145 replies to this topic

[jonny]

Below is a (hopefully) comprehensive list of all default Windows hotkeys. If (hopefully) you want to help add to this list:
[*:3gdr5caz]State clearly what the hotkey does and, of course, what it is, in a readable format.
[*:3gdr5caz]Mass posting pasted from websites is allowed, but be sure to state whether you've tested them or not. Also, a link to the site would be nice.
[*:3gdr5caz]Feel free to improve this list as well, by testing untested hotkeys and posting your results.
Untested hotkeys are in red.
Side notes are in italics.


Windows Hotkeys

Ctrl + Escape or Win: Display start menu.
Shift + F10 or AppsKey: Display context menu.
Win + E: Open Windows Explorer.
Win + R: Open Run dialog.
Win + M: Minimize all windows.
Win + Shift + M: Undo minimize all windows.
Win + D: Toggle minimize all windows.
Win + B (XP only): Activate system tray. Arrow keys select, Enter double-clicks, and AppsKey or Shift + F10 right-clicks.
Win + L (XP Only): Locks keyboard. Similar to Lock Workstation.
Win + F or F3: Open Find dialog. (All Files) F3 may not work in some applications which use F3 for their own find dialogs.
Win + Control + F: Open Find dialog. (Computers)
Win + U: Open Utility Manager.
Win + F1: Open Windows help.
Win + Pause: Open System Properties dialog.
Win + Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons. Enter clicks, AppsKey or Shift + F10 right-clicks.
Win + Shift + Tab: Cycle through taskbar buttons in reverse.
Alt + Tab: Display CoolSwitch. More commonly known as the AltTab dialog.
Alt + Shift + Tab: Display CoolSwitch; go in reverse.
Alt + Escape: Send active window to the bottom of the z-order.
Alt + Shift + Escape: Activate the window at the bottom of the z-order.
Alt + F4: Close active window; or, if all windows are closed, open shutdown dialog.
Shift while a CD is loading: Bypass AutoPlay.
Ctrl + Alt + Delete or Ctrl + Alt + NumpadDel (Both NumLock states): Invoke the Task Manager or NT Security dialog.
Ctrl + Shift + Escape (XP Only): Invoke the task manager. On earlier OSes, acts like Ctrl + Escape.
Printscreen: Copy screenshot of current screen to clipboard.
Alt + Printscreen: Copy screenshot of current active window to clipboard.
Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow: Invert screen. Untested on OSes other than XP.
Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow: Undo inversion.


Generic

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy.
Ctrl + X or Shift + Delete: Cut.
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste/Move.
Ctrl + N: New... File, Tab, Entry, etc.
Ctrl + S: Save.
Ctrl + O: Open...
Ctrl + P: Print.
Ctrl + Z: Undo.
Ctrl + A: Select all.
Ctrl + F: Find...
Ctrl + F4: Close tab or child window.
F1: Open help.
F11: Toggle full screen mode.
Alt or F10: Activate menu bar.
Alt + Space: Display system menu. Same as clicking the icon on the titlebar.
Escape: Remove focus from current control/menu, or close dialog box.


Generic Navigation

Tab: Forward one item.
Shift + Tab: Backward one item.
Ctrl + Tab: Cycle through tabs/child windows.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Cycle backwards through tabs/child windows.
Enter: If a button's selected, click it, otherwise, click default button.
Space: Toggle items such as radio buttons or checkboxes.
Alt + (Letter): Activate item corresponding to (Letter). (Letter) is the underlined letter on the item's name.
Ctrl + Left: Move cursor to the beginning of previous word.
Ctrl + Right: Move cursor to the beginning of next word.
Ctrl + Up: Move cursor to beginning of previous paragraph. This and all subsequent Up/Down hotkeys in this section have only been known to work in RichEdit controls.
Ctrl + Down: Move cursor to beginning of next paragraph.
Shift + Left: Highlight one character to the left.
Shift + Right: Highlight one character to the right.
Shift + Up: Highlight from current cursor position, to one line up.
Shift + Down: Highlight from current cursor position, to one line down.
Ctrl + Shift + Left: Highlight to beginning of previous word.
Ctrl + Shift + Right: Highlight to beginning of next word.
Ctrl + Shift + Up: Highlight to beginning of previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift + Down: Highlight to beginning of next paragraph.
Home: Move cursor to top of a scrollable control.
End: Move cursor to bottom of a scrollable control.


Generic File Browser

Arrow Keys: Navigate.
Shift + Arrow Keys: Select multiple items.
Ctrl + Arrow Keys: Change focus without changing selection. "Focus" is the object that will run on Enter. Space toggles selection of the focused item.
(Letter): Select first found item that begins with (Letter).
BackSpace: Go up one level to the parent directory.
Alt + Left: Go back one folder.
Alt + Right: Go forward one folder.
Enter: Activate (Double-click) selected item(s).
Alt + Enter: View properties for selected item.
F2: Rename selected item(s).
F7: New folder.
Ctrl + NumpadPlus: In a Details view, resizes all columns to fit the longest item in each one.
Delete: Delete selected item(s).
Shift + Delete: Delete selected item(s); bypass Recycle Bin.
Ctrl while dragging item(s): Copy.
Ctrl + Shift while dragging item(s): Create shortcut(s).

In tree pane, if any:
Left: Collapse the current selection if expanded, or select the parent folder.
Right: Expand the current selection if collapsed, or select the first subfolder.
NumpadAsterisk: Expand currently selected directory and all subdirectories. No undo.
NumpadPlus: Expand currently selected directory.
NumpadMinus: Collapse currently selected directory.


Accessibility

Right Shift for eight seconds: Toggle FilterKeys on and off. FilterKeys must be enabled.
Left Alt + Left Shift + PrintScreen: Toggle High Contrast on and off. High Contrast must be enabled.
Left Alt + Left Shift + NumLock: Toggle MouseKeys on and off. MouseKeys must be enabled.
NumLock for five seconds: Toggle ToggleKeys on and off. ToggleKeys must be enabled.
Shift five times: Toggle StickyKeys on and off. StickyKeys must be enabled.


Microsoft Natural Keyboard with IntelliType Software Installed

Win + L: Log off Windows.
Win + P: Open Print Manager.
Win + C: Open control panel.
Win + V: Open clipboard.
Win + K: Open keyboard properties.
Win + I: Open mouse properties.
Win + A: Open Accessibility properties.
Win + Space: Displays the list of Microsoft IntelliType shortcut keys.
Win + S: Toggle CapsLock on and off.


Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

Ctrl + Alt + End: Open the NT Security dialog.
Alt + PageUp: Switch between programs.
Alt + PageDown: Switch between programs in reverse.
Alt + Insert: Cycle through the programs in most recently used order.
Alt + Home: Display start menu.
Ctrl + Alt + Break: Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen.
Alt + Delete: Display the Windows menu.
Ctrl + Alt + NumpadMinus: Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing Alt + PrintScreen on a local computer.
Ctrl + Alt + NumpadPlus: Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PrintScreen on a local computer.


Mozilla Firefox 1.x

Ctrl + Tab or Ctrl + PageDown: Cycle through tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab or Ctrl + PageUp: Cycle through tabs in reverse.
Ctrl + (1-9): Switch to tab corresponding to number.
Ctrl + N: New window.
Ctrl + T: New tab.
Ctrl + L or Alt + D or F6: Switch focus to location bar.
Ctrl + Enter: Open location in new tab.
Shift + Enter: Open location in new window.
Ctrl + K or Ctrl + E: Switch focus to search bar.
Ctrl + O: Open a local file.
Ctrl + W: Close tab, or window if there's only one tab open.
Ctrl + Shift + W: Close window.
Ctrl + S: Save page as a local file.
Ctrl + P: Print page.
Ctrl + F or F3: Open find toolbar.
Ctrl + G or F3: Find next...
Ctrl + Shift + G or Shift + F3: Find previous...
Ctrl + B or Ctrl + I: Open Bookmarks sidebar.
Ctrl + H: Open History sidebar.
Escape: Stop loading page.
Ctrl + R or F5: Reload current page.
Ctrl + Shift + R or Ctrl + F5: Reload current page; bypass cache.
Ctrl + U: View page source.
Ctrl + D: Bookmark current page.
Ctrl + NumpadPlus or Ctrl + Equals (+/=): Increase text size.
Ctrl + NumpadMinus or Ctrl + Minus: Decrease text size.
Ctrl + Numpad0 or Ctrl + 0: Set text size to default.
Alt + Left or Backspace: Back.
Alt + Right or Shift + Backspace: Forward.
Alt + Home: Open home page.
Ctrl + M: Open new message in integrated mail client.
Ctrl + J: Open Downloads dialog.
F6: Switch to next frame. You must have selected something on the page already, e.g. by use of Tab.
Shift + F6: Switch to previous frame.
Apostrophe ('): Find link as you type.
Slash (/): Find text as you type.


BBCode (This forum's posting)

While text is selected:
Alt + B: Format text in bold.
Alt + I: Format text in italics.
Alt + U: Format text as underlined.
Alt + Q: Format text as a quote.
Alt + C: Format text as code.
Alt + L: Format text as a list.
Alt + O: Format text as an ordered list.
Alt + P: Format url as a hotlinked image.
Alt + W: Format url as a hyperlink.


GMail

Must have "keyboard shortcuts" on in settings.
C: Compose new message.
Shift + C: Open new window to compose new message.
Slash (/): Switch focus to search box.
K: Switch focus to the next most recent email. Enter or "O" opens focused email.
J: Switch focus to the next oldest email.
N: Switch focus to the next message in the "conversation." Enter or "O" expands/collapses messages.
P: Switch focus to the previous message.
U: Takes you back to the inbox and checks for new mail.
Y: Various actions depending on current view:
Has no effect in "Sent" and "All Mail" views.
[*:3gdr5caz]Inbox: Archive email or message.
[*:3gdr5caz]Starred: Unstar email or message.
[*:3gdr5caz]Spam: Unmark as spam and move back to "Inbox."
[*:3gdr5caz]Trash: Move back to "Inbox."
[*:3gdr5caz]Any label: Remove the label.X: "Check" an email. Various actions can be performed against all checked emails.
S: "Star" an email. Identical to the more familiar term, "flagging."
R: Reply to the email.
A: Reply to all recipients of the email.
F: Forward an email.
Shift + R: Reply to the email in a new window.
Shift + A: Reply to all recipients of the email in a new window.
Shift + F: Forward an email in a new window.
Shift + 1 (!): Mark an email as spam and remove it from the inbox.
G then I: Switch to "Inbox" view.
G then S: Switch to "Starred" view.
G then A: Switch to "All Mail" view.
G then C: Switch to "Contacts" view.
G then S: Switch to "Drafts" view.

[Chris]

If this becomes big enough and you deem it useful, consider making it a sticky)

Ok, I'll keep an eye on it.

Win + B: Activate system tray. (Note: Arrow keys select, Enter double-clicks, and AppsKey or Shift + F10 right-clicks.)

Great info.

[jonny]

One more thing: All I have to test these on are XP, can anyone with an older OS please inform whether the Win + hotkeys work on them? If so, please state which ones don't, if any.

[corrupt]

Great stuff . Keep em coming...

Windows Hotkeys

Ctrl + Alt + NumpadDot: Task Manager
Win + F: Open Find Dialog (works on Win ME as well)
Win + F3: Open Find Dialog OR Open Search Tab in IE if IE is Active Window (works in WinME as well) - tested with IE6

The Win key combos all seem to work on WinME as well except Win + B.

I'll try and add a few more a bit later.

[corrupt]

A list for XP can be found here.

Edit: Removed shortcuts and left link only to stop punishing mousewheels :lol:

[jonny]

Thanks, corrupt; I'll add them later on, when I have time. Also, could you please test Win + L on ME? I haven't added it yet, but I've heard it doesn't work on there.

[corrupt]

Thanks, corrupt; I'll add them later on, when I have time. Also, could you please test Win + L on ME? I haven't added it yet, but I've heard it doesn't work on there.

Win + L and Win + U don't seem to work on WinME for me.

Here's another way to get a list of keys in XP.... Type: c:\windows\help\keyshort.chm from a command prompt or using Start->Run. (The path c:\windows will vary depending on your windows install path).

[jonny]

Thanks, but it's the same info as in that page you linked to, and I have most of them anyway. I've added some of the shortcuts from that Microsoft page, along with a few others I discovered inadvertently. I wasn't able to add them all, I hope to later today or tomorrow.

P.S. A few more I couldn't get to work on my system - the "paragraph" selectors. If anyone else can get them to work in something, please tell me right away.

[corrupt]

Ctrl + Shift + ESC: Task Manager on XP, Start menu on WinME

Win or Ctrl + Escape: Display start menu

Win + Escape doesn't work to display the Start menu for me in XP or WinME but does clear the textbox that I'm typing in to send this message of all text (Ctrl + Z brings it back )

[Serenity]

(I'm on 2k.)

Win + U: Utility Manager
Ctrl + Escape: Start Menu
Win: Start Menu

(in Explorer, applies to files and folders, right hand pane)
Ctrl + Up: Move focus up to file above, without selecting the focused file
Ctrl + Down: Move focus down to file below, without selecting the focused file

[corrupt]

Here's another link to more.

Well... :roll: mostly the same but these state that they apply to:

• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows 95 Service Pack 1

[jonny]

@corrupt: Thanks, I'll clear that up so it isn't taken as Win + Escape. Btw, it doesn't clear the textbox for me... did you have it all selected? Also, thanks for the link, but you're right, it contains barely any new info.

@serenity: I'll remove (XP Only) from utility manager, and add ctrl+up and ctrl+down to generic file browser. Thanks.

[corrupt]

@corrupt: Thanks, I'll clear that up so it isn't taken as Win + Escape. Btw, it doesn't clear the textbox for me... did you have it all selected?

Hmm... from testing a bit more it seems to act the same as Ctrl + Z. I guess I had pasted text in so undo was clearing the box. Seems to do the same in WinME.

[jonny]

Thanks for the info/testing. I'll put it in alongside Ctrl + Z, and I should have the rest of the shortcuts from your first link up later tonight.

[corrupt]

Thanks for the info/testing.

Thanks for taking the time to put this together . It'll probably come in really handy when wondering which hotkey to assign for something when not knowing (or remembering) which are commonly used. Also... I'm sure that anyone that's had the pleasure of working on a system without a mouse (and those who like it that way) will appreciate knowing a few more Windows hotkeys .