Vista Squad

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

F1

Start Help (supported in most applications).

F2

Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop.

F3

Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only).

F4

Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes). For example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list.

F5

Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and some other applications.

F6

Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer.

F10

Send focus to the current application’s menu.

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

Arrow Keys

Basic navigation - move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on.

Backspace

Move up one level in the folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only).

Delete

Delete selected item(s) or selected text.

Down arrow

Open a drop-down list box.

End

Go to end of line when editing text, or to the end of file list.

Enter

Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text.

Esc

Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel).

Home

Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or to the beginning of file list.

Page Down

Scroll down one screen.

Page Up

Scroll up one screen.

Print Screen

Copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard.

Space Bar

Toggle a checkbox that is selected in a dialog box, activate the command button with the focus, or toggle the selection of files when selecting multiple files with Ctrl.

Tab

Move focus to next control in a dialog box or window (hold Shift to go backward).

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

Alt

Send focus to the menu (same as F10). Also turns on the menu in applications where it is no longer used by default, such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.

Alt-x

Activate menu or dialog control, where letter x is underlined (if the underlines are not visible, pressing Alt will display them).

Alt-double-click (on icon)

Display Properties sheet.

Alt-Enter

Display Properties sheet for selected icon in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. Also switches command prompt between windowed and full-screen display.

Alt-Esc

Drop active window to bottom of pile, which, in effect, activates next open window.

Alt-F4

Close current window; if Taskbar or Desktop has the focus, exit Windows.

Alt-hyphen

Open the current document’s system menu in a multiple document interface (MDI) application.

Alt-numbers

When used with the numbers on the numeric keypad only, inserts special characters corresponding to their ASCII codes into many applications. For example, press the Alt key and type 0169 for the copyright symbol. Check characters map for full list of codes.

Alt-Print Screen

Copy active window as a bitmap to the Clipboard.

Alt-Shift-Tab

Same as Alt-Tab, but in the opposite direction.

Alt-Space Bar

Open the current window’s system menu.

Alt-Tab

Switch to the next running application hold Alt while pressing Tab to cycle through running applications.

Alt-M

When the Taskbar has the focus, minimize all windows and move focus to the Desktop.

Alt-S

When the Taskbar has the focus, open the Start menu.

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

Ctrl-A

Select all; in Windows Explorer, selects all files in the current folder. In word processors, selects all text in the current document.

Ctrl-Alt-x

User-defined accelerator for a shortcut, in which x is any key.

Ctrl-Alt-Delete

Show the logon dialog when no user is currently logged on; otherwise, switch to the Windows Security dialog, which provides access to Task Manager and Log Off, as well as switching to another user, allowing you to change your password or lock the computer. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete to access the Task Manager when Explorer crashes or your computer becomes unresponsive.

Ctrl-arrow key

Scroll without moving selection.

Ctrl-click

Use to select multiple, non-contiguous items in a list or in Windows Explorer.

Ctrl-drag

Copy a file.

Ctrl-End

Move to the end of a document (in many applications).

Ctrl-Esc

Open the Start menu; press Esc and then Tab to move focus to the Taskbar, or press Tab again to move focus to the Taskbar, and then cycle through the toolbars on the Taskbar every time you press Tab.

Ctrl-F4

Close a document window in an MDI application.

Ctrl-F6

Switch between multiple documents in an MDI application. Similar to Ctrl-Tab; hold Shift to go in reverse.

Ctrl-Home

Move to the beginning of a document (in many applications).

Ctrl-Space Bar

Select or deselect multiple, non-contiguous items in a list box or in Windows Explorer.

Ctrl-Tab

Switch among tabs in a tabbed dialog or Internet Explorer; hold Shift to go in reverse.

Ctrl-C

Copy the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. Also interrupts some command prompt applications.

Ctrl-F

Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only).

Ctrl-V

Paste the contents of the Clipboard.

Ctrl-X

Cut the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard.

Ctrl-Z

Undo; for example, erases text just entered, and repeals the last file operation in Windows Explorer.

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

Shift

While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay.

Shift-arrow keys

Select text or select multiple items in a list box or in Windows Explorer.

Shift-click

Select all items between currently selected item and item on which you’re clicking; also works when selecting text.

Shift-click Close button

Close current folder and all parent folders (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only).

Shift-Alt-Tab

Same as Alt-Tab, but in reverse.

Shift-Ctrl-Tab

Same as Ctrl-Tab, but in reverse.

Shift-Ctrl-Esc

Open the Task Manager.

Shift-Delete

Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin.

Shift-double-click

Open folder in two-pane Explorer view.

Shift-Tab

Same as Tab, but in reverse.

Shortcut Key

Function(s)

WIN

Open the Start menu.

WIN-Tab

If the Aero interface is active, this activates Windows Flip 3D.

WIN-Pause/Break

Display System Control Panel applet.

WIN-Space bar

Display the Sidebar.

WIN-D

Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop.

WIN-E

Start Windows Explorer.

WIN-F

Launch Search.

Ctrl-WIN-F

Search for a computer on your network (requires Active Directory).

WIN-L

Lock computer, requiring password to regain access.

WIN-M

Minimize current window.

Shift-WIN-M

Undo minimize current window.

WIN-R

Display Run dialog.

WIN-U

Open the Ease of Access Centre.