All Microsoft keyboards are equipped to perform shortcuts in Windows and other Microsoft applications.
Here’s a round-up of some of the most common ones.
Keys |
Action |
Compatible device |
F1 |
Display Help |
All |
F2 |
Renames selected item |
All |
F3 |
Search for file or folder |
All |
F10 |
Activate the menu bar in the active program |
All |
Ctrl + A |
Select all items in a document or window |
All |
Ctrl + C |
Copy a selected item |
All |
Ctrl + D |
Add a webpage to your favorites |
All |
Ctrl + J |
Open Download Manager |
All |
Ctrl + L |
Highlight the text in the Address bar |
All |
Ctrl + V |
Paste the selected item |
All |
Ctrl + X |
Cut the selected item |
All |
Ctrl + Z |
Undo an action |
All |
Ctrl + Y |
Redo an action |
All |
Ctrl + P |
|
All |
Ctrl + Esc |
Open the Start Menu |
All |
Ctrl + Right arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
All |
Ctrl + Left arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
All |
Ctrl + Down arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
All |
Ctrl + Up arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
All |
Ctrl + Shift + any arrow key |
Select a block of text |
All |
Ctrl + any arrow key + space bar |
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop |
All |
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel |
Change the size of icons on the desktop |
All |
Ctrl + Alt + Tab |
Use the arrow keys to switch between open items |
All |
Ctrl + Shift + Escape |
Open task manager |
All |
Alt |
Show the menu bar. After you make a selection, the menu bar goes away. |
All |
Alt + Home |
Go to your homepage |
All |
Alt + C |
View your favorites, feeds, and browsing history |
All |
Alt + F4 |
Close the active item, or exit the active program |
All |
Alt + Spacebar |
Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
All |
Alt + Tab |
Switch between open programs |
All |
Shift + Delete |
Delete selected item without moving it to the recycle bin first/permanent delete |
All |
Shift + any arrow key |
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop or select text within a document |
All |
Shift + F10 |
Opens a shortcut menu for the selected items (like right clicking on a mouse) |
All |
Windows logo key |
Opens start menu |
All |
Windows logo key + D |
Clear away everything and show desktop |
All |
Windows logo key + E |
Open Windows Explorer |
All |
Windows logo key + F |
Find files or folders |
All |
Windows logo key + M |
Minimize all windows |
All |
Windows logo key + Down Arrow |
Minimize the window |
All |
Windows logo key + Up Arrow |
Maximize the window |
All |
Windows logo key + L |
Lock the computer (without using ctrl + alt + delete) |
All |
Shift + Windows logo key + M |
Undo minimize all |
All |
Windows logo key + Tab |
Cycle through task bar buttons |
All |
Windows logo key + F1 |
Open Help |
All |