Keyboard shortcuts in Windows

Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7

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Windows 10

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an

alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click
an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:

Hide all

 Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Z Undo an action.
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC.
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
F2 Rename the selected item.
Search for a file or folder in File
F3
Explorer.
Display the address bar list in File
F4
Explorer.
F5 Refresh the active window.
F6 Cycle through screen elements in
a window or on the desktop.
Activate the Menu bar in the
F10
active app.
Show your password on the sign-
Alt + F8
in screen.
Cycle through items in the order
Alt + Esc
in which they were opened.
Perform the command for that
Alt + underlined letter
letter.
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item.
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window.
Alt + Left arrow Go back.
Alt + Right arrow Go forward.
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen.
Close the active document (in
apps that are full-screen and let
Ctrl + F4
you have multiple documents
open at the same time).
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window.
Delete the selected item and
Ctrl + D (or Delete)
move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y Redo an action.
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Right arrow
of the next word.
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Left arrow
of the previous word.
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Down arrow
of the next paragraph.
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Up arrow
of the previous paragraph.
Use the arrow keys to switch
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
between all open apps.
When a group or tile is in focus on
Alt + Shift + arrow keys the Start menu, move it in the
direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys When a tile is in focus on the Start
 menu, move it into another tile to
create a folder.
Resize the Start menu when it's
Ctrl + arrow keys
open.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an Select multiple individual items in
item) + Spacebar a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl + Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
available.
Turn the Chinese input method
Ctrl + Spacebar
editor (IME) on or off.
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift + F10
selected item.
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or
select text in a document.
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Open the next menu to the right,
Right arrow
or open a submenu.
Open the next menu to the left, or
Left arrow
close a submenu.
Esc Stop or leave the current task.
Take a screenshot of your whole
screen and copy it to the
clipboard.

Note

You can change this shortcut

so it also opens screen
snipping, which lets you edit
PrtScn
your screenshot. Select Start
 > Settings > Ease of
Access > Keyboard, and
turn on the toggle under
Print Screen shortcut.

Use PrtScn key to open screen snipping

 Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  Open or close Start.
Windows logo key  + A Open Action center.
Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area.
Open Cortana in listening mode.

Notes
This shortcut is turned off by
default. To turn it on, select
Start  > Settings  >
Cortana, and turn on the
toggle under Let Cortana
listen for my commands
Windows logo key  + C when I press the Windows
logo key + C.
Cortana is available only in
certain countries/regions,
and some Cortana features
might not be available
everywhere. If Cortana isn't
available or is turned off, you
can still use search.

Windows logo key  + Shift + C Open the charms menu.

Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
Display and hide the date and
Windows logo key  + Alt + D
time on the desktop.
Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer.
Open Feedback Hub and take a
Windows logo key  + F
screenshot.
Open Game bar when a game is
Windows logo key  + G
open.
Windows logo key  + H Start dictation.
Windows logo key  + I Open Settings.
Set focus to a Windows tip when
one is available.

When a Windows tip appears,

Windows logo key  + J
bring focus to the Tip. Pressing
the keyboard shortcuts again to
bring focus to the element on the
screen to which the Windows tip
is anchored.
Windows logo key  + K Open the Connect quick action.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation.
Choose a presentation display
Windows logo key  + P
mode.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist.
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key  + S Open search.
Take a screenshot of part of your
Windows logo key  + Shift + S
screen.
Cycle through apps on the
Windows logo key  + T
taskbar.
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center.
Open the clipboard.

Note

Windows logo key  + V To activate this shortcut,

select Start  > Settings 
> System  > Clipboard,
and turn on the toggle under
Clipboard history.

Windows logo key  + Shift + V Cycle through notifications.

Windows logo key  + X Open the Quick Link menu.
Switch input between Windows
Windows logo key  + Y
Mixed Reality and your desktop.
Show the commands available in
Windows logo key  + Z
an app in full-screen mode.
Windows logo key  + period (.)
Open emoji panel.
or semicolon (;)
Windows logo key  + comma (,) Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Display the System Properties
Windows logo key  + Pause
dialog box.
Search for PCs (if you're on a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F
network).
Restore minimized windows on
Windows logo key  + Shift + M
the desktop.
Windows logo key  + number Open the desktop and start the
app pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the number.
 If the app is already running,
switch to that app.
Open the desktop and start a new
Windows logo key  + Shift + instance of the app pinned to the
number taskbar in the position indicated
by the number.
Open the desktop and switch to
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + the last active window of the app
number pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the number.
Open the desktop and open the
Windows logo key  + Alt + Jump List for the app pinned to
number the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number.
Open the desktop and open a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + new instance of the app located at
Shift + number the given position on the taskbar
as an administrator.
Windows logo key  + Tab Open Task view.
Windows logo key  + Up arrow Maximize the window.
Windows logo key  + Down Remove current app from screen
arrow or minimize the desktop window.
Maximize the app or desktop
Windows logo key  + Left arrow window to the left side of the
screen.
Maximize the app or desktop
Windows logo key  + Right
window to the right side of the
arrow
screen.
Minimize all except the active
Windows logo key  + Home desktop window (restores all
windows on second stroke).
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up Stretch the desktop window to the
arrow top and bottom of the screen.
Restore/minimize active desktop
Windows logo key  + Shift +
windows vertically, maintaining
Down arrow
width.
Move an app or window in the
Windows logo key  + Shift +
desktop from one monitor to
Left arrow or Right arrow
another.
Switch input language and
Windows logo key  + Spacebar
keyboard layout.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Change to a previously selected
Spacebar input.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Turn on Narrator.
Enter
 Windows logo key  + Plus (+) Open Magnifier.
Windows logo key  + forward
Begin IME reconversion.
slash (/)
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + V Open shoulder taps.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Wake PC from blank or black
Shift + B screen
 Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + M Enter Mark mode.
Alt + selection key Begin selection in block mode.
Move the cursor in the direction
Arrow keys
specified.
Page up Move the cursor by one page up.
Move the cursor by one page
Page down
down.
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)
of the buffer.
Move the cursor to the end of the
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)
buffer.
Move up one line in the output
Ctrl + Up arrow
history.
Move down one line in the output
Ctrl + Down arrow
history.
If the command line is empty,
move the viewport to the top of
Ctrl + Home (History navigation) the buffer. Otherwise, delete all
the characters to the left of the
cursor in the command line.
If the command line is empty,
move the viewport to the
Ctrl + End (History navigation) command line. Otherwise, delete
all the characters to the right of
the cursor in the command line.
 Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
F4 Display the items in the active list.
Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs.
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) Move to nth tab.
 Tab Move forward through options.
Shift + Tab Move back through options.
Perform the command (or select
Alt + underlined letter the option) that is used with that
letter.
Select or clear the check box if the
Spacebar
active option is a check box.
Open a folder one level up if a
Backspace folder is selected in the Save As or
Open dialog box.
Select a button if the active option
Arrow keys
is a group of option buttons.
 File Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Alt + D Select the address bar.
Ctrl + E Select the search box.
Ctrl + F Select the search box.
Ctrl + N Open a new window.
Ctrl + W Close the active window.
Change the size and appearance
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
of file and folder icons.
Display all folders above the
Ctrl + Shift + E
selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder.
Display all subfolders under the
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
selected folder.
Display the contents of the
Num Lock + plus (+)
selected folder.
Num Lock + minus (-) Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P Display the preview panel.
Open the Properties dialog box
Alt + Enter
for the selected item.
Alt + Right arrow View the next folder.
View the folder that the folder was
Alt + Up arrow
in.
Alt + Left arrow View the previous folder.
Backspace View the previous folder.
Display the current selection (if it's
Right arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder.
Left arrow Collapse the current selection (if
 it's expanded), or select the folder
that the folder was in.
Display the bottom of the active
End
window.
Display the top of the active
Home
window.
Maximize or minimize the active
F11
window.
 Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  + Tab Open Task view.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + D Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Switch between virtual desktops
Right arrow you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left Switch between virtual desktops
arrow you’ve created on the left.
Close the virtual desktop you're
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F4
using.
 Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Open an app or quickly open
Shift + click a taskbar button
another instance of an app.
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar
Open an app as an administrator.
button
Show the window menu for the
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
app.
Shift + right-click a grouped Show the window menu for the
taskbar button group.
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar Cycle through the windows of the
button group.
 Settings keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  + I Open settings.
Go back to the settings home
Backspace
page.
Type on any page with search box Search settings.

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility
Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts
 Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Windows 8.1 & Windows 8.1 RT

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an

alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click
an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:

Hide all

 Top keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains common keyboard shortcuts for
Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.

Press this key To do this

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
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop
 New keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use
in Windows.

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key  + start
Search your PC
typing
Zoom in or out of a large number
Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-) of items, like apps pinned to the
Start screen
Zoom in or out of a large number
Ctrl + scroll wheel of items, like apps pinned to the
Start screen
Open the charms

Windows logo key  + C

In an app, open the commands for
the app
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + F
files
 Windows logo key  + H Open the Share charm
Windows logo key  + I Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key  + K Open the Devices charm
Lock the screen orientation
Windows logo key  + O
(portrait or landscape)
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + Q everywhere or within an open app
(if the app supports app search)
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + S
Windows and the web
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + W
settings
Show the commands available in
the app

Note
Windows logo key  + Z You can also see some
settings and options by
going to the Settings
charm when the app is
open.

Switch input language and

Windows logo key  + spacebar
keyboard layout
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Change to a previously selected
spacebar input
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Tab
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Tab
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Shift +
(except desktop apps) in reverse
Tab
order
Windows logo key  + Shift +
Snaps an app to the left
period (.)
Windows logo key  + period (.) Cycle through open apps
Esc Stop or exit the current task
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Wake PC from black or blank
Shift + B screen
 General keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
 Press this key To do this
F1 Display Help
F2 Rename the selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
Display the address bar list in File
F4
Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
Cycle through screen elements in
F6
a window or on the desktop
Activate the Menu bar in the
F10
active app
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active app
Cycle through items in the order
Alt + Esc
in which they were opened
Perform the command for that
Alt + underlined letter
letter
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window
Alt + Left arrow Back
Alt + Right arrow Forward
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen
Switch between open apps
Alt + Tab
(except desktop apps)
Close the active document (in
apps that are full-screen and allow
Ctrl + F4
you to have multiple documents
open simultaneously)
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item
Delete the selected item and
Ctrl + D (or Delete)
move it to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item
Ctrl + Y Redo an action
 Ctrl + Z Undo an action
Zoom in or out of a large number
Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-) of items, like apps pinned to the
Start screen
Change the size of desktop icons
or zoom in or out of a large
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
number of items, like apps pinned
to the Start screen
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Right arrow
of the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Left arrow
of the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Down arrow
of the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Up arrow
of the previous paragraph
Use the arrow keys to switch
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
between all open apps
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an Select multiple individual items in
item) + Spacebar a window or on the desktop
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text
Ctrl + Esc Open Start
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl + Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
available
Turn the Chinese input method
Ctrl + Spacebar
editor (IME) on or off
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift + F10
selected item
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or
select text within a document
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Open the next menu to the right,
Right arrow
or open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or
Left arrow
close a submenu
Esc Stop or leave the current task
 Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows
logo key .
 Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  + F1 Open Windows Help and Support
Windows logo key  Display or hide the Start screen
Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area
Open the Charms
Windows logo key  + C

Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop

Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer
Open the Search charm and
Windows logo key  + F
search for files
Windows logo key  + H Open the Share charm
Windows logo key  + I Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key  + K Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch people
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows
Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation
Choose a presentation display
Windows logo key  + P
mode
Open the Search charm to search
everywhere or within the open
Windows logo key  + Q
app (if the app supports app
search)
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialog box
Open the Search charm to search
Windows logo key  + S
Windows and the web
Windows logo key  + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key  + V Cycle through notifications
Cycle through notifications in
Windows logo key  + Shift + V
reverse order
Windows logo key  + X Open the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key  + Z Show the commands available in
an app

Note
You can also see some
settings and options by
going to the Settings
charm when the app is
open.
Windows logo key  + , Temporarily peek at the desktop
Display the System Properties
Windows logo key  + Pause
dialog box
Search for PCs (if you're on a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F
network)
Restore minimized windows on
Windows logo key  + Shift + M
the desktop
Open the desktop and start the
app pinned to the taskbar in the
Windows logo key  + number position indicated by the number.
If the app is already running,
switch to that app.
Open the desktop and start a new
Windows logo key  + Shift + instance of the app pinned to the
number taskbar in the position indicated
by the number
Open the desktop and switch to
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + the last active window of the app
number pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the number
Open the desktop and open the
Windows logo key  + Alt + Jump List for the app pinned to
number the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
Open the desktop and open a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + new instance of the app located at
Shift + number the given position on the taskbar
as an administrator
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Tab
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Tab
(except desktop apps)
Cycle through recently used apps
Windows logo key  + Shift +
(except desktop apps) in reverse
Tab
order
Switch to the app that displayed a
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + B
message in the notification area
Windows logo key  + Up arrow Maximize the window
Windows logo key  + Down Remove current app from screen
arrow or minimize the desktop window
Maximize the app or desktop
Windows logo key  + Left arrow window to the left side of the
screen
Windows logo key  + Right Maximize the app or desktop
 arrow window to the right side of the
screen
Minimize all but the active
Windows logo key  + Home desktop window (restores all
windows on second stroke)
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up Stretch the desktop window to the
arrow top and bottom of the screen
Restore/minimize active desktop
Windows logo key  + Shift +
windows vertically, maintaining
Down arrow
width
Move an app or window in the
Windows logo key  + Shift +
desktop from one monitor to
Left arrow or Right arrow
another
Switch input language and
Windows logo key  + Spacebar
keyboard layout
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Change to a previously selected
Spacebar input
Windows logo key  + Enter Open Narrator
Windows logo key  + Shift +
Cycle through open apps
period (.)
Windows logo key  + period (.) Cycle through open apps
Windows logo key  + / Initiate IME reconversion
Windows logo key  + Alt +
Open WindowsMedia Center
Enter
Windows logo key  + plus (+)
Zoom in or out using Magnifier
or minus (-)
Windows logo key  + Esc Exit Magnifier
 Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in
dialog boxes.

Press this key To do this

F1 Display Help
F4 Display the items in the active list
Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) Move to nth tab
Tab Move forward through options
Shift + Tab Move back through options
Perform the command (or select
Alt + underlined letter the option) that goes with that
letter
 Spacebar Select or clear the check box if the
active option is a check box
Open a folder one level up if a
Backspace folder is selected in the Save As
or Open dialog box
Select a button if the active option
Arrow keys
is a group of option buttons
 File Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Alt + D Select the address bar
Ctrl + E Select the search box
Ctrl + F Select the search box
Ctrl + N Open a new window
Ctrl + W Close the current window
Change the size and appearance
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
of file and folder icons
Display all folders above the
Ctrl + Shift + E
selected folder
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder
Display all subfolders under the
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
selected folder
Display the contents of the
Num Lock + plus (+)
selected folder
Num Lock + minus (-) Collapse the selected folder
Alt + P Display the preview pane
Open the Properties dialog box
Alt + Enter
for the selected item
Alt + Right arrow View the next folder
View the folder that the folder was
Alt + Up arrow
in
Alt + Left arrow View the previous folder
Backspace View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's
Right arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder
Collapse the current selection (if
Left arrow it's expanded), or select the folder
that the folder was in
Display the bottom of the active
End
window
Home Display the top of the active
 window
Maximize or minimize the active
F11
window
 Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items
on the desktop taskbar.

Press this key To do this

Open an app or quickly open
Shift + click a taskbar button
another instance of an app
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar
Open an app as an administrator
button
Show the window menu for the
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
app
Shift + right-click a grouped Show the window menu for the
taskbar button group
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar Cycle through the windows of the
button group
 Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
Move between apps from left to
Alt + Page Up
right
Move between apps from right to
Alt + Page Down
left
Cycle through apps in the order
Alt + Insert
that they were started
Alt + Home Display the Start screen
Switch between a window and full
Ctrl + Alt + Break
screen
Display the Windows Security
Ctrl + Alt + End
dialog box
In full-screen mode, activate the
Ctrl + Alt + Home
connection bar
Alt + Delete Display the system menu
Place a copy of the active window,
within the client, on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + minus (-) on the
server clipboard (provides the
numeric keypad
same functionality as pressing
Alt+Print Screen on a local PC)
Place a copy of the entire client
window area on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + plus (+) on the
server clipboard (provides the
numeric keypad
same functionality as pressing
Print Screen on a local PC)
 Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
app (for example, a button or a
text box). Useful when the Remote
Desktop controls are embedded
in another (host) app.
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
app (for example, a button or a
Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow
text box). Useful when the Remote
Desktop controls are embedded
in another (host) app.
 Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the
Help viewer.

Press this key To do this

F3 Move the cursor to the search box
F10 Display the Options menu
Home Move to the beginning of a topic
End Move to the end of a topic
Move back to the previously
Alt + Left arrow
viewed topic
Move forward to the next
Alt + Right arrow
(previously viewed) topic
Display the Help and Support
Alt + Home
home page
Display the customer support
Alt + A
page
Alt + C Display the Table of Contents
Display the Connection Settings
Alt + N
menu
Ctrl + F Search the current topic
Ctrl + P Print a topic
 App rearranging shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for rearranging
modern apps.

Note
Keep the Windows logo key  pressed down continuously while
you're rearranging apps, from the moment you enter rearrange mode
and through all the various rearrange commands. When you're done
rearranging, release your finger from the Windows logo key  to
select the current arrangement.
 Press this key To do this
Enter rearrange mode and select
Windows logo key  + . (period)
apps or dividers across monitors
Windows logo key  + left arrow Move app divider left
Windows logo key  + right
Move app divider right
arrow
Windows logo key  + up arrow Maximize app
Windows logo key  + down
Close app
arrow
Windows logo key  + Esc Exit rearrange mode

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility
Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Windows 7

Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020

We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security
updates from Microsoft.

Learn more

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an

alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click
an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:

Hide all

 General keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this
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 the selected item and
Delete (or Ctrl + D)
move it to the Recycle Bin
Delete the selected item without
Shift + Delete
moving it to the Recycle Bin first
F2 Rename the selected item
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Right Arrow
of the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Left Arrow
of the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Down Arrow
of the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning
Ctrl + Up Arrow
of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text
Select more than one item in a
Shift with any arrow key window or on the desktop, or
select text within a document
Ctrl with any arrow key + Select multiple individual items in
Spacebar a window or on the desktop
Select all items in a document or
Ctrl + A
window
F3 Search for a file or folder
Display properties for the selected
Alt + Enter
item
Close the active item, or exit the
Alt + F4
active program
Open the shortcut menu for the
Alt + Spacebar
active window
Close the active document (in
programs that allow you to have
Ctrl + F4
multiple documents open
simultaneously)
Alt + Tab Switch between open items
Use the arrow keys to switch
Ctrl + Alt + Tab
between open items
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Change the size of icons on the
 desktop
Cycle through programs on the
Windows logo key + Tab
taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Use the arrow keys to cycle
Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab through programs on the taskbar
by using Aero Flip 3-D
Cycle through items in the order
Alt + Esc
in which they were opened
Cycle through screen elements in
F6
a window or on the desktop
Display the address bar list in
F4
Windows Explorer
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift + F10
selected item
Ctrl + Esc Open the Start menu
Alt + underlined letter Display the corresponding menu
Perform the menu command (or
Alt + underlined letter
other underlined command)
Activate the menu bar in the
F10
active program
Open the next menu to the right,
Right Arrow
or open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or
Left Arrow
close a submenu
F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh the active window
View the folder one level up in
Alt + Up Arrow
Windows Explorer
Esc Cancel the current task
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Prevent the CD from automatically
Shift when you insert a CD
playing
Switch the input language when
Left Alt + Shift multiple input languages are
enabled
Switch the keyboard layout when
Ctrl+Shift multiple keyboard layouts are
enabled
Change the reading direction of
Right or Left Ctrl + Shift text in right-to-left reading
languages
 Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.
 Press this key To do this
Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs
Tab Move forward through options
Shift + Tab Move back through options
Perform the command (or select
Alt + underlined letter the option) that goes with that
letter
Replaces clicking the mouse for
Enter
many selected commands
Select or clear the check box if the
Spacebar
active option is a check box
Select a button if the active option
Arrow keys
is a group of option buttons
F1 Display Help
F4 Display the items in the active list
Open a folder one level up if a
Backspace folder is selected in the Save As or
Open dialog box
 Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows
logo key

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key Open or close the Start menu.
Display the System Properties
Windows logo key + Pause
dialog box.
Windows logo key +D Display the desktop.
Windows logo key +M Minimize all windows.
Restore minimized windows to the
Windows logo key + Shift + M
desktop.
Windows logo key +E Open Computer.
Search for computers (if you're on
Windows logo key +F
a network).
Lock your computer or switch
Windows logo key +L
users.
Windows logo key +R Open the Run dialog box.
Cycle through programs on the
Windows logo key +T
taskbar.
Windows logo key + number Start the program pinned to the
taskbar in the position indicated
by the number. If the program is
 already running, switch to that
program.
Start a new instance of the
Shift+Windows logo key + program pinned to the taskbar in
number the position indicated by the
number.
Switch to the last active window of
Ctrl+Windows logo key + the program pinned to the taskbar
number in the position indicated by the
number.
Open the Jump List for the
Alt+Windows logo key + program pinned to the taskbar in
number the position indicated by the
number.
Cycle through programs on the
Windows logo key + Tab
taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Use the arrow keys to cycle
Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab through programs on the taskbar
by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Switch to the program that
Ctrl+Windows logo key +B displayed a message in the
notification area.
Windows logo key + Spacebar Preview the desktop.
Windows logo key + Up Arrow Maximize the window.
Windows logo key + Left Maximize the window to the left
Arrow side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Right Maximize the window to the right
Arrow side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Down
Minimize the window.
Arrow
Minimize all but the active
Windows logo key + Home
window.
Windows logo key + Shift + Up Stretch the window to the top and
Arrow bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key + Shift + Move a window from one monitor
Left Arrow or Right Arrow to another.
Choose a presentation display
Windows logo key +P
mode.
Windows logo key +G Cycle through gadgets.
Windows logo key +U Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key +X Open Windows Mobility Center.
 Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press this key To do this
 Ctrl + N Open a new window
Ctrl + W Close the current window
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder
Display the bottom of the active
End
window
Display the top of the active
Home
window
Maximize or minimize the active
F11
window
Ctrl + Period (.) Rotate a picture clockwise
Ctrl + Comma (,) Rotate a picture counter-clockwise
Num Lock + Asterisk (*) on Display all subfolders under the
numeric keypad selected folder
Num Lock + Plus Sign (+) on Display the contents of the
numeric keypad selected folder
Num Lock + Minus Sign (-) on
Collapse the selected folder
numeric keypad
Collapse the current selection (if
Left Arrow it's expanded), or select the parent
folder
Open the Properties dialog box
Alt + Enter
for the selected item
Alt + P Display the preview pane
Alt + Left Arrow View the previous folder
Backspace View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's
Right Arrow collapsed), or select the first
subfolder
Alt + Right Arrow View the next folder
Alt + Up Arrow View the parent folder
Display all folders above the
Ctrl + Shift + E
selected folder
Change the size and appearance
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel
of file and folder icons
Alt + D Select the address bar
Ctrl + E Select the search box
Ctrl + F Select the search box
 Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items
on the desktop taskbar.
 Press this key To do this
Open a program or quickly open
Shift + click a taskbar button
another instance of a program
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar Open a program as an
button administrator
Show the window menu for the
Shift + right-click a taskbar button
program
Shift + right-click a grouped Show the window menu for the
taskbar button group
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar Cycle through the windows of the
button group
 Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with
Remote Desktop Connection.

Press this key To do this

Move between apps from left to
Alt + Page Up
right
Move between apps from right to
Alt + Page Down
left
Cycle through programs in the
Alt + Insert
order that they were started in.
Alt + Home Display the Start menu.
Switch between a window and full
Ctrl + Alt + Break
screen
Display the Windows Security
Ctrl + Alt + End
dialog box
Alt + Delete Display the system menu.
Place a copy of the active window,
within the client, on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) on the
server clipboard (provides the
numeric keypad
same functionality as pressing
Alt+PrtScn on a local computer).
Place a copy of the entire client
window area on the Terminal
Ctrl + Alt + Plus Sign (+) on the
server clipboard (provides the
numeric keypad
same functionality as pressing
PrtScn on a local computer).
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
program (for example, a button or
Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are
embedded in another (host)
program.
 “Tab” out of the Remote Desktop
controls to a control in the host
program (for example, a button or
Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are
embedded in another (host)
program.

Note
Ctrl+Alt+Break and Ctrl+Alt+End are available in all Remote Desktop
sessions, even when you've set up the remote computer to recognize
Windows keyboard shortcuts.

 Paint keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Create a new picture
Ctrl + O Open an existing picture
Ctrl + S Save changes to a picture
F12 Save the picture as a new file
Ctrl + P Print a picture
Close a picture and its Paint
Alt + F4
window
Ctrl + Z Undo a change
Ctrl + Y Redo a change
Ctrl + A Select the entire picture
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Paste a selection from the
Ctrl + V
Clipboard
Move the selection or active
Right Arrow
shape right by one pixel
Move the selection or active
Left Arrow
shape left by one pixel
Move the selection or active
Down Arrow
shape down by one pixel
Move the selection or active
Up Arrow
shape up by one pixel
Esc Cancel a selection
Delete Delete a selection
 Ctrl + B Bold selected text
Increase the width of a brush, line,
Ctrl + +
or shape outline by one pixel
Decrease the width of a brush,
Ctrl + -
line, or shape outline by one pixel
Ctrl + U Underline selected text
Ctrl + E Open the Properties dialog box
Open the Resize and Skew dialog
Ctrl + W
box
Ctrl + Page Up Zoom in
Ctrl + Page Down Zoom out
F11 View a picture in full-screen mode
Ctrl + R Show or hide the ruler
Ctrl + G Show or hide gridlines
F10 or Alt Display keytips
Shift + F10 Show the current shortcut menu
F1 Open Paint Help
 WordPad keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with
WordPad.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Create a new document
Ctrl + O Open an existing document
Ctrl + S Save changes to a document
F12 Save the document as a new file
Ctrl + P Print a document
Alt + F4 Close WordPad
Ctrl + Z Undo a change
Ctrl + Y Redo a change
Ctrl + A Select the entire document
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Paste a selection from the
Ctrl + V
Clipboard
Ctrl + B Make selected text bold
Ctrl + I Italicize selected text
Ctrl + U Underline selected text
 Ctrl + = Make selected text subscript
Ctrl + Shift + = Make selected text superscript
Ctrl + L Align text left
Ctrl + E Align text center
Ctrl + R Align text right
Ctrl + J Justify text
Ctrl + 1 Set single line spacing
Ctrl + 2 Set double line spacing
Ctrl + 5 Set line spacing to 1.5
Ctrl + Shift + > Increase the font size
Ctrl + Shift + < Decrease the font size
Ctrl + Shift + A Change characters to all capitals
Ctrl + Shift + L Change the bullet style
Ctrl + D Insert a Microsoft Paint drawing
Ctrl + F Find text in a document
Find the next instance of the text
F3
in the Find dialog box
Ctrl + H Replace text in a document
Move the cursor one word to the
Ctrl + Left Arrow
left
Move the cursor one word to the
Ctrl + Right Arrow
right
Ctrl + Up Arrow Move the cursor to the line above
Ctrl + Down Arrow Move the cursor to the line below
Move to the beginning of the
Ctrl + Home
document
Ctrl + End Move to the end of the document
Ctrl + Page Up Move up one page
Ctrl + Page Down Move down one page
Ctrl + Delete Delete the next word
F10 Display keytips
Shift + F10 Show the current shortcut menu
F1 Open WordPad Help
 Calculator keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with
Calculator.

Press this key To do this

Alt + 1 Switch to Standard mode
Alt + 2 Switch to Scientific mode
Alt + 3 Switch to Programmer mode
Alt + 4 Switch to Statistics mode
Ctrl + E Open date calculations
Ctrl + H Turn calculation history on or off
Ctrl + U Open unit conversion
Calculate or solve date
Alt + C
calculations and worksheets
F1 Open Calculator Help
Ctrl + Q Press the M- button
Ctrl + P Press the M+ button
Ctrl + M Press the MS button
Ctrl + R Press the MR button
Ctrl + L Press the MC button
% Press the % button
F9 Press the +/– button
/ Press the / button
* Press the * button
+ Press the + button
- Press the – button
R Press the 1/× button
@ Press the square root button
0–9 Press the number buttons (0–9)
= Press the = button
. Press the . (decimal point) button
Backspace Press the backspace button
Esc Press the C button
Del Press the CE button
Ctrl + Shift + D Clear the calculation history
F2 Edit the calculation history
Navigate up in the calculation
Up Arrow key
history
Navigate down in the calculation
Down Arrow key
history
Cancel editing the calculation
Esc
history
Enter Recalculate the calculation history
after editing
F3 Select Degrees in Scientific mode
F4 Select Radians in Scientific mode
F5 Select Grads in Scientific mode
Press the Inv button in Scientific
I
mode
Press the Mod button in Scientific
D
mode
Press the sinh button in Scientific
Ctrl + S
mode
Press the cosh button in Scientific
Ctrl + O
mode
Press the tanh button in Scientific
Ctrl + T
mode
Press the ( button in Scientific
(
mode
Press the ) button in Scientific
)
mode
Press the ln button in Scientific
N
mode
Press the Int button in Scientific
;
mode
Press the sin button in Scientific
S
mode
Press the cos button in Scientific
O
mode
Press the tan button in Scientific
T
mode
Press the dms button in Scientific
M
mode
Press the pi button in Scientific
P
mode
Press the F-E button in Scientific
V
mode
Press the Exp button in Scientific
X
mode
Press the x^2 button in Scientific
Q
mode
Press the x^y button in Scientific
Y
mode
# Press the x^3 button in Scientific
 mode
Press the log button in Scientific
L
mode
Press the n! button in Scientific
!
mode
Press the y√x button in Scientific
Ctrl + Y
mode
Press the 3√x button in Scientific
Ctrl + B
mode
Press the 10x button in Scientific
Ctrl + G
mode
F5 Select Hex in Programmer mode
F6 Select Dec in Programmer mode
F7 Select Oct in Programmer mode
F8 Select Bin in Programmer mode
Select Qword in Programmer
F12
mode
Select Dword in Programmer
F2
mode
Select Word in Programmer
F3
mode
F4 Select Byte in Programmer mode
Press the RoR button in
K
Programmer mode
Press the RoL button in
J
Programmer mode
Press the Lsh button in
<
Programmer mode
Press the Rsh button in
>
Programmer mode
Press the Mod button in
%
Programmer mode
Press the ( button in Programmer
(
mode
Press the ) button in Programmer
)
mode
Press the Or button in
|
Programmer mode
Press the Xor button in
^
Programmer mode
~ Press the Not button in
 Programmer mode
Press the And button in
&
Programmer mode
Press the A–F buttons in
A–F
Programmer mode
Toggles the bit value in
Spacebar
Programmer mode
Press the Average button in
A
Statistics mode
Press the Average Sq button in
Ctrl + A
Statistics mode
Press the Sum button in
S
Statistics mode
Press the Sum Sq button in
Ctrl+S
Statistics mode
Press the S.D. button in Statistics
T
mode
Press the Inv S.D. button in
Ctrl+T
Statistics mode
Press the CAD button in Statistics
D
mode
 Windows Journal keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with
Windows Journal.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + N Start a new note
Ctrl + O Open a recently used note
Ctrl + S Save changes to a note
Ctrl + Shift + V Move a note to a specific folder
Ctrl + P Print a note
Close a note and its Journal
Alt + F4
window
Ctrl + Z Undo a change
Ctrl + Y Redo a change
Ctrl + A Select all items on a page
Ctrl + X Cut a selection
Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Clipboard
Paste a selection from the
Ctrl + V
Clipboard
Esc Cancel a selection
 Delete Delete a selection
Ctrl + F Start a basic find
Ctrl + G Go to a page
F5 Refresh find results
F5 Refresh the note list
Toggle between a note list and a
F6
note
Display a shortcut menu for
Ctrl + Shift + C
column headings in a note list
F11 View a note in full-screen mode
F1 Open Journal Help
 Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the
Help viewer.

Press this key To do this

Alt + C Display the Table of Contents
Display the Connection Settings
Alt + N
menu
F10 Display the Options menu
Move back to the previously
Alt + Left Arrow
viewed topic
Move forward to the next
Alt + Right Arrow
(previously viewed) topic
Display the customer support
Alt + A
page
Display the Help and Support
Alt + Home
home page
Home Move to the beginning of a topic
End Move to the end of a topic
Ctrl + F Search the current topic
Ctrl + P Print a topic
Move the cursor to the search
F3
box

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts in apps

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility
Microsoft Surface Hub keyboard shortcuts
 Keyboard shortcuts in Continuum for phones

Last Updated: 08-Jan-2020

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