Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

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Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Written by windowsxp550

Tuesday, 06 December 2005

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If I asked you to open up Windows Media Player, how would you do it? You probably would tell me that you take your mouse, click on the start button, the go to All Programs, then go to Accessories, then click on Windows Media Player. Easy enough. But what if I added that you could not use your mouse at all, only your keyboard? Would you be able to?

Unfortunately attempting to navigate through your computer is not as obvious as you might think, that is, unless you know some essential keyboard shortcuts. In this article I have listed some of the most essential shortcuts. Knowing these will enable you to perform any function on your computer with only your keyboard.

(Please Note: I do realize that there are many other shortcuts that I have not listed, however, the ones that are not listed are not necessary. The list below of shortcuts can perform any function on your computer)

In An Active Window or Program
Open System Menu	ALT + SPACEBAR
In Active Window, Set Focus to Menu Bar	ALT
In Active Window, Set Focus to Menu Bar - Alternative Way	F10
***Once Focus is Set on Menu Bar, Expand Menu	DOWN ARROW KEY
***Once Focus is Set on Menu Bar, Navigate to Other Menu Items	ARROW KEYS
***Alternate Way To Navigate to Menu Bar Items	On Every Menu Option One Letter is Underlined, hit ALT + that Letter Key
Display Help For Active Window/Program	F1
Close Active Window or Program	ALT + F4
Minimize All Open Windows/Programs to View Desktop	WINDOWS KEY + D

Start Menu
Open Start Menu	WINDOWS KEY
Open Start Menu, Alternatvie Way	CONTROL + ESC
***Once Start Menu is Open, Navigate Through Menu	ARROW KEYS
***Once Start Menu is Open, Open All Programs	Use Arrow keys to Select All Programs Then hit Right Arrow Key
***Once Start Menu is Open, Launch Program	Use Arrow keys to Select Program, Then Hit Enter And Program Will Launch

Desktop
Cycle through Icons On Desktop	TAB
Cycle through Icons On Desktop - Alternative Way	F6
***Open/Launch Selected Desktop Item	After Item is Selected (using TAB) , hit Enter To Open/Launch
***View Properties of Selected Desktop Item	After Item is Selected (using TAB) hit ALT+ENTER
Select More Than One Item	Hold SHIFT and use Arrow Keys To Select
Display Shortcut Key For Selected Item	Menu Key
Display Shortcut Key For Selected Item - Alternative Way	SHIFT + F10
Switch Selected Tab In a Dialog Box (Properties Box)	Tab
Add/Remove Check Mark Into A Option Box	With Box Selected, hit SPACEBAR
Delete Selected Item	After Item is Selected (using TAB) hit DELETE
Delete Selected Item Permanently (Item does not go to Recycle Bin)	After item is Selected (using TAB) hit SHIFT + DELETE
Open My Computer	Windows Key + E
Rename Selected Item	F2
Open System Search	Windows Key + F
Open System Search - Alternative Way	F3
Open Run	Windows Key + R
Open Utility Manager	Windows Key + U
Start Windows Help	Windows Key + F1
Lock Computer	Windows Key + L
Minimize All Windows	Windows Key + M
Restore Minimized Windows	Windows Key + Shift + M

Universal
Open Task Manager	CONTROL + ALT + DELETE
Cut	CONTROL + X
Copy	CONTROL + C
Paste	CONTROL + V
Select All	CONTROL + A
Undo	CONTROL + Z
Delete	DELETE
Cancel Task	ESC
Switch Between Open Windows/Programs	ALT + TAB

Miscellaneous
Mouse Keys On/Off (allows you to move cursor with keyboard)	LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + NUM LOCK
Switch High Contrast on and off.	Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN
Switch FilterKeys on and off.	Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Switch StickyKeys on and off.	SHIFT five times
Switch ToggleKeys on and off.	NUM LOCK for five seconds
Prevent the CD from automatically playing.	SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive
Refresh the active window.	F5
Display the items in the active list in a dialog box.	F4
Search For Computers On Network	CONTROL + Windows Key + F
Display the top of the active window.	HOME
Display the bottom of the active window.	END
Carry out the command for the active option or button in a dialog box.	ENTER
In Windows Explorer, Display all subfolders under the selected folder.	NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
In Windows Explorer, Collapse the selected folder.	NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)
In Windows Explorer, Display the contents of the selected folder.	NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)
Display the top of the active window.	HOME
Set focus on a notification.	Windows Key + B
Move backward through tabs in a dialog box.	CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
Move forward through tabs in a dialog box.	CTRL+TAB

FixMyXP.com

Comments (20) Add Comment

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Thanks
written by Navin, April 10, 2008

Such a nice site for all short keys. really I loved it.

good
written by avinash, December 31, 2007

but if more keys have been explored that would have been great help

TELL ME MORE SHORTCUTS
written by SANDESH JAIN, December 01, 2007

PLS TOLD ME INTERESTING COMPUTER TIPS AND TRICKS

Back
written by ouija, November 13, 2007

"which keys should i press to go to the back button"

Backspace simulates the back button

Need toggle key to hide/show desktop icons
written by Maura, September 25, 2007

Is there a way to make a toggle key from the arrange icons by/show/hide desktop icons?

problem
written by gope, September 12, 2007

which keys should i press to go to the back button smilies/cry.gif

A good site for keyboard shortcuts
written by http://www.keyxl.com/, August 27, 2007

If you are interested in keyboard shortcuts please check out keyxl.com. They have keyboard shortcuts for hundreds of programs listed. (mac, win and linux). Thanks.

http://www.keyxl.com/

correction on create folder
written by Guest, July 03, 2007

The key for de-selecting items is ctrl-SPACE, not ctrl-enter but being a keyboard-freak you probably already knew that smilies/wink.gif

ALT-F4

create folder
written by Guest, June 29, 2007

this one is tricky since there should be no files or shortcuts selected (if there is press ctrl-enter) when you want to create a folder. When in explorer navigate to the right pane using F6, now there is nothing selected, press context_menu-key (or shift-F10) and select 'new' by pressing the underlined key (differs per language)the first option is 'folder' so press enter, your folder can be named.
hope this helps,
Alt-F4

Windows_key m correction
written by Guest, June 29, 2007

the Windows_key m doesn't minimize all windows, it leaves the dialog- and property-windows open, in contrast to Windows_key d which indeed minimizes all windows.
Alt-F4

great programables
written by howitis, June 25, 2007

Now, to get the very most of these, beings we do have a mouse handy... Kensington makes a fantastic 5 button mouse with true keystroke emultion capabilities. Their software is great but the keystroke programabiliety is kind of hidden under "typing' selection in their button assignment dropdown.

Also Keyspan makes a programable USB remote control for about $35. It's called an iTines remote but is preprogrammed and customizable for numerous windows apps(perfect for multimedia) and can be prgrammed for any app. Enjoy, I love 'em both.

...
written by Troy, April 17, 2007

I'm looking for a way to switch between open documents within a particular program. For example, if I'm in Photoshop and have six documents open I would like a kepboard command to let me spool through those six documents. Does this exist in XP?

Keyboard Short-cut to Capture Active Window Only
written by Brent, April 17, 2007

To capture the active window, use ALT PRINT SCREEN keys.
The PRINT SCREEN key only captures the entire desktop, all screens.

...
written by Mahfooz-ul-haq, April 05, 2007

is there any shortcut for opening/closing cd-rom and as well as create new folder????

...
written by amigo, November 11, 2006

nice website----though most of them is so common ,but some of the Miscellaneous ones were new for me,thanks alot.

screenshots
written by Guest, March 19, 2006

just press printscreen to copy the monitor screen to the clipboard

System Properties
written by Guest, February 28, 2006

Windows Key + Pause Break Key will open the System Properties... btw, u have a nice website

screenshots
written by Guest, January 25, 2006

does any 1 no how to make screenshots on a trust kb-1300 PS/2 keyboard it would really help me thanks