Keyboard shortcuts help maximize efficiency at common tasks, the lesser known ones are even sometimes passed around as expert tips for Windows. I have to admit that seeing someone in action that knows all the shortcuts and can use them together efficiently is a very impressive sight. This post is to share some of my personal favorites, listen to what others find useful and link to more info.
There are many improvements in Vista, so I won’t be able to cover them all. Here are a few that I find the most addictive:
1. Launch any app
a. WinKey, Type an app name (eg. Word), Enter
b. A variation of this is looking for Control Panel applets like Indexing Options (eg. Index)
c. CTRL-SHIFT-ENTER will also launch the app elevated
2. Instant Search on any folder – gives me fast contextual search that includes file contents
a. CTRL-E, type
3. Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) in search box – not technically a keyboard shortcut, but a favorite search feature of mine
a. From:Bill Date:Yesterday
b. For more details look for ‘Advanced Search’ in Vista Help
What are your favorites? Anything missing that you would like to see?
For more info you can search the Vista Help topics for ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’. The IE team also has a Quick Reference for IE 7: check out this web page for the list. (Special thanks to Robert Sweeney for the link!)
Here’s a quick reference for the Shell (may be updated):
Explorer Shortcuts |
ALT+D | Select the Address bar |
CTRL+E | Select the Instant Search box |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
ALT+UP ARROW | View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer |
ALT+LEFT | Go backward to previous location in history |
Backspace | Navigate to parent folder if there are no previous navigations. Navigate to previous location in history if one exists. |
ALT+RIGHT | Go forward to next location in history |
ESC | Cancel the current task or search |
F10 or ALT | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
F6 | Cycle focus to next UI element in Explorer |
ALT+F4 or CTRL+W | Close the active item, or exit the active program |
F4 | Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer |
F3 or CTRL+F | Search for a file or folder |
CTRL+N | Opens current location in a new window |
F11 | Turn Full Screen Mode on or off |
ALT+SPACEBAR | Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
ALT+TAB | Cycle through open windows |
CTRL+ALT+TAB | Cycle through open windows without closing the menu |
CTRL+ESC | Display Start Menu |
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC | Task Manager |
Listview Shortcuts |
CTRL+A | Select all items in a document or window |
END | Select last item in the active window |
HOME | Select first item in the active window |
CTRL+END | Move focus to last item in the selected window without selecting |
CTRL+HOME | Move focus to first item in the selected window without selecting |
CTRL+Arrow keys+Spacebar | Allows discontinuous multiple selection of items |
SHIFT with any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document |
SHIFT+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
F2 | Rename the selected item |
ALT+ENTER | Display properties for the selected item |
DELETE or CTRL+D | Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin |
SHIFT+DELETE | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
CTRL+PLUS key on Number Pad | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
Instant Search Box Shortcuts |
ALT+ENTER | Searches for entered term and opens Search Pane (does not work in Start Menu) |
SHIFT+ENTER | Searches for entered term using Internet browser (does not work in Start Menu) |
CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER | Will launch a selected Application elevated if used from the Start Menu |
Folder Tree Shortcuts |
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad | Display all subfolders under the selected folder |
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad | Display the contents of the selected folder |
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad | Collapse the selected folder |
LEFT ARROW | Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder |
RIGHT ARROW | Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder |
ALT+LEFT ARROW | View the previous folder |
ALT+RIGHT ARROW | View the next folder |
Windows Key Shortcuts |
Windows logo key | Open or close the Start menu |
Windows logo key + # | Launches shortcut in Quick Launch with the position corresponding to the # entered. (eg. Winkey + 1 to launch first item in quick launch menu) |
Windows logo key +BREAK | Display the System Properties dialog box |
Windows logo key +D | Display the desktop |
Windows logo key +M | Minimize all windows |
Windows logo key +SHIFT+M | Restore minimized windows to the desktop |
Windows logo key +E | Open Windows Explorer navigated to Computer |
Windows logo key +F | Search for a file or folder |
CTRL+Windows logo key +F | Search for computers |
Windows logo key +L | Lock your computer |
Windows logo key +R | Open the Run dialog box |
Windows logo key +T | Cycle through programs on the taskbar |
Windows logo key +TAB | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D |
CTRL+Windows logo key +TAB | Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D |
Windows logo key +SPACEBAR | Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar |
Windows logo key +G | Cycle through Sidebar gadgets |
Windows logo key +U | Open Ease of Access Center |
Windows logo key +X | Open Windows Mobility Center |
Login Screen Shortcuts |
ALT+S | Power Menu |
ALT+W | Switch user |
Arrow keys | Navigate between user tiles |
Security Screen Shortcuts |
ALT+K | Lock machine |
ALT+W | Switch user |
ALT+L | Log off |
ALT+C | Change Password |
ALT+T | Task Manager |
General Shortcuts |
CTRL+C or CTRL+INS | Copy |
CTRL+X or SHIFT+DEL | Cut |
CTRL+V or SHIFT+INS | Paste |
CTRL+Z | Undo |
CTRL+Y | Redo |
F1 | Help |
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item | Create shortcut to selected item. |
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Highlight a block of text. |
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word. |
CTRL+LEFT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word. |