140+ Useful Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to do a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and other programs.
Getting familiar with keyboard shortcuts not only helps you get work done faster, but also makes you more efficient and productive. If your daily job rely heavily on using Windows, here are some 140+ Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts (most of these shortcuts will also work in Windows XP and Vista too,) you might want to check out. If we missed any nifty shortcuts, we will appreciate a heads up about them in the comments below.
1. Shortcuts to manage windows
Windows Key + Down Arrow | Set window to Restored (if Maximized) or Minimized (if Restored) |
Windows Key + Up Arrow | Maximize window (if Restored) |
Windows Key + Shift + Down Arrow / Windows Key + Shift + Up Arrow | Maximize Restored window vertically / Restore window to previous state |
Windows Key + Right Arrow / Windows Key + Left Arrow | Move Restored window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors |
Windows Key + Shift + Right Arrow / Windows Key + Shift + Left Arrow | Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors |
Alt + Space Bar | Opens the title bar menu |
Alt + Space Bar + Enter | Restore Window |
Alt + Space Bar + X | Maximize Window |
Alt + Space Bar + N | Minimize Window |
F11 | Turn full-page view on or off |
Alt + Tab Alt + Shift + Tab | Cycle through programs. Hold Alt and continuously press Tab to move forward between applications. Add shift to reverse direction. |
Alt + Esc / Alt + Shift + Esc | Cycle through programs on taskbar in the order they were opened or accessed |
Windows Key + Tab | Cycle through programs using Aero Flip 3D |
Ctrl + Windows Key + Tab | Cycle through programs on Taskbar using Aero Flip 3D |
Windows Key + G | Cycle through Gadget Window |
Windows Key + D | Minimize all windows on all Monitors. Press again to restore previous state |
Windows Key + M | Minimize all windows on current Monitor |
Windows Key + Shift + M | Restore previously minimized windows on current Monitor |
Windows Key + Home | Set all windows to Minimized on current Monitor except active |
Windows Key + Space Bar | Preview Desktop / make windows transparent (May not work with all Settings) |
2. Shortcuts to get access to Windows Features
Windows Key + E | Start Windows Explorer (in My Computer) |
Windows Key + R | Open the Run window |
Windows Key + F | Open Windows Search. Pressing F3 on empty desktop works too |
Windows Key + L | Lock the keyboard/ computer |
Windows Key + F1 | Display Windows Help |
Alt + Shift | Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active* |
Keep Pressed Shift when inserting CD/DVD | Prevent CD or DVD from automatically playing |
Windows Key + P | Choose Presentation Display Mode |
Windows Key + X | Open Mobility Center |
3. Windows 7 Taskbar shortcuts
Windows Key / Ctrl + Esc | Activate Start Button. Then use arrow keys, Space Bar and Enter to navigate within Start Menu |
Windows Key + T | Go to first item in taskbar, continue with arrow keys |
Windows Key + B | Go to first item in system tray |
Shift + Left-Click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of taskbar item |
Ctrl + Shift + Left-Click on a taskbar item | Start new instance of taskbar item as administrator |
Shift + Right-click on a taskbar item | Show the window menu for the program |
Windows Key + 1…9 | Switch to application in position N on taskbar (or launch pinned application) |
Shift + Windows Key + 1…9 | Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on taskbar |
4. Shortcuts for navigating Desktop
Arrow Keys | Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop) |
Home / End | Select first / select last object on desktop |
Enter | Launch active icon |
Shift + F10 | Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and Enter to select item |
Tab, Shift + Tab on empty desktop | Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and Enter or Space Bar to activate specific icons |
a, b, c, … | Pressing the first letter of the name of any objects will highlight the application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter. |
5. Windows Explorer shortcuts
Windows Key + E | Start Windows Explorer (My Computer) |
Alt + Up Arrow | Go up one folder |
Alt + Left Arrow / Alt + Right Arrow | Go to previous folder / go to next folder |
Tab / Shift + Tab | Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List) |
Alt + D or F4 | Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ctrl + c if desired |
Ctrl + E / Ctrl + F | Jump to Search Box in Explorer |
Ctrl + N | Open new instance of Windows Explorer |
F11 | Maximize window |
Arrow Keys | Navigate between files and folders |
Enter | Open folder or start application |
Home / End | Jump to first / jump to last item |
F2 | Change the file name of active item |
F2, then Left Arrow / Right Arrow | Move one character to the left / to the right in item name |
F2, then Ctrl + Left Arrow / Ctrl + Right Arrow | Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name |
F2, then Home / End | Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name |
F2, then Ctrl + A | Select complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix) |
Left Arrow / Right Arrow | Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only) |
Alt + P | Display or hide Preview Pane |
Alt + V + D | View details. Check View menu for more options |
Alt + V + X | View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options |
Shift + Mouse Scroll Wheel | Change size of icons |
Shift + Up Arrow / Down Arrow | Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below) |
Press Ctrl with Arrow Keys and Space Bar | Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold Ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press Space Bar to add/remove from choice |
Ctrl + A | Select all |
a…z and 1..9 | Press the first letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter |
Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V | Ctrl+c for copy, Ctrl+x for cut and Ctrl+v for paste |
Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + Y | Undo an action, Redo an action |
Del | Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin |
Shift + Del | Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin |
Shift + F10 | Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and Enter to get to the choice |
Ctrl + Shift + N | Create new folder |
Alt + Enter | Open Properties dialog box |
6. Photo Viewer shortcuts
Left Arrow / Right Arrow | Go to next / go to previous photo |
Ctrl + . | Rotate photo clockwise |
Ctrl + , | Rotate photo counter-clockwise |
+ / – | Zoom in / zoom out (or mouse wheel) |
Ctrl + O | Fit to Window |
Del | Delete current photo |
Shift + Del | Permanently delete current photo |
Alt + Enter | Show properties of current photo |
Alt + E or Ctrl + S | Email current photo |
Ctrl + C | Copy current photo file to clipboard |
Alt + O | Open current photo in other application (e.g. Paint of Office) |
7. Shortcuts for use in dialog boxes
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move forward / move backwards through tabs |
Tab / Shift + Tab | Move forward / move backwards 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 |
Space Bar | 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 |
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 |
8. Shortcuts useful for Windows Admins
Windows Key + Break | Display System Properties window |
Ctrl + Windows Key + F | Search for Computers (with Active Directory activated) |
Windows Key + Pause | Access System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on |
Alt + Page Up / Alt + Page Down | Move between programs from left to right / from right to left |
Alt + Insert | Cycle through programs in the order they were started |
Alt + Home | Display the Start menu |
Ctrl + Alt + Pause Break | Switch between a window and full screen |
Ctrl + Alt + End | Display the Windows Security dialog box |
Alt + Del | Display the system menu |
9. Windows Help shortcuts
Tab | Move between links |
Alt + C | Display the Table of Contents |
Alt + N | Display the Connection Settings menu |
F10 | Display the Options menu |
Alt + Left Arrow /Alt + Right Arrow | Move back / move forward to the previous / next viewed topic |
Alt + A | Display the customer support page |
Alt + Home | Display the Help and Support Home page |
Home / End | Move to the beginning / to the end of a topic |
Ctrl + F | Search the current topic. Press Tab to leave |
Ctrl + P | Print a topic |
F3 | Move the cursor to the search box. Press Tab to leave |
10. Ease of Access and Magnifier shortcuts
Windows Key + U | Open Ease of Access Center |
Press Shift five times | Turn Sticky Keys on or off |
Press Num Lock for five seconds | Turn Toggle Keys on or off |
Keep Pressed Right Shift for eight seconds | Turn Filter Keys on or off |
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock | Turn Mouse Keys on or off |
Windows Key + + | Start Magnifier and zoom in |
Windows Key + – | Zoom out with Magnifier active |
Ctrl + Alt + I | Invert colors in Magnifier display |
Windows Key + Esc | Exit Magnifier |
Ctrl + Alt + Arrow Keys | Move the Magnifier windows |