Everyone loves a quick way to get things done in Windows. If a mouse tends to slow you down, then here is a comprehensive list of keyboard commands you can use to accomplish almost any task you would normally use a mouse for.
Function
Command
Power menu
Press Windows key + X or right-click Start
Windows + Tab
Launch Windows 10 Task View
Windows + Q
Search the web and Windows with Cortana (speech)
Windows + S
Search the web and Windows with Cortana (keyboard input)
CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
Open Task Manager
Alt + underlined menu
Open menu or program. Example, to open the Edit menu in WordPad, press Alt then press E on your keyboard. Repeat the same step for the menu you want to open.
General Windows keyboard shortcuts
Function
Command
Access help system in an application
F1
Activate menu bar
F10
Close a program
Alt + F4
Close current window in Multiple Document interface based programs
CTRL + F4
Access right-click menu in the application
Shift + F10
Launch Start menu
Ctrl + ESC or Windows key
Cut
CTRL + X
Copy
CTRL + C
Paste
CTRL + V
Delete
DEL
Undo
CTRL + Z
System Properties
Windows key + Pause/Break
Bypass auto-play when an external storage device is connected
Hold down SHIFT key while inserting a storage device
Desktop, My Computer, and File Explorer
For selected items, you can use the following shortcuts:
Function
Command
Search
CTRL + F or F3
Rename an item
F2
Delete a folder or files permanently
SHIFT + DEL
Access properties of a file or folder
ALT + ENTER or ALT + double-click
Copy a file
CTRL key while dragging file
Create a shortcut
CTRL + SHIFT while dragging file
Select All
CTRL + A
Refresh contents of a window
F5
View the folder one level up
Backspace key
Close the selected folder and its parent folders
SHIFT key while clicking the close button
Switch between left and right panes
F6
File Explorer commands
Function
Command
Switch between left and right panes
F6
Expand all subfolders under the selected folder
NUMLOCK + ASTERISK when using a numeric keyboard
Expand the selected folder
NUMLOCK + PLUS sign when using a numeric keyboard
Collapse the selected folder
NUMLOCK + MINUS sign when using a numeric keyboard
Expand current selection if it’s collapsed, otherwise select first subfolder
Right arrow
Collapse current selection if it’s expanded, otherwise, select parent folder
Left arrow
Properties dialog commands
Function
Command
Move forward through options
Tab key
Move backward through options
SHIFT + Tab
Move forward through tabs
CTRL + Tab
Move backward through tabs
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB
Open and Save dialog commands
Function
Command
Open the Save In and address bar
CTRL + O and F4
Refresh
F5
Open the folder one level up, if a folder is selected
BACKSPACE
Windows 10 Command Prompt keyboard commands
Text Selection
Function
Command
SHIFT + LEFT ARROW
Moves the cursor to the left one character, extending the selection
SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW
Moves the cursor to the right one character, extending the selection
SHIFT + UP ARROW
Selects text up line by line starting from the location of the insertion point
SHIFT + DOWN ARROW
Extends text selection down one line, starting at the location of the insertion point
SHIFT + END
If cursor is in current line being edited* First time extends selection to the last character in the input line.* Second consecutive press extends selection to the right margin; or else Selects text from the insertion point to the right margin.
SHIFT + HOME
If cursor is in current line being edited* First time extends selection to the character immediately after the command prompt.* Second consecutive press extends selection to the left margin; or else Extends selection to the left margin.
SHIFT + PAGE DOWN
Extends selection down one screen
SHIFT + PAGE UP
Extends selection up one screen
CTRL + SHIFT + RIGHT ARROW
Extends the selection one word to the right
CTRL + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW
Extends the selection one word to the left
CTRL + SHIFT + HOME
Extend selection to the beginning of the screen buffer
CTRL + SHIFT + END
Extend selection to the end of the screen buffer
CTRL + A
If cursor is in current line being edited (from first typed char to last type char) and line is not empty, and any selection cursor is also within the line being edited Selects all text after the prompt (phase 1); or else Selects the entire buffer (phase 2)
Edit commands
Function
Command
Windows Key + V
Open clipboard history menu
CTRL + V
Paste text into the command line
SHIFT + INS
Paste text into the command line
CTRL + C
Copy selected text to the clipboard
CTRL + INS
Copy selected text to the clipboard
Function
Command
CTRL + M
Enter “Mark Mode” to move cursor within window
ALT
In conjunction with one of the selection key combinations, begins selection in block mode
ARROW KEYS
Move cursor in the direction specified
PAGE KEYS
Move cursor by one page in the direction specified
