Windows 7 keyboard shortcut keys (full list)
Windows 7 comes up with interesting and useful shortcut key additions (take for instance the new windows logo key shortcuts) that are well worthy of being memorized/used. You can use this list of Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts for reference.
| General keyboard shortcuts | Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts | ||
F1 | Display Help | Right Shift for eight seconds | Turn Filter Keys on and off |
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) | Copy the selected item | Left Alt+Left Shift+PrtScn (or PrtScn) | Turn High Contrast on or off |
Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item | Left Alt+Left Shift+Num Lock | Turn Mouse Keys on or off |
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) | Paste the selected item | Shift five times | Turn Sticky Keys on or off |
Ctrl+Z | Undo an action | Num Lock for five seconds | Turn Toggle Keys on or off |
Ctrl+Y | Redo an action | Windows logo key +U | Open the Ease of Access Center |
Delete (or Ctrl+D) | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin | Windows logo key keyboard shortcut | |
Shift+Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first | Windows logo key | Open or close the Start menu. |
F2 | Rename the selected item | Windows logo key +Pause | Display the System Properties dialog box. |
Ctrl+Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word | Windows logo key +D | Display the desktop. |
Ctrl+Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word | Windows logo key | Minimize all windows. |
Ctrl+Down Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph | Windows logo key | Restore minimized windows to the desktop. |
Ctrl+Up Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph | Windows logo key | Open Computer. |
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key | Select a block of text | Windows logo key | Search for a file or folder. |
Shift with any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document | Ctrl+Windows logo key | Search for computers (if you’re on a network). |
Ctrl with any arrow key+Spacebar | Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop | Windows logo key | Lock your computer or switch users. |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window | Windows logo key | Open the Run dialog box. |
F3 | Search for a file or folder | Windows logo key | Cycle through programs on the taskbar. |
Alt+Enter | Display properties for the selected item | Windows logo key | Start |
Alt+F4 | Close the active item, or exit the active program | Shift+Windows logo key | Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
Alt+Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu for the active window | Ctrl+Windows logo key | Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
Ctrl+F4 | Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously) | Alt+Windows logo key | Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open items | Windows logo key | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D. |
Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Use the arrow keys to switch between open items | Ctrl+Windows logo key | Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D. |
Ctrl+Mouse scroll wheel | Change the size of icons on the desktop | Ctrl+Windows logo key | Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area. |
Windows logo key | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D | Windows logo key | Preview the desktop. |
Ctrl+Windows logo key | Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D | Windows logo key | Maximize the window. |
Alt+Esc | Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened | Windows logo key | Maximize the window to the left side of the screen. |
F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop | Windows logo key | Maximize the window to the right side of the screen. |
F4 | Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer | Windows logo key | Minimize the window. |
Shift+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item | Windows logo key | Minimize all but the active window. |
Ctrl+Esc | Open the Start menu | Windows logo key | Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen. |
Alt+underlined letter | Display the corresponding menu | Windows logo key | Move a window from one monitor to another. |
Alt+underlined letter | Perform the menu command (or other underlined command) | Windows logo key | Choose a presentation display mode. |
F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program | Windows logo key | Cycle through gadgets. |
Right Arrow | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu | Windows logo key | Open Ease of Access Center. |
Left Arrow | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu | Windows logo key | Open Windows Mobility Center. |
F5 (or Ctrl+R) | Refresh the active window | Taskbar keyboard shortcuts | |
Alt+Up Arrow | View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer | Shift+Click on a taskbar button | Open a program or quickly open another instance of a program |
Esc | Cancel the current task | Ctrl+Shift+Click on a taskbar button | Open a program as an administrator |
Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager | Shift+Right-click on a taskbar button | Show the window menu for the program |
Shift when you insert a CD | Prevent the CD from automatically playing | Shift+Right-click on a grouped taskbar button | Show the window menu for the group |
Left Alt+Shift | Switch the input language when multiple input languages are enabled | Ctrl+Click on a grouped taskbar button | Cycle through the windows of the group |
Ctrl+Shift | Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled | ||
Right or Left Ctrl+Shift | Change the reading direction of text in right-to-left reading languages | ||
| Dialog box keyboard shortcuts | |||
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 |
