Keyboard Shortcut Keys Windows 7, Vista and Internet Explorer



Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcut keys can save you a lot of time. Here’s a complete guide along with a few tips for IE and Windows Apps.
If you spend as much time in front of a computer as I do, learning a shortcut that can shave a few seconds off a common task can be significant. Throw in the fact that I’m also a bit lazy… and it should explain why I’m always looking around for new Keyboard Shortcuts. The majority of Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts remain the same from Windows Vista and XP (thank you for that Microsoft), so many of the
9/22/2012 Editor Update — I just published a list of Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 8 and Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts. Take a look at the latest shortcut goodness!
My personal favorite BTW – is the pressing F6 while using Internet Explorer. F6 automatically selects your Address Bar for you. It saves me a lot of time!
Windows 7 and Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts
- Windows logo key :: Open or close the Start menu
- Windows logo key + Left Arrow Key :: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
- Windows logo key + Right Arrow Key :: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
- Windows logo key + Left Arrow 2x :: Snap current window left across multiple monitors for side-by-side viewing
- Windows logo key + PAUSE :: Display the System Properties dialog box
- Windows logo key + D :: Display the desktop
- Windows logo key + M :: Minimize all windows
- Windows logo key + SHIFT+M :: Restore minimized windows to the desktop
- Windows logo key + E :: Open Computer
- Windows logo key + F :: Search for a file or folder
- CTRL+Windows logo key + F :: Search for computers (if you are on a network)
- Windows logo key + L :: Lock your computer or switch users
- Windows logo key + R :: Open the Run dialog box
- Windows logo key + T :: Cycle through programs on the taskbar
- Windows logo key + TAB :: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
- CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB :: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
- Windows logo key + SPACEBAR :: Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
- Windows logo key + G :: Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
- Windows logo key + U :: Open Ease of Access Center
- Windows logo key + X :: Open Windows Mobility Center
- Windows logo key with any number key :: Open the Quick Launch shortcut that is in the position that corresponds to the number. For example, Windows logo key + 1 :: Launch the first shortcut in the Quick Launch menu.
- Windows Key + S :: OneNote Screen Clipping Tool (Requires OneNote)
- Windows Key + = :: Open Magnifier Tool
General Keyboard Shortcuts
- F1 :: Display Help
- F2 :: Rename the selected item
- F3 :: Search for a file or folder
- F4 :: Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer
- F5 – Refresh the active window
- F6 :: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
- F7 :: Check Spelling in open document
- F10 :: Activate the menu bar in the active program
- CTRL+A :: Select all items in a document or window
- CTRL+C :: Copy the selected item
- CTRL+X :: Cut the selected item
- CTRL+V :: Paste the selected item
- CTRL+Z :: Undo an action
- CTRL+Y :: Redo an action
- SHIFT+DELETE :: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first (Outlook Tip also)
- SHIFT+F10 :: Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
- SHIFT when you insert a CD :: Prevent the CD from automatically playing
- CTRL+ESC :: Open the Start menu
- CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key :: Select a block of text
- CTRL+SHIFT+ESC :: Open Task Manager
- CTRL+F4 :: Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
- CTRL+ALT+TAB :: Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
- CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel :: Change the size of icons on the desktop
- ALT+ESC :: Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
- ALT+ENTER :: Display properties for the selected item
- ALT+F4 :: Close the active item, or exit the active program
- ALT+SPACEBAR :: Open the shortcut menu for the active window
- ALT+UP ARROW :: View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
- ALT+TAB :: Switch between open items
- ALT+SHIFT+TAB :: Switch between open items in reverse order
- Windows logo key + TAB :: Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
- CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB :: Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
- ESC :: Cancel the current task
Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
- CTRL+click :: Open links in a new tab in the background
- CTRL+SHIFT+click :: Open links in a new tab in the foreground
- CTRL+T :: Open a new tab in the foreground
- CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB :: Switch between tabs
- CTRL+W :: Close current tab (or the current window if tabbed browsing is disabled)
- ALT+ENTER :: Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar
- CTRL+n (where n is a number between 1 and 8) :: Switch to a specific tab number
- CTRL+9 :: Switch to the last tab
- CTRL+ALT+F4 :: Close other tabs
- CTRL+Q :: Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off
- ALT+M :: Open the Home menu
- ALT+R :: Open the Print menu
- ALT+J :: Open the RSS menu
- ALT+O :: Open the Tools menu
- ALT+L :: Open the Help menu
- F1 :: Display Help
- F11 :: Toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window
- TAB :: Move forward through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
- SHIFT+TAB :: Move back through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
- ALT+HOME :: Go to your home page
- ALT+RIGHT ARROW :: Go to the next page
- ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE :: Go to the previous page
- SHIFT+F10 :: Display a shortcut menu for a link
- CTRL+TAB or F6 :: Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
- CTRL+SHIFT+TAB :: Move backward between frames (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
- CTRL+F :: Find on this page
- F5 :: Refresh the current web page
- CTRL+F5 :: Refresh the current web page, even if the time stamp for the web version and your locally stored version are the same
- ESC :: Stop downloading a page
- CTRL+O :: Open a new website or page
- CTRL+N :: Open a new window
- CTRL+W :: Close the current window (if you only have one tab open)
- CTRL+S :: Save the current page
- CTRL+P :: Print the current page or active frame
- CTRL+I :: Open Favorites
- CTRL+H :: Open History
- CTRL+J :: Open Feeds
- ALT+P :: Open the Page menu
- ALT+T :: Open the Tools menu
- ALT+H :: Open the Help menu
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
Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcuts
- Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key + SPACEBAR :: Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar
- Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key +G :: Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
- TAB :: Cycle through Sidebar controls
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
- END :: Display the bottom of the active window
- HOME :: Display the top of the active window
- F11 :: Maximize or minimize the active window
- CTRL+N :: Open a new window
- CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel :: Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
- NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad :: Display all subfolders under the selected folder
- NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad :: Display the contents of the selected folder
- NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad :: Collapse the selected folder
- LEFT ARROW :: Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder
- ALT+D :: Select the Address bar
- ALT+LEFT ARROW :: View the previous folder
- ALT+RIGHT ARROW :: View the next folder
- RIGHT ARROW :: Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder
More Keyboard Shortcuts we love!
- Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (or PRTSCRN) :: Turn High Contrast on or off
- Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK :: Turn Mouse Keys on or off
- SHIFT five times :: Turn Sticky Keys on or off
- NUM LOCK for five seconds :: Turn Toggle Keys on or off
- Windows logo key +U :: Open the Ease of Access Center
- SHIFT with any arrow key :: Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
- CTRL with any arrow key+SPACEBAR :: Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
- CTRL+RIGHT ARROW :: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
- CTRL+LEFT ARROW :: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
- CTRL+DOWN ARROW :: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
- CTRL+UP ARROW :: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Time to save this groovyPost! <CRTL+SHIFT+P> …… Live Writer needed for that one ;)
8 Comments
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Yasen
Great! This window button + number was exactly what I was looking for.
And btw, I use almost all of the “Keyboard Shortcuts you will never use” daily :)
Cheers.
alpipego
Seriously? Shortcuts you will never use? Those are maybe my most used shortcuts machine wide. Whenever I write/edit text. (Like this one) I use them.
I am pretty sure that I save about 15 minutes a day by not touching the mouse or moving through text letter by letter but word by word.
Cheers.
MrGroove
@Yasen – @Alpipego – Ok… I stand corrected! Article has been um… Updated!
Steve Krause
ok ok…. you’re right… Updated!
alpipego
oh and btw add:
CTRL+BACKSPACE :: Delete the word behind cursor
CTRL+DEL :: Delete the word in front of cursor
CTRL+SHIFT+RIGHT ARROW :: Highlight to the beginning of the next word
CTRL+SHIFT+LEFT ARROW :: Highlight to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW :: Highlight to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL+SHIFT+UP ARROW :: Highlight to the beginning of the previous paragraph
& CTRL+HOME; CTRL+END
Okay, I’ll stop. ;)
MrGroove
No need to Stop @alpipego! I will continue adding them the more you give me. ;)
jimy
hi i have a problem on my hp keyboard window 7 when i press f5 i go on my browser i cant refresh via f5 how can i fix it.
Ed
I am trying to add a desktop refresh to a bat file. Is there a File that can be ran to accomplish this task?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Ed