Computer Access
a Training Module of the
Assistive Technology Division
Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services

 

Keyboard Shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts listed below are typical shortcuts available in Windows operating systems. There are many other kinds of shortcuts...some that only work in specific Microsoft products or in third party software programs or in adaptive software packages. The keyboard combinations are divided into sections based on the type of keys used in the combinationas...Control Key Combinations, Alt Key Combinations, Function Keys, Windows Key Combinations, Shift Key Combinations, and Miscellaneous Shortcuts.

Click on this link to check out other keyboard shortcuts at Microsoft's website.

 

 

Control Key Combinations

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Control + Down Arrow

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Control + Up Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Control + Up Arrow
Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
Control + Left Arrow
Copy
 CTRL + C

copies highlighted material to the Clipboard

remember C for Copy
Cut
 CTRL + X

removes highlighted material from the text and copies it to the Clipboard

remember X as in X it out
Paste
 CTRL + V

Pastes material from the Clipboard

remember V looks like the symbol "insert here"

Undo
 CTRL – Z
 just like the Undo button on the Menu Bar, it will undo the last action performed
Redo
 CTRL - Y
 just like the Redo button on the Menu Bar
Create shortcut to selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item
Highlight a block of text.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys
Move forward through tabs in a dialog box.
CTRL+TAB
Move backward through tabs in a dialog box. CTRL+SHIFT+TAB
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB

 

Alt Key Combinations

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
 

Switching Applications
 

ALT + TAB

 

Tapping the TAB key to cycle between open applications.
Switch MouseKeys on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +NUM LOCK
Switch High Contrast on and off.
Left ALT +left SHIFT +PRINT SCREEN
Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+F4
Very important closing mechanism for non-mouse users
View properties for the selected item.
ALT+ENTER
Display the System menu for the active window.
ALT+SPACEBAR
Switch between open items.
ALT+TAB
Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option in a dialog box.
ALT+Underlined letter
Critical option for using Microsoft Menus without a mouse
Display the corresponding menu.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name
Critical option for using Microsoft Menus without a mouse

 

 

Function Keys

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
Display Help in a dialog box.
F1
Rename selected item.
F2
Search for a file or folder.
F3
Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
F4
Display the items in the active list in a dialog box.
F4
Refresh the active window.
F5
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F6
Activate the menu bar in the active program.
F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
SHIFT + F10

 

Windows Key Combinations

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
 

 

Start Menu

 

 

Windows Key

 
  same as hitting the Start button

 

Windows File Explorer or My Computer
 

Windows Key + E

 opens Windows File Explorer/My Computer

remember E for Explorer
 

Windows Search
 

Windows Key + F
opens the Windows Search for... applet

remember F as in Find
 

Minimize all open windows
 

Windows Key + M

minimizes all open windows and places focus on the desktop, remember M for minimize

hit any letter on the keyboard and the focus will go to an icon starting with that letter

after getting to program that you want, hit the enter button to open it

Restores minimized windows. Windows Key+Shift+M
Windows Key + Shift + M
restores minimized windows
Show the desktop.
Windows Key + D
takes you to the Desktop, minimizing all windows, remember D for Desktop
Display Windows Help.
Windows Key + F1
Open the Run dialog box.
Windows Key + R
remember R for Run
Opens Utility Manager.
Windows Key + U
this Utility Manager controls Microsoft Accessibility Applets, remember U for Utility
Set focus on a notification.
Windows Key + B

 

Shift Key Combinations

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
Switch FilterKeys on and off. Right SHIFT for eight seconds Filter Keys is an accessibility feature
Switch StickyKeys on and off. SHIFT five times Sticky Keys is an accessibility feature
Prevent the CD from automatically playing. SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive This turns off the AutoRun feature
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document. SHIFT with any of the arrow keys  
Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin. SHIFT + DELETE Beware...this removes the item completely.
Move backward through options in a dialog box. SHIFT + TAB  
     
     

 

Miscellaneous Shortcuts

Function

Key Combination

Learning Tools
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons in a dialog box.
Arrow keys
View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
BACKSPACE
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box in a dialog box.
BACKSPACE

Delete.
DELETE
deletes the highlighted item or text
Display the top of the active window.
HOME
takes focus to the beginning
Display the bottom of the active window.
END
takes focus to the end
Carry out the command for the active option or button in a dialog box.
ENTER
example: if focus is on a shortcut for a progra, Enter will run that program
Cancel the current task.
ESC
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.

LEFT ARROW
Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
LEFT ARROW
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Menu key

this key is located to the right of the right Windows key

this acts like a right click on the selected item, it opens the sub-context menu for that item
Switch ToggleKeys on and off.

NUM LOCK for five seconds
Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK + ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)
Collapse the selected folder.
NUM LOCK + MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)
Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK + PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)

 

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