Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of navigating and executing commands in computer software programs. Shortcut keys are commonly accessed by using the Alt key (on IBM compatible computers), Command key (on Apple computers), Ctrl key, or Shift key in conjunction with another key. The de facto standard for listing a shortcut is listing the modifier key, a plus symbol, and another key. In other words, "Ctrl+S" is telling you to press and hold the Ctrl key, and then press the S key too.
You can also find the shortcut keys to their most popular program by looking for underlined letters in their menus. For example, the image to the right has an underline on the "F" in File, which means you can press the Alt key and then the "F" key to access the File menu.
Some programs require the user to press and hold Alt to see the underlined characters. In the same image above, you can see that some of the common features, such as Open (Ctrl+O) and Save (Ctrl+S), have shortcut keys assigned to them. As you begin to memorize shortcut keys, you'll notice that many applications share the same shortcut keys. We have a list of the most commonly shared ones in the basic PC shortcut keys section.
Tip: Users outside the United States or who have a foreign copy of Microsoft Windows or a Microsoft application may not be able to use all of the below shortcut keys.
Basic PC shortcut keys
Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys that work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of these shortcut keys or try to memorize them. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.
Tip: Besides the special character shortcuts listed here, some special characters are also located on the number keys (below the F1 - F12 keys). You can enter these special characters by pressing the Shift key and the number key that has the special character listed on it.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Alt + F | File menu options in current program. |
Alt + E | Edit options in current program |
Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
F1 | Universal Help in almost every Windows program. |
F2 | Rename a selected file |
F5 | Refresh the current program window |
Ctrl + N | Create a new, blank document in some software programs |
Ctrl + O | Open a file in current software program |
Ctrl + A | Select all text. |
Ctrl + B | Change selected text to be Bold |
Ctrl + I | Change selected text to be in Italics |
Ctrl + U | Change selected text to be Underlined |
Ctrl + F | Open find window for current document or window. |
Ctrl + S | Save current document file. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected item. |
Shift + Del | Cut selected item. |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected item. |
Ctrl + Ins | Copy selected item |
Ctrl + V | Paste |
Shift + Ins | Paste |
Ctrl + K | Insert hyperlink for selected text |
Ctrl + P | Print the current page or document. |
Home | Goes to beginning of current line. |
Ctrl + Home | Goes to beginning of document. |
End | Goes to end of current line. |
Ctrl + End | Goes to end of document. |
Shift + Home | Highlights from current position to beginning of line. |
Shift + End | Highlights from current position to end of line. |
Ctrl + Left arrow | Moves one word to the left at a time. |
Ctrl + Right arrow | Moves one word to the right at a time. |
Ctrl + Esc | Opens the START menu |
Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Opens Windows Task Manager |
Alt + F4 | Close the currently active program |
Alt + Enter | Open the Properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut, etc.) |
PC shortcut keys for Special Characters
There are many special characters that can be created using keyboard shortcuts. Below are some of the more common and popular special characters and the keyboard shortcuts to create them.
Shortcut Keys | Special Character |
Alt + 0224 | à |
Alt + 0232 | è |
Alt + 0236 | ì |
Alt + 0242 | ò |
Alt + 0241 | ñ |
Alt + 0228 | ä |
Alt + 0246 | ö |
Alt + 0252 | ü |
Alt + 0248 | ø |
Alt + 0223 | ß |
Alt + 0198 | Æ |
Alt + 0231 | ç |
Alt + 0191 | ¿ |
Alt + 0176 | ° (degree symbol) |
Alt + 0177 | ± (plus/minus symbol) |
Alt + 0153 | ™ |
Alt + 0169 | © |
Alt + 0174 | ® |
Alt + 0128 | € (Euro currency) |
Alt + 0162 | ¢ (Cent symbol) |
Alt + 0163 | £ (British Pound currency) |
Alt + 0165 | ¥ (Japanese Yen currency) |
F1 [Display Help] F2 [Rename the selected item] F3 [Search for a file or folder] F4 [Display the address bar list in File Explorer] F5 [Refresh the active window] F6 [Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop] F10 [Activate the Menu bar in the active app] ALT + F4 [Close the active item, or exit the active app] ALT + ESC [Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened] ALT + underlined letter in menus and dialog box options [Perform the command for that letter] ALT + ENTER [Display properties for the selected item] ALT + SPACEBAR [Open the shortcut menu for the active window] ALT + LEFT ARROW [Back] ALT + RIGHT ARROW [Forward] ALT + PAGE UP [Move up one screen] ALT + PAGE DOWN [Move down one screen] ALT + TAB [Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)] CTRL + F4 [Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)] CTRL + A [Select all items in a document or window] CTRL + C or CTRL + INSERT [Copy the selected item] CTRL + D / DELETE [DELETE the selected item and 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] CTRL + + or CTRL + – [Zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen] CTRL + mouse scroll wheel [Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen] 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 + ALT + TAB [Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps] CTRL + ARROW + SPACEBAR [Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop] CTRL + SHIFT + ARROW [Select a block of text] CTRL + ESC [Open the Start screen] CTRL + SHIFT + ESC [Open Task Manager] CTRL + SHIFT [Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available] CTRL + SPACEBAR [Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off] SHIFT + F10 [Display the shortcut menu for the selected item] SHIFT + ARROW [Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document] SHIFT + DELETE [Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first] 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] ESC [Stop or leave the current task] |
Let’s check the keyboard shortcuts involving the Windows logo key. Most of them are introduced in Windows 8’s Metro UI, and can be used in Windows 8 and above.
| Win + F1 [Open Windows Help and support] Win [Display or hide the Start screen] Win + B [Set focus in the notification area] Win + C [Open Charms] Win + D [Display and hide the desktop] Win + E [Open File Explorer] Win + F [Open the Search charm and search for files] Win + H [Open the Share charm] Win + I [Open the Settings charm] Win + K [Open the Devices charm] Win + L [Lock your PC or switch people] Win + M [Minimize all windows] Win + O [Lock device orientation] Win + P [Choose a presentation display mode] Win + Q [Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)] Win + R [Open the Run dialog box] Win + S [Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web] Win + T [Cycle through apps on the taskbar] Win + U [Open Ease of Access Center] Win + V [Cycle through notifications] Win + SHIFT + V [Cycle through notifications in reverse order] Win + W [Open the Search charm and search for settings] Win + X [Open the Quick Link menu] Win + Z [Show the commands available in the app] Win + , [Temporarily peek at the desktop] | Win + PAUSE [Display the System Properties dialog box] Win + CTRL + F [Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)] Win + SHIFT + M [Restore minimized windows on the desktop] Win + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, it switches to that app.] Win + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number] Win + CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number] Win + ALT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number] Win + CTRL + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator] Win + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)] Win + CTRL + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)] Win + SHIFT + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order] Win + CTRL + B [Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area] Win + UP ARROW [Maximize the window] Win + DOWN ARROW [Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window] Win + LEFT ARROW [Maximize the app or desktop window to the LEFT side of the screen] Win + RIGHT ARROW [Maximize the app or desktop window to the RIGHT side of the screen] Win + HOME [Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)] Win + SHIFT + UP ARROW [Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen] Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW [Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width] |