Important Keyboard Shortcuts List For Computer

Posted: Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Important Shortcuts Keys For Computer

Keyboard Shortcuts

Below is an important overview followed by a comprehensive set of shortcut keys organized into categories. Mastering these keyboard shortcuts not only enhances your productivity but also streamlines your workflow by reducing the reliance on mouse clicks.

Shortcut	Action
CTRL+A	Select All
CTRL+C	Copy
CTRL+X	Cut
CTRL+V	Paste
CTRL+Z	Undo
CTRL+B	Bold
CTRL+U	Underline
CTRL+I	Italic
F1	Help
F2	Rename selected object
F3	Find all files
F4	Opens file list drop-down in dialogs
F5	Refresh current window
F6	Shifts focus in Windows Explorer
F10	Activates menu bar options
ALT+TAB	Cycles between open applications
ALT+F4	Quit program, close current window
ALT+F6	Switch between current program windows
ALT+ENTER	Opens properties dialog
ALT+SPACE	System menu for current window
ALT+¢	Opens drop-down lists in dialog boxes
BACKSPACE	Switch to parent folder
CTRL+ESC	Opens Start menu
CTRL+ALT+DEL	Opens task manager, reboots the computer
CTRL+TAB	Move through property tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+DRAG	Create shortcut (also right-click, drag)
CTRL+DRAG	Copy File
ESC	Cancel last function
SHIFT	Press/hold SHIFT, insert CD-ROM to bypass auto-play
SHIFT+DRAG	Move file
SHIFT+F10	Opens context menu (same as right-click)
SHIFT+DELETE	Full wipe delete (bypasses Recycle Bin)
ALT+underlined letter	Opens the corresponding menu

Document Cursor Controls

Shortcut	Action
HOME	Go to beginning of line or far left of field/screen
END	Go to end of line or far right of field/screen
CTRL+HOME	Go to the top
CTRL+END	Go to the bottom
PAGE UP	Move document/dialog box up one page
PAGE DOWN	Move document/dialog box down one page
ARROW KEYS	Move focus in documents, dialogs, etc.
CTRL+>	Move to the next word
CTRL+SHIFT+>	Select the next word

Windows Explorer Tree Control

Shortcut	Action
Numeric Keypad *	Expand all under current selection
Numeric Keypad +	Expand current selection
Numeric Keypad –	Collapse current selection
¦	Expand current selection or go to first child
‰	Collapse current selection or go to parent

Special Characters

Character Description	Alt Code
Opening single quote (‘)	Alt+0145
Closing single quote (’)	Alt+0146
Opening double quote (“)	Alt+0147
Closing double quote (”)	Alt+0148
En dash (–)	Alt+0150
Em dash (—)	Alt+0151
Ellipsis (…)	Alt+0133
Bullet (•)	Alt+0149
Registration Mark (®️)	Alt+0174
Copyright (©️)	Alt+0169
Trademark (™️)	Alt+0153
Degree symbol (°)	Alt+0176
Cent sign (¢)	Alt+0162
1⁄4	Alt+0188
1⁄2	Alt+0189
3⁄4	Alt+0190

Additional Special Characters

Character	Alt Code
é	Alt+0233
É	Alt+0201
ñ	Alt+0241
÷	Alt+0247

General PC Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
Alt + E	Open Edit options in current program
F1	Universal help (for all programs)
Ctrl + A	Select all text
Ctrl + X	Cut selected item
Shift + Del	Cut selected item
Ctrl + C	Copy selected item
Ctrl + Ins	Copy selected item
Ctrl + V	Paste
Shift + Ins	Paste
Home	Go to beginning of current line
Ctrl + Home	Go to beginning of document
End	Go to end of current line
Ctrl + End	Go to end of document
Shift + Home	Highlight from current position to beginning of line
Shift + End	Highlight from current position to end of line
Ctrl + F	Move one word to the left at a time
Ctrl + G	Move one word to the right at a time

Microsoft® Windows® Shortcut Keys

Shortcut	Action
Alt + Tab	Switch between open applications
Alt + Shift + Tab	Switch backwards between open applications
Alt + Print Screen	Create a screenshot for the current program
Ctrl + Alt + Del	Open Windows® task manager / reboot
Ctrl + Esc	Bring up the Start menu
Alt + Esc	Switch between applications on the taskbar
F2	Rename selected icon
F3	Start Find from desktop
F4	Open the drive selection when browsing
F5	Refresh contents
Alt + F4	Close the current open program
Ctrl + F4	Close the current window in a program
Ctrl + Plus Key	Automatically adjust column widths in Windows Explorer
Alt + Enter	Open properties window for the selected icon or program
Shift + F10	Simulate a right-click on the selected item
Shift + Del	Permanently delete programs/files (bypassing the Recycle Bin)
(Holding Shift during Bootup)	Boot in safe mode or bypass system files
(Holding Shift when inserting an audio CD)	Prevent CD Player from auto-playing

WINKEY Shortcut Keys

Shortcut	Action
WINKEY + D	Bring desktop to the top of other windows
WINKEY + M	Minimize all windows
WINKEY + SHIFT + M	Restore minimized windows (undo WINKEY + M/D)
WINKEY + E	Open Microsoft Explorer
WINKEY + Tab	Cycle through open programs on the taskbar
WINKEY + F	Display the Windows® Search/Find feature
WINKEY + CTRL + F	Open the search for computers window
WINKEY + F1	Open Microsoft® Windows® help
WINKEY + R	Open the Run window
WINKEY + Pause/Break	Open the System Properties window
WINKEY + U	Open Utility Manager
WINKEY + L	Lock the computer (Windows XP® and later)

Outlook® Shortcut Keys

Shortcut	Action
Alt + S	Send the email
Ctrl + C	Copy selected text
Ctrl + X	Cut selected text
Ctrl + P	Open print dialog box
Ctrl + K	Complete name/email typed in the address bar
Ctrl + B	Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I	Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + U	Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + R	Reply to an email
Ctrl + F	Forward an email
Ctrl + N	Create a new email
Ctrl + Shift + A	Create a new appointment to your calendar
Ctrl + Shift + O	Open the Outbox
Ctrl + Shift + I	Open the Inbox
Ctrl + Shift + K	Add a new task
Ctrl + Shift + C	Create a new contact
Ctrl + Shift + J	Create a new journal entry

Word® Shortcut Keys

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl + A	Select all contents of the page
Ctrl + B	Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + C	Copy selected text
Ctrl + X	Cut selected text
Ctrl + N	Open a new/blank document
Ctrl + O	Open an existing document/options
Ctrl + P	Open the Print window
Ctrl + F	Open the Find box
Ctrl + I	Italicize highlighted selection
Ctrl + K	Insert a hyperlink
Ctrl + U	Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + V	Paste
Ctrl + Y	Redo the last action performed
Ctrl + Z	Undo the last action
Ctrl + G	Open Find and Replace options
Ctrl + H	Open Find and Replace options
Ctrl + J	Justify paragraph alignment
Ctrl + L	Align text to the left
Ctrl + Q	Remove paragraph formatting (align left)
Ctrl + E	Center align text

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Yamin Hossain Shohan

Software Engineer, Researcher & Digital Creator

I'm a researcher, software engineer, and digital creator who uses technology and creativity to make useful tools and create interesting content.

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