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

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