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The below basic shortcut keys are a listing of shortcut keys that will work with
almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly
recommended that all users keep a good reference of the below short cut keys
and/or try to memorize the below keys. Doing so will dramatically increase your
productivity.
Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Windows as well as
the versions of Microsoft Windows they're supported in. If you're looking for
shortcut keys or information about how to navigate Microsoft Windows using
your keyboard instead of the mouse see document CH000791. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.
Shortcut 3.x 95 98 ME NT 2000 XP Vista Description
Keys
Alt + Tab Switch between open
X X X X X X X X
applications.
Alt + Shift + Switch backwards between
X X X X X X X X
Tab open applications.
Alt + Display the properties of the
double-click object you double-click on.
X X X X X X X For example, doing this on a
file would display its
properties.
Ctrl + Tab Switches between program
groups or document windows
X X X X X X X X
in applications that support
this feature.
Ctrl + Shift Same as above but
X X X X X X X X
+ Tab backwards.
Alt + Print Create a screen shot only for
Screen X X X X X X X X the program you are currently
in.
Ctrl + Alt + Reboot the computer and/or
Del X X X X X X X X bring up the Windows task
manager.
Ctrl + Esc Bring up the Windows Start
menu. In Windows 3.x this
X X X X X X X X
would bring up the Task
Manager.
Alt + Esc Switch Between open
X X X X X X X
applications on taskbar.
F1 Activates help for current
X X X X X X X X
open application.
F2 X X X X X X X X Renames selected Icon.
F3 X X X X X X X Starts find from desktop.
F4 X X X X X X X Opens the drive selection
when browsing.
F5 X X X X X X X Refresh Contents.
F10 X X X X X X X X Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10 Simulates right-click on
X X X X X X X
selected item.
F4 Select a different location to
X X X X X X X browse in the Windows
Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4 X X X X X X X X Closes Window in Program.
F6 Move cursor to different
X X X X X X X
Windows Explorer pane.
Ctrl + Space Drops down the window
X X X X X X X X
bar control menu.
Ctrl + (the Automatically adjust the
'+' key on X X X X X X widths of all the columns in
the keypad) Windows explorer
Alt + Enter Opens properties window of
X X X X X X X
selected icon or program.
Shift + Del Delete programs/files without
X X X X X X X throwing them into the
recycle bin.
Holding Boot safe mode or by pass
Shift X X X X X X X X system files as the computer
is booting.
Holding When putting in an audio CD,
Shift X X X X X X X will prevent CD Player from
playing.
Enter Activates the highlighted
X X X X X X X X
program.
Alt + Down Display all available options
X X X X X X X
arrow on drop down menu.
* (on the Expands all folders on the
keypad) X X X X X X X currently selected folder or
drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the Expands only the currently
keypad) X X X X X X X selected folder in Windows
Explorer.
- (on the X X X X X X X Collapses the currently
keypad) selected folder in Windows
Explorer.
In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a
method of quickly do something commonly performed. Below some are examples
of mouse shortcuts.
Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Excel. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.
Shortcut Keys Description
F2 Edit the selected cell.
F5 Goto a specific cell. For example, C6.
F7 Spell check selected text and/or document.
F11 Create chart.
Ctrl + Shift + ; Enter the current time.
Ctrl + ; Enter the current date.
Alt + Shift + F1 Insert New Worksheet.
Shift + F3 Open the Excel formula window.
Shift + F5 Bring up search box.
Ctrl + A Select all contents of the worksheet.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + K Insert link.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + 5 Strikethrough highlighted selection.
Ctrl + P Bring up the print dialog box to begin printing.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
Ctrl + F9 Minimize current window.
Ctrl + F10 Maximize currently selected window.
Ctrl + F6 Switch between open workbooks / windows.
Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
Ctrl + Page up
document.
Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
Ctrl + Page down
document.
Ctrl + Tab Move between Two or more open Excel files.
Alt + = Create a formula to sum all of the above cells
Insert the value of the above cell into cell currently
Ctrl + '
selected.
Ctrl + Shift + ! Format number in comma format.
Ctrl + Shift + $ Format number in currency format.
Ctrl + Shift + # Format number in date format.
Ctrl + Shift + % Format number in percentage format.
Ctrl + Shift + ^ Format number in scientific format.
Ctrl + Shift + @ Format number in time format.
Ctrl + Arrow
Move to next section of text.
key
Ctrl + Space Select entire column.
Shift + Space Select entire row.