Keyboard shortcuts are the combination of two or more keyboard keys held down at an instant to execute a command. This is a fast way of working out many commands on the computer. The user holds down the command action key first before pressing the alphabet key. Follow the format which it is stated; for example, Ctrl + C, press down “control key (ctrl)” first before pressing the “C” key on the keyboard. Follow this order to get it right. In other cases, you must select the item or highlight it.
Most shortcuts work in every application/software, while a few works in some cases. These shortcuts are used anywhere and anytime in the running of the PC. They are handy and helpful in getting things done in a quick way.
NOTES:
- Ctrl :- control
- Alt :- alternative
- Fn :- function key predecessor. Some keyboards make it necessary to hold down this key before pressing any function key (f1 to f12).
- + :- this denotes you hold down the first key and press the second key to execute the command.
KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts:
Ctrl + C – Copy command. Copy word, text, file, or group of items to the clipboard. It retains its original file. This command duplicates a copied item to a new place.
Ctrl + X – Cut command. Cut word, text, file, or group of items to the clipboard for pasting. This command doesn’t keep the original file. It moves the item permanently to the paste place. It is a move command on the PC.
Ctrl + V – Paste command. This command puts the copied or cuts item to the desired place. This command comes after copying or cutting an item.
Ctrl + Z – Undo command. This reverts back an immediate action to the previous state. It reverts back one-step at a time.
Ctrl + O – Open command. Open a saved console or file.
Ctrl + N – New command. Open a new console. Necessary when creating a new file or folder.
Ctrl + S – Save command. Save the open console.
Ctrl + M – Add or remove a console item.
Ctrl + W – Close an active window.
Ctrl while dragging an item – Copy the selected item to the place you release your mouse.
Ctrl + Shift while dragging an item – Create a shortcut of the item.
Ctrl + Right Arrow – Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. Useful in text-based applications.
Ctrl + Left Arrow – Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down Arrow – Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up Arrow – Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift with any of the Arrow Keys – Highlight a block of text.
Ctrl + A – Select all items in the window/display.
Ctrl + F10 – Maximize the active console window.
Ctrl + F5 – Restore the active console window.
Ctrl + Esc – Display the start menu.
Ctrl + P – Print the current page or active pane.
Ctrl + F4 – Close the active document in programs that support multiple open documents. Close active console.
F1 key – Open the help topic, if any, for the selected item. It displays help in applications.
F2 key – Rename an item.
F3 key – Search for a file, text or a folder. This is a search shortcut.
F4 key – Display the address bar list in my computer or windows explorer.
F5 key – Update the content of all console windows. This command simply updates the active window.
F6 key – Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F10 key – Activate the menu bar in the active program. You can navigate straight to menu items in an application.
Right arrow – (after the above command, f10 key), open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
Left arrow – (after pressing F10 key) Open the next menu to the left or close a submenu.
F12 Key After booting On PC – Boot from media devices (CD-ROM, Flash Disk).
Alt + Space-bar – Display the Microsoft Management Console window menu.
Alt + A – Display the action menu.
Alt + V – Display the view menu.
Alt + F – Display the file menu.
Alt + O – Display the favorites menu.
Alt + Enter – Display the properties of an item or a selected object; to get more information about the item.
Alt + Space-bar – Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Tab – Switch between the open programs. This shows a stack list of running applications for easy selection.
Alt + Esc – Cycle through displaying programs in order of execution.
Alt + Space-bar – Display the system menu for the active window in a program.
Alt + Underlined letter in a menu name – Display the corresponding menu.
Alt + Minus Sign(-) – Display the window menu for the active console window.
Alt + Enter – Display the properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item.
Alt + F4 – Close the active item, or quits an active program. You can use the power menu with this command.
Backspace – View the folder one level up in my computer or windows explorer. You must be in windows navigation.
Esc – Cancel the current task. This is useful when leaving a current selection.
Shift when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM Drive – Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing. Stop the Auto-play function.
Delete – Delete command. Delete a selected item, text, etc to the recycle bin. It makes it possible for easy recovery.
Shift + Delete – Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
Shift with any of the Arrow Keys – Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + F10 – Display the shortcut menu for an item in selection.
DIALOG BOX KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Ctrl + Tab – Move forward through the tabs.
Shift + Tab – Move backward through the options.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab – Move backward through the tabs.
Tab – Move forward through the options. Shift the cursor some inches forward in word applications.
Alt + Underlined Letter – Perform the corresponding command or selects the corresponding option.
Enter – Perform the command for the active option or button. This is an accept key of the PC.
Space-bar – Select or Clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
F4 key – Display the items in the active list.
Arrow Keys – Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
Backspace – Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the save as or open dialog box.
WINDOWS KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Windows Logo – Display or hide the Start menu.
Windows Logo + BREAK – Display the System Properties dialog box.
Windows Logo + D – Display the desktop.
Windows Logo + M – Minimize all open applications to the taskbar.
Windows Logo + SHIFT + M – Restore all the minimized applications.
Windows Logo + E – Opens My Computer interface.
Windows Logo + F – Search for a file or a folder.
CTRL + Windows Logo + F – Search for computers in a network.
Windows Logo + F1 – Display Windows Help to search for further helpful information.
Windows Logo + L – Lock the computer.
Windows Logo + R – Open the Run dialog box. Run dialog box is useful in executing the desired command.
Windows Logo + U – Open Utility Manager.
ACCESSIBILITY KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
Hold Right Shift Key for Eight seconds – Switch Filter Keys either on or off.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen – Switch High Contrast either on or off.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock – Switch the Mouse Keys either on or off.
Shift Five Times – Switch the Sticky Keys either on or off.
Hold Num Lock for Five seconds – Switch the Toggle Keys either on or off.
WINDOWS EXPLORER KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS
End – Display the bottom of the active window.
Home – Display the top of the active window.
Num Lock + Asterisk sign(*) – Display all the sub-folders under the folder in selection.
Num Lock + Plus sign(+) – Display the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + Minus sign(-) – Collapse the selected folder.
Left Arrow – (after the above command) Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder.
Right Arrow – (like the top command above) Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder.
SHORTCUT KEYS FOR CHARACTER MAP
After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:
Right Arrow – Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line.
Left Arrow – Move to the left or to the end of the previous line.
Up Arrow – Move up one row.
Down Arrow – Move down one row.
Page Up – Move up one screen at a time.
Page Down – Move down one screen at a time.
Home – Move to the beginning of the line. END – Move to the end of the line.
Ctrl + Home – Move to the first character.
Ctrl + End – Move to the last character.
Spacebar – Switch between Enlarged and Normal mode when a character is selected.
REMOTE DESKTOP CONNECTION NAVIGATION
Ctrl + Alt + End – Open the Microsoft Windows NT Security dialog box.
Alt + Page Up – Switch between programs from left to right.
Alt + Page Down – Switch between programs from right to left.
Alt + Insert – Cycle through the programs in most recently used order.
Alt + Home – Display the Start menu.
Ctrl + Alt + Break – Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen.
Alt + Delete – Display the Windows menu.
Ctrl + Alt + Minus sign (-) – Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and offer the same functionality as pressing Print Screen on a local computer.
Ctrl + Alt+ Plus sign (+) – Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and offer the same functionality as pressing Alt + Print Screen on a local computer.
MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER NAVIGATION
Ctrl + B – Opens the Organize Favorites dialog box.
Ctrl + E – Opens the Search bar.
Ctrl + F – Starts the Find utility.
Ctrl + H – Opens the History bar.
Ctrl + I – Opens the Favorites bar.
Ctrl + L – Opens the Open dialog box.
Ctrl + N – Starts another instance of the browser with the same Web address.
Ctrl + O – Opens the Open dialog box, the same as Ctrl + L.
Ctrl + P – Opens the Print dialog box.
Ctrl + R – Updates the current Web page.
Ctrl + W – Closes the current window
