Shortcut keys ABCs

Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of navigating and
using computer software programs. Shortcut keys are commonly accessed by using
the Alt (on IBM compatible computers), command key (on Apple computers), Ctrl,
and/or Shift in conjunction with a single letter. The de facto standard for listing a
shortcut is listing the modifier key, a plus symbol, and the single character. Or in
other words, "ALT+S" is telling you to press the Alt key and while continuing to hold
the Alt key, press the S key to perform the shortcut.

In addition to the shortcuts listed on this page, users can

find the shortcut keys to their most popular program by looking for underlined
letters in their menus. For example, in the picture to the right you'll can notice
that the "F" in File has been underlined. You will then know that you can press the
Alt key and F to access the File menu (Note: Some programs require the user press
and hold ALT to see the underlined characters). Finally, as can also be seen some
of the common features such as Open (Ctrl+O) and Save (Ctrl+S) have shortcut keys
assigned to them.

As you begin to work with shortcut keys you will notice that several applications
share the same shortcut keys. We have listed many of these keys in our basic PC
shortcut keys section.

Note: Users outside the United States or users using a foreign copy of a Microsoft
Windows or Microsoft application may not be able to get all the below shortcut
keys to perform the function listed below.

Basic PC 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.

What are the F1 through F12 keys?

Question:
What are the F1 through F12 keys?

Answer:
Commonly known as "function keys", F1 through F12 may have a variety of
different uses or no use at all. Depending on the installed operating system and
the software program currently open will change how each of these keys operate.
A program is capable of not only using each of the function keys, but also
combining the function keys with the ALT and/or CTRL keys, for example,
Microsoft Windows users can press ALT + F4 to close the program currently active.

Below is a short-listing of some of the common functions of the functions keys on

computers running Microsoft Windows. As mentioned above not all programs
support function keys and/or may perform different tasks then those mentioned
below. If you are looking for more specific shortcut keys and function key
examples we suggest seeing our shortcut key page.

F1
• Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the
help screen when this key is pressed.
• Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support
center.
• Open the Task Pane.

F2

• In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file.

• Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.

F3

• Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft

Windows.
• Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case
or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.

F4

• Open find window.

• Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
• Alt + F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows.
• Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in
Microsoft Windows.

F5

• In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the page
or document window.
• Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
• Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6

• Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.
• Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.

F7

• Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in Microsoft

programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
• Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
• Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox.

F8
 • Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly use to get
into Windows Safe Mode.

F9

• Opens the Measurements toolbar in Quark 5.0.

F10

• In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.

• Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or
Internet link.

F11

• Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers.

F12

• Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.

• Shift + F12 save the Microsoft Word document.
• Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.

Top 10 keyboard shortcuts everyone should

know
Using keyboard shortcuts can often cut the time it takes to do something on a
computer in half. Below are our top 10 keyboard shortcuts we recommend
everyone memorize and use.

Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert

Copy the highlighted text or selected item.

Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert

Paste the text or object that's in the clipboard.

Ctrl + Z and Ctrl + Y

Undo any change. For example, if you cut text, pressing this will undo it. This
can also often be pressed multiple times to undo multiple changes. Pressing
Ctrl + Y would re-do the undo.
Ctrl + F

Open the Find in any program. This includes your Internet browser to find
text on the current page.

Alt + Tab or Alt + Esc

Quickly switch between open programs.

F1

Open help for the program you're in.

Ctrl + P

Print what's currently being viewed in programs such as Microsoft Word or

your Internet browser.

Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow

Move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time. If you
wanted to highlight one word at a time you can hold down Ctrl + Alt and then
press the left or right arrow key to move one word at a time in that direction
while highlighting each word.

Ctrl + Home / End

Move the cursor to the beginning or end of a document.

Page Up / Space bar and Page Down

Pressing either the page up or page down key will move that page one page
at a time in that direction. When browsing the Internet pressing the space
bar will also move the page down one page at a time.

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Windows as well as the
versions of Microsoft Windows they're supported in. 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. See our main shortcut page if you're
looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut 3.x 95 98 ME NT 2000 XP Vista Description

Keys
Alt + Tab Switch between open
X X X X X X X X
applications.
Alt + Shift + Switch backwards between
X X X X X X X X
Tab open applications.
Alt + Display the properties of the
double-click object you double-click on. For
X X X X X X X
example, doing this on a file
would display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab Switches between program
groups or document windows in
X X X X X X X X
applications that support this
feature.
Ctrl + Shift Same as above but backwards.
X X X X X X X X
+ Tab
Alt + Print Create a screen shot only for
Screen X X X X X X X X the program you are currently
in.
Ctrl + Print Creates a screen shot of the
X X X
Screen entire screen
Ctrl + Alt + Reboot the computer and/or
Del X X X X X X X X bring up the Windows task
manager.
Ctrl + Shift Immediately bring up the
X X X
+ Esc Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc Bring up the Windows Start
menu. In Windows 3.x this
X X X X X X X X
would bring up the Task
Manager.
Alt + Esc Switch Between open
X X X X X X X
applications on taskbar.
F1 Activates help for current open
X X X X X X X X
application.
F2 X X X X X X X X Renames selected Icon.
F3 X X X X X X X Starts find from desktop.
F4 Opens the drive selection when
X X X X X X X
browsing.
F5 Refresh Contents to where you
X X X X X X X
were on the page.
Ctrl + F5 X Refreshes page to the beginning
 of the page.
F10 X X X X X X X X Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10 Simulates right-click on
X X X X X X X
selected item.
F4 Select a different location to
X X X X X X X browse in the Windows Explorer
toolbar.
Alt + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Window in Program.
F6 Move cursor to different
X X X X X X X
Windows Explorer pane.
Alt + Space Drops down the window control
X X X X X X X X
bar menu.
Ctrl + (the Automatically adjust the widths
'+' key on X X X X X X of all the columns in Windows
the keypad) explorer
Alt + Enter Opens properties window of
X X X X X X X
selected icon or program.
Alt + Space Open the control menu for the
X X X X X X X
bar current window open.
Shift + Del Delete programs/files without
X X X X X X X throwing them into the recycle
bin.
Holding Boot Safe Mode or by pass
Shift X X X X X X X X system files as the computer is
booting.
Holding When putting in an audio CD,
Shift X X X X X X X will prevent CD Player from
playing.
Enter Activates the highlighted
X X X X X X X X
program.
Alt + Down Display all available options on
X X X X X X X
arrow drop down menu.
* (on the Expands all folders on the
keypad) X X X X X X X currently selected folder or
drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the Expands only the currently
keypad) X X X X X X X selected folder in Windows
Explorer.
- (on the Collapses the currently selected
X X X X X X X
keypad) folder in Windows Explorer.

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

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".

Shortcut Keys Description

WINKEY Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
WINKEY + F1 Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
WINKEY + F3 Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook.
WINKEY + D Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M Minimizes all windows.
WINKEY + SHIFT
Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
+M
WINKEY + E Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL
Display the search for computers window.
+F
WINKEY + F1 Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause
Open the system properties window.
/ Break key
WINKEY + U Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).
WINKEY + P Quickly change between monitor display types. (Windows 7 only)
WINKEY + LEFT Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the left side for side by side
ARROW viewing. (Windows 7 only)
WINKEY + RIGHT Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the right side for side by
ARROW side viewing. (Windows 7 only)
WINKEY + UP When in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes the
ARROW screen back to full size. (Windows 7 only)
Minimizes the screen. Also, when in the side by side viewing
WINKEY + DOWN
mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to a minimized size.
ARROW
(Windows 7 only)
Microsoft Word shortcut keys
Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Word. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Ctrl + A Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + C Copy selected text.
Ctrl + E Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the screen.
Ctrl + F Open find box.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + J Aligns the selected text or line to justify the screen.
Ctrl + K Insert link.
Ctrl + L Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the screen.
Ctrl + M Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + P Open the print window.
Ctrl + R Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the screen.
Ctrl + T Create a hanging indent.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + V Paste.
Ctrl + X Cut selected text.
Ctrl + Y Redo the last action performed.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
Ctrl + Shift + F Change the font.
Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then increases
Ctrl + Shift + >
font +2pts.
Ctrl + ] Increase selected font +1pts.
Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above 12
Ctrl + Shift + <
decreases font by +2pt.
Ctrl + [ Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + * View or hide non printing characters.
Ctrl + <left arrow> Moves one word to the left.
Ctrl + <right arrow> Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + <up arrow> Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Ctrl + <down arrow> 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.
Alt + Ctrl + F2 Open new document.
Ctrl + F2 Display the print preview.
Change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower case
Shift + F3
or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
Shift + Insert Paste.
F4 Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
F5 Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
Ctrl + Shift + F6 Opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
F7 Spell and grammar check selected text and/or document.
Shift + F7 Runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
F12 Save as.
Shift + F12 Save.
Ctrl + Shift + F12 Prints the document.
Alt + Shift + D Insert the current date.
Alt + Shift + T Insert the current time.
In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a method
of quickly do something commonly performed. Below some are examples of mouse
shortcuts.

Mouse shortcuts Description

Click, hold, and Selects text from where you click and hold to the point you
drag drag and let go.
Double-click If double-click a word, selects the complete word.
Double-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank line will
Double-click
make the alignment of the text left, center, or right aligned.
Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a tab
Double-click
stop.
Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-
Triple-click
clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse
Zooms in and out of document.
wheel

Microsoft Excel shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Excel. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

F2 Edit the selected cell.
F5 Go to 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.

Internet Explorer shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Internet Explorer. See
our main shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other
programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Alt + Left Arrow Back a page.
Backspace Back a page.
Alt + Right Arrow Forward a page.
F5 Refresh current page, frame, or tab.
F11 Display the current website in full screen mode. Pressing
F11 again will exit this mode.
Esc Stop page or download from loading.
Ctrl + (- or +) Increase or decrease the font size, pressing '-' will decrease
and '+' will increase.
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 + D Add a Favorite for the page currently opened.
Ctrl + I Display available bookmarks.
Ctrl + N Open New browser window.
Ctrl + P Print current page / frame.
Ctrl + T Opens a new tab.
Ctrl + F4 Closes the currently selected tab.
Ctrl + Tab Moves through each of the open tabs.
Spacebar Moves down a page at a time.
Shift + Spacebar Moves up a page at a time.
Alt + Down arrow Display all previous text entered in a text box and/or
available options on drop down menu.
Alt + D Highlights the text in the address bar