This is a listing of some common shortcut keys in different versions Microsoft Windows.
Some shortcut keys are not supported in all versions of Windows. You can identify which versions of Windows support which keys from the listing below. These shortcut keys only apply for Windows in general, if you are looking for shortcut keys for a specific application (i.e. Excel, Word, etc..) please see the links at the bottom of this page.
Use this trick at your own risk.
Shortcut Keys 3.x 95 98 ME NT 2000 XP Vista Description
Alt + Tab X X X X X X X X Switch between open applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab X X X X X X X X Switch backwards between open applications.
Alt + double-click X X X X X X X Display the properties of the object you double-click on.
Ctrl + Tab X X X X X X X X With an application that has multiple sub tabs/document windows, this switch between tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab X X X X X X X X Same as above but backwards.
Alt + Print Screen X X X X X X X X Create a screen shot (image in clipboard) only for the active screen/program.
Print Screen X X X X X X X X Create a screen shot (image in clipboard) for your entire desktop.
Ctrl + Alt + Del X X X X X X X X Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc X X X X X X X X Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this brings up the Task Manager.
Alt + Esc X X X X X X X Switch Between open applications on taskbar.
F1 X X X X X X X X Activates help for current open application.
F2 X X X X X X X X Renames selected Icon.
F3 X X X X X X X Starts find from desktop.
F4 X X X X X X X Opens the drive selection when browsing or pull the list of drive selections
F5 X X X X X X X Refresh.
F10 X X X X X X X X Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10 X X X X X X X Simulates right-click on selected item.
Alt + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Window in Program.
F6 X X X X X X X Move cursor to different Windows Explorer panel.
Ctrl + Space bar X X X X X X X X Drops down the window control menu.
Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad) X X X X X X Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer
Alt + Enter X X X X X X X Opens properties window of selected icon or program.
Shift + Del X X X X X X X Permanent Delete - Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.
Holding Shift at Startup X X X X X X X X Boot safe mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.
Holding Shift X X X X X X X When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.
Enter X X X X X X X X Activates the highlighted program.
Alt + Down arrow X X X X X X X Display all available options on drop down menu.
* (on the keypad) X X X X X X X Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the keypad) X X X X X X X Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
- (on the keypad) X X X X X X X Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
Most of keyboards now have a Windows Key (key with a Windows icon). This key provides additional shortcuts on Microsoft Windows. Below is a listing of the shortcut keys by combining the Windows key and another key.
Shortcut Description
WINKEY Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
WINKEY + F1 Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
WINKEY + F3 Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook.
WINKEY + D Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M Minimizes all windows.
WINKEY + SHIFT + M Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
WINKEY + E Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL + F Display the search for computers window.
WINKEY + F1 Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause / Break key Open the system properties window.
WINKEY + U Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).
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