Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts

[Manik]

For Windows Vista advanced users who prefer to use keyboard instead of mouse, here’s a extensive listing of keyboard accelerators (also known as keyboard shortcuts or hot keys) built-in in Windows Vista. These keyboard accelerators provide a simple keyboard alternative to frequently used command which normally will require cumbersome several repeated clicking with mouse on Windows’ graphical interface, especially for repetitive tasks. Most of the keyboard shortcuts existed since Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 era, but some of them is new to Windows Vista too.

Function Keys

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.

Miscellaneous Keys

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 listbox. 
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. 
PrintScreen		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).

Alt Key Combinations

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	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-PrintScreen		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 applicationhold 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.

[Manik]

Ctrl Key Combinations

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, noncontiguous 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, noncontiguous items in a listbox 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.

Shift Key Combinations

Shortcut Key		Function(s) 
Shift			While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay. 
Shift-arrow keys	Select text or select multiple items in a listbox 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.

Windows Logo Key (WIN) Combinations

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 Center

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[Manik]

PrintScreen
Clipboard, copy entire screen as a bitmap

Ctrl-X
Clipboard, cut

Ctrl-V
Clipboard, paste

Ctrl-F4
Close current document

Alt-F4
Close current window

Esc
Close dialog box, message window, or menu

Space bar
Command button, click

Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards
Context menu, open

Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Controls cycle focus on a dialog box

Ctrl-C
Copy selected item or selected text to the Clipboard

Ctrl-X
Cut selected item or selected text to the Clipboard

Windows Logo Key-B, Space bar
Puts you in the notification area (Windows Logo Key-cool, then reveals hidden icons (Space bar)

Shift-Delete or Shift-drag item to Recycle Bin
Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin

Delete
Delete selected item

Ctrl-Esc (or Windows Logo Key), then Esc, Tab, Tab, Tab
Desktop, activate

Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M
Desktop, activate by minimizing all windows

Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Dialog box, cycle through controls

Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Dialog box, cycle through tabs

Ctrl-F4
Document, close

Ctrl-Home
Document, move to the beginning

Ctrl-End
Document, move to the end

Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab
Document, switch between

Down Arrow or F4
Drop-down listbox, open

Alt-F4
Exit an application

Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-F4
Exit Windows

Shift-Delete
File, delete without moving to Recycle Bin

Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop)
File, search

Ctrl-Windows Logo Key-F
Find a computer on your network

Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop)
Find files or folders

Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Focus, move between controls on a dialog box

Shift-click Close button
Folder, close current and all parents (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only)

Right and left arrows
Folder, expand and collapse folders in tree

Shift-double-click
Folder, open in two-pane Explorer view

Windows Logo Key-F (or F3 or Ctrl-F in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop)
Folder, search

F1
Help (in most applications)

Down arrow or F4
Listbox, drop-down

Ctrl-click
Listbox, select multiple items

Ctrl-Space bar
Listbox, select or deselect items

Windows Logo Key-L (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and then Space bar)
Lock computer

Alt-x if menu doesn’t have focus, x by itself if menu has focus
Menu, activate specific item with letter x underlined

Arrow keys
Menu, basic navigation

Esc
Menu, close

F10 or Alt (by itself)
Menu, move focus to

Shift-F10, or context menu key on some keyboards
Menu, open context menu

Windows Logo Key-D, or click empty portion of Taskbar and press Alt-M
Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop

Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo)
Minimize current window

F6
Panes, move focus between

Backspace
Parent folder, move to (in Windows Explorer)

Ctrl-V
Paste the contents of the Clipboard

Alt-double-click, or select and then press Alt-Enter
Properties, display for an icon

F5
Refresh (in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, and some other applications)

F2
Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop

Windows Logo Key-R
Run

Alt-PrintScreen
Screenshot, copy current window as a bitmap to the Clipboard

PrintScreen
Screenshot, copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard

Page Down
Scroll down one screen

Page Up
Scroll up one screen

Ctrl-arrow key
Scroll without moving selection

Windows Logo Key-F
Search for files or folders

F3 or Ctrl-F
Search for files or folders (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only)

Ctrl-A
Select all

Alt-drag file
Shortcut, create

Windows Logo Key or Ctrl-Esc
Start menu, open

Alt-Tab or Ctrl-Esc (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Switch to next application

Ctrl-F6 or Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Switch to next document window

Alt-hyphen
System menu, show for current document

Alt-Space bar
System menu, show for current window

Windows Logo Key-Pause/Break
System Properties, open

Ctrl-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Tabs, switch between tabs

Shift-Ctrl-Esc (or press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and click Task Manager)
Task Manager, open

Ctrl-Esc, then Alt-Enter
Taskbar and Start Menu Properties, open

Windows Logo Key-Tab
Launches Flip 3D

Ctrl-Z
Undo

Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Window, activate next

Alt-F4
Window, close

Alt-Esc
Window, drop to bottom of pile

Windows Logo Key-M (hold Shift to undo)
Window, minimize

Windows Logo Key-D (hold Shift to undo)
Window, minimize all

Alt-Tab (hold Shift to go in reverse)
Window, switch to

Windows Logo Key-E
Windows Explorer, open

F6
Windows Explorer, switch between panes