Keyboard Access
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Access Through the Keyboard
Using the computer by manipulating a mouse or alternative device can sometimes be a difficult, cumbersome, or uncomfortable experience. In order to make using the computer and common programs easier and more intuitive, Windows is equipped with an extensive array of keyboard "shortcuts." The shortcuts allow the user to perform common tasks such as manipulating text, opening and closing programs, managing files, and surfing the web with a few short keystrokes. With a good memory and consistent use, keyboard shortcuts can make time spent in front of the computer more comfortable and productive.
A complete list of keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft products can be found on Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Products page.
Accessibility Options
In addition to keyboard shortcuts, Windows comes with many built in "accessibility" features. They can be used to modify the behavior of the keyboard, mouse, and monitor, making them easier to use. For more information and to activate these features, click on "Accessibility Options" in the Windows Control Panel.
Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows System Key Combinations
- F1: Help
- CTRL+ESC: Open Start menu
- ALT+TAB: Switch between open programs
- ALT+F4: Quit program
- SHIFT+DELETE: Delete item permanently
Windows Program Key Combinations
- CTRL+C: Copy
- CTRL+X: Cut
- CTRL+V: Paste
- CTRL+Z: Undo
- CTRL+B: Bold
- CTRL+U: Underline
- CTRL+I: Italic
Mouse Click/Keyboard Modifier Combinations for Shell Objects
- SHIFT+right click: Displays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
- SHIFT+double click: Runs the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
- ALT+double click: Displays properties
- SHIFT+DELETE: Deletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin
General Keyboard-Only Commands
- F1: Starts Windows Help
- F10: Activates menu bar options
- SHIFT+F10 Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
- CTRL+ESC: Opens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
- CTRL+ESC or ESC: Selects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar, or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
- ALT+DOWN ARROW: Opens a drop-down list box
- ALT+TAB: Switch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
- SHIFT: Press and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
- ALT+SPACE: Displays the main window's System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
- ALT+- (ALT+hyphen): Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window's System menu (from the MDI child window's System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
- CTRL+TAB: Switch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
- ALT+ underlined letter in menu : Opens the menu
- ALT+F4: Closes the current window
- CTRL+F4: Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
- ALT+F6: Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)
Shell Objects and General Folder/Windows Explorer Shortcuts
For a selected object:- F2: Rename object
- F3: Find all files
- CTRL+X: Cut
- CTRL+C: Copy
- CTRL+V: Paste
- SHIFT+DELETE: Delete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
- ALT+ENTER: Open the properties for the selected object
To Copy a File
Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.To Create a Shortcut
Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.General Folder/Shortcut Control
- F4: Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
- F5: Refreshes the current window.
- F6: Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
- CTRL+Z: Undo the last command
- CTRL+A: Select all the items in the current window
- BACKSPACE: Switch to the parent folder
- SHIFT+click+ Close button: For folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders
Windows Explorer Tree Control
- Numeric Keypad *: Expands everything under the current selection
- Numeric Keypad +: Expands the current selection
- Numeric Keypad -: Collapses the current selection.
- RIGHT ARROW: Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
- LEFT ARROW: Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent
Properties Control
- CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TAB: Move through the property tabs
Accessibility Shortcuts
- Press SHIFT five times: Turns StickyKeys on and off
- Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Turns FilterKeys on and off
- Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five seconds: Turns ToggleKeys on and off
- Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK: Turns MouseKeys on and off
- Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN: Turns high contrast on and off
Dialog Box Keyboard Commands
- TAB: Move to the next control in the dialog box
- SHIFT+TAB: Move to the previous control in the dialog box
- SPACEBAR: If the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
- ENTER: Equivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
- ESC: Equivalent to clicking the Cancel button
- ALT+ underlined letter in dialog box item : Move to the corresponding item
