.

The most important shortcut keys that are used in

Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office

Action Shortcut keys

1 Change the font CTRL+SHIFT+F

2 Change the size of font CTRL+SHIFT+P

3 Increase the Font Size CTRL+SHIFT+>

4 Decrease the font size CTRL+SHIFT+<

5 Increase the font size by 1-point CTRL+]

6 Decrease the font size by 1-point CTRL+[

7 Change the case of letters SHIFT+F3

8 Close the active item ALT+F4

9 Format letters as all capitals CTRL+SHIFT+A

10 Apply or remove bold formatting CTRL+B

11 Apply or remove underline CTRL+U

12 Minimize all windows Windows logo key+M

13 Underline single word CTRL+SHIFT+W

14 Double underline text CTRL+SHIFT+D

15 Apply or remove hidden text CTRL+SHIFT+H

16 Find Files or Folders WINDOWS+F

17 Apply italic formatting CTRL+I

18 Format letters as small capitals CTRL+SHIFT+K

19 Apply automatic spacing CTRL+=

20 Remote formatting in plain text CTRL+SHIFT+Z

21 Cancel the current task ESC

22 Change the selection to symbol font CTRL+SHIFT+Q

23 Display nonprinting characters CTRL+SHIFT+*

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.

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
+ Tab X X X X X X X X between open
applications.
Alt + Display the properties of
double- the object you double-
click X X X X X X X click on. For example,
doing this on a file would
display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab Switches between
program groups or
X X X X X X X X document windows in
applications that support
this feature.
Ctrl + Shift Same as above but
X X X X X X X X
+ Tab backwards.
Alt + Print X X X X X X X X Create a screen shot only
Screen for the program you are
currently in.
Ctrl + Print Creates a screen shot of
X X X
Screen the entire screen
Ctrl + Alt + Reboot the computer
Del X X X X X X X X and/or 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
X X X X X X X X
3.x this 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
X X X X X X X X
open 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
X X X X X X X
when browsing.
F5 Refresh Contents to where
X X X X X X X
you were on the page.
Ctrl + F5 Refreshes page to the
X
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
X X X X X X X to browse in the Windows
Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4 Closes Current open
X X X X X X X X
program.
Ctrl + F4 Closes Window in
X X X X X X X X
Program.
F6 Move cursor to different
X X X X X X X
Windows Explorer pane.
Alt + Space Drops down the window
X X X X X X X X
bar control menu.
Ctrl + (the X X X X X X Automatically adjust the
'+' key on widths of all the columns
the in Windows explorer
keypad)
Alt + Enter Opens properties window
X X X X X X X of selected icon or
program.
Alt + Space Open the control menu for
X X X X X X X
bar the current window open.
Shift + Del Delete programs/files
X X X X X X X without 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
Shift X X X X X X X CD, will prevent CD Player
from playing.
Enter Activates the highlighted
X X X X X X X X
program.
Alt + Down Display all available
arrow X X X X X X X options on drop down
menu.
* (on the Expands all folders on the
keypad) currently selected folder
X X X X X X X
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
keypad) X X X X X X X selected 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 +
Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
SHIFT + 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 / Break Open the system properties window.
key
WINKEY + U Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).
Quickly change between monitor display types. (Windows 7
WINKEY + P
only)
WINKEY + LEFT Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the left side for side
ARROW by side viewing. (Windows 7 only)
WINKEY + Shrinks the window to 1/2 screen on the right side for side
RIGHT ARROW by side viewing. (Windows 7 only)
WINKEY + UP When in the side by side viewing mode, this shortcut takes
ARROW the screen back to full size. (Windows 7 only)
Minimizes the screen. Also, when in the side by side
WINKEY +
viewing mode, this shortcut takes the screen back to a
DOWN ARROW
minimized size. (Windows 7 only)
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.
Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
Ctrl + Page up
document.
Ctrl + Page Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
down document.
Ctrl + Tab Move between Two or more open Excel files.
Alt + = Create a formula to sum all of the above cells
Insert the value of the above cell into cell currently
Ctrl + '
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.
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.
Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the
Ctrl + E
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.
Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the
Ctrl + L
screen.
Ctrl + M Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + P Open the print window.
Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the
Ctrl + R
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
Ctrl + Shift + >
increases font +2pts.
Ctrl + ] Increase selected font +1pts.
Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if
Ctrl + Shift + <
above 12 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
Shift + F3 lower case or a capital letter at the beginning of
every word.
Shift + Insert Paste.
F4 Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
 Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft
F5
Word.
Ctrl + Shift + F6 Opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
Spell and grammar check selected text and/or
F7
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
drag you 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
Double-click line will make the alignment of the text left, center, or
right aligned.
Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a
Double-click
tab stop.
Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse
Triple-click
triple-clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse
Zooms in and out of document.
wheel
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