Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys

Alt + (double-click)	Open Properties dialog of selected item.
Alt + Enter	Opens properties window of selected item.
Alt + Esc	Switch Between open tasks available on the taskbar.
Alt + F4	Close the top (focused) window.
Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows.
Alt + Tab + Shift	Switch between open windows, backward.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete (or Del)	Bring up the Windows Task Manager, or reboot computer.
Ctrl + Esc	Bring up the Windows Start menu.
Ctrl + '+' ('+' key on the keypad)	Autofit the widths of all columns (if available) in current window.
Ctrl + F4	Close sub window/tab.
Ctrl + Tab	Switch between existing tabs (within a window).
Ctrl + Tab + Shift	Switch between existing tabs (within a window), backward
F1	Open Help for Windows or focused application.
F2	Rename.
F3	Find/Search.
F4	Select drives or display the list of drives
F5	Refresh.
F6	Switch focus to the address bar (if exists).
F10	Switch focus to the top menu bar.
Shift + F10	Same as mouse right-click on the select item.
Print Screen	Capture a screenshot of the entire desktop to clipboard.
Print Screen + Alt	Capture a screenshot of just the top(focused) window to clipboard.
Shift + Delete (or Del)	Permanently delete selected file(s)/folder(s) (bypass recycle bin)
Shift (hold while inserting an audio CD to drive)	Prevent autoplay.
* (keypad) on Windows Explorer.	Expand all sub-directories from the selected item.
+ (keypad) on Windows Explorer.	Expand only the first level of selected item.
- (keypad) on Windows Explorer.	Collapse
Shortcut Keys	Description
WINDOWS-KEY	Bring up the Windows Start menu.
WINDOWS-KEY + F1	Bring up the Windows Help.
WINDOWS-KEY + e	Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINDOWS-KEY + f	Windows Search.
WINDOWS-KEY + Ctrl + f	Search for computers
WINDOWS-KEY + d	Minimizes all and bring up desktop, or restore all
WINDOWS-KEY + l	Lock the computer (Windows XP & newer).
WINDOWS-KEY + m	Minimizes all windows.
WINDOWS-KEY + Shift + M	Restore all. Opposite with WINDOWS-KEY + M and WINDOWS-KEY + D.
WINDOWS-KEY + r	Open the run window.
WINDOWS-KEY + u	Utility Manager.
WINDOWS-KEY + Tab	Cycle through the programs on task bar.
WINDOWS-KEY + Pause/Break	Open the System Properties window.