Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows- Complete List

As well as using your mouse to operate software, you can also use your keyboard to perform specific functions. Keyboard shortcuts is a series of one or several keys that invoke a software or operating system operation when triggered by the user. Here a list of keyboard shortcuts which you may find useful.

General Keyboard Shortcuts

[CTRL] + [C] :  Copy

[CTRL] + [X] : Cut

[CTRL] + [V] : Paste

[CTRL] + [Z] : Undo

[DELETE] : Delete

[SHIFT] + [DELETE] : Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin

[CTRL while dragging an item] : Copy the selected item

[CTRL] + [SHIFT] while dragging an item: Create a shortcut to the selected item

[F2 key] : Rename the selected item

[CTRL] + [RIGHT ARROW] : Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word

[CTRL] + [LEFT ARROW] : Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word

[CTRL] + [DOWN ARROW] : Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph

[CTRL] + [UP ARROW] : Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph

[CTRL] + [SHIFT] with any of the arrow keys : Highlight a block of text

[SHIFT with any of the arrow keys] : Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document

[CTRL] + [A] : Select all

[F3 key] : Search for a file or a folder

[ALT] + [ENTER] : View the properties for the selected item

[ALT] + [F4] : Close the active item, or quit the active program

[ALT] + [ENTER] : Display the properties of the selected object

[ALT] + [SPACEBAR] : Open the shortcut menu for the active window

[CTRL] + [F4] : Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously

[ALT] + [TAB] : Switch between the open items

[ALT] + [ESC] : Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened

[F6 key] : Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop

[F4 key] : Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer

[SHIFT] + [F10] : Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

[ALT] + [SPACEBAR] : Display the System menu for the active window

[CTRL] + [ESC] : Display the Start menu

[F10 key] : 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 key] : Update the active window

[BACKSPACE] : View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer

[ESC] : Cancel the current task

[SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive] : Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

[CTRL] + [TAB] : Move forward through the tabs

[CTRL] + [SHIFT] + [TAB] : Move backward through the tabs

[TAB] : Move forward through the options

[SHIFT] + [TAB] : Move backward through the options

[ALT] + [Underlined letter] : Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option

[ENTER] : Perform the command for the active option or button

[SPACEBAR] : Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box

[Arrow keys] : Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

[F1 key] : Display Help

[F4 key] : Display the items in the active list

[BACKSPACE] : Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

[Windows Logo]: Display or hide the Start menu

[Windows Logo] + [BREAK] : Display the System Properties dialog box

[Windows Logo] + [D] : Display the desktop

[Windows Logo] + [M] : Minimize all of the windows

[Windows Logo] + [SHIFT] + [M] : Restore the minimized windows

[Windows Logo] + [E] : Open My Computer

[Windows Logo] + [F] : Search for a file or a folder

[CTRL] + [Windows Logo] + [F] : Search for computers

[Windows Logo] + [F1] : Display Windows Help

[Windows Logo] + [L] : Lock the keyboard

[Windows Logo] + [R] : Open the Run dialog box

[Windows Logo] + [U] : Open Utility Manager

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

[Right SHIFT for eight seconds] : Switch FilterKeys either on or off

[Left ALT] + [left SHIFT] + [PRINT SCREEN] : Switch High Contrast either on or off

[Left ALT] + [left SHIFT] + [NUM LOCK] : Switch the MouseKeys either on or off

[SHIFT five times] : Switch the StickyKeys either on or off

[NUM LOCK for five seconds] : Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off

[Windows Logo] + [U] : Open Utility Manager

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

[END] : Display the bottom of the active window

[HOME] : Display the top of the active window

[NUM LOCK] + [Asterisk sign] : *  : Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder

[NUM LOCK] + [Plus sign]: Display the contents of the selected folder

[NUM LOCK] + [Minus sign] : Collapse the selected folder

[LEFT ARROW] : Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder

[RIGHT ARROW] : Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder

Shortcut Keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

[RIGHT ARROW] : Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line

[LEFT ARROW] : Move to the left or to the end of the previous line

[UP ARROW] : Move up one row

[DOWN ARROW] : Move down one row

[PAGE UP] : Move up one screen at a time

[PAGE DOWN] : Move down one screen at a time

[HOME] : Move to the beginning of the line

[END] : Move to the end of the line

[CTRL] + [HOME] : Move to the first character

[CTRL] + [END] : Move to the last character

[SPACEBAR] : Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected

Microsoft Management Console: MMC Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts

[CTRL] + [O] : Open a saved console

[CTRL] + [N] : Open a new console

[CTRL] + [S] : Save the open console

[CTRL] + [M] : Add or remove a console item

[CTRL] + [W] : Open a new window

[F5 key] : Update the content of all console windows

[ALT] + [SPACEBAR] : Display the MMC window menu

[ALT] + [F4] : Close the console

[ALT] + [A] : Display the Action menu

[ALT] + [V] : Display the View menu

[ALT] + [F] : Display the File menu

[ALT] + [O] : Display the Favorites menu

MMC Console Window Keyboard Shortcuts

[CTRL] + [P] : Print the current page or active pane

[ALT] + [Minus sign] : Display the window menu for the active console window

[SHIFT] + [F10] : Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item

[F1 key] : Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item

[F5 key] : Update the content of all console windows

[CTRL] + [F10] : Maximize the active console window

[CTRL] + [F5] : Restore the active console window

[ALT] + [ENTER] : Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item

[F2 key] : Rename the selected item

[CTRL] + [F4] : Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

[CTRL] + [[ALT] + [END] : Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box

[ALT] + [PAGE UP] : Switch between programs from left to right

[ALT] + [PAGE DOWN] : Switch between programs from right to left

[ALT] + [INSERT] : Cycle through the programs in most recently used order

[ALT] + [HOME] : Display the Start menu

[CTRL] + [[ALT] + [BREAK] : Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen

[ALT] + [DELETE] : Display the Windows menu

[CTRL] + [[ALT] + [Minus sign] : Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.

[CTRL] + [[ALT] + [Plus sign] : Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing [ALT] + [PRINT SCREEN] on a local computer.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Navigation

[CTRL] + [B] : Open the Organize Favorites dialog box

[CTRL] + [E] : Open the Search bar

[CTRL] + [F] : Start the Find utility

[CTRL] + [H] : Open the History bar

[CTRL] + [I] : Open the Favorites bar

[CTRL] + [L] : Open the Open dialog box

[CTRL] + [N] : Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address

[CTRL] + [O] : Open the Open dialog box, the same as [CTRL] + [L

[CTRL] + [P] : Open the Print dialog box

[CTRL] + [R] : Update the current Web page

[CTRL] + [W] : Close the current window 

Also See: Some Useful Keyboard Shortcuts For VLC Media Player