that have been added to the new OS. Just keep this quick reference handy to speed common Windows 7 tasks.
Note: The Windows key ( ) is located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on most keyboards. However, some vendor
keyboards and laptops don't have this key. The Application key ( ) is adjacent to the right Windows key or in
the upper-right corner on some laptop keyboards.
The shortcuts
Keystroke Function
Opens the Start menu
+ E Opens Computer
+ R Opens the Run dialog box
+ F Opens Search
+ U Opens Ease Of Access Center
+ X Open Windows Mobility Center
+ Ctrl + F Opens the Find Computers dialog box
+ Pause/Break Open the System page
+ P Chooses a Network Projector presentation display mode
+ 1..0 Launches a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position indicated by the
number; or accesses a running program on the Taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
+ Shift + 1..0 Launches a new instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
+ Ctrl + 1..0 Accesses the last active instance of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the
position indicated by the number
+ Alt + 1..0 Accesses the Jump List of a program pinned on the Taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
+ B Selects the first item in the Notification Area; use the arrow keys to cycle
through the items and press Enter to open the selected item.
100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7
+ Ctrl + B Accesses the program that is displaying a message in the Notification Area
+ T Cycles through the items on the Taskbar
+ M Minimizes all windows
+ Shift + M Restores all minimized windows
+ D Show/Hide Desktop (minimizes/restores all windows)
+ L Locks the computer
+ Tab Accesses Windows Flip 3D and cycles forward through open programs
+ Shift + Tab Accesses Windows Flip 3D and cycles backward through open programs
+ Ctrl + Tab Opens Windows Flip 3D as a stationary object; use the arrow keys to cycle
through open programs and press Enter to access the selected program.
+ Spacebar Preview Desktop (makes all open windows transparent)
+ G Cycles through gadgets
+ Up Arrow Maximizes the current window
+ Down Arrow Minimizes/restores the current window
+ Home Minimizes all but the current window
+ Left Arrow Tiles the window on the left side of the screen
+ Right Arrow Tiles the window on the right side of the screen
+ Shift + Up Arrow Extends the current window from the top to the bottom of the screen
+ Shift + Left/Right Arrow Moves the current window from one monitor to the next
+ F1 Launches Windows Help And Support
Alt Displays hidden Menu Bar
Alt + D Selects the Address Bar
Alt + P Displays the Preview Pane in Windows Explorer
Alt + Tab Cycles forward through open windows
Alt + Shift + Tab Cycles backward through open windows
100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7
Alt + F4 Closes the current window; opens the Shut Down Windows dialog box from
the Desktop
Alt + Spacebar Accesses the shortcut menu for the current window
Alt + Esc Cycles between open programs in the order they were opened
Alt + Enter Opens the Properties dialog box of the selected item
Alt + PrtScn Takes a screen shot of the active window and places it on the Clipboard
Alt + Up Arrow Moves up one folder level in Windows Explorer (like the Up Arrow in XP)
Alt + Left Arrow Displays the previous folder
Alt + Right Arrow Displays the next folder
Shift + Insert CD/DVD Loads CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete Permanently deletes the item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)
Shift + F6 Cycles backward through the elements in a window or dialog box
Shift + F10 Accesses the context menu for the selected item
Shift + Tab Cycles backward through the elements in a window or dialog box
Shift + Click Selects a consecutive group of items
Shift + Click on a Taskbar button Launches a new instance of a program
Shift + Right-click on a Taskbar
button
Accesses the context menu for the selected item
Ctrl + A Selects all items
Ctrl + C Copies the selected item
Ctrl + X Cuts the selected item
Ctrl + V Pastes the selected item
Ctrl + D Deletes the selected item
Ctrl + Z Undoes an action
Ctrl + Y Redoes an action
Ctrl + N Opens a new window in Windows Explorer
Ctrl + W Closes the current window in Windows Explorer
100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7
Ctrl + E Selects the Search box in the upper-right corner of a window
Ctrl + Shift + N Creates a new folder
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Uses arrow keys to cycle through open windows
Ctrl + Alt + Delete Accesses the Windows Security screen
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Changes the icon size on the desktop or the Views setting in Windows
Explorer
Ctrl + Click Selects multiple individual items
Ctrl + Click and drag an item Copies that item in the same folder
Ctrl + Shift + Click and drag an
item
Creates a shortcut for that item in the same folder
Ctrl + Tab Moves forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Moves backward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Click on a Taskbar
button
Launches a new instance of a program as an Administrator
Ctrl + Click on a grouped Taskbar
button
Cycles through the instances of a program in the group
F1 Displays Help
F2 Renames a file
F3 Opens Search
F4 Displays the Address Bar list
F5 Refreshes the display
F6 Cycles forward through the elements in a window or dialog box
F7 Displays the command history in a Command Prompt
F10 Displays hidden Menu Bar
F11 Toggles full screen display
Tab Cycles forward through the elements in a window or dialog box
100 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows 7
PrtScn Takes a screen shot of the entire screen and places it on the Clipboard
(Application Key) Accesses the context menu for the selected item
Home Moves to the top of the active window
End Moves to the bottom of the active window
Delete Deletes the selected item
Backspace Displays the previous folder in Windows Explorer; moves up one folder level
in the Open or Save dialog box
Esc Closes a dialog box
Num Lock Enabled + Plus (+) Displays the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock Enabled + Minus (-) Collapses the selected folder
Num Lock Enabled + Asterisk (*) Expands all subfolders under the selected folder
Press Shift 5 times Turns StickyKeys on or off
Hold down right Shift for 8
seconds
Turns FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5
seconds
Turns ToggleKeys on or off
Additional shortcut lists
50+ keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows XP
76 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Windows Vista
Microsoft Word 2003 keyboard shortcuts
85 keyboard shortcuts for moving faster in Microsoft Excel
70+ Keyboard shortcuts to move faster in Microsoft Access
50+ Keyboard shortcuts to move faster in Microsoft PowerPoint
