Shortcut Keys Description

Alt + F File menu options in current program.

Alt + E Edit options in current program
F1 Universal Help in almost every Windows program.
Ctrl + A Select all text.
Ctrl + X Cut selected item.
Shift + Del Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C Copy selected item.
Ctrl + Ins Copy selected item
Ctrl + V Paste
Shift + Ins Paste
Home Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl + Home Goes to beginning of document.
End Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl + End Goes to end of document.
Shift + Home Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift + End Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl + Left arrow Moves one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl + Right arrow Moves one word to the right at a time.

What are the F1 through F12 keys?

Question:
What are the F1 through F12 keys?

Answer:
Commonly known as "function keys", F1 through F12 may have a variety of
different uses or no use at all. Depending on the installed operating system and
the software program currently open will change how each of these keys
operate. A program is capable of not only using each of the function keys, but
also combining the function keys with the ALT and/or CTRL keys, for example,
Microsoft Windows users can press ALT + F4 to close the program currently
active.
Below is a short-listing of some of the common functions of the functions keys
on computers running Microsoft Windows. As mentioned above not all programs
support function keys and/or may perform different tasks then those
mentioned below. If you are looking for more specific shortcut keys and
function key examples we suggest seeing our shortcut key page.

F1

• Almost always used as the help key, almost every program will open the
help screen when this key is pressed.
• Windows Key + F1 would open the Microsoft Windows help and support
center.
• Open the Task Pane.

F2

• In Windows commonly used to rename a highlighted icon or file.

• Alt + Ctrl + F2 opens a new document in Microsoft Word.
• Ctrl + F2 displays the print preview window in Microsoft Word.

F3

• Often opens a search feature for many programs including Microsoft

Windows.
• Shift + F3 will change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower
case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.

F4

• Open find window.

• Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
• Alt + F4 will close the program currently active in Microsoft Windows.
• Ctrl + F4 will close the open window within the current active window in
Microsoft Windows.

F5

• In all modern Internet browsers pressing F5 will refresh or reload the

page or document window.
• Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft Word.
• Starts a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6

• Move the cursor to the Address bar in Internet Explorer and Mozilla
Firefox.
• Ctrl + Shift + F6 opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
F7

• Commonly used to spell check and grammar check a document in

Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, etc.
• Shift + F7 runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
• Turns on Caret browsing in Mozilla Firefox.

F8

• Function key used to enter the Windows startup menu, commonly use to
get into Windows Safe Mode.

F9

• Opens the Measurements toolbar in Quark 5.0.

F10

• In Microsoft Windows activates the menu bar of an open application.

• Shift + F10 is the same as right-clicking on a highlighted icon, file, or
Internet link.

F11

• Full-screen mode in all modern Internet browsers.

F12

• Open the Save as window in Microsoft Word.

• Shift + F12 save the Microsoft Word document.
• Ctrl + Shift + F12 prints a document in Microsoft Word.

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Windows as well as
the versions of Microsoft Windows they're supported in. If you're looking for
shortcut keys or information about how to navigate Microsoft Windows using
your keyboard instead of the mouse see document CH000791. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut
3.x 95 98 ME NT 2000 XP Vista Description
Keys
Alt + Tab Switch between open
X X X X X X X X
applications.
Alt + Shift Switch backwards
+ Tab X X X X X X X X between open
applications.
Alt + Display the properties of
double- the object you double-
click X X X X X X X click on. For example,
doing this on a file would
display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab Switches between
program groups or
X X X X X X X X document windows in
applications that support
this feature.
Ctrl + Shift Same as above but
X X X X X X X X
+ Tab backwards.
Alt + Print Create a screen shot only
Screen X X X X X X X X for the program you are
currently in.
Ctrl + Alt + Reboot the computer
Del X X X X X X X X and/or bring up the
Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc Bring up the Windows
Start menu. In Windows
X X X X X X X X
3.x this would bring up
the Task Manager.
Alt + Esc Switch Between open
X X X X X X X
applications on taskbar.
F1 Activates help for current
X X X X X X X X
open application.
F2 X X X X X X X X Renames selected Icon.
F3 X X X X X X X Starts find from desktop.
F4 X X X X X X X Opens the drive selection
 when browsing.
F5 X X X X X X X Refresh Contents.
F10 X X X X X X X X Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10 Simulates right-click on
X X X X X X X
selected item.
F4 Select a different
location to browse in the
X X X X X X X
Windows Explorer
toolbar.
Alt + F4 Closes Current open
X X X X X X X X
program.
Ctrl + F4 Closes Window in
X X X X X X X X
Program.
F6 Move cursor to different
X X X X X X X
Windows Explorer pane.
Ctrl + Drops down the window
X X X X X X X X
Space bar control menu.
Ctrl + (the Automatically adjust the
'+' key on widths of all the columns
X X X X X X
the in Windows explorer
keypad)
Alt + Enter Opens properties window
X X X X X X X of selected icon or
program.
Shift + Del Delete programs/files
X X X X X X X without throwing them
into the recycle bin.
Holding Boot Safe Mode or by pass
Shift X X X X X X X X system files as the
computer is booting.
Holding When putting in an audio
Shift X X X X X X X CD, will prevent CD
Player from playing.
Enter Activates the highlighted
X X X X X X X X
program.
Alt + Down Display all available
arrow X X X X X X X options on drop down
menu.
* (on the X X X X X X X Expands all folders on the
keypad) currently selected folder
 or drive in Windows
Explorer.
+ (on the Expands only the
keypad) X X X X X X X currently selected folder
in Windows Explorer.
- (on the Collapses the currently
keypad) X X X X X X X selected folder in
Windows Explorer.

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a

Microsoft Windows operating system and using a keyboard with a Windows key.
In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by "WINKEY".

Shortcut Keys Description

WINKEY Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support
WINKEY + F1
center.
Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft
WINKEY + F3
Outlook.
WINKEY + D Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M Minimizes all windows.
Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and
WINKEY + SHIFT + M
WINKEY + D.
WINKEY + E Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL + F Display the search for computers window.
WINKEY + F1 Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause / Break
Open the system properties window.
key
WINKEY +U Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY +L Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).

Back to shortcut keys main page

Microsoft Excel shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Excel. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

F2 Edit the selected cell.
F5 Goto a specific cell. For example, C6.
F7 Spell check selected text and/or document.
F11 Create chart.
Ctrl + Shift + ; Enter the current time.
Ctrl + ; Enter the current date.
Alt + Shift + F1 Insert New Worksheet.
Shift + F3 Open the Excel formula window.
Shift + F5 Bring up search box.
Ctrl + A Select all contents of the worksheet.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + K Insert link.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + 5 Strikethrough highlighted selection.
Ctrl + P Bring up the print dialog box to begin printing.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
Ctrl + F9 Minimize current window.
Ctrl + F10 Maximize currently selected window.
Ctrl + F6 Switch between open workbooks / windows.
Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
Ctrl + Page up
document.
Move between Excel work sheets in the same Excel
Ctrl + Page down
document.
Ctrl + Tab Move between Two or more open Excel files.
Alt + = Create a formula to sum all of the above cells
Insert the value of the above cell into cell currently
Ctrl + '
selected.
Ctrl + Shift + ! Format number in comma format.
Ctrl + Shift + $ Format number in currency format.
Ctrl + Shift + # Format number in date format.
Ctrl + Shift + % Format number in percentage format.
Ctrl + Shift + ^ Format number in scientific format.
Ctrl + Shift + @ Format number in time format.
Ctrl + Arrow
Move to next section of text.
key
Ctrl + Space Select entire column.
Shift + Space Select entire row.

Microsoft Word shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Word. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Ctrl + A Select all contents of the page.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + C Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X Cut selected text.
Ctrl + P Open the print window.
Ctrl + F Open find box.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + K Insert link.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + V Paste.
Ctrl + Y Redo the last action performed.
Ctrl + Z Undo last action.
Aligns the line or selected text to the left of the
Ctrl + L
screen.
Aligns the line or selected text to the center of the
Ctrl + E
screen.
Aligns the line or selected text to the right of the
Ctrl + R
screen.
Ctrl + M Indent the paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift + F Change the font.
 Increase selected font +1pts up to 12pt and then
Ctrl + Shift + >
increases font +2pts.
Ctrl + ] Increase selected font +1pts.
Decrease selected font -1pts if 12pt or lower, if above
Ctrl + Shift + <
12 decreases font by +2pt.
Ctrl + [ Decrease selected font -1pts.
Ctrl + Shift + * View or hide non printing characters.
Ctrl + <left arrow> Moves one word to the left.
Ctrl + <right arrow> Moves one word to the right.
Ctrl + <up arrow> Moves to the beginning of the line or paragraph.
Ctrl + <down arrow> Moves to the end of the paragraph.
Ctrl + Del Deletes word to right of cursor.
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes word to left of cursor.
Ctrl + End Moves the cursor to the end of the document.
Ctrl + Home Moves the cursor to the beginning of the document.
Ctrl + Spacebar Reset highlighted text to the default font.
Ctrl + 1 Single-space lines.
Ctrl + 2 Double-space lines.
Ctrl + 5 1.5-line spacing.
Ctrl + Alt + 1 Changes text to heading 1.
Ctrl + Alt + 2 Changes text to heading 2.
Ctrl + Alt + 3 Changes text to heading 3.
Ctrl + F1 Open the Task Pane.
F1 Open Help.
Alt + Ctrl + F2 Open new document.
Ctrl + F2 Display the print preview.
Change the text in Microsoft Word from upper to lower
Shift + F3
case or a capital letter at the beginning of every word.
Shift + Insert Paste.
F4 Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+)
Open the find, replace, and go to window in Microsoft
F5
Word.
Ctrl + Shift + F6 Opens to another open Microsoft Word document.
 Spell and grammar check selected text and/or
F7
document.
Shift + F7 Runs a Thesaurus check on the word highlighted.
F12 Save as.
Shift + F12 Save.
Ctrl + Shift + F12 Prints the document.
Alt + Shift + D Insert the current date.
Alt + Shift + T Insert the current time.

In addition to the above shortcut keys users can also use their mouse as a
method of quickly do something commonly performed. Below some are
examples of mouse shortcuts.

Mouse shortcuts Description

Click, hold, and Selects text from where you click and hold to the point
drag you drag and let go.
Double-click If double-click a word, selects the complete word.
Double-clicking on the left, center, or right of a blank
Double-click line will make the alignment of the text left, center, or
right aligned.
Double-clicking anywhere after text on a line will set a
Double-click
tab stop.
Selects the line or paragraph of the text the mouse triple-
Triple-click
clicked.
Ctrl + Mouse
Zooms in and out of document.
wheel

Back to shortcut keys main page

Internet Explorer shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Internet Explorer.
See our main shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in
other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Alt + Left Arrow Back a page.
Backspace Back a page.
Alt + Right Arrow Forward a page.
F5 Refresh current page, frame, or tab.
F11 Display the current website in full screen mode.
Pressing F11 again will exit this mode.
Esc Stop page or download from loading.
Ctrl + (- or +) Increase or decrease the font size, pressing '-' will
decrease and '+' will increase.
Ctrl + Enter Quickly complete an address. For example, type
computerhope in the address bar and press CTRL +
ENTER to get http://www.computerhope.com.
Ctrl + D Add a Favorite for the page currently opened.
Ctrl + I Display available bookmarks.
Ctrl + N Open New browser window.
Ctrl + P Print current page / frame.
Ctrl + T Opens a new tab.
Ctrl + F4 Closes the currently selected tab.
Ctrl + Tab Moves through each of the open tabs.
Spacebar Moves down a page at a time.
Shift + Spacebar Moves up a page at a time.
Alt + Down arrow Display all previous text entered in a text box and/or
available options on drop down menu.
Microsoft FrontPage shortcut keys
Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft FrontPage. See our
main shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other
programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Ctrl + C Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X Cut selected text.
Ctrl + P Paste selected text.
Ctrl + K Create a hyperlink.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection.
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection.
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection.
Ctrl + L Left align the text.
Ctrl + R Right align the text.
Ctrl + E Center the text.
Ctrl + / Turn on or off the display of HTML tags.
Ctrl + S Save document.
Ctrl + Tab Switch between open web pages.
Ctrl + Ins Enter Line break.
Ctrl + Enter Move cursor above or below a table.
Ctrl + Shift + B Preview in web browser window.
Ctrl + Shift + < Decrease font size.
Ctrl + Shift + > Increase font size.
Ctrl + Del Deletes word to right of cursor.
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes word to left of cursor.
View the properties of a selected item. For example, doing
Alt + mouse
this on a table cell would display the properties for that
double-click
cell.

Microsoft Outlook shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Outlook. See our
main shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other
programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Alt + S Send the e-mail
Ctrl + C Copy selected text.
Ctrl + X Cut selected text.
Ctrl + P Paste selected text.
Complete the name and/or e-mail being typed in the e-mail
Ctrl + K
address bar.
Ctrl + B Bold highlighted selection
Ctrl + I Italic highlighted selection
Ctrl + U Underline highlighted selection
Ctrl + R Reply to an e-mail.
Ctrl + F Forward an e-mail.
Ctrl + N Create a new e-mail.
Ctrl + Shift +
Create a new appointment to your calendar.
A
Ctrl + Shift +
Open the Outbox.
O
Ctrl + Shift +
Open the Inbox.
I
Ctrl + Shift +
Add a new task.
K
Ctrl + Shirt +
Create a new contact.
C
Ctrl + Shift +
Create a new journal entry.
J

Mozilla Firefox shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Mozilla Firefox. See our main
shortcut page if you're looking for other shortcut keys used in other programs.

Shortcut Keys Description

Alt + Left Arrow Back a page.
Backspace Back a page.
Alt + Right Arrow Forward a page.
F5 Refresh current page, frame, or tab.
F11 Display the current website in full screen mode.
Pressing F11 again will exit this mode.
Esc Stop page or download from loading.
Ctrl + (- or +) Increase or decrease the font size, pressing '-' will
decrease and '+' will increase.
Ctrl + Enter Quickly complete an address. For example, type
computerhope in the address bar and press CTRL +
ENTER to get http://www.computerhope.com.
Shift + Enter Complete a .net instead of a .com address.
Ctrl + Shift + Enter Complete a .org address.
Ctrl + Shift + Del Open the Clear Data window to quickly clear private
data.
Ctrl + D Add a bookmark for the page currently opened.
Ctrl + I Display available bookmarks.
Ctrl + J Display the download window.
Ctrl + N Open New browser window.
Ctrl + P Print current page / frame.
Ctrl + T Opens a new tab.
Ctrl + F4 Closes the currently selected tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T Undo the close of a window.
Ctrl + Tab Moves through each of the open tabs.
Spacebar Moves down a page at a time.
Shift + Spacebar Moves up a page at a time.
Alt + Down arrow Display all previous text entered in a text box and/or
available options on drop down menu.

Keyboard Definitions
 #|A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

Listing of computer keyboard keys

Number
101 Keyboard
104 Keyboard
8042 keyboard controller
A
ALT
Any key
Apostrophe
Arrow keys
Asterisk
AT keyboard
Azerty
B
Back quote
Back slash
Backspace key
Bang
Break
Butterfly keyboard
C
Caps lock
Caret
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Case sensitive
Chiclet keyboard
Colon
Comma
Command key
Control keys
CR
CTRL
D
Dvorak keyboard
E
End key
Enhanced Keyboard
Enter key
ESC
 Exclamation mark
F
Forward slash
Function keys
G
Greater than
GT
GWAM
GWPM
H
HID
Home key
Home row keys
Hotkey
Hunt and peck
Hyphen
I
Input device
Input driver
Insert key
J
Currently no listings
K
Key
Keyboard
Keyboard buffer
Keyboard controller
Keyboard layout
Keyboard repeat
Keyboard shortcut
Keyboard template
Keycap
Key in
Keylogger
Keypad
L
LT
M
Modifier key
N
Numeric keypad
NUM Lock
O
Octothorpe
P
Page Down key
Page Up key
Pause key
PC/XT keyboard
Period
PGDN key
PGUP key
Pipe
Plus
Pound
Print screen key
Programmable function key
PS/2
Q
Quote
QWERTY keyboard
R
Repeat rate
S
Scroll lock key
Semicolon
Shift clicking
Shift key
Shortcut key
Single quote
Spacebar
SysRq
T
Tab
Togglekeys
Touch type
TTY
Tilde
Type
Typematic rate
U
 Underscore
Unprintable character
V
Currently no listings
W
Wack
WAM
Whack
White space
Windows key
Windows keyboard
WPM
Wrist rest
WSAD keys
X
Currently no listings
Y
Currently no listings
Z
Currently no listings