Applies to Windows XP

In this topic

Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and other programs.

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Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your computer easier to use.

Press this key To do this

Right Shift for eight seconds

Turn Filter Keys on and off

Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn

Turn High Contrast on or off

Left Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock

Turn MouseKeys on or off

Shift five times

Turn Sticky Keys on or off

Num Lock for five seconds

Turn Toggle Keys on or off

Windows logo key+U

Open Utility Manager

General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts.

Press this key To do this

F1

Display Help in a dialog box

Ctrl+C

Copy

Ctrl+X

Cut

Ctrl+V

Paste

Ctrl+Z

Undo

Delete

Delete

Shift+Delete

Delete the selected item permanently without moving it to the Recycle Bin

F2

Rename the selected item

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+Shift with an arrow key

Highlight a block of text

Shift with any arrow key

Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document

Ctrl+A

Select all

F3

Search for a file or folder

Alt+Enter

View properties for the selected item

Alt+F4

Close the active item, or exit the active program

Alt+Spacebar

Open the shortcut menu for the active window

Ctrl+F4

Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

Alt+Tab

Switch between open items

Alt+Esc

Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened

F6

Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F4

Display the items in the active list in a dialog box

Menu key

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

Ctrl+Esc

Display the Start menu

Alt+underlined letter

Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option in a dialog box

Alt+underlined letter in a menu name

Display the corresponding menu

F10

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 (or Ctrl+R)

Refresh the active window

Backspace

View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer

Esc

Cancel the current task

Shift when you insert a CD

Prevent the CD from automatically playing

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

End

Display the bottom of the active window

Alt+underlined letter

Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter

Enter

Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands

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

Display Help

F4

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

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

Windows logo key+B

Set focus on a notification

Windows logo key+Ctrl+F

Search for computers

Windows logo key+Pause Break

Display the System Properties dialog box.

Windows logo key+D

Show the desktop.

Windows logo key+M

Minimize all windows.

Windows logo key+Shift+M

Restore minimized windows

Windows logo key+E

Open Computer

Windows logo key+F

Search for a file or folder.

Windows logo key+L

Lock your computer or switch users

Windows logo key+R

Open the Run dialog box.