Windows Hot Keys:

Most people think they know the ins and outs of using their favorite software (and maybe they do), but there are hundreds of little shortcuts that can be used to make common tasks even easier. This Tech Tip is going to follow a different format than the norm and will list a few dozen of these hot keys that can be used to make working in Microsoft Windows even easier.

The shortcuts covered are broken up into groups based on the main key involved in activating them. So, let’s take a look at what we can do with the ALT, CTRL, SHIFT, and Windows Keys, as well as a few combo moves…

Commands Using the ALT Key:

Key Combination	Action
<ALT>+<Left Cursor Arrow>	Back One Page (Internet Explorer)
<ALT>+<Right Cursor Arrow>	Forward One Page (Internet Explorer)
<ALT>+<TAB>	Switch Between Applications (L to R)
<ALT>+<Shift>+<TAB>	Switch Between Applications (R to L)
<ALT>+<Backspace>	Undo
<ALT>+<Print Screen>	Screen Shot of Current Application (& place on clipboard) Note: Just hitting the PRINT SCREEN button will place a Screen Shot of the entire screen onto the clipboard.
<ALT>+M	Minimize all open ALT
<ALT>+<Shift>+M	Undo the "minimize all" function (re-open all current ALT)
<ALT>+R	Open the "Run" dialog box

Commands Using the CTRL Key:

Key Combination	Action
<CTRL>+<Left Cursor Arrow>	Move Cursor Left One Word
<CTRL>+<Right Cursor Arrow>	Move Cursor Right One Word
<CTRL>+<C> or <CTRL>+<Insert>	Copy (and place on clipboard)
<CTRL>+<X>	Cut (and place on clipboard)
<CTRL>+<F>	Find (opens the “Find and Replace” dialog box)
<CTRL>+<Home>	Go To Beginning of Document (Office)
<CTRL>+<Page Up>	Go To Beginning of Page (Office)
<CTRL>+<End>	Go To End of Document (Office)
<CTRL>+<Page Down>	Go To End of Page (Office)
<CTRL>+<N>	New
<CTRL>+<O>	Open
<CTRL>+<V>	Paste (from clipboard)
<CTRL>+<P>	Print
<CTRL>+<Y>	Redo
<CTRL>+<S>	Save
<CTRL>+<A>	Select All
<CTRL>+<Z>	Undo
<CTRL>+ <Mouse scroll wheel up>	Magnify Window Contents (Office) Zooms in all contents of Office workspace
<CTRL>+ <Mouse scroll wheel down>	Magnify Window Contents (Office) Zooms out all contents of Office workspace

Commands Using the SHIFT Key:

Key Combination	Action
<Shift>+<Left Cursor Arrow>	Select Previous Character
<Shift>+<Right Cursor Arrow>	Select Next Character
<Shift>+<Up Cursor Arrow >	Select Previous Line
<Shift>+<Down Cursor Arrow>	Select Next Line
<Shift>+<Delete>	Cut (and place on clipboard)
<Shift>+<F>	Find (opens the “Find and Replace” dialog box)
<Shift>+<Home>	Highlight (from current position to beginning of line)
<Shift>+<Page Up>	Go To Beginning of Page (Office)
<Shift>+<End>	Highlight (from current position to end of line)
<Shift>+<Page Down>	Go To End of Page (Office)
<Shift>+ <Mouse scroll wheel up>	Magnify Text Size (Internet Explorer) Increases font size in Internet Explorer
<Shift>+ <Mouse scroll wheel down>	Magnify Text Size (Internet Explorer) Decreases font size in Internet Explorer
<Shift>+<Insert>	Paste (Contents from clipboard)

Commands Using the Windows Key:

Key Combination	Action
<Windows>+<R>	Launch ‘Run’ Dialog Box
<Windows>+<E>	Launch Windows Explorer
<Windows>+<L>	Lock Computer (Only When Network Login Used)
<Windows>+<D>	Minimize / Maximize All Windows
<Windows>+<F>	Search (Open Windows Explorer in Search Mode)
<Windows>+<Break>	Show System Properties

Commands Using a Combination of Hot Key:

Key Combination	Action
<Shift>+<ALT>+<Spacebar> Then press <X>	Maximize Current Window
<Shift>+<ALT>+<Spacebar> Then press <N>	Minimize Current Window
<Shift>+<ALT>+<Spacebar> Then press <M>	Move Current Window Use the keyboard arrow keys to manipulate the position
<Shift>+<ALT>+<Spacebar> Then press <S>	Resize Current Window Use the keyboard arrow keys to manipulate the size
<Shift>+<ALT>+<Spacebar> Then press <R>	Restore Current Window Return a maximized window to original size
<CTRL>+<Shift>+<ESC>	Show Task Manager
<CTRL>+<ALT>+<Delete>	Show Task Manager

Final Words

Windows hot keys are all intended to provide some sort of convenient alternative to common tasks, and whether specific combinations do so is up to the individual to decide. Some are simple time-saving motions, while others are complex maneuvers in finger gymnastics. There are dozens of other common Windows shortcuts (and even more related to specific software titles), and memorizing just a few of the more basic ones may be worth the time-savings they can afford you.