer over a network. Windows applications, or even the entire desktop of the computer running terminal services are made accessible to a remote client machine.

CTRL+ALT+END

Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box

ALT+PAGE UP

Switch between programs from left to right

ALT+PAGE DOWN

Switch between programs from right to left

ALT+INSERT

Cycle through the programs in most recently used order

ALT+HOME

Display the Start menu

CTRL+ALT+BREAK

Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen

ALT+DELETE

Display the Windows menu

CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-)

Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.

CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+)

Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer

Windows system key combinations

• F1: Help
• CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
• ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
• ALT+F4: Quit program
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently
• Windows Logo+L: Lock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows program key combinations

• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+V: Paste
• CTRL+Z: Undo
• CTRL+B: Bold
• CTRL+U: Underline
• CTRL+I: Italic

Mouse click/keyboard modifier combinations for shell objects

• SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
• SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
• ALT+double click: Displays properties
• SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

General keyboard-only commands

• F1: Starts Windows Help
• F10: Activates menu bar options
• SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
• CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
• CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC: Opens Windows Task Manager
• ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
• ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
• SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
• ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
• ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window'sSystem menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
• CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
• ALT+underlined letter in menu: Opens the menu
• ALT+F4: Closes the current window
• CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
• ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Shell objects and general folder/Windows Explorer shortcuts

For a selected object:

• F2: Rename object
• F3: Find all files
• CTRL+X: Cut
• CTRL+C: Copy
• CTRL+V: Paste
• SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
• ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.

General folder/shortcut control

• F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
• F5: Refreshes the current window.
• F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
• CTRL+G: Opens the Go To Folder tool (in Windows 95 Windows Explorer only)
• CTRL+Z: Undo the last command
• CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
• BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
• SHIFT+click+Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer tree control

• Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
• Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
• Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
• RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
• LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties control

• CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs

Accessibility shortcuts

• Press SHIFT five times: Toggles StickyKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Toggles FilterKeys on and off
• Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Toggles ToggleKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Toggles MouseKeys on and off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Toggles high contrast on and off

Microsoft Natural Keyboard keys

• Windows Logo: Start menu
• Windows Logo+R: Run dialog box
• Windows Logo+M: Minimize all
• SHIFT+Windows Logo+M: Undo minimize all
• Windows Logo+F1: Help
• Windows Logo+E: Windows Explorer
• Windows Logo+F: Find files or folders
• Windows Logo+D: Minimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
• CTRL+Windows Logo+F: Find computer
• CTRL+Windows Logo+TAB: Moves focus from Start, to the Quick Launch toolbar, to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
• Windows Logo+TAB: Cycle through taskbar buttons
• Windows Logo+Break: System Properties dialog box
• Application key: Displays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType software installed

• Windows Logo+L: Log off Windows
• Windows Logo+P: Starts Print Manager
• Windows Logo+C: Opens Control Panel
• Windows Logo+V: Starts Clipboard
• Windows Logo+K: Opens Keyboard Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+I: Opens Mouse Properties dialog box
• Windows Logo+A: Starts Accessibility Options (if installed)
• Windows Logo+SPACEBAR: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys
• Windows Logo+S: Toggles CAPS LOCK on and off

Dialog box keyboard commands

• TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
• SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
• SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
• ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
• ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
• ALT+underlined letter in dialog box item: Move to the corresponding item

APPLIES TO

• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
• Windows Server 2008 Standard
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit x86)
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows 95
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Starter Edition
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition