Usefull List of Windows XP Shortcut Keys

Posted by on Mar 18, 2007 in Tips and Tricks, Windows Tutorials | 66 comments

This is a list of useful shortcut keys for Windows XP. You can use these keys to save you some time when multitasking. I know it has help me get things done a lot faster.

Shortcut Keys Action/Result
Windows Key Opens the Start menu
Windows Key + E Opens My Computer in Windows Explorer
Windows Key + Pause/Break Opens the System Properties dialog box
Windows Key + U Opens the Utility Manager
Windows Key + R Opens the Run… prompt
Windows Key + F Opens the Search for Files and Folder window
Windows Key + Ctrl + F Opens the search for computers on the network
Windows Key + M Minimize all windows
Windows Key + Shift + M Maximize all windows (after minimizing them)
Windows Key + D Minimize all windows to the desktop, and then restore all Windows
Windows Key + L Lock Computer
Windows Key + Tab Cycle through the open programs on the Taskbar
Windows Key + B Selects the first item in the System Tray; use the arrow keys to cycle through the items
Alt + Tab Switch between open programs
Alt + F4 (in a program) Closes the program
Alt + F4 (from desktop) Opens the Windows Shutdown/Restart dialog box
Alt + Enter Opens the Properties page of a selected item
Alt + Esc Cycle between open programs in the order that they were opened
Alt + Spacebar In the active window, this brings up the corner dialog box for Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, or Close
Shift + Insert CD/DVD Inserts a CD/DVD without triggering Autoplay or Autorun
Shift + Delete Permanently deletes an item (rather than sending it to the Recycle Bin)
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Opens the Windows Task Manager
Ctrl + drag an icon Copies that item
Ctrl + Shift + drag an icon Creates a shortcut for the item
Right-click + drag a file Brings up a menu to copy, move, or create a shortcut
PrtScn Takes a screen shot of the entire screen
Alt + PrtScn Takes a screen shot of only the active Window; hit Paste in a photo program to edit and save the screen shot
F1 Opens the Windows XP Help
F2 Rename selected item
F3 Opens Windows search for files and folders
F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh Internet Explorer page, or refresh any other window
F6 Cycle through the different types of elements that can be selection on a screen or window
F10 Selects the menu bar in the active program
Shift + F10 For a selected item, this does the same thing as a right-click with the mouse
Tab Move through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form
Shift + Tab Move backward through the different elements on a page or the fields in a form>/td>
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + P Print
Ctrl + O Open
Ctrl + Esc Opens the Start menu
Ctrl + Backspace Deletes the entire word to the left
Ctrl + Delete Deletes the entire word to the right
Ctrl + Right arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl + Left arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl + Down arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrow Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys Highlight a block of text
Click Shift 5 times Turns StickyKeys on or off
Hold down the right Shift key for 8 seconds Turns FilterKeys on or off
Hold down Num Lock for 5 seconds Turns ToggleKeys on or off
Make your own custom keystroke for a program Right-click on the icon of a program or shortcut; go to Properties; click on the Shortcut tab; enter your custom keystroke combination in the “Shortcut key” field (it will only let you assign key combos that aren’t already taken)

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  • CJ

    is there a shortcut key for the system restore utility?

  • Grayfred

    Is there a command that will reverse the listing of files in WindowsXP when you want to open a file? For instance, in WordPad where the Open command lists all the files in reverse alpha order.

  • mohanraj

    very useful thanking you

    • James W. Jallah

      I am very greatful to those engeering that brought out about these short cut keys.

  • varalakshmi G

    yeh!!!!!!!!!! this is really very useful website. i came here through google…………thanks for the valuable infomation

  • http://samapp.com suhail

    this site is very useful and easy to operate without mouse key board operating is very fast

  • Peter

    Another shortcut discovered by accident by my grandaughter is:-

    ctrl alt direction arrow right = rotates screen clockwise
    ctrl alt direction arrow left = rotates screen anti clockwise
    ctrl alt direction arrow up = returns normal screen
    ctrl alt direction arrow down = rotates 180 degrees (upside down)

    • http://realgrouchy.blogspot.com RealGrouchy

      Those shortcuts are probably from her graphics software. They don’t work on mine, and that functionality isn’t part of Windows.

    • not needed

      works on mine too.
      MSI x320 laptop with XP pro

    • Mrinal

      It is a part of windows. and Should work on all machines running MS Windows.

    • sarah

      thanks! somehow my 11 month old rotated my screen and i couldn’t figure out how to change it back! (i had to read your response sideways!)

  • avnpratheep

    It’s very useful for all peoples…So don’t miss shortcut keys…

  • ramashivan

    very much helpful to us…

    • faith

      its not very much important..its only IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!

  • Bishnu pd Pandey

    I was searching for how to minimize and mazimide the window. finally I found it here. I found it very useful. Thank you.

  • Priya panchanathan

    Really very useful site.I found many useful shortcut key which are previously i not known.
    Thank you very much

  • srikanth

    thake my frnd give that of files
    if donot main pls send my mail to any shot keys of windows or others
    thake u

  • S.V.K.PRASAD

    This web sit gives more information and easy to learn shortcut keys

  • http://rajesheducation.wetpaint@com Rajeshkanta tarai

    Thank you.i learned some useful command from here ,which commands are necessary for me.

  • SMS
  • Ankit

    thank you

  • john

    thanks a lot

  • meenu

    my laptop has no display and i want to restore my laptop in back date do any body know the shortcut key which i use to restore my laptop so that i work on it

  • sammar singh kushawaha

    This short curt use save time efficient work

  • Vineeth.k

    Its nice to see a lot of tricks here. I like to know how can we crack admin password through a guest login using command prompt. Thanks if u can pls help me.:-):-):-).

  • satya

    very use full to learners

  • sujan kaity

    it is very essential.thanks for that

  • monish

    not bad but i expected a lot ……………

  • Boby

    Vert Useful Hai Bahut Acchi Site Hai Thank You Very Much

  • chiranjilal sharma

    This site really makes the computer system shortcut , it proved very useful to me

  • anjaleeacchuz..

    hm.. i love thz nd if v become familiar vth thz shortcut keyz ,can njoy.. a lot come on time 2 strt d fun…

  • pankaj

    I first time visit this site, this very useful site, I join to member ship please
    advise to my email adress.

  • saranya

    Thanku so much for ur shortcut keys i want excel short cut keys please send me thanks

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  • Karan

    plz tell me the shortcut key to open display properties and shortcut key to change the windows resolution.

  • http://AshishSmart4.rec@gmail.com ASHISH

    IT’S VERY USEFULL……….FOR……..LEANERS……………………………………………….

  • imran khan

    i know all of them so no thanks buddies

    will meet you later because

    i have to go andsing songs like AMPLIFIER

  • S.AKASH SHARMA

    IT’S VERY USEFULFOR ME.I HAD LEARNT EVERYTHING.
    THANK YOU………………………………………….

  • santhosh

    plz tell me the shortcut key to open display properties and shortcut key to change the windows settings

  • Srinath

    This is Very useful information. I appreciate it and Thank you..

  • Srinath

    Hi Santhosh, The Shortcut key to open Display Properties is DESK.CPL

  • MARUTI

    ADOPT THIS TO USE IT IN COMPUTER . IT WILL PRESERVE TIME

  • RAHIL GROVER

    VERY USE FULL KEYS IN MY ACCOUNT

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  • http://yahoo.in Nandkishor nawale

    plz tell me the shortcut key to open display properties and shortcut key to change the windows resolution.

  • sureshCMUSCRB

    Very usefull may be published windows7 shortkeys.

  • Yogesh

    Shortcut key to minimize Any Running Application in Windows XP to System tray?

  • http://Google Dilhara Siyambalapitiya

    Thanx 4 valuable information…….. dis Helps me alot

  • http://www.usingcomputers.co.uk Jane

    Cool shortcuts, very useful. Thanks a bunch!!! I found a few more shortcuts here: http://www.usingcomputers.co.uk/tutorials/useful-windows-shortcuts.php its worth taking a look at combined with this article. Thanks, keep up the good posts!

    Big Thanks :D :D

  • Swapnil

    I am working on some keyboards which dont hav windows buttons since dey r nt designed for windows but we sutimes do use dem for windows based systems too.

    these unfortunately donot have the windows and right-click properties keys..
    I would like to know the run command ar maybe any other shortcut for getting into XP’s manage menu wer u can see the disk management and all those things…
    Pls do rpl..

  • vikas

    This is best way for learning window shortcut.
    Thanks.

    • vikas

      Thanks for me and my friends

  • preet

    good for buddy users

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    thanks a lot

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    hy hi i realy lkd dis web site

  • mwangi

    thanks for your good work.its really helpful and we appreciate

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    Thanx 4 valuable information

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    how can I run internet in ms word but I dont no were Ican operate it

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    thanks this is very useful informestion

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    This is such a wonderful thing!!!
    People can use this well…..
    great job!!!

  • http://gmail.com Kumar

    This is very useful to me…

    Thanks a lot!!!

  • http://teamtutorials.com/windows-tutorials/usefull-list-of-windows-xp-shortcut-keys pravin

    it was useful to me .

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    thank u………………

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