2/12/2020 HP PCs - Keyboard Shortcuts, Hotkeys, and Special Keys (Windows) | HP® Customer Support

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HP PCs - Keyboard Shortcuts, Hotkeys, and Special Keys
(Windows)
Business solutions

 Common keyboard shortcuts

SecurityServicesSoftwareVRIndustriesSmall & medium business storeEnterprise storePublic sector purchasing

 Windows 10 shortcuts
Support
 Windows 8 shortcuts

Windows
Software 7 shortcuts
& driversDiagnostic toolsProductsCommunityPremium helpdesk services for homeSupport services for businessHP Care
Spare parts store
 Keys with icons or symbols

 Frequently asked questions

This document is for HP computers with Windows.

Discover useful keyboard features in Windows that can make navigation, tasks, and functions quicker and easier.

Common keyboard shortcuts

Use key press combinations to perform common tasks in Windows.

NOTE: The Windows key on your keyboard is labeled as a Windows flag icon or and is used in
many key press combinations.

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Task Keystroke Result

Get help about the software or app that is currently active. For
Get help F1
help with Windows, press F1 while at the Windows desktop.

Copy Ctrl + C Copy a selection to the Windows clipboard to be pasted later.

Paste Ctrl + V Paste a previously cut or copied selection into an app.

Delete a selection and copy it to the Windows clipboard to be

Cut Ctrl + X
pasted later.

Save Ctrl + S Save a file from the currently active app.

Undo an Undo the last action done in Windows. Repeat this keypress to
Ctrl + Z
action continue undoing previous actions.

Bold text Ctrl + B Apply bold emphasis to selected text while text is being edited.

Underline
Ctrl + U Underline selected text while text is being edited.
text

Apply italicized emphasis to selected text while text is being

Italicize text Ctrl + I
edited.

Destroy a Delete a selected file in Windows without moving it to the

Shift + Delete
file Recycle Bin. The file is permanently deleted.

File Quickly find a file's property information. The key press works
Alt + Enter (or double-click)
properties from the desktop, File Explorer, or Windows Explorer.

Copy a picture of the screen to the Windows clipboard to be

Screenshot Prt Scr (Print Screen) pasted as a graphic later. On some laptops, you may need to
press and hold Fn before pressing Prt Scr.

Take a
Copy a picture of the current window (not the entire screen) to
picture of a Shift + Prt Scr (Print Screen)
the Windows clipboard to be pasted as a graphic later.
window

Close a With the window active, Close the currently active window or app. This task can be useful
window or press Alt + F4 (Function key when you want to close a webpage that does not have a close
web page F4) window button.

Shut down With the Windows desktop

Open a window where you can select power functions, such as
or restart active, press Alt + F4
Log off, Sleep, Hibernate, Restart and Shut down.
Windows (Function key F4)

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Task Keystroke Result

Open the
Start menu The Windows key or
Open or close the Start menu or Start screen.
or Start Ctrl + Esc
screen

Open a
Alt + the letter key matching
window Instead of using a mouse to open menus or select items within
the underlined letter of the
menu or menus, use this key press combination.
menu or menu item
menu item

Open a
right-click Shift + F10 (Function key Instead of using a mouse to right-click an item in Windows, use
(contextual) F10) this key press combination.
menu

Run a
Windows key + R Open the Run dialog box to type Windows commands.
command

Switch
Display all active windows. Switch to another window by
between Alt + Tab
repeatedly pressing the tab key while holding down the Alt key.
apps

Minimize Remove the current window from view without closing. You can
Windows key + Down arrow
window access the window again by clicking the tray icon.

Maximize
Windows key + Up arrow Change the size of the current window to fill the entire screen.
window

Minimize all
Windows key + M Minimize all active windows.
windows

Restore all
Restore all active windows that were minimized to the system
minimized Windows key + Shift + M
tray.
windows

Ease of
Open accessibility features, such as screen reading, high contrast
Access Windows key + U
screens, mouse alternative options, and more.
Center

Open Task Open the task manager utility to monitor currently running tasks
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Manager and network activity.

Open
Windows key + Pause / Open System Properties for quick access to basic system
System
Break information and links to other helpful system tools.
Properties

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Windows 10 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 10.

Function Keystroke Result

Windows
key
Start
or Open or close the Start menu or Start screen.
menu
Ctrl +
Esc

Windows
key + S
Search Open a search window to find files, folders, apps, settings, and websites.
(Windows
10)

Windows
Search for
key + Ctrl Find computers on a local network.
computers
+F

Windows
Dictation Open the Dictation input feature.
key + H

File Windows
Open a File Explorer window to browse the files and folders on your computer.
Explorer key + E

Windows
Settings Open a Settings window where you can change the behavior of features in Windows.
key + I

Connect to Windows
Open the Connect or Devices view to connect to Bluetooth devices.
devices key + K

Lock the Windows

Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized access while you are away.
computer key + L

Screen
Windows Prevent or allow the screen to rotate when the display device is rotated, if
orientation
key + O supported.
lock

Advanced Windows
Open the Advanced Settings menu.
Settings key + X

Resize and display all currently active windows to fit proportionally on the screen
View
Windows (thumbnail view). Use this view to quickly see everything currently running and to
active
key + Tab close or switch between windows. Repeat this key press to return the windows to
apps
their previous size and placement.

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Function Keystroke Result

Windows Windows Hide the Start screen or minimize all active windows and menus to display the
desktop key + D desktop. Repeat this key press to restore the previous view.

Windows
key + Left
Snap a
arrow or Move and resize the current window to the left or right half of the screen.
Window
Right
arrow

Windows
Save a key + Prt Saves a picture of your screen as a PNG graphic file to a Screenshots folder in your
screenshot Scr (Print Pictures library.
Screen)

Windows 8 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 8.

Function Keystroke Result

Windows
key
Start
or Open or close the Start menu or Start screen.
menu
Ctrl +
Esc

Windows
key + F
Search Open a search window to find files, folders, apps, settings, and websites.
(Windows
8)

Windows
Search for
key + Ctrl Find computers on a local network.
computers
+F

Windows
Share Open the Share menu where you can send files or messages to others.
key + H

File Windows
Open a File Explorer window to browse the files and folders on your computer.
Explorer key + E

Windows
Settings Open a Settings window where you can change the behavior of features in Windows.
key + I

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Function Keystroke Result

Connect to Windows
Open the Connect or Devices view to connect to Bluetooth devices.
devices key + K

Lock the Windows

Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized access while you are away.
computer key + L

Windows
Clock Open the clock.
key + C

Screen
Windows Prevent or allow the screen to rotate when the display device is rotated, if
orientation
key + O supported.
lock

Advanced Windows
Open the Advanced Settings menu.
Settings key + X

Resize and display all currently active windows to fit proportionally on the screen
View
Windows (thumbnail view). Use this view to quickly see everything currently running and to
active
key + Tab close or switch between windows. Repeat this key press to return the windows to
apps
their previous size and placement.

Windows Windows Hide the Start screen or minimize all active windows and menus to display the
desktop key + D desktop. Repeat this key press to restore the previous view.

Windows
key + Left
Snap a
arrow or Move and resize the current window to the left or right half of the screen.
Window
Right
arrow

Windows
Save a key + Prt Saves a picture of your screen as a PNG graphic file to a Screenshots folder in your
screenshot Scr (Print Pictures library.
Screen)

Windows 7 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 7.

Function Keystroke Result

Windows key
Start menu or Open or close the Start menu.
Ctrl + Esc

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Function Keystroke Result

Open Windows Explorer window to browse the files and folders on your
File Explorer Windows key + E
computer.

Search for
Windows key + F Open a Search results window to find a file or folder on your computer.
files

Search for Windows key +

Find computers on a local network.
computers Ctrl + F

Lock the
Windows key + L Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized access while you are away.
computer

Mobility
Open the Mobility Center menu for quick access to functions used most
Center (for
Windows key + X often on laptops and mobile devices: volume, battery status, wireless
mobile
network, etc.
devices)

Windows Minimize all active windows and menus and display the desktop. Repeat
Windows key + D
desktop this key press to restore the previous view.

Windows key +
Snap a
Left arrow or Move and resize the current window to the left or right half of the screen.
Window
Right arrow

Keys with icons or symbols

Most keyboards come with special symbols applied to the function keys. Your HP keyboard might have extra keys or
buttons with icons as well. Use this section to understand the meaning of those icons and symbols.

NOTE: On most laptop keyboards, you must press and hold the fn key before pressing the key with the
symbol to perform the function.

Task Symbol Meaning

Turn wireless Internet on or off. There is usually an LED or on-screen notification to

Enable
indicate the status of Wi-Fi: on, off, or on and not connected. This symbol key does
wireless
not turn on Bluetooth.

Airplane
Enable or disable all wireless communications from the computer.
mode

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Task Symbol Meaning

Presentation
Switch to another display mode when an external display is connected.
mode

Illuminate
If your laptop is equipped with an illuminated keyboard, turn keyboard illumination on
the
or off.
keyboard

Search Open a search window to find files, folders, apps, settings, and websites.

Decrease
screen Dim the brightness of the built-in display screen.
brightness

Increase
screen Increase the brightness of the built-in display screen.
brightness

Menu /
Open a right-click menu.
Right-click

Copy Copy selection to clipboard. Same as pressing CTRL + C.

Lock the
Exit Windows to the sign-in screen.
computer

Suspend the
Place the computer in sleep or suspend mode.
computer

Mute Silence the speakers or headphones. Repeat the press to allow sound.

Volume
Decrease the volume of speakers or headphones.
down

Volume up Increase the volume of speakers or headphones.

Play / Pause Play or pause media, such as music or videos. This key does not work unless media is
media active.

Stop playback of media, such as music or videos. This key does not work unless
Stop media
media is active.

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Task Symbol Meaning

Skip (media) Play next section or track of audio or video.

Previous Restart current media from the beginning. If pressed repeatedly, plays the previous
(media) track or clip.

Share Open the Share menu where you can send files or messages to others.

Settings Open a Settings window where you can change the behavior of features in Windows.

Activates or deactivates scroll lock. Scroll lock uses the arrow keys to move within a
Scroll Lock window instead of using a mouse and the scroll bar. Scroll lock is only used by a few
software apps, such as Microsoft Excel.

Connect to
Open the Connect or Devices view where you can connect to Bluetooth devices.
devices

Arrange app
Display apps side-by-side for simultaneous viewing.
view

Switch apps Switch between open apps.

Show app
Show the app commands that are available for the app that is currently open.
commands

List apps List apps that are open in the background.

Connect to
Open the default Internet browser.
the Internet

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about using extended keyboard features.

How do I change or disable a key?

How do I turn the Fn key on or off?

What do the function keys do? (F1, F2, etc.)

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How do I type an at sign (@)?

Can I use my keyboard as a mouse?

What do I do when some keys type the wrong characters?

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