The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows.
[TABLE="class: table table2Col"]
[TR]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F1
[/TD]
[TD]
Display Help
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F2
[/TD]
[TD]
Rename the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F3
[/TD]
[TD]
Search for a file or folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F4
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the address bar list in File Explorer
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F5
[/TD]
[TD]
Refresh the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F6
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F10
[/TD]
[TD]
Activate the Menu bar in the active app
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+F4
[/TD]
[TD]
Close the active item, or exit the active app
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Esc
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+underlined letter
[/TD]
[TD]
Perform the command for that letter
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Enter
[/TD]
[TD]
Display properties for the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the shortcut menu for the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Back
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Forward
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Page Up
[/TD]
[TD]
Move up one screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Page Down
[/TD]
[TD]
Move down one screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+F4
[/TD]
[TD]
Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+A
[/TD]
[TD]
Select all items in a document or window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)
[/TD]
[TD]
Copy the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+D (or Delete)
[/TD]
[TD]
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+R (or F5)
[/TD]
[TD]
Refresh the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert)
[/TD]
[TD]
Paste the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+X
[/TD]
[TD]
Cut the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Y
[/TD]
[TD]
Redo an action
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Z
[/TD]
[TD]
Undo an action
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+plus (+) or Ctrl+minus (-)
[/TD]
[TD]
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+ mouse scroll wheel
[/TD]
[TD]
Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Down arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Up arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Alt+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+arrow key (to move to an item)+Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key
[/TD]
[TD]
Select a block of text
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Esc
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Start screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
[/TD]
[TD]
Open Task Manager
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift
[/TD]
[TD]
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+F10
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift with any arrow key
[/TD]
[TD]
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+Delete
[/TD]
[TD]
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Esc
[/TD]
[TD]
Stop or leave the current task
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key
.
[TABLE="class: table table2Col"]
[TR]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+F1
[/TD]
[TD]
Open Windows Help and Support
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
[/TD]
[TD]
Display or hide the Start screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+B
[/TD]
[TD]
Set focus in the notification area
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+C
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Charms
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+D
[/TD]
[TD]
Display and hide the desktop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+E
[/TD]
[TD]
Open File Explorer
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+F
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Search charm and search for files
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+H
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Share charm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+I
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Settings charm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+K
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Devices charm
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+L
[/TD]
[TD]
Lock your PC or switch people
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+M
[/TD]
[TD]
Minimize all windows
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+O
[/TD]
[TD]
Lock device orientation
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+P
[/TD]
[TD]
Choose a presentation display mode
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Q
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+R
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Run dialog box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+S
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+T
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through apps on the taskbar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+U
[/TD]
[TD]
Open Ease of Access Center
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+V
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through notifications
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+V
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through notifications in reverse order
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+W
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Search charm and search for settings
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+X
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Quick Link menu
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Z
[/TD]
[TD]
Show the commands available in the app
Note
- You can also see some settings and options by going to the Settings charm when the app is open.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+,
[/TD]
[TD]
Temporarily peek at the desktop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Pause
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the System Properties dialog box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+F
[/TD]
[TD]
Search for PCs (if you're on a network)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+M
[/TD]
[TD]
Restore minimized windows on the desktop
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+number
[/TD]
[TD]
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.
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+number
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+number
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Alt+number
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+Shift+number
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+B
[/TD]
[TD]
Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Up arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Maximize the window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Down arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Home
[/TD]
[TD]
Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+Up arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+Down arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Switch input language and keyboard layout
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Ctrl+Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Change to a previously selected input
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Enter
[/TD]
[TD]
Open Narrator
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Shift+period (.)
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through open apps
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+period (.)
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through open apps
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+/
[/TD]
[TD]
Initiate IME reconversion
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Alt+Enter
[/TD]
[TD]
Open WindowsMedia Center
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+plus (+) or minus (-)
[/TD]
[TD]
Zoom in or out using Magnifier
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Windows logo key
+Esc
[/TD]
[TD]
Exit Magnifier
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.
[TABLE="class: table table2Col"]
[TR]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F1
[/TD]
[TD]
Display Help
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F4
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the items in the active list
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Move forward through tabs
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Move back through tabs
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+number (number 1-9)
[/TD]
[TD]
Move to nth tab
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Move forward through options
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+Tab
[/TD]
[TD]
Move back through options
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+underlined letter
[/TD]
[TD]
Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Spacebar
[/TD]
[TD]
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Backspace
[/TD]
[TD]
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Arrow keys
[/TD]
[TD]
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
File Explorer keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with File Explorer windows or folders.
[TABLE="class: table table2Col"]
[TR]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+D
[/TD]
[TD]
Select the address bar
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+E
[/TD]
[TD]
Select the search box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+F
[/TD]
[TD]
Select the search box
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+N
[/TD]
[TD]
Open a new window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+W
[/TD]
[TD]
Close the current window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel
[/TD]
[TD]
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift+E
[/TD]
[TD]
Display all folders above the selected folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift+N
[/TD]
[TD]
Create a new folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Num Lock+asterisk (*)
[/TD]
[TD]
Display all subfolders under the selected folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Num Lock+plus (+)
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the contents of the selected folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Num Lock+minus (-)
[/TD]
[TD]
Collapse the selected folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+P
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the preview pane
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Enter
[/TD]
[TD]
Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
View the next folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Up arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
View the folder that the folder was in
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Alt+Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
View the previous folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Backspace
[/TD]
[TD]
View the previous folder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Right arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Left arrow
[/TD]
[TD]
Collapse the current selection (if it's expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
End
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the bottom of the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Home
[/TD]
[TD]
Display the top of the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
F11
[/TD]
[TD]
Maximize or minimize the active window
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.
[TABLE="class: table table2Col"]
[TR]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[TH="class: matS"]
[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+click a taskbar button
[/TD]
[TD]
Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar button
[/TD]
[TD]
Open an app as an administrator
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+right-click a taskbar button
[/TD]
[TD]
Show the window menu for the app
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Shift+right-click a grouped taskbar button
[/TD]
[TD]
Show the window menu for the group
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]
Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar button
[/TD]
[TD]
Cycle through the windows of the group
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
