13. Windows General Keyboard Shortcuts

The below Keyboard shortcuts most is for Windows 7 & might work on others Windows.

Highlight in Red Font Color is the most commonly used.

  • F1: Display Help
  • Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert): Copy the selected item
  • Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
  • Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert): Paste the selected item
  • Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
  • Ctrl + Y: Redo an action
  • Delete (or Ctrl + D): Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
  • Shift + Delete: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
  • F2: Rename the selected item
  • 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
  • Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key: Select a block of text
  • Shift + any arrow key: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
  • Ctrl + any arrow key + Spacebar: Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
  • Ctrl + A: Select all items in a document or window
  • F3: Search for a file or folder
  • 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
  • Ctrl + F4: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
  • Alt + Tab: Switch between open items
  • Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
  • Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel: Change the size of icons on the desktop
  • Windows logo key + Tab: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
  • Ctrl+ Windows logo key + Tab: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
  • Alt + Esc: Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
  • F6: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
  • F4: Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
  • Shift + F10: Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
  • Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start menu
  • Alt + underlined letter: Display the corresponding menu
  • Alt + underlined letter: Perform the menu command (or other underlined command)
  • F10: Activate the menu bar in the active program
  • Right Arrow: Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
  • Left Arrow: Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
  • F5 (or Ctrl + R): Refresh the active window
  • Alt + Up Arrow: View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
  • Esc: Cancel the current task
  • Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
  • Shift when you insert a CD: Prevent the CD from automatically playing
  • Left Alt + Shift: Switch the input language when multiple input languages are enabled
  • Ctrl + Shift + L: Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled
  • Right or Left Ctrl + Shift: Change the reading direction of text in right-to-left reading languages

For Windows 8 & Windows RT - New Keyboard Shortcut

  • Windows logo key + start typing: Search your PC
  • Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-): Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen.
  • Ctrl + scroll wheel: Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen.
  • Windows logo key + C: Open the charms. In an app, open the command for the app.
  • Windows logo key + E: Open My Computer.
  • Windows logo key + F: Open the Search charm to search files.
  • Windows logo key + H: Open the Search charm.
  • Windows logo key + I: Open the Settings charm.
  • Windows logo key + J: Switch the main app and snapped app.
  • Windows logo key + K: Open the Device charm.
  • Windows logo key + M: Minimise Winodow.
  • Windows logo key + O: Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)
  • Windows logo key + Q: Open the Search charm to search apps.
  • Windows logo key + R: Open "Run" Command.
  • Windows logo key + W: Open the Search charm to search settings.
  • Windows logo key + X: Open Start Menu.
  • Windows logo key + Z: Open the Settings charm.
  • Windows logo key + spacebar: Switch input language and keyboard layout.
  • Windows logo key + Ctrl + spacebar: Change to a previous selected input.
  • Windows logo key + Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps).
  • Windows logo key + Ctrl + Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) and snaps them as they are cycled.
  • Windows logo key + Shift + Tab: Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order.
  • Windows logo key + PgUp: Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the left (Apps in the desktop won't change monitors)
  • Windows logo key + PgDown: Move the Start screen and apps to the monitor on the right (Apps in the desktop won't change monitors)
  • Windows logo key + Shift + period (.): Snap an app to the left.
  • Windows logo key + period (.): Snap an app to the right.
  • Esc: Stop or exit the current task.