Common Windows Shortcuts

Windows works based on the graphical user interface, where most of the work involves using the mouse to accurately position your cursor to where you are focusing on. This can be strenuous when you are involved in a long project or big assignments as much of it involves repetitive tasks. Do you know that there are shortcuts for doing the same tasks easily using the keyboard?

Windows short cut keys come as a handy alternative to using the mouse and it helps in doing the jobs easily. There are repetitive tasks such as creating new file, file selection, saving file, copy/pasting file, deleting file, navigation through the documents and a lot more. Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer. Windows short cut keys are almost the same in all Windows versions from versions Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, to Windows 7.

Here are the windows keyboard shortcuts that may help you in easing your repetitive job which are of great boon to the novice as well as experts.

General Keyboard Shortcuts:
Press the keyboard keys on the left of (> sign) to do the required tasks given on the right.

1) CTRL+C > Copy.
2) CTRL+X > Cut.
3) CTRL+V > Paste.
4) CTRL+Z > Undo.
5) DELETE > Delete.
6) SHIFT+DELETE > Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
7) CTRL while dragging an item > Copy selected item.
8) CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item > Create shortcut to selected item.
9) F2 > Rename selected item.
10) CTRL+RIGHT ARROW > Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
11) CTRL+LEFT ARROW > Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
12) CTRL+DOWN ARROW > Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
13) CTRL+UP ARROW > Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
14) CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys > Highlight a block of text.
15) SHIFT with any of the arrow keys > Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
16) CTRL+A > Select all.
17) F3 > Search for a file or folder.
18) ALT+ENTER > View properties for the selected item.
19) ALT+F4 > Close the active item, or quit the active program.
20) ALT+Enter > Displays the properties of the selected object.
21) ALT+SPACEBAR > Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
22) CTRL+F4 > Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
23) ALT+TAB > Switch between open items.
24) ALT+ESC > Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
25) F6 > Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
26) F4 > Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
27) SHIFT+F10 > Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
28) ALT+SPACEBAR > Display the System menu for the active window.
29) CTRL+ESC > Display the Start menu.
30) ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name > Display the corresponding menu.
31) Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu > Carry out the corresponding command.
31) F10 > Activate the menu bar in the active program.
32) RIGHT ARROW > Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
33) LEFT ARROW > Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
34) F5 > Refresh the active window.
35) BACKSPACE > View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
36) ESC > Cancel the current task.
37) SHIFT > when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive Prevent the CD from automatically playing.

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts:
Press the keyboard keys on the left of (> sign) to do the required tasks given on the right.

1) CTRL+TAB > Move forward through tabs.
2) CTRL+SHIFT+TAB > Move backward through tabs.
3) TAB > Move forward through options.
4) SHIFT+TAB > Move backward through options.
5) ALT+Underlined letter > Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option.
6) ENTER > Carry out the command for the active option or button.
7) SPACEBAR > Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
8) Arrow keys > Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
9) F1 > Display Help.
10) F4 > Display the items in the active list.
11) BACKSPACE > Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.

Natural Keyboard Shortcuts:
Press the keyboard keys on the left of (> sign) to do the required tasks given on the right.

1) WINDOWS KEY > Display or hide the Start menu.
2) WINDOWS KEY +BREAK > Display the System Properties dialog box.
3) WINDOWS KEY +D > Show the desktop.
4) WINDOWS KEY +M > Minimize all windows.
5) WINDOWS KEY +Shift+M > Restores minimized windows.
6) WINDOWS KEY +E > Open My Computer.
7) WINDOWS KEY +F > Search for a file or folder.
8) WINDOWS KEY + CTRL+ F > Search for computers.
9) WINDOWS KEY +F1 > Display Windows Help.
10) WINDOWS KEY + L > Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain.
11) WINDOWS KEY +R > Open the Run dialog box.
12) CONTEXT KEY > Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
13) WINDOWS KEY +U > Open Utility Manager.

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts:
Press the keyboard keys on the left of (> sign) to do the required tasks given on the right.

1) END > Display the bottom of the active window.
2) HOME > Display the top of the active window.
3) NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*) > Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
4) NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+) > Display the contents of the selected folder.
5) NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-) > Collapse the selected folder.
6) LEFT ARROW > Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
7) RIGHT ARROW > Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.