Windows Vista keyboard shortcuts

Some of our visitors searched the site for keyboard shortcuts to various actions. We searched for a complete list of Windows Vista keyboard shortcuts and we found it on the Microsoft Windows Vista Help pages. The complete list is pretty big and some of them are not so useful or easy to remember. This is why we tried to compact it a little and we decided to publish in this article only those which we found useful.
General keyboard shortcuts

• F1 - Display Help


• CTRL+C - Copy the selected item


• CTRL+X - Cut the selected item


• CTRL+V - Paste the selected item


• CTRL+Z - Undo an action


• CTRL+Y - Redo an action


• DELETE - 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


• F2 - Rename the selected item


• CTRL+RIGHT ARROW - Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word


• CTRL+LEFT ARROW - Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word


• CTRL+DOWN ARROW - Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph


• CTRL+UP ARROW - Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph


• CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key - Select a block of text


• SHIFT with any arrow key - Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document


• CTRL with any arrow key+SPACEBAR - Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop


• CTRL+A - Select all items in a document or window


• F3- Search for a file or folder


• ALT+ENTER - Display properties for the selected item


• ALT+F4 - Close the active item, or exit the active program


• ALT+SPACEBAR - Open the shortcut menu for the active window


• CTRL+F4 - Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)


• ALT+TAB - Switch between open items


• CTRL+ALT+TAB - Use the arrow keys to switch between open items


• CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel - Change the size of icons on the desktop


• 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


• ALT+ESC - Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened


• F6 - Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop


• F4 - Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer


• SHIFT+F10 - Display the shortcut menu for the selected item


• CTRL+ESC - Open the Start menu


• F10 - Activate the menu bar in the active program


• RIGHT ARROW - Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu


• LEFT ARROW - Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu


• F5 - Refresh the active window


• ALT+UP ARROW - View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer


• ESC - Cancel the current task


• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC - Open Task Manager


• SHIFT when you insert a CD - Prevent the CD from automatically playing

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

• CTRL+TAB - Move forward through tabs


• CTRL+SHIFT+TAB - Move back through tabs


• TAB - Move forward through options


• SHIFT+TAB - Move back through options


• ALT+underlined letter - Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter


• ENTER - Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands


• SPACEBAR - Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box


• Arrow keys - Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons


• F1 - Display Help


• F4 - Display the items in the active list


• BACKSPACE - Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcuts

• Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key + SPACEBAR - Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar


• Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key +G - Cycle through Sidebar gadgets


• TAB - Cycle through Sidebar controls

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

• CTRL+N - Open a new window


• END - Display the bottom of the active window


• HOME - Display the top of the active window


• F11 - Maximize or minimize the active window


• LEFT ARROW - Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder


• ALT+LEFT ARROW - View the previous folder


• RIGHT ARROW - Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder


• ALT+RIGHT ARROW - View the next folder


• CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel - Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons


• ALT+D - Select the Address bar



Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

• ALT+C - Display the Table of Contents


• ALT+N - Display the Connection Settings menu


• F10 - Display the Options menu


• ALT+LEFT ARROW - Move back to the previously viewed topic


• ALT+RIGHT ARROW - Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic


• ALT+A - Display the customer support page


• ALT+HOME - Display the Help and Support home page


• HOME - Move the to beginning of a topic


• END - Move to the end of a topic


• CTRL+F - Search the current topic


• CTRL+P - Print a topic


• F3- Move to the Search box