The Complete Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcut

Most programs also provide accelerator keys that can make it easier to work with menus and other commands available in the program for users. Check the menus of programs for accelerator keys. If a letter is underlined in a menu item, which usually means that pressing the Alt key in combination with the underlined key will have the same effect as clicking that menu item.

Now, it’s time to read all the Windows 7 shortcuts. The shortcuts are categorized in different lists according to their use or function. Some shortcut keys are also mentioned according to the reference of the programs in which they are widely or only used.

General Windows functions keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do this
F1	Display Help
Ctrl+C	Copy the selected item Ctrl+X Cut the selected item
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
F2	Rename the selected itemn
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 Aero Flip 3-D
Ctrl+Windows logo key +Tab	Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero 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
Alt+underlined letter	Display the corresponding menu
Alt+underlined letter	Perform the menu command (or other underlined command)
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

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key	Open or close the Start menu
Windows logo key +Pause	Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key +D	Display the desktop
Windows logo key +M	Minimize all windows
Windows logo key +Shift+M	Restore minimized windows to the desktop
Windows logo key +E	Open Computer
Windows logo key +F	Search for a file or folder
Ctrl+Windows logo key +F	Search for computers (if you're on a network).
Windows logo key +L	Lock your computer or switch users
Windows logo key +R	Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key +T	Cycle through programs on the taskbar
Windows logo key +number	Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.
Shift+Windows logo key +number	Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Ctrl+Windows logo key +number	Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Alt+Windows logo key +number	Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key +Tab	Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +Tab	Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key +B	Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area.
Windows logo key +Spacebar	Preview the desktop
Windows logo key +Up Arrow	Maximize the window.
Windows logo key +Left Arrow	Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
Windows logo key +Right Arrow	Maximize the window to the right side of the screen
Windows logo key +Down Arrow	Minimize the window
Windows logo key +Home	Minimize all but the active window
Windows logo key +Shift+Up Arrow	Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key +Shift+Left Arrow or Right Arrow	Move a window from one monitor to another.
Windows logo key +P	Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key +G	Cycle through gadgets
Windows logo key +U	Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key +X	Open Windows Mobility Center

Working with tabs

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl+click	Open links in a new tab in the background
Ctrl+Shift+click	Open links in a new tab in the foreground
Ctrl+T	Open a new tab in the foreground
Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+Shift+Tab	Switch between tabs
Ctrl+W	Close current tab (or the current window if tabbed browsing is disabled)
Alt+Enter	Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar
Ctrl+n (where n is a number between 1 and 8)	Switch to a specific tab number
Ctrl+9	Switch to the last tab
Ctrl+Alt+F4	Close other tabs
Ctrl+Q	Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off

Summary
Microsoft Windows 7 introduced various new features and with them lots of new shortcuts to increase your productivity and to save your time. In this book I have covered every single new shortcut which I came across. These shortcuts will surely help you a lot; use this guide everytime you wish to work fast with Windows 7 Applications because it’s hard to keep every shortcut in mind everytime.

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