BASIC SHORTCUT KEYS
The below basic shortcut keys are a listing of shortcut keys that will work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of the below short cut keys and/or try to memorize the below keys. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Alt + F | File menu options in current program. |
Alt + E | Edit options in current program |
F1 | Universal Help in almost every Windows program. |
Ctrl + A | Select all text. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected item. |
Shift + Del | Cut selected item. |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected item. |
Ctrl + Ins | Copy selected item |
Ctrl + V | Paste |
Shift + Ins | Paste |
Home | Goes to beginning of current line. |
Ctrl + Home | Goes to beginning of document. |
End | Goes to end of current line. |
Ctrl + End | Goes to end of document. |
Shift + Home | Highlights from current position to beginning of line. |
Shift + End | Highlights from current position to end of line. |
Ctrl + Left arrow | Moves one word to the left at a time. |
Ctrl + Right arrow | Moves one word to the right at a time. |
MICROSOFT WindowsSHORTCUT KEYS
If you're looking for shortcut keys or information about how to navigate Microsoft Windows using your keyboard instead of the mouse see document CH000791.
Shortcut Keys | Operating System | Description |
Alt + Tab | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Switch between open applications. |
Alt + Shift + Tab | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Switch backwards between open applications. |
Alt + Print Screen | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in. |
Ctrl + Alt + Del | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager. |
Ctrl + Esc | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Bring Up start menu. |
Alt + Esc | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Switch Between open applications on taskbar. |
F2 | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Renames selected Icon. |
F3 | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Starts find from desktop. |
F4 | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Opens the drive selection when browsing. |
F5 | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Refresh Contents. |
Alt + F4 | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Closes Current open program. |
Ctrl + F4 | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Closes Window in Program. |
Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad) | 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer |
Alt + Enter | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Opens properties window of selected icon or program. |
Shift + F10 | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Simulates right-click on selected item. |
Shift + Del | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Delete programs/files without throwing into the recycle bin. |
Holding Shift | 3.X / 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | Boot safe mode or by pass system files. |
Holding Shift | 95 / 98 / NT / 2000 / XP | When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing. |
Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a Microsoft Windows operating system and using a keyboard with a Windows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by "WINKEY". If you are looking for Windows shortcut keys, see the above Microsoft Windows shortcut key section.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
WINKEY + D | Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows. |
WINKEY + M | Minimizes all windows. |
WINKEY + SHIFT + M | Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D. |
WINKEY + E | Open Microsoft Explorer. |
WINKEY + Tab | Cycle through open programs through the taskbar. |
WINKEY + F | Display the Windows Search / Find feature. |
WINKEY + CTRL + F | Display the search for computers window. |
WINKEY + F1 | Display the Microsoft Windows help. |
WINKEY + R | Open the run window. |
WINKEY + Pause / Break key | Open the system properties window. |
WINKEY + U | Open Utility Manager. |
WINKEY + L | Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only). |
See our Microsoft Excel page for additional help and information.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
F2 | Edit the selected cell. |
F5 | Goto a specific cell. For example, C6. |
F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document. |
F11 | Create chart. |
Ctrl + Shift + ; | Enter the current time. |
Ctrl + ; | Enter the current date. |
Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert New Worksheet. |
Shift + F3 | Open the Excel formula window. |
Shift + F5 | Bring up search box. |
Ctrl + A | Select all contents of the worksheet. |
Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + I | Italic highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + K | Insert link. |
Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + 5 | Strikethrough highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + P | Bring up the print dialog box to begin printing. |
Ctrl + Z | Undo last action. |
Ctrl + F9 | Minimize current window. |
Ctrl + F10 | Maximize currently selected window. |
Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open workbooks / windows. |
Ctrl + Page up | Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel document. |
Ctrl + Page down | Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel document. |
Ctrl + Tab | Move between Two or more open Excel files. |
Alt + = | Create a formula to sum all of the above cells |
Ctrl + ' | Insert the value of the above cell into cell currently selected. |
Ctrl + Shift + ! | Format number in comma format. |
Ctrl + Shift + $ | Format number in currency format. |
Ctrl + Shift + # | Format number in date format. |
Ctrl + Shift + % | Format number in percentage format. |
Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Format number in scientific format. |
Ctrl + Shift + @ | Format number in time format. |
Ctrl + Arrow key | Move to next section of text. |
Ctrl + Space | Select entire column. |
Shift + Space | Select entire row. |
See our Microsoft Word page for additional help and information.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Ctrl + A | Select all contents of the page. |
Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text. |
Ctrl + P | Open the print window. |
Ctrl + F | Open find box. |
Ctrl + I | Italic highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + K | Insert link. |
Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + V | Paste. |
Ctrl + Y | Redo the last action performed. |
Ctrl + Z | Undo last action. |
Ctrl + L | Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen. |
Ctrl + E | Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen. |
Ctrl + R | Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen. |
Ctrl + M | Indent the paragraph. |
Ctrl + Shift + F | Change the font. |
Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increases font +2pts. |
Ctrl + ] | Increase selected font +1pts. |
Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12 decreases font by +2pt. |
Ctrl + [ | Decrease selected font -1pts. |
Ctrl + Shift + * | View or hide non printing characters. |
Ctrl + | Moves one word to the left. |
Ctrl + | Moves one word to the right. |
Ctrl + | Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph. |
Ctrl + | Moves to the end of the paragraph. |
Ctrl + Del | Deletes word to right of cursor. |
Ctrl + Backspace | Deletes word to left of cursor. |
Ctrl + End | Moves the cursor to the end of the document. |
Ctrl + Home | Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document. |
Ctrl + Spacebar | Reset highlighted text to the default font. |
Ctrl + 1 | Single-space lines. |
Ctrl + 2 | Double-space lines. |
Ctrl + 5 | 1.5-line spacing. |
Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Changes text to heading 1. |
Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Changes text to heading 2. |
Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Changes text to heading 3. |
Ctrl + F1 | Open the Task Pane. |
F1 | Open Help. |
Shift + F3 | Change the case of the selected text. |
Shift + Insert | Paste. |
F4 | Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+) |
F5 | Open goto window. |
F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document. |
Shift + F7 | Activate the thesaurus. |
F12 | Save as. |
Shift + F12 | Save. |
Alt + Shift + D | Insert the current date. |
Alt + Shift + T | Insert the current time. |
Mouse Shortcuts | Description |
Click, hold, and drag | Selects text from where you click and hold to the point you drag and let go. |
Double-click | If double-click a word, selects the complete word. |
Double-click | Double-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank line will make the alignment of the text left, center, or right aligned. |
Double-click | Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a tab stop. |
Triple-click | Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-clicked. |
Ctrl + Mouse wheel | Zooms in and out of document. |
INTERNET EXPLORER SHORTCUT KEYS
See our Microsoft Internet Explorer page for additional help and information.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Alt + Left Arrow | Back a page. |
Alt + Right Arrow | Forward a page. |
F5 | Refresh current page / frame. |
F11 | Display the current website in full screen mode. Pressing F11 again will exit this mode. |
Esc | Stop page or download from loading. |
Ctrl + Enter | Quickly complete an address. For example, type computerhope in the address bar and press CTRL + ENTER to get http://www.computerhope.com. |
Ctrl + N | Open New browser window. |
Ctrl + P | Print current page / frame. |
Spacebar | Moves down a page at a time. |
Shift + Spacebar | Moves up a page at a time. |
See our Microsoft FrontPage page for additional help and information.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text. |
Ctrl + P | Paste selected text. |
Ctrl + K | Create a hyperlink. |
Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + I | Italic highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + L | Left align the text. |
Ctrl + R | Right align the text. |
Ctrl + E | Center the text. |
Ctrl + / | Display HTML tags. |
Ctrl + S | Save document. |
Ctrl + Tab | Switch between open web pages. |
Ctrl + Ins | Enter Line break. |
Ctrl + Enter | Move cursor above or below a table. |
Ctrl + Shift + B | Preview in web browser window. |
Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size. |
Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size. |
Ctrl + Del | Deletes word to right of cursor. |
Ctrl + Backspace | Deletes word to left of cursor. |
See our Microsoft Outlook page for additional help and information.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Alt + S | Send the e-mail |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected text. |
Ctrl + P | Paste selected text. |
Ctrl + K | Complete the name and/or e-mail being typed in the e-mail address bar. |
Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection |
Ctrl + I | Italic highlighted selection |
Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection |
Ctrl + R | Reply to an e-mail. |
Ctrl + F | Forward an e-mail. |
Ctrl + N | Create a new e-mail. |
Ctrl + Shift + A | Create a new appointment to your calendar. |
Ctrl + Shift + O | Open the Outbox. |
Ctrl + Shift + I | Open the Inbox. |
Ctrl + Shift + K | Add a new task. |
Ctrl + Shirt + C | Create a new contact. |
Ctrl + Shift + J | Create a new journal entry. |