Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the more commonly used Windows shortcut keys for every version of Microsoft Windows. If you are looking for shortcut keys related to programs in Windows, like Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet browsers, and others, see our «Other computer keyboard shortcuts» page linked below.

General Windows keyboard shortcuts

Alt + Tab

Switch between open applications in all versions of Windows. Reverse the direction by pressing Alt + Shift + Tab at the same time.

Ctrl + Tab

Switches between program groups, tabs, or document windows in applications that support this feature. Reverse the direction by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Tab at the same time.

Alt +double-click

In Windows 95 or later, display the properties of the object you double-click. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.

Alt + Print Screen

Create a screenshot only for the active program window in all versions of Windows. For example, if you opened the calculator and pressed these shortcut keys, only the calculator window would be created as a screenshot. If the Print Screen key is pressed alone, the whole screen will be made into a screenshot.

Ctrl + Alt + Del

Open the Windows option screen for locking computer, switching user, Task Manager, etc. in later versions of Windows. Pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del multiple times reboots the computer.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Immediately bring up the Windows Task Manager in Windows 2000 and later.

Ctrl + Esc

Open the Windows Start menu in most versions of Windows. In Windows 8, this opens the Start screen and in Windows 3.x, this opens the Task Manager.

Alt + Esc

Switch between open applications on Taskbar in Windows 95 and later.

Alt + Spacebar

Drops down the window control menu for the currently open Windows program in Windows 95 and later.

Alt + Enter

Opens properties window of selected icon or program in Windows 95 and later.

Shift + Del

Permanently delete any file or another object without throwing it into the Recycle Bin in Windows 95 and later.

Hold down the Shift key

When putting in an audio or data CD that uses Autoplay, holding down the Shift prevents that CD from playing.

Windows function key shortcuts

Below is a listing of keyboard shortcuts that use the keyboard function keys. See our what are F1 through F12 keys page for a full listing of what function keys do with all other programs.

Activates help for current open application. If you’re at the Windows desktop, this activates the help for Windows.

Renames a highlighted icon, file, or folder in all versions of Windows.

Starts find or search when at the Windows desktop in all versions of Windows.

In Windows 95 and later, F4 opens the drive selection or address bar when browsing files in Windows Explorer.

• Pressing Alt + F4 closes the current open program window without a prompt in all versions of Windows.
• Pressing Ctrl + F4 closes the open window in the current active window in Microsoft Windows. Only works in programs that support multiple windows or tabs in the same program window.

While in Windows Explorer, F6 moves the cursor to different Windows Explorer pane or in Windows 7 browse available drives.

Pressing F8 over and over as the computer is booting starts the computer in Safe Mode.

Activates the file menu bar in all versions of Windows.

• Simulates a right-click of a selected item, which is useful if right-click is difficult or impossible using the mouse.

Windows keyboard key shortcuts

Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running Microsoft Windows 95 or later and using a keyboard with a Windows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by » Windows key .» Because not all these shortcuts work in every version of Windows, we’ve mentioned which versions of Windows support each shortcut key combination.

All versions of Windows

Pressing the Windows key alone opens or hides the Windows Start menu. In Windows 8, this opens or hides the Start screen.

Windows key + F1

Open the Microsoft Windows help and support center.

Windows key + Pause or Break

Display and hide the Windows desktop.

Display the Windows Search or Find feature.

Windows key + Ctrl + F

Display the search for computers window.

Lock the computer and switch users if needed (Windows XP and above only).

Windows key + Shift + M

Undo the minimize done by Windows key + M and Windows key + D .

Open the run window.

Open Utility Manager or the Ease of Access Center.

Windows XP

Windows key + Tab

Cycle through open programs on the Taskbar.

Windows 7 and 8

Windows key + 1 — 0

Pressing the Windows key and any top row number key from 1 to 0 opens the program corresponding to the number of the program icon on the Taskbar. For example, if the first icon on the Taskbar is Internet Explorer, pressing Windows key + 1 would open that program or switch to it if already open.

Windows key +(Plus ( + ) or Minus ( — ))

Open Windows Magnifier and zoom in with the plus symbol (+) and zoom out with the minus symbol (-).

• Press the Windows key + ESC to close the Magnifier.

Windows key + Home

Minimize all windows except the active window.

Change between the monitor and projection display types or how second screen displays computer screen.

Set the focus on the Taskbar icons.

Windows key + Left arrow

Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the left side for side by side viewing.

Windows key + Right arrow

Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the right side for side by side viewing.

Windows key + Up arrow

When in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to full size.

Windows key + Down arrow

Minimizes the screen. Also, when in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to a minimized size.

Windows 8

Peek at the Windows desktop.

Snap a Windows App to the sides of the screen. Pressing it multiple times switches between the right and left side of the screen or unsnap the app.

Windows key + Enter

Open Windows Narrator.

Cycle through desktop gadgets.

Open Share in Charms.

Open the Settings in Charms.

Switch between snapped apps.

Open Devices in Charms.

Lock the screen orientation.

Open the Power User Menu, which gives you access to many of the features most power users would want to use such as Device Manager, Control Panel, Event Viewer, Command Prompt, and much more.

Windows 10

Peek at the Windows desktop.

Open the Windows 10 Action Center.

Open the Game bar. Only works if a game is running.

Open the Windows 10 Settings window.

Open the Windows Search utility.

Open the Power User Menu, which gives you access to many of the features most power users would want to use such as Device Manager, Control Panel, Event Viewer, Command Prompt, and much more.

Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility

Accessibility shortcuts can help you use your PC with a keyboard or assistive device.

The following is a list of keyboard shortcuts for assistive technologies in Windows 10, including Magnifier, high contrast, and others.

To see a list of keyboard shortcuts and touch gestures for Narrator in Windows 10, see Narrator keyboard commands and touch gestures.

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

Windows logo key + Plus sign (+)

Turn Magnifier on

Windows logo key + Esc

Turn Magnifier off

Windows logo key + Plus sign (+) or Minus sign (-)

When Magnifier is on, zoom in or out

Ctrl + Alt + mouse scroll wheel

Zoom in and out using the mouse scroll wheel

Windows logo key + Ctrl + M

Open Magnifier settings

Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys

Pan in the direction of the arrow keys

Switch to full screen view

Switch to lens view

Switch to docked view

Cycle through views

Resize the lens with the mouse

Shift + Alt + arrow keys

Resize the lens with the keyboard

Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar

Quickly see the entire desktop when using full screen view

Magnifier reading commands

Windows logo key + Plus sign (+)

Turn Magnifier on

Start, pause, and resume reading

Modifier key + Enter

Read from mouse pointer

Modifier key + Left Mouse click

Read previous sentence

Modifier key + H

Read next sentence

Modifier key + K

For more info about Magnifier reading, see How to use Magnifier reading

Additional accessibility keyboard shortcuts

Right Shift for eight seconds

Turn Filter Keys on and off

Left Alt + left Shift + Print screen

Turn High Contrast on or off

Left Alt + left Shift + Num lock

Turn Mouse Keys on or off

Shift five times

Turn Sticky Keys on or off

Num lock for five seconds

Turn Toggle Keys on or off

Windows logo key + U

Open the Ease of Access Center

Windows logo key + Ctrl + C

Turn color filters on or off

Windows logo key + Ctrl + N

Open Narrator settings

Windows logo key + Ctrl + S

Turn on Windows Speech Recognition

Windows logo key + Ctrl + O

Turn on the On-Screen Keyboard

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts to help control Windows 8.1 with the keyboard.

Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your PC easier to use.

Right Shift for eight seconds

Turn Filter Keys on and off

Left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen

Turn High Contrast on or off

Left Alt + left Shift + Num Lock

Turn Mouse Keys on or off

Shift five times

Turn Sticky Keys on or off

Num Lock for five seconds

Turn Toggle Keys on or off

Windows logo key + U

Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.

Windows logo key + plus (+) or minus (-)

Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar

Preview the desktop in full-screen mode

Switch to docked mode

Switch to full-screen mode

Switch to lens mode

Resize the lens

Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys

Pan in the direction of the arrow keys

Windows logo key + Esc

Narrator keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator.

Spacebar or Enter

Activate current item

Tab and arrow keys

Move around on the screen

Caps Lock + Page Up or Page Down

Increase or decrease the volume of the voice

Caps Lock + plus (+) or minus (-)

Increase or decrease the speed of the voice

Caps Lock + Spacebar

Do default action

Caps Lock + Left or Right arrows

Move to previous/next item

Show commands for current item

Press Caps Lock twice in quick succession

Turn Caps Lock on or off

Narrator touch keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator on a four-point tablet.

Tap once with two fingers

Stop Narrator from reading

Tap three times with four fingers

Show all Narrator commands (including the ones not in this list)

Activate primary action

Activate secondary action

Touch or drag a single finger

Read what’s under your fingers

Flick left/right with one finger

Move to next or previous item

Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers

Swipe down with three fingers

Start reading on explorable text

Additional keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts to help control Windows 7 with the keyboard.

Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your PC easier to use.

Right Shift for eight seconds

Turn Filter Keys on and off

Left Alt + left Shift + Print Screen

Turn High Contrast on or off

Left Alt + left Shift + Num Lock

Turn Mouse Keys on or off

Shift five times

Turn Sticky Keys on or off

Num Lock for five seconds

Turn Toggle Keys on or off

Windows logo key + U

Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.

Windows logo key + plus (+) or minus (-)

Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar

Preview the desktop in full-screen mode

Switch to docked mode

Switch to full-screen mode

Switch to lens mode

Resize the lens

Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys

Pan in the direction of the arrow keys

Windows logo key + Esc

Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs

You can create keyboard shortcuts to open programs. Before you get started, you need to create a shortcut for the program to which you want to assign a keyboard shortcut. To do this, open the folder that contains the program’s executable file, right-click it, and then click Create Shortcut.

For more information about creating shortcuts to programs, see Create or delete a shortcut.

Locate the shortcut to the program that you want to create a keyboard shortcut for.

Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.

In the Shortcut Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab.

Click in the Shortcut key box, press the key on your keyboard that you want to use in combination with Ctrl + Alt (keyboard shortcuts automatically start with Ctrl + Alt), and then click OK. If you’re prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

If you’re using a program that also has a keyboard shortcut using the same key combination as the shortcut you just created, then your shortcut might not work.

The word None appears in the Shortcut key box until you press a key; then it’s replaced with Ctrl + Alt + the key that you pressed.

You can’t use the Esc, Enter, Tab, Spacebar, PrtScn, Shift, or Backspace keys to create a keyboard shortcut.