Overview.#
A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keystrokes that trigger a specific action within a software application or operating system, allowing users to perform tasks more efficiently without navigating through menus or using a mouse. Keyboard shortcuts can vary depending on the software or operating system being used, but they generally follow a consistent pattern.
Here is a list of commonly used short-cut keys that can provide an easier and quicker method of using computer programs:
Basic Computer Shorcut Keys#
Keys |
Function |
Alt + F |
File menu options in the current program. |
Alt + E |
Edits options in the current program. |
F1 |
Universal help (for any sort of program). |
Ctrl + A |
Selects all text. |
Ctrl + X |
Cuts the selected item. |
Ctrl + Del |
Cut selected item. |
Ctrl + C |
Copy the selected item. |
Ctrl + Ins |
Copy the selected item. |
Ctrl + V |
Paste the selected item. |
Shift + Ins |
Paste the selected item. |
Home |
Takes the user to the beginning of the current line. |
Ctrl + Home |
Go to the beginning of the document. |
End |
Go to the end of the current line. |
Ctrl + End |
Go to the end of a document. |
Shift + Home |
Highlight from current position to beginning of the line. |
Shift + End |
Highlight from current position to end of the line. |
Ctrl + (Left arrow) |
Move one word to the left at a time. |
Ctrl + (Right arrow) |
Move one word to the right at a time. |
Microsoft Windows shortcut keys#
Keys |
Function |
Alt + Tab |
Switch between open applications. |
Alt + Shift + Tab |
Switch backward between open applications. |
Alt + Print Screen |
Create screenshot for the current program. |
Ctrl + Alt + Del |
Reboot/Windows task manager. |
Ctrl + Esc |
Bring up the start menu. |
Alt + Esc |
Switch between applications on the taskbar. |
F2 |
Rename selected icon. |
F3 |
Start find from the desktop. |
F4 |
Open the drive selection when browsing. |
F5 |
Refresh contents. |
Alt + F4 |
Close current open program. |
Ctrl + F4 |
Close window in program. |
Ctrl + Plus Key |
Automatically adjust widths of all columns in Windows Explorer. |
Alt + Enter |
Open properties window of selected icon or program. |
Shift + F10 |
Simulate right-click on selected item. |
Shift + Del |
Delete programs/files permanently. |
Holding Shift During Boot up |
Boot safe mode or bypass system files. |
Holding Shift During Boot up |
When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing. |
Word shortcut keys#
Keys |
Function |
Ctrl + A |
Select all contents of the page. |
Ctrl + B |
Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + C |
Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + X |
Cut selected text. |
Ctrl + N |
Open new/blank document. |
Ctrl + O |
Open options. |
Ctrl + P |
Open the print window. |
Ctrl + F |
Open find box. |
Ctrl + I |
Italicise highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + K |
Insert link. |
Ctrl + U |
Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + V |
Paste. |
Ctrl + Y |
Redo the last action performed. |
Ctrl + Z |
Undo last action. |
Ctrl + G |
Find and replace options. |
Ctrl + H |
Find and replace options. |
Ctrl + J |
Justify paragraph alignment. |
Ctrl + L |
Align selected text or line to the left. |
Ctrl + Q |
Align selected paragraph to the left. |
Ctrl + E |
Align selected text or line to the center. |
Ctrl + R |
Align selected text or line to the right. |
Ctrl + M |
Indent the paragraph. |
Ctrl + T |
Hanging indent. |
Ctrl + D |
Font options. |
Ctrl + Shift + F |
Change the font. |
Ctrl + Shift + > |
Increase selected font +1. |
Ctrl + ] |
Increase selected font +1. |
Ctrl + [ |
Decrease selected font -1. |
Ctrl + Shift + * |
View or hide non printing characters. |
Ctrl + (Left arrow) |
Move one word to the left. |
Ctrl + (Right arrow) |
Move one word to the right. |
Ctrl + (Up arrow) |
Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph. |
Ctrl + (Down arrow) |
Move to the end of the paragraph. |
Ctrl + Del |
Delete word to the right of the cursor. |
Ctrl + Backspace |
Delete word to the left of the cursor. |
Ctrl + End |
Move cursor to end of the document. |
Ctrl + Home |
Move cursor to the beginning of the document. |
Ctrl + Space |
Reset highlighted text to default font. |
Ctrl + 1 |
Single-space lines. |
Ctrl + 2 |
Double-space lines. |
Ctrl + 5 |
1.5-line spacing. |
Ctrl + Alt + 1 |
Change text to heading 1. |
Ctrl + Alt + 2 |
Change text to heading 2. |
Ctrl + Alt + 3 |
Change text to heading 3. |
F1 |
Open help. |
Shift + F3 |
Change case of selected text. |
Shift + Insert |
Paste. |
F4 |
Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+). |
F7 |
Spell check selected text and/or document. |
Shift + F7 |
Activate the thesaurus. |
F12 |
Save as. |
Ctrl + S |
Save. |
Shift + F12 |
Save. |
Alt + Shift + D |
Insert the current date. |
Alt + Shift + T |
Insert the current time. |
Ctrl + W |
Close document. |
Excel shortcut keys#
Keys |
Function |
F2 |
Edit the selected cell. |
F5 |
Go to a specific cell. |
F7 |
Spell check selected text and/or document. |
F11 |
Create chart |
Ctrl + Shift + ; |
Enter the current time. |
Ctrl + ; |
Enter the current date |
Alt + Shift + F1 |
Insert new worksheet. |
Shift + F3 |
Open the Excel formula window. |
Shift + F5 |
Bring up the search box |
Ctrl + A |
Select all contents of a worksheet. |
Ctrl + B |
Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + I |
Italicize highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + C |
Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + V |
Paste |
Ctrl + D |
Fill |
Ctrl + K |
Insert link |
Ctrl + F |
Open find and replace options. |
Ctrl + G |
Open go-to options. |
Ctrl + H |
Open find and replace options. |
Ctrl + U |
Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + Y |
Underline selected text. |
Ctrl + 5 |
Strikethrough highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + O |
Open options. |
Ctrl + N |
Open new document. |
Ctrl + P |
Open print dialog box. |
Ctrl + S |
Save. |
Ctrl + Z |
Undo last action. |
Ctrl + F9 |
Minimize current window. |
Ctrl + F10 |
Maximize currently selected window. |
Ctrl + F6 |
Switch between open workbooks/windows. |
Ctrl + Page up & Page Down |
Move between Excel worksheets in the same document. |
Ctrl + Tab |
Move between two or more open Excel files |
Alt + = |
Create the formula to sum all of the above cells. |
Ctrl + |
Insert the value of above cell into the current cell. |
Ctrl + Shift + ! |
Format number in comma format. |
Ctrl + Shift + $ |
Format number in currency format. |
Ctrl + Shift + # |
Format number in date format. |
Ctrl + Shift + % |
Format number in percentage format. |
Ctrl + Shift + ^ |
Format number in scientific format. |
Ctrl + Shift + @ |
Format number in time format. |
Ctrl + (Right arrow) |
Move to next section of text. |
Ctrl + Space |
Select entire column. |
Shift + Space |
Select entire row. |
Ctrl + W |
Close document. |
Outlook shortcut keys#
Keys |
Function |
Alt + S |
Send the email. |
Ctrl + C |
Copy selected text. |
Ctrl + X |
Cut selected text. |
Ctrl + P |
Open print dialog box. |
Ctrl + K |
Complete name/email typed in address bar. |
Ctrl + B |
Bold highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + I |
Italicize highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + U |
Underline highlighted selection. |
Ctrl + R |
Reply to an email. |
Ctrl + F |
Forward an email. |
Ctrl + N |
Create a new email. |
Ctrl + Shift + A |
Create a new appointment to your calendar. |
Ctrl + Shift + O |
Open the outbox. |
Ctrl + Shift + I |
Open the inbox. |
Ctrl + Shift + K |
Add a new task. |
Ctrl + Shift + C |
Create a new contact. |
Ctrl + Shift+ J |
Create a new journal entry. |
WINKEY shortcuts:#
Keys |
Function |
WINKEY + D |
Bring desktop to the top of other windows. |
WINKEY + M |
Minimize all windows. |
WINKEY + SHIFT + M |
Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D. |
WINKEY + E |
Open Microsoft Explorer. |
WINKEY + Tab |
Cycle through open programs on the taskbar. |
WINKEY + F |
Display the Windows Search/Find feature. |
WINKEY + CTRL + F |
Display the search for computers window. |
WINKEY + F1 |
Display the Microsoft Windows help. |
WINKEY + R |
Open the run window. |
WINKEY + Pause /Break |
Open the system properties window. |
WINKEY + U |
Open utility manager. |
WINKEY + L |
Lock the computer (Windows XP & later). |