Windows Vista shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcut	Description
Windows + E	Windows Explorer
Windows + D	Show Desktop
Windows + B	Focuses selection to the first icon on the notification area, use arrow keys to navigate and Spacebar to select
Windows + F	Find Files and Folders (AKA Search)
Windows + Tab	3D-Flip cycles through your standard applications (only available for Vista versions with Aero enabled)
Windows + Ctrl + Tab	Launches 3D-Flip but stays on the desktop so that you can scroll in directions
Windows + M	Minimize all windows
Windows + Shift + M	Undo minimize all windows
Windows + R	Open Run window
Windows + Pause/Break	System Information
Windows + F1	Windows Help
Windows + U	Ease of Access
Windows + Spacebar	Displays Windows Sidebar (provided enabled)
Windows + L	Locks the computer (needs password to reactivate)
Windows + T	Tabs through applications on the taskbar
Ctrl + Shift + Escape	Launches the Task Manager

My daily work become faster after I've got used to the Windows shortcuts. Hopefully this list could help your life a lot easier too.

Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can make it easier to interact with your computer because you don't need to use the mouse as often.

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+PRINT SCREEN (or PRTSCRN)				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

General keyboard shortcuts

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 desktop, 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 taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
CTRL+Windows logo key +TAB			Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows 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

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.

Press this key			To do this
CTRL+TAB			Move forward through tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB			Move back through tabs
TAB			Move forward through options
SHIFT+TAB			Move back through options
ALT+underlined letter			Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
ENTER			Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
SPACEBAR			Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Arrow keys			Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
F1			Display Help
F4			Display the items in the active list
BACKSPACE			Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Microsoft keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use with Microsoft keyboards.

Press this key			To do this
Windows logo key			Open or close the Start menu
Windows logo key +PAUSE			Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key +D			Display the desktop
Windows logo key +M			Minimize all windows
Windows logo key +SHIFT+M			Restore minimized windows to the desktop
Windows logo key +E			Open Computer
Windows logo key +F			Search for a file or folder
CTRL+Windows logo key +F			Search for computers (if you are on a network)
Windows logo key +L			Lock your computer or switch users
Windows logo key +R			Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key +T			Cycle through programs on the taskbar
Windows logo key +TAB			Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
CTRL+Windows logo key +TAB			Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
Windows logo key +SPACEBAR			Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
Windows logo key +G			Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
Windows logo key +U			Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key +X			Open Windows Mobility Center
Windows logo key with any number key			Open the Quick Launch shortcut that is in the position that corresponds to the number. For example, Windows logo key +1 to launch the first shortcut in the Quick Launch menu.

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Explorer windows or folders.

Press this key			To do this
CTRL+N			Open a new window
END			Display the bottom of the active window
HOME			Display the top of the active window
F11			Maximize or minimize the active window
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad			Display all subfolders under the selected folder
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad			Display the contents of the selected folder
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad			Collapse the selected folder
LEFT ARROW			Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder
ALT+LEFT ARROW			View the previous folder
RIGHT ARROW			Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder
ALT+RIGHT ARROW			View the next folder
CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel			Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
ALT+D			Select the Address bar
	Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Sidebar.

Press this key			To do this
Windows logo key +SPACEBAR			Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar
Windows logo key +G			Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
TAB			Cycle through Sidebar controls

Windows Photo Gallery keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Photo Gallery.

Press this key			To do this
CTRL+F			Open the Fix pane
CTRL+P			Print the selected picture
ENTER			View the selected picture at a larger size
CTRL+I			Open or close the Details pane
CTRL+PERIOD (.)			Rotate the picture clockwise
CTRL+COMMA (,)			Rotate the picture counter-clockwise
F2			Rename the selected item
CTRL+E			Search for an item
ALT+LEFT ARROW			Go back
ALT+RIGHT ARROW			Go forward
PLUS SIGN (+)			Zoom in or resize the picture thumbnail
MINUS SIGN (-)			Zoom out or resize the picture thumbnail
CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel			Change the size of the picture thumbnail
CTRL+B			Best fit
LEFT ARROW			Select the previous item
DOWN ARROW			Select the next item or row
UP ARROW			Previous item (Easel) or previous row (Thumbnail)
PAGE UP			Previous screen
PAGE DOWN			Next screen
HOME			Select the first item
END			Select the last item
DELETE			Move the selected item to the Recycle Bin
SHIFT+DELETE			Permanently delete the selected item
LEFT ARROW			Collapse node
RIGHT ARROW			Expand node
Keyboard shortcuts for working with videos
J			Move back one frame
K			Pause the playback
L			Move forward one frame
I			Set the start trim point
O			Set the end trim point
M			Split a clip
HOME			Stop and rewind all the way back to the start trim point
ALT+RIGHT ARROW			Advance to the next frame
ALT+LEFT ARROW			Go back to the previous frame
CTRL+K			Stop and rewind playback
CTRL+P			Play from the current location
HOME			Move the start trim point
END			Move to the end trim point
PAGE UP			Seek to nearest split point before the current location
PAGE DOWN			Seek to nearest split point after the current location
	Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.

Press this key	To do this
ALT+C	Display the Table of Contents
ALT+N	Display the Connection Settings menu
F10	Display the Options menu
ALT+LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic
ALT+RIGHT ARROW	Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic
ALT+A	Display the customer support page
ALT+HOME	Display the Help and Support home page
HOME	Move the to beginning of a topic
END	Move to the end of a topic
CTRL+F	Search the current topic
CTRL+P	Print a topic
F3	Move to the Search box

 

Managing Windows

Alt+F4	Close the active window
Alt+Tab	Switch to previous active window
Alt+Esc	Cycle through all open windows
Win+Tab	Flip 3D [more info]
Ctrl+Win+Tab	Persistent Flip 3D
Win+T	Cycle through applications on taskbar (showing its live preview)
Win+M	Minimize all open windows
Win+Shift+M	Undo all window minimization
Win+D	Toggle showing the desktop

Starting Programs

Win+1	Open the first program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+2	Open the second program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+n	Open the nth program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+U	Open the ease of access center
Win+F	Open the search window
Win+X	Open the Mobility Center
Win+E	Open Explorer
Win+R	Open the Run window [more info]
Win+B	Move focus to notification tray (the right-most portion of the taskbar)
Win+Pause	Open the System Properties portion from the Control Panel
Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Open Windows Task Manager

Logging In And Out

While the below shortcuts seem unwieldy because of their length, they're quite easy to remember once you try them out a few times. The → symbol stands for the right arrow key.

Win, →, →, →, Enter	Shutdown
Win, →, →, →, U	Shutdown
Win, →, →, →, R	Restart
Win, →, Enter	Sleep
Win, →, →, →, W	Switch Users
Win+L	Locks computer

Viewing Folders With Explorer

Alt+←	Go back
Alt+→	Go forward
Alt+↑	Go up a directory
Alt+D	Move focus to address bar
Alt+D, Tab	Move focus to search bar
Alt+Enter	Open the Properties window of the current selection
Ctrl+Mousewheel	Change the view type (extra large, small, list view, detail, etc.)