Hide allKeyboard shortcuts
.Keyboard shortcuts are combinations of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device. Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer, saving you time and effort as you work with Windows and other programs.
Most programs also provide accelerator keys that can make it easier to work with menus and other commands. Check the menus of programs for accelerator keys. If a letter is underlined in a menu, that usually means that pressing the Alt key in combination with the underlined key will have the same effect as clicking that menu item.Pressing the Alt key in some programs, such as Paint and WordPad, shows commands that are labeled with additional keys that you can press to use them.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your computer easier to use.
Press this key | To do this |
Right Shift for eight seconds | Turn Filter Keys on and off |
Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn (or PrtScn) | 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 |
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts.
Press this key | To do this |
F1 | Display Help |
Ctrl+C | Copy the selected item |
Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item |
Ctrl+V | Paste the selected item |
Ctrl+Z | Undo an action |
Ctrl+Y | Redo an action |
Delete | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin |
Shift+Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
F2 | Rename the selected item |
Ctrl+Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
Ctrl+Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
Ctrl+Down Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
Ctrl+Up Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key | Select a block of text |
Shift with any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the dekstop, or select text within a document |
Ctrl with any arrow key+Spacebar | Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
Alt+Enter | Display properties for the selected item |
Alt+F4 | Close the active item, or exit the active program |
Alt+Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
Ctrl+F4 | Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously) |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open items |
Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Use the arrow keys to switch between open items |
Ctrl+Mouse scroll wheel | Change the size of icons on the desktop |
Windows logo key +Tab | Cycle through programs on the taksbar by using Aero Flip 3-D |
Ctrl+Windows logo key +Tab | Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D |
Alt+Esc | Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened |
F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
F4 | Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer |
Shift+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
Ctrl+Esc | Open the Start menu |
Alt+underlined letter | Display the corresponding menu |
Alt+underlined letter | Perform the menu command (or other underlined command) |
F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
Right Arrow | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
Left Arrow | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
Alt+Up Arrow | View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer |
Esc | Cancel the current task |
Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager |
Shift when you insert a CD | Prevent the CD from automatically playing |
- Ctrl+Alt+Break and Ctrl+Alt+End are available in all Remote Desktop sessions, even when you've set up the remote computer to recognize Windows keyboard shortcuts.
Paint keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint.
Press this key | To do this |
Ctrl+N | Create a new picture |
Ctrl+O | Open an existing picture |
Ctrl+S | Save changes to a picture |
F12 | Save the picture as a new file |
Ctrl+P | Print a picture |
Alt+F4 | Close a picture and its Paint window |
Ctrl+Z | Undo a change |
Ctrl+Y | Redo a change |
Ctrl+A | Select the entire picture |
Ctrl+X | Cut a selection |
Ctrl+C | Copy a selection to the Clipboard |
Ctrl+V | Paste a selection from the Clipboard |
Right Arrow | Move the selection or active shape right by one pixel |
Left Arrow | Move the selection or active shape left by one pixel |
Down Arrow | Move the selection or active shape down by one pixel |
Up Arrow | Move the selection or active shape up by one pixel |
Esc | Cancel a selection |
Delete | Delete a selection |
Ctrl+B | Bold selected text |
Ctrl++ | Increase the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel |
Ctrl+- | Decrease the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel |
Ctrl+I | Italicize selected text |
Ctrl+U | Underline selected text |
Ctrl+E | Open the Properties dialog box |
Ctrl+W | Open the Resize and Skew dialog box |
Ctrl+Page Up | Zoom in |
Ctrl+Page Down | Zoom out |
F11 | View a picture in full-screen mode |
Ctrl+R | Show or hide the ruler |
Ctrl+G | Show or hide gridlines |
F10 or Alt | Display keytips |
Shift+F10 | Show the current shortcut menu |
F1 | Open Paint Help |