Best of Windows Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts for You

Keyboard and mouse shortcuts help us a lot. You can quickly finish any of your desired tasks using keyboard shortcuts/commands while doing the same task via a step-by-step process may take a comparatively longer time. So, we have gathered almost all of the Windows keyboard and mouse shortcuts together in this post.

SEE ALSO: A to Z list of Windows CMD Commands (PDF download available).

Windows Keyboard & Mouse Shortcut Key Combinations

Below is the list of all Windows Keyboard and Mouse shortcuts, divided into groups based on their functionality and usage. These are easy to learn and with little practice, you can become an expert in these Keyboard shortcuts.

Best Of Windows Keyboard And Mouse Shortcuts For You
Best of Windows Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts for You

General Keyboard-only Commands/Shortcuts

F1Starts Windows Help
F10Activates menu bar options
SHIFT + F10Opens a shortcut menu for the selected item (this is the same as right-clicking an object
CTRL + ESCOpens the Start menu (use the ARROW keys to select an item)
CTRL + ESC or ESCSelects the Start button (press TAB to select the taskbar or press SHIFT+F10 for a context menu)
CTRL + SHIFT + ESCOpens Windows Task Manager
ALT + DOWN ARROWOpens a drop-down list box using keyboard and mouse key combinations
ALT + TABSwitch to another running program (hold down the ALT key and then press the TAB key to view the task-switching window)
SHIFTPress and hold down the SHIFT key while you insert a CD-ROM to bypass the automatic-run feature
ALT + SPACEDisplays the main window’s System menu (from the System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the window)
ALT + – (ALT + hyphen)Displays the Multiple Document Interface (MDI) child window’s System menu (from the MDI child window’s System menu, you can restore, move, resize, minimize, maximize, or close the child window)
CTRL+TABSwitch to the next child window of a Multiple Document Interface (MDI) program
ALT + underlined letter in the menuKeyboard shortcuts to open that particular item in the menu
ALT + F4Closes the current window
CTRL + F4Closes the current Multiple Document Interface (MDI) window
ALT + F6Switch between multiple windows in the same program (for example, when the Notepad Find dialog box is displayed, ALT+F6 switches between the Find dialog box and the main Notepad window)

Files and general folder/Windows Explorer Keyboard shortcuts

For a selected File or Folder use the following keyboard and mouse shortcuts:

F2Rename object
F3Find all files
CTRL + XCut
CTRL + CCopy
CTRL + VPaste
SHIFT + DELETEDelete selection immediately, without moving the item to the Recycle Bin
ALT + ENTEROpen the properties for the selected object

Windows System Key Combinations

F1Help
Ctrl + EscOpen Start Menu
ALT + TABSwitch between open programs
ALT + F4Quit program
SHIFT + DELETEDelete item permanently
Windows Logo + LLock the computer (without using CTRL+ALT+DELETE)

Windows Program Key Combinations

CTRL + CCopy
CTRL + XCut
CTRL + VPaste
CTRL + ZUndo
CTRL + BBold
CTRL + UUnderline
CTRL + IItalic

Mouse / Keyboard Modifier Combinations for Files

SHIFT + Right-clickDisplays a shortcut menu containing alternative commands
SHIFT + Double-clickRuns the alternate default command (the second item on the menu)
ALT + Double-clickDisplays properties
SHIFT + DELETEDeletes an item immediately without placing it in the Recycle Bin

Mouse Shortcuts

You can use the following mouse shortcut keys in Windows.

To copy a file

Press and hold down the CTRL key while you drag the file to another folder.

To create a shortcut

Press and hold down CTRL+SHIFT while you drag a file to the desktop or a folder.


SEE ALSO: How to Remap Keyboard Keys in Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC?


General Folder/Shortcut Control

F4Selects the Go To A Different Folder box and moves down the entries in the box (if the toolbar is active in Windows Explorer)
F5Refreshes the current window
F6Moves among panes in Windows Explorer
CTRL + ZUndo the last command
CTRL + ASelect all the items in the current window
BACKSPACESwitch to the parent folder
SHIFT + click on the Close buttonFor folders, close the current folder plus all parent folders

Windows Explorer Tree Control Keyboard Shortcuts

Numeric Keypad *Expands everything under the current selection
Numeric Keypad +Expands the current selection
Numeric Keypad –Collapses the current selection
RIGHT ARROWExpands the current selection if it is not expanded, otherwise goes to the first child
LEFT ARROWCollapses the current selection if it is expanded, otherwise goes to the parent

Properties Control

CTRL+TAB/CTRL+SHIFT+TABMove through the property tabs

Accessibility Shortcuts

Press SHIFT five timesToggles StickyKeys on and off
Press down and hold the right SHIFT key for eight secondsToggles FilterKeys on and off
Press down and hold the NUM LOCK key for five secondsToggles ToggleKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+NUM LOCKToggles MouseKeys on and off
Left ALT + left SHIFT+PRINT SCREENToggles high contrast on and off

SEE ALSO: Snipping Tool not working in Windows 11? Here is the Fix.


Microsoft Natural Keyboard Key Combinations

Windows LogoStart menu
Windows Logo + RRun dialog box
Windows Logo + MMinimize all
SHIFT + Windows Logo + MUndo minimize all
Windows Logo + F1Help
Windows Logo + EWindows Explorer
Windows Logo + FFind files or folders
Windows Logo + DMinimizes all open windows and displays the desktop
CTRL + Windows Logo + FFind computer
CTRL + Windows Logo + TABMoves focus from the Start to the Quick Launch toolbar or to the system tray (use RIGHT ARROW or LEFT ARROW to move focus to items on the Quick Launch toolbar and the system tray)
Windows Logo + TABCycle through taskbar buttons
Windows Logo + BreakSystem Properties dialog box
Application keyDisplays a shortcut menu for the selected item

Dialog Box Keyboard Commands

TABMove to the next control in the dialog box
SHIFT + TABMove to the previous control in the dialog box
SPACEBARIf the current control is a button, this clicks the button. If the current control is a check box, this toggles the check box. If the current control is an option, this selects the option.
ENTEREquivalent to clicking the selected button (the button with the outline)
ESCEquivalent to clicking the Cancel button
ALT + underlined letter in dialog box itemMove to the corresponding item

A to Z List of Windows Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts

Hope you liked the above list of Windows Keyboard shortcuts. You can perform your tasks quickly using these keyboard shortcuts. While learning all of them is not very easy practicing will sure get you there. You can also share these Windows Keyboard and mouse Shortcuts with your friends to help them. Enjoy, the Keyboard and mouse shortcuts for Windows!

SEE ALSO: A to Z list of MS Excel Shortcuts and MS Word Shortcuts.

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