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HP PCs - Keyboard Shortcuts, Hotkeys, and Special Keys

(Windows)
Common keyboard shortcuts
Windows 10 shortcuts
Windows 8 shortcuts
Windows 7 shortcuts
Keys with icons or symbols
Frequently asked questions

This document is for HP computers with Windows.

Discover useful keyboard features in Windows that can make navigation, tasks, and functions
quicker and easier.

Common keyboard shortcuts

Use key press combinations to perform common tasks in Windows.

  NOTE:

The Windows key on your keyboard is labeled as a Windows flag icon or and is
used in many key press combinations.

Task Keystroke Result

Task Keystroke Result

Get help F1 Get help about the software or app that is

currently active. For help with Windows,
press F1 while at the Windows desktop.

Copy a selection to the Windows clipboard

Copy Ctrl + C
to be pasted later.

Paste a previously cut or copied selection

Paste Ctrl + V
into an app.

Delete a selection and copy it to the

Cut Ctrl + X
Windows clipboard to be pasted later.

Save Ctrl + S Save a file from the currently active app.

Undo the last action done in Windows.

Undo an action Ctrl + Z Repeat this keypress to continue undoing
previous actions.

Apply bold emphasis to selected text while

Bold text Ctrl + B
text is being edited.

Underline selected text while text is being

Underline text Ctrl + U
edited.

Apply italicized emphasis to selected text

Italicize text Ctrl + I
while text is being edited.
Task Keystroke Result

Destroy a file Shift + Delete Delete a selected file in Windows without

moving it to the Recycle Bin. The file is
permanently deleted.

Quickly find a file's property information.

Alt + Enter (or double-
File properties The key press works from the desktop, File
click)
Explorer, or Windows Explorer.

Copy a picture of the screen to the

Windows clipboard to be pasted as a
Screenshot Prt Scr (Print Screen) graphic later. On some laptops, you may
need to press and hold Fn before pressing
Prt Scr.

Copy a picture of the current window (not

Take a picture of Shift + Prt Scr (Print
the entire screen) to the Windows
a window Screen)
clipboard to be pasted as a graphic later.

Close the currently active window or app.

With the window active,
Close a window This task can be useful when you want to
press Alt + F4 (Function
or web page close a webpage that does not have a
key F4)
close window button.

With the Windows

Open a window where you can select
Shut down or desktop active, press
power functions, such as Log off, Sleep,
restart Windows Alt + F4 (Function key
Hibernate, Restart and Shut down.
F4)

Open the Start The Windows key or Open or close the Start menu or Start
menu or Start screen.
screen Ctrl + Esc
Task Keystroke Result

Alt + the letter key

Open a window Instead of using a mouse to open menus or
matching the
menu or menu select items within menus, use this key
underlined letter of the
item press combination.
menu or menu item

Open a right-
Instead of using a mouse to right-click an
click Shift + F10 (Function
item in Windows, use this key press
(contextual) key F10)
combination.
menu

Open the Run dialog box to type Windows

Run a command Windows key + R
commands.

Display all active windows. Switch to

Switch between
Alt + Tab another window by repeatedly pressing
apps
the tab key while holding down the Alt key.

Remove the current window from view

Minimize Windows key + Down
without closing. You can access the
window arrow
window again by clicking the tray icon.

Maximize Windows key + Up Change the size of the current window to

window arrow fill the entire screen.

Minimize all
Windows key + M Minimize all active windows.
windows

Windows key + Shift + Restore all active windows that were

M minimized to the system tray.
 Task Keystroke Result

Restore all
minimized
windows

Open accessibility features, such as screen

Ease of Access
Windows key + U reading, high contrast screens, mouse
Center
alternative options, and more.

Open the task manager utility to monitor

Open Task
Ctrl + Shift + Esc currently running tasks and network
Manager
activity.

Open System Properties for quick access

Open System Windows key + Pause /
to basic system information and links to
Properties Break
other helpful system tools.

Windows 10 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 10.

Function Keystroke Result

Windows key

Start menu or Open or close the Start menu or Start screen.

Ctrl + Esc

Search
Function Keystroke Result

Windows key + Open a search window to find files, folders, apps,

S (Windows settings, and websites.
10)

Search for Windows key +

Find computers on a local network.
computers Ctrl + F

Windows key +
Dictation Open the Dictation input feature.
H

Windows key + Open a File Explorer window to browse the files and
File Explorer
E folders on your computer.

Windows key + Open a Settings window where you can change the
Settings
I behavior of features in Windows.

Connect to Windows key + Open the Connect or Devices view to connect to

devices K Bluetooth devices.

Lock the Windows key + Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized access
computer L while you are away.

Screen
Windows key + Prevent or allow the screen to rotate when the display
orientation
O device is rotated, if supported.
lock

Advanced Windows key + Open the Advanced Settings menu.

Settings X
 Function Keystroke Result

Resize and display all currently active windows to fit

proportionally on the screen (thumbnail view). Use this
View active Windows key + view to quickly see everything currently running and to
apps Tab close or switch between windows. Repeat this key press
to return the windows to their previous size and
placement.

Hide the Start screen or minimize all active windows

Windows Windows key +
and menus to display the desktop. Repeat this key
desktop D
press to restore the previous view.

Windows key +
Snap a Move and resize the current window to the left or right
Left arrow or
Window half of the screen.
Right arrow

Windows key +
Save a Saves a picture of your screen as a PNG graphic file to a
Prt Scr (Print
screenshot Screenshots folder in your Pictures library.
Screen)

Windows 8 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 8.

Function Keystroke Result

Start menu Windows key Open or close the Start menu or Start screen.

or

Ctrl + Esc
Function Keystroke Result

Windows key + Open a search window to find files, folders, apps,

Search
F (Windows 8) settings, and websites.

Search for Windows key +

Find computers on a local network.
computers Ctrl + F

Windows key + Open the Share menu where you can send files or
Share
H messages to others.

Windows key + Open a File Explorer window to browse the files and
File Explorer
E folders on your computer.

Windows key + Open a Settings window where you can change the
Settings
I behavior of features in Windows.

Connect to Windows key + Open the Connect or Devices view to connect to

devices K Bluetooth devices.

Lock the Windows key + Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized access
computer L while you are away.

Windows key +
Clock Open the clock.
C

Screen Windows key + Prevent or allow the screen to rotate when the display
orientation O device is rotated, if supported.
lock
 Function Keystroke Result

Advanced Windows key +

Open the Advanced Settings menu.
Settings X

Resize and display all currently active windows to fit

proportionally on the screen (thumbnail view). Use this
View active Windows key + view to quickly see everything currently running and to
apps Tab close or switch between windows. Repeat this key press
to return the windows to their previous size and
placement.

Hide the Start screen or minimize all active windows

Windows Windows key +
and menus to display the desktop. Repeat this key
desktop D
press to restore the previous view.

Windows key +
Snap a Move and resize the current window to the left or right
Left arrow or
Window half of the screen.
Right arrow

Windows key +
Save a Saves a picture of your screen as a PNG graphic file to a
Prt Scr (Print
screenshot Screenshots folder in your Pictures library.
Screen)

Windows 7 shortcuts
Use key press combinations to quickly access common functions in Windows 7.

Function Keystroke Result

Function Keystroke Result

Start menu Windows key Open or close the Start menu.

or

Ctrl + Esc

Open Windows Explorer window to browse the

File Explorer Windows key + E
files and folders on your computer.

Open a Search results window to find a file or

Search for files Windows key + F
folder on your computer.

Search for Windows key +

Find computers on a local network.
computers Ctrl + F

Lock the Lock the computer to prevent unauthorized

Windows key + L
computer access while you are away.

Open the Mobility Center menu for quick access

Mobility Center
to functions used most often on laptops and
(for mobile Windows key + X
mobile devices: volume, battery status, wireless
devices)
network, etc.

Minimize all active windows and menus and

Windows
Windows key + D display the desktop. Repeat this key press to
desktop
restore the previous view.

Snap a Window Windows key + Move and resize the current window to the left
Left arrow or or right half of the screen.
Right arrow
 Function Keystroke Result

Keys with icons or symbols

Most keyboards come with special symbols applied to the function keys. Your HP keyboard
might have extra keys or buttons with icons as well. Use this section to understand the
meaning of those icons and symbols.

  NOTE:

On most laptop keyboards, you must press and hold the fn key before pressing the key
with the symbol to perform the function.

Task Symbol Meaning

Turn wireless Internet on or off. There is usually an LED or

on-screen notification to indicate the status of Wi-Fi: on,
Enable wireless
off, or on and not connected. This symbol key does not turn
on Bluetooth.

Enable or disable all wireless communications from the

Airplane mode
computer.

Presentation Switch to another display mode when an external display is

mode connected.

Illuminate the If your laptop is equipped with an illuminated keyboard,

keyboard turn keyboard illumination on or off.

Search
Task Symbol Meaning

Open a search window to find files, folders, apps, settings,

and websites.

Decrease
screen Dim the brightness of the built-in display screen.
brightness

Increase screen
Increase the brightness of the built-in display screen.
brightness

Menu / Right-
Open a right-click menu.
click

Copy Copy selection to clipboard. Same as pressing CTRL + C.

Lock the
Exit Windows to the sign-in screen.
computer

Suspend the
Place the computer in sleep or suspend mode.
computer

Silence the speakers or headphones. Repeat the press to

Mute
allow sound.

Volume down Decrease the volume of speakers or headphones.

Task Symbol Meaning

Volume up Increase the volume of speakers or headphones.

Play / Pause Play or pause media, such as music or videos. This key does
media not work unless media is active.

Stop playback of media, such as music or videos. This key

Stop media
does not work unless media is active.

Skip (media) Play next section or track of audio or video.

Previous Restart current media from the beginning. If pressed

(media) repeatedly, plays the previous track or clip.

Open the Share menu where you can send files or messages
Share
to others.

Open a Settings window where you can change the behavior

Settings
of features in Windows.

Activates or deactivates scroll lock. Scroll lock uses the

arrow keys to move within a window instead of using a
Scroll Lock
mouse and the scroll bar. Scroll lock is only used by a few
software apps, such as Microsoft Excel.

Connect to Open the Connect or Devices view where you can connect to
devices Bluetooth devices.
 Task Symbol Meaning

Arrange app
Display apps side-by-side for simultaneous viewing.
view

Switch apps Switch between open apps.

Show app Show the app commands that are available for the app that
commands is currently open.

List apps List apps that are open in the background.

Connect to the
Open the default Internet browser.
Internet

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about using extended keyboard features.

How do I change or disable a key?

How do I turn the Fn key on or off?

What do the function keys do? (F1, F2, etc.)

 How do I type an at sign (@)?

Can I use my keyboard as a mouse?

What do I do when some keys type the wrong characters?

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