Windows Vista Keyword Shortcuts

For Windows Vista advanced users who prefer to use keyboard instead of mouse, here's a extensive listing of keyboard accelerators (also known as keyboard shortcuts or hot keys) built-in in Windows Vista. These keyboard accelerators provide a simple keyboard alternative to frequently used command which normally will require cumbersome several repeated clicking with mouse on Windows' graphical interface, especially for repetitive tasks. Most of the keyboard shortcuts existed since Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 era, but some of them is new to Windows Vista too.
Function Keys
Shortcut Key Function(s)
F1 Start Help (supported in most applications).
F2 Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop.
F3 Open Search (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only).
F4 Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes). For example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list.
F5 Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and some other applications.
F6 Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer.
F10 Send focus to the current application's menu.
Miscellaneous Keys
Shortcut Key Function(s)
Arrow Keys Basic navigation - move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on.
Backspace Move up one level in the folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only).
Delete Delete selected item(s) or selected text.
Down arrow Open a drop-down listbox.
End Go to end of line when editing text, or to the end of file list.
Enter Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text.
Esc Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel).
Home Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or to the beginning of file list.
Page Down Scroll down one screen.
Page Up Scroll up one screen.
PrintScreen Copy entire screen as a bitmap to the Clipboard.
Space Bar Toggle a checkbox that is selected in a dialog box, activate the command button with the focus, or toggle the selection of files when selecting multiple files with Ctrl.
Tab Move focus to next control in a dialog box or window (hold Shift to go backward).
Alt Key Combinations
Shortcut Key Function(s)
Alt Send focus to the menu (same as F10). Also turns on the menu in applications where it is no longer used by default, such as Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer.
Alt-x Activate menu or dialog control, where letter x is underlined (if the underlines are not visible, pressing Alt will display them).
Alt-double-click (on icon) Display Properties sheet.
Alt-Enter Display Properties sheet for selected icon in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop. Also switches command prompt between windowed and full-screen display.
Alt-Esc Drop active window to bottom of pile, which, in effect, activates next open window.
Alt-F4 Close current window; if Taskbar or Desktop has the focus, exit Windows.
Alt-hyphen Open the current document's system menu in a multiple document interface (MDI) application.
Alt-numbers When used with the numbers on the numeric keypad only, inserts special characters corresponding to their ASCII codes into many applications. For example, press the Alt key and type 0169 for the copyright symbol. Check characters map for full list of codes.
Alt-PrintScreen Copy active window as a bitmap to the Clipboard.
Alt-Shift-Tab Same as Alt-Tab, but in the opposite direction.
Alt-Space Bar Open the current window's system menu.
Alt-Tab Switch to the next running applicationhold Alt while pressing Tab to cycle through running applications.
Alt-M When the Taskbar has the focus, minimize all windows and move focus to the Desktop.
Alt-S When the Taskbar has the focus, open the Start menu.
Shift Key Combinations
Shortcut Key Function(s)
Shift While inserting a CD, hold to disable AutoPlay.
Shift-arrow keys Select text or select multiple items in a listbox or in Windows Explorer.
Shift-click Select all items between currently selected item and item on which you're clicking; also works when selecting text.
Shift-click Close button Close current folder and all parent folders (Windows Explorer in single-folder view only).
Shift-Alt-Tab Same as Alt-Tab, but in reverse.
Shift-Ctrl-Tab Same as Ctrl-Tab, but in reverse.
Shift-Ctrl-Esc Open the Task Manager.
Shift-Delete Delete a file without putting it in the Recycle Bin.
Shift-double-click Open folder in two-pane Explorer view.
Shift-Tab Same as Tab, but in reverse.
Windows Logo Key (WIN) Combinations
Shortcut Key Function(s)
WIN Open the Start menu.
WIN-Tab If the Aero interface is active, this activates Windows Flip 3D.
WIN-Pause/Break Display System Control Panel applet.
WIN-Space bar Display the Sidebar.
WIN-D Minimize all windows and move focus to Desktop.
WIN-E Start Windows Explorer.
WIN-F Launch Search.
Ctrl-WIN-F Search for a computer on your network (requires Active Directory).
WIN-L Lock computer, requiring password to regain access.
WIN-M Minimize current window.
Shift-WIN-M Undo minimize current window.
WIN-R Display Run dialog.
WIN-U Open the Ease of Access Center.