This page list some of the advanced keyboard shortcuts in Windows. The list on this page is chosen so it is practical, and it is organized by purpose. It is not a dumb list of keys.
The info on this page are tested in Windows Vista. They should work in Windows 7, and most should work in Windows XP.
The following are shortcuts that are useful in most applications.
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 【Alt+F4】 | quit | Works in almost all apps |
| 【Alt+Space c】 | quit | Same as 【Alt+F4】 |
| 【Ctrl+F4】 | close current tab or window | ◇ |
| 【Ctrl+w】 | close current tab or window | ◇ |
| Esc | Close current dialog | Usually does not Save changes or Apply changes. |
| Mouse Button | Gesture and Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| middle button | Click on tab to Close tab | Works in Firefox, IE, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera |
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| F11 | Full Screen | Add ⇧ Shift key to reverse direction. |
| 【Alt+Space n】 | minimize current window | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+d】 | Show desktop (minimize all windows) | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+e】 | Show “Computer” folder (does not minimize other windows) | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+m】 | minimize all windows | 【❖ Win+⇧ Shift+m】 can bring all windows back if pressed right away |
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 【Ctrl+Tab ↹】 | next tab | Add ⇧ Shift key to reverse direction. |
| 【Ctrl+⇟ Page ▽】 | next tab | 【Ctrl+⇞ Page △】 for previous tab. |
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 【Alt+Tab ↹】 | next window | Add ⇧ Shift key to reverse direction. |
| 【Ctrl+Alt+Tab ↹】 | next window (don't go away mode) | ◇ |
| 【Alt+Esc】 | next window (no dialog) | Add ⇧ Shift key to reverse direction. |
| 【❖ Win+Tab ↹】 | Flip 3D to next window | Add ⇧ Shift key to reverse direction. |
| 【❖ Win+Alt+Tab ↹】 | Flip 3D (don't go away mode) | ◇ |
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| ❖ Win | Start menu | Press the Win key then start typing the app's name, will usually let you launch the app quickly. |
| 【❖ Win+r】 | run program by name | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+e】 | open a folder | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+f】 | search files | ◇ |
【❖ Win+1】, 【❖ Win+2】 etc shortcuts are automatically created for launching apps. To have them, you need to have Quick Launch turned on in your Taskbar. To turn it on, right click on a empty area in your Taskbar, choose Properties, then Taskbar tab, check mark the Show Quick Launch. Then, you can drag-n-drop any desktop icon shortcut to the Quick Launch area and it'll show in your Taskbar. The number used for the shortcut is the same as the order of the apps shown. You can drag them to arrange them.
You can create hotkeys to launch apps. Go to your desktop. Then click on a Shortcut, then press 【Alt+Enter ↵】 to bring up its properties. Then, click the Shortcut tab, click the “Shortcut key” field, then just type a key combo to set a hotkey.
When viewing a folder, you can view it as icons or list or detail. There's no direct keyboard shortcut, but you can do this:
F2 is for renaming file in Explorer. And 【Alt+Enter ↵】 is for getting properties of a file, folder, or getting info about something, in most apps.
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| PrtScn/SysRq | Copy screen image to clipboard | To copy just current window, add Alt key. |
| 【❖ Win+l】 | lock screen | ◇ |
| Alt | Activate menu | After pressing Alt, use arrow keys to navigate, or press keys of the underlined letters. |
| 【Alt+Space】 | Start current window's system menu | ◇ |
F5 is for refresh in browsers and Explorer and most other apps that makes sense.
Here are some less useful ones.
| Hot Key | Purpose | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 【❖ Win+t】 | put focus on task bar | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+b】 | put focus on system notification area | ◇ |
| 【❖ Win+u】 | open ease of access folder | ◇ |
How to disable the Sleep key, Windows key, how to swap Caps Lock with Control, How to set a key to launch app… see: Windows Keyboard Shortcuts FAQ.
For a complete list of Keyboard Shortcuts with the Windows Logo Key, see: Windows Logo Key Keyboard Shortcuts.