Keyboard shortcuts are a combination of simultaneous key strokes that perform certain actions which can be used as an alternative to using your mouse and can save you valuable time whilst working.
Some people find them easier to use than a mouse, especially when spending long stretches of time at their computer.
To save you memorising these key combinations the Air-IT Help Desk have compiled a sample of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts for windows.
You may want to bookmark this page for future reference.
General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
| To Do | Shortcut Key |
|---|---|
| Open Help | F1 |
| Select all content in document, window or text box | Ctrl+A |
| Search for file or folder | F3 In Windows 7, you can also press the Windows logo key to open the Start menu and then type in the Search box |
| Rename file or folder | Select file or folder, press F2, and then retype name |
| Find out when file or folder was created, by whom, and how big it is | Select the file, then press Alt+Enter |
| Display Start Menu | Ctrl+Esc In Windows 7, you can also press the Windows logo key |
| Select All | Ctrl+A |
| Undo an action | Ctrl+Z |
| Redo an action | Ctrl+Y |
| Copy | Ctrl+C |
| Cut | Ctrl+X |
| Paste | Ctrl+V |
| Capture a screen shot | Alt+Print Screen, then press Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste. |
| Lock computer, switch users, log off, change password or start Task Manager | Ctrl+Alt+Delete |
| Lock the computer | Press the Windows logo key+L |
| Quit program or active window | Alt+F4 |
| Open shortcut menu for active window | Alt+Spacebar |
| Scroll between open windows | Alt+Tab, then hold down Alt while pressing Tab to reach the desired file or program |
| Scroll through items in order they were opened | Alt+Esc |
| Scroll through screen elements in window or desktop | F6 |
| Display address bar list in my computer or windows explorer | F4 |
| Display start menu | Ctrl+Esc |
| Activate menu bar in active program | F10 |
| Open next menu to right, or open sub-menu | Right Arrow |
| Open next menu to left, or close sub-menu | Left Arrow |
| Refresh Active Window | F5 |
| View folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer | Backspace |
| Cancel current task | Esc |
