Complete List of Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts (Hot Keys or Accelerators)
For Windows Vista advanced users who prefer to use keyboard instead of mouse, here’s a extensive listing of keyboard accelerators (also known as keyboard shortcuts or hot keys) built-in in Windows Vista. These keyboard accelerators provide a simple keyboard alternative to frequently used command which normally will require cumbersome several repeated clicking with mouse on Windows’ graphical interface, especially for repetitive tasks. Most of the keyboard shortcuts existed since Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 era, but some of them is new to Windows Vista too.
Function Keys
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| F1 | Start Help (supported in most applications). |
| F2 | Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. |
| F3 | Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only). |
| F4 | Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes). For example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list. |
| F5 | Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and some other applications. |
| F6 | Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer. |
| F10 | Send focus to the current application’s menu. |
Miscellaneous Keys
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| Arrow Keys | Basic navigation - move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on. |
| Backspace | Move up one level in the folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only). |
| Delete | Delete selected item(s) or selected text. |
| Down arrow | Open a drop-down listbox. |
| End | Go to end of line when editing text, or to the end of file list. |
| Enter | Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text. |
| Esc | Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel). |
| Home | Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or to the beginning of file list. |
| Page Down | Scroll down one screen. |
| Page Up | Scroll up one screen. |
| PrintScreen | Copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard. |
| Space Bar | Toggle a checkbox that is selected in a dialog box, activate the command button with the focus, or toggle the selection of files when selecting multiple files with Ctrl. |
| Tab | Move focus to next control in a dialog box or window (hold Shift to go backward). |
Alt Key Combinations
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| Alt | Send focus to the menu (same as F10). Also turns on the menu in applications where it is no longer used by default, such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. |
| Alt-x | Activate menu or dialog control, where letter x is underlined (if the underlines are not visible, pressing Alt will display them). |
| Alt-double-click (on icon) | Display Properties sheet. |
| Alt-Enter | Display Properties sheet for selected icon in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. Also switches command prompt between windowed and full-screen display. |
| Alt-Esc | Drop active window to bottom of pile, which, in effect, activates next open window. |
| Alt-F4 | Close current window; if Taskbar or Desktop has the focus, exit Windows. |
| Alt-hyphen | Open the current document’s system menu in a multiple document interface (MDI) application. |
| Alt-numbers | When used with the numbers on the numeric keypad only, inserts special characters corresponding to their ASCII codes into many applications. For example, press the Alt key and type 0169 for the copyright symbol. Check characters map for full list of codes. |
| Alt-PrintScreen | Copy active window as a bitmap to the Clipboard. |
| Alt-Shift-Tab | Same as Alt-Tab, but in the opposite direction. |
| Alt-Space Bar | Open the current window’s system menu. |
| Alt-Tab | Switch to the next running applicationhold Alt while pressing Tab to cycle through running applications. |
| Alt-M | When the Taskbar has the focus, minimize all windows and move focus to the Desktop. |
| Alt-S | When the Taskbar has the focus, open the Start menu. |
Ctrl Key Combinations
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| Ctrl-A | Select all; in Windows Explorer, selects all files in the current folder. In word processors, selects all text in the current document. |
| Ctrl-Alt-x | User-defined accelerator for a shortcut, in which x is any key. |
| Ctrl-Alt-Delete | Show the logon dialog when no user is currently logged on; otherwise, switch to the Windows Security dialog, which provides access to Task Manager and Log Off, as well as switching to another user, allowing you to change your password or lock the computer. Use Ctrl-Alt-Delete to access the Task Manager when Explorer crashes or your computer becomes unresponsive. |
| Ctrl-arrow key | Scroll without moving selection. |
| Ctrl-click | Use to select multiple, noncontiguous items in a list or in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl-drag | Copy a file. |
| Ctrl-End | Move to the end of a document (in many applications). |
| Ctrl-Esc | Open the Start menu; press Esc and then Tab to move focus to the Taskbar, or press Tab again to move focus to the Taskbar, and then cycle through the toolbars on the Taskbar every time you press Tab. |
| Ctrl-F4 | Close a document window in an MDI application. |
| Ctrl-F6 | Switch between multiple documents in an MDI application. Similar to Ctrl-Tab; hold Shift to go in reverse. |
| Ctrl-Home | Move to the beginning of a document (in many applications). |
| Ctrl-Space Bar | Select or deselect multiple, noncontiguous items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl-Tab | Switch among tabs in a tabbed dialog or Internet Explorer; hold Shift to go in reverse. |
| Ctrl-C | Copy the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. Also interrupts some command prompt applications. |
| Ctrl-F | Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only). |
| Ctrl-V | Paste the contents of the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl-X | Cut the selected item or selected text to the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl-Z | Undo; for example, erases text just entered, and repeals the last file operation in Windows Explorer. |
Shift Key Combinations
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| Shift | While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay. |
| Shift-arrow keys | Select text or select multiple items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer. |
| Shift-click | Select all items between currently selected item and item on which you’re clicking; also works when selecting text. |
| Shift-click Close button | Close current folder and all parent folders (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only). |
| Shift-Alt-Tab | Same as Alt-Tab, but in reverse. |
| Shift-Ctrl-Tab | Same as Ctrl-Tab, but in reverse. |
| Shift-Ctrl-Esc | Open the Task Manager. |
| Shift-Delete | Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin. |
| Shift-double-click | Open folder in two-pane Explorer view. |
| Shift-Tab | Same as Tab, but in reverse. |
Windows Logo Key (WIN) Combinations
| Shortcut Key | Function(s) |
| WIN | Open the Start menu. |
| WIN-Tab | If the Aero interface is active, this activates Windows Flip 3D. |
| WIN-Pause/Break | Display System Control Panel applet. |
| WIN-Space bar | Display the Sidebar. |
| WIN-D | Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop. |
| WIN-E | Start Windows Explorer. |
| WIN-F | Launch Search. |
| Ctrl-WIN-F | Search for a computer on your network (requires Active Directory). |
| WIN-L | Lock computer, requiring password to regain access. |
| WIN-M | Minimize current window. |
| Shift-WIN-M | Undo minimize current window. |
| WIN-R | Display Run dialog. |
| WIN-U | Open the Ease of Access Center. |
For keyboard accelerators listed by function, refer to page 2. For keyboard shortcuts for DOS prompt, visit here.
Pages: 1 2
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April 8th, 2007 04:22
Thank you very mush
April 8th, 2007 13:24
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April 11th, 2007 22:19
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June 21st, 2007 00:25
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February 14th, 2008 09:57
problem: i have a new acer (about 120 days old) and in my gmail, this started 4 days ago. when i type a “b” the cursor goes to a previous paragraph and the letters just type there! i have to back them out, put the cursor back, and continue typing. it just did it twice typing now! why and help!!! and thanx!!!!