Windows 10 Shortcuts (Shortcut Keys / Shortcut Mouse Moves)

KB ID 0000207

Problem

Ages ago I did an article on the Windows 7 “Screen Shortcut” Keys, and That led to this article. Now it’s been updated for both Windows 8 and Windows 10.

Solution

Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows key + A Open Action center
Windows key + C Open Cortana in listening mode
Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop
Windows key + E Open File Explorer
Windows key + H Open the Share charm
Windows key + I Open Settings
Windows key + L Lock your PC or switch accounts
Windows key + S Open Search
Windows key + Number Open the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.<
Windows key + Arrow key Snap app windows left, right, corners, maximize, or minimize<
Windows key + Comma Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows key + Ctrl +D Add a virtual desktop
Windows key + Ctrl + Left or Right arrow Switch between virtual desktops
Windows key + Enter Open Narrator
Windows key + Home Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Windows key + PrtScn< Capture a screenshot and save in Screenshots folder<
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows key + Tab Open Task view
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager
Alt +Tab Switch between open apps
Ctrl + Alt +Tab View open apps

Windows 8 Keyboard Shortcuts (Metro Interaction)

Windows Key + C Charms menu
Windows Key + D Shows Desktop
Windows Key + E Windows Explorer
Windows Key + F Metro File Search
Windows Key + G Cycles through Desktop Gadget
Windows Key + H Share panel on Charm menu
Windows Key + I Settings option on Charm menu
Windows Key + J Switch between Snapped Applications
Windows Key + K Device panel on charm menu
Windows Key + L Lock the system
Windows Key + M Minimizes all Windows
Windows Key + P Project option
Windows Key + Q Metro App Search
Windows Key + R Run
Windows Key + T Set Focus on Task bar and cycle through Apps
Windows Key + U Ease of Access Center
Windows Key + V Cycle through notifications (+Shift to go backwards)
Windows Key + W Metro Search Settings (Search Charm)
Windows Key + X Quick link power user commands (Advanced Context)
Windows Key + Z Open App bar for active application
Windows Key + 1 TO 9 Go to the App at this position in the task bar
Windows Key + . {full stop} Snap metro app to right
Windows Key + , {comma} Peek at the desktop
Windows Key + + {plus} Zoom In (Magnifier)
Windows Key + – {minus} Zoom Out (Magnifier)
Windows Key + Spacebar Switch Input Language
Windows Key + Tab Cycle through Metro App History
Windows Key + Esc Exit Magnifier
Windows Key + Home Minimize non-active Windows
Windows Key + PgUp Move Start screen to left monitor
Windows Key + PgDn Move Start screen to right monitor
Windows Key + Break System Properties
Windows Key + Left Arrow Snap desktop window to the left (+Shift to move window to left monitor)
Windows Key + Right Arrow Snap desktop window to the right (+Shift to move window to left monitor)
Windows Key + Up Arrow Maximize desktop window (+Shift to keep width)
Windows Key + Down Arrow Restore/minimize desktop window (+Shift to keep width)
Windows Key + Shift + . Snap metro app to left
Ctrl + Tab. Cycle Through Metro App history
Ctrl + Mouse wheel Change icon size on desktop or
Zoom in/out on Start screen
Ctrl + N New Windows in Explorer
Ctrl + W In Explorer, close Windows
Ctrl + Esc Start screen
Ctrl + F4 Close active document.
Alt + E Select Address bar (Explorer)
Alt + Enter Open properties Windows Metro Start
Alt + Tab Switch between Apps
Alt + Up Arrow Go up one level in Explorer
Ctrl + Alt + D Docked mode in Magnifier
Ctrl + Alt + I Invert Colours (Magnifier)
Ctrl + Alt + L Lens Mode (Magnifier)
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Switch Between Apps

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts (Window Interaction)

Windows Key + Home Minimise All Windows except the active one
Windows Key + Space Temporarily render all active Windows transparent
Windows Key + “Up Arrow” Maximise the active Window.
Shift + Windows Key + “Up Arrow” Maximise the Active Window (Vertically).
Windows Key + “Down Arrow” Minimise the active window (or restore if it’s maximised)
Windows Key + “Left Arrow” or “Right Arrow” Shift Active Window to the left/right side of the screen (Or move to center if it’s already left/right aligned).
Windows Key + Number {x} Start the application pinned to Task bar at position {x}
Shift + Windows Key + Number {x} Start a new instance of the application pinned to Task bar at position {x}
Alt +Windows Key +Number 1 Open the “Application Jump List”
Windows Key + T Cycle though Taskbar buttons with preview
Windows Key + M Minimise all new Windows.
Shift + Windows Key + “Left Arrow” or “Right Arrow” Move the active Windows to the left or Right Monitor (When using multiple monitors).
Windows Key + {plus or minus} Zoom in / Zoom out
Windows Key + TAB Cycle through active Windows.
Ctrl +Windows Key + Tab Persistent Cycle though active Windows.

Windows 7 (Taskbar Shortcuts)

Shift + Left Click on Taskbar button Open (or open a new instance) of a program.
Ctrl + Shift + Left Click on Taskbar button Open a program as administrator.
Shift + Right Click on Taskbar button Show window menu for selected program (Same as previous versions of windows).
Shift + Right Click on Taskbar Group Show window menu for selected group. (Same as previous versions of windows).
Ctrl + Left Click on a program group Cycle through Windows within that group.

Windows 7 Mouse Shortcuts

Left Click and Drag Window to Top Maximise the Window
Left Click and Drag Window to Left Shift Active Window to the left side of the screen (see graphic above).
Left Click and Drag Window to Right Shift Active Window to the right side of the screen (see graphic above).
Left Click and Shake Minimise all but the active Window.

General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

F1 Help.
F2 Rename.
F3 Find.
F4 Display address bar list.
F5 Refresh.
F6 Move between panes in Windows Explorer.
F10 Activate Windows Menu Bar (Handy in Vista and Windows 7).
Shift + F10 Same as right Click.
Alt + Enter Open Properties for active object.
Ctrl + Esc Open Start Menu (handy if you have no Windows Key).
Alt + F4 Quit active window.
Ctrl + F4 Quit and close Multiple Document Interface application.
Shift + Delete Delete (Permanently without sending to Recycle Bin).
Windows Key Open Start Menu.
Windows Key + C Open Control Panel (Not Windows 7)
Windows Key + R Run.
Windows Key + E Open Windows Explorer.
Windows Key + L Lock the machine.
Windows Key + M Minimise All.
Windows Key + F Find Files.
Windows Key + D Minimise all and display desktop.
Windows Key + U Launch Ease of Access Center

General Windows Mouse Shortcuts

Ctrl + Drag Copy to location
Ctrl + Shift +Drag Create shortcut
Windows Key + Break Open System Properties.
Ctrl +Windows Key + F Find Computer.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
Alt + Space Open active Windows “System” menu.
Alt + {minus} Open Sub windows “System” menu.
Ctrl +Tab Cycle through Sub Windows.

Windows Explorer Shortcuts (Whilst in Windows Explorer)

Tab Jump to next selectable item.
Shift + Tab Jump to previous selectable item.
Space Select Item (Handy for tick boxes).
Enter Select (Same as Left Click on active object).
Esc Cancel
Backspace Move back one folder level
End Jump to Bottom
Home Jump to Start
Numeric Keypad * Expand current selection and all sub folders.
Numeric Keypad + Expand current selection.
Numeric Keypad – Collapse current selection.
Right Arrow Expands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child.
Left Arrow Collapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent.

Windows Accessibility Shortcuts

Press Shift five times Turn on/off Stickykeys.
Press and hold Shift for 8 seconds. Turn on/off FilterKeys.
Press and hold Num Lock for 5 seconds. Turn on/off ToggleKeys.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock Turn on/off MouseKeys.
Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Scrn Turn on/off High Contrast.

General Windows APPLICATION Shortcuts

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.
Ctrl + P Open Printer dialog.
Ctrl + G Open Go To.
Alt + Down Arrow Open drop down box.
Ctrl + Left Arrow Move insertion point to start of next word.
Ctrl + Right Arrow Move insertion point to start of previous word.
Ctrl + Down Arrow Move insertion point to start of next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up Arrow Move insertion point to start of previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift +Arrow Select text in direction of arrow pressed.

Windows Remote Desktop Shortcuts

Ctrl +Alt +End Same as pressing Ctrl +Alt + Delete, brings up the security dialog.
Alt + Page up Cycle open programs left to right.
Alt + Page down Cycle open programs right to left.
Alt + Home Open Start Menu.
Ctrl +Alt + Break Toggle RDP Window maximised/resized.
Ctrl +Alt + {minus} Place screen grab of active window on remote machines clipboard. (Same as pressing Alt + “Print Scrn” on the remote machine).
Ctrl +Alt + {plus} Place screen grab of window on remote machines clipboard. (Same as pressing “Print Scrn” on the remote machine).
Internet Explorer Shortcuts
Ctrl + B Open Organize Favorites.
Ctrl + E Open Search bar.
Ctrl + F Find.
Ctrl + H Open History bar.
Ctrl + I Open Favorites bar.
Ctrl + L Open the “Open Address box”, (same as Ctrl + O).
Ctrl + N Start a new instance of Internet Explorer.
Ctrl + O Open the “Open Address box”, (same as Ctrl + L).
Ctrl + P Open the Print dialog.
Ctrl + Q Toggle thumbnail view browsing on/off.
Ctrl + R Refresh the page, (same as F5).
Ctrl + W Close Current Window, (or Tab if using multi tabbed browsing).
Ctrl + T Open a new Tab (IE 7 and upwards only).
Ctrl + Click Open link in a new Tab, Note: If you have a mouse with an intelliwheel you can click that on a link to do the same).
Ctrl + Tab Switch between Tabs (also use Ctrl+Shift+Tab). Note: Also works in Google Chrome and Firefox.
Ctrl + 9 Switch to Last Tab.
Ctrl +Alt + F4 Close all other Tabs.

 

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

Originally Written 17/03/10, updated 29/03/12

Author: Migrated

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