List of all the shortcut keys of windows 7 and up
Win+Arrow Down Set window to Restored (if Maximized) or Minimized (if Restored)
Win+Arrow Up Maximize window (if Restored)
Win+Shift+Arrow Down/Win+Shift+Arrow Up Maximize Restored window vertically / Restore window to previous state
Win+Arrow Right/Win+Arrow Left Move Restored window to left/center/right. Works across multiple monitors
Win+Shift+Arrow Right/Win+Shift+Arrow Left Move window to left monitor / to right monitor when using multiple monitors
Alt+Space Opens the title bar menu
Alt+Space+Enter Restore Window
Alt+Space+X Maximize Window
Alt+Space+N Minimize Window
F11 Turn full page view on or off
'Maximized' means full screen, 'Restored' means variable window size, and 'Minimized' means minimized to taskbar.
Switch between Applications
Alt+Tab,
Alt+Shift+Tab Cycles through open programs in taskbar. Hold alt and continuously press tab to move forward between applications. Release keys to switch to application selected. Add shift to reverse direction.
Alt+Ctrl+Tab, then use arrow keys to select application Cycles through open programs in taskbar without needing to hold alt continuously. Press alt+ctrl+tab once, then continue with arrow keys and press enter on application.
Alt+Esc/Alt+Shift+Esc Cycle through programs on taskbar in the order they were opened or accessed
Win+Tab Cycle through programs using Aero Flip 3D
Ctrl+Win+Tab Cycle through programs on Taskbar using Aero Flip 3D
Win+G Cycle through Gadget Window
Manage Multiple Windows
Win+D Minimize all windows on all Monitors. Press again to restore previous state
Win+M Minimize all windows on current Monitor
Win+Shift+M Restore previously minimized windows on current Monitor
Win+Home Set all windows to Minimized on current Monitor except active
Win+Space Preview Desktop / make windows transparent (May not work with all Settings)
Accessing Windows Features
Win+E Start Windows Explorer (in My Computer)
Win+R Open the Run window
Win+F Open Windows Search. f3 on empty desktop works, too.
Win+L Lock the keyboard/ computer
Win+F1 Display Windows Help
Alt+Shift Change keyboard language layout if multiple language layouts are active*
Shift when inserting CD or DVD Prevent CD or DVD from automatically playing
Win+P Choose Presentation Display Mode
Win+X Open Mobility Center
* When working with multiple Keyboards Layouts (e.g. Spanish/English/German). Add unlimited Layouts under Regional settings and activate language bar in Taskbar to see current language. Switch with shortcut any time.
Windows 7 Taskbar
Win or Ctrl+Esc Activate Start Button. Then use arrow keys, space and enter to navigate within Start Menu
Win+T Go to first item in taskbar, continue with arrow keys
Win+B Go to first item in system tray
Shift+click on a taskbar item Start new instance of taskbar item
Ctrl+Shift+click on a taskbar item Start new instance of taskbar item as administrator
Shift+right-click on a taskbar item Show the window menu for the program
Win+1...9 Switch to application in position N on taskbar (or launch pinned application)
Shift+Win+1...9 Start new instance of taskbar item in position N on taskbar
Unfortunately, Microsoft removed the possibility to select multiple taskbar items in Windows 7
Navigating Desktop
Arrow Keys Navigate between and select single icons on desktop (when focus is on the desktop)
Home/End Select first / select last object on desktop
Enter Launch active icon
Shift+F10 Activate context menu of active icon by simulates right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to select item
tab, shift+tab on empty desktop Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons
A, B, C, ... Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter
Windows Explorer
Win+E Start Windows Explorer (My Computer)
Alt+Arrow Up Go up one folder
Alt+Arrow Left/Alt+Arrow Right Go to previous folder / go to next folder
Tab/Shift+Tab Switch focus forward/ backward between Address bar, Search Bar, Toolbar, Navigation Pane, and File List (Default is usually File List)
Alt+D or f4 Jump to the Address bar and select absolute address. Copy address with ctrl+c if desired
Ctrl+E or ctrl+f Jump to Search Box in Explorer
Ctrl+N Open new instance of Windows Explorer
F11 Maximize window
Navigate File List and Navigation Pane
Arrow Keys Navigate between files and folders
Enter Open folder or start application
Home/End Jump to first / jump to last item
F2 Change the file name of active item
F2, then arrow left/Arrow Right Move one character to the left / to the right in item name
F2, then ctrl+Arrow Left/Ctrl+Arrow Right Jump one word to the left / to the right of item name
F2, then home /End Jump to beginning / jump to end of item name
F2, then ctrl+a Select complete object name including suffix (default excludes suffix)
Arrow Left/Arrow Right Expand folder / collapse folder (navigation pane only)
File List
Alt+P Display or hide Preview Pane
Alt+V then D View details. Check View menu for more options
Alt+V then X View extra-large icons. Check View menu for more options
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel Change size of icons
Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane
Shift+Arrow Up/Arrow Down Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)
ctrl with arrow keys and space Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection
Ctrl+A Select all
A ...Z and 1..9 Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter
Manipulate Items in Explorer
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V ctrl+C for copy, Ctrl+X for cut and Ctrl+V for paste
Ctrl+Z Undo an action
Ctrl+Y Redo an action
Delete Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin
Shift+Delete Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin
Shift+F10 Activate context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection
Ctrl+Shift+N Create new folder
Alt+Enter Open Properties dialog box
Photo Viewer
Arrow Left/Arrow Right Go to next / go to previous photo
Ctrl+. Rotate photo clockwise
Ctrl+, Rotate photo counter-clockwise
[+]/- Zoom in / zoom out (or mouse wheel)
Ctrl+0 (zero) Fit to Window
Delete Delete current photo
Shift+Delete Permanently delete current photo
Alt+Enter Show properties of current photo
Alt+E or Ctrl+S Email current photo
Ctrl+C Copy current photo file to clipboard
Alt+O Open current photo in other application (e.g. Paint of Office)
Dialog Boxes
Ctrl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab Move forward / move backwards through tabs
Tab/Shift+Tab Move forward / move backwards 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
Space 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
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
Admin Tasks
Ctrl+Win+F Search for Computers (with Active Directory activated)
Win+Pause/Break Display System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on
Ctrl+Shift+Esc Opens Windows Task Manager
Remote Desktop
Alt+Page Up/Alt+Page Down Move between programs from left to right / from right to left
Alt+Insert Cycle through programs in the order that they were started in
Alt+Home Display the Start menu
Ctrl+Alt+pause/break Switch between a window and full screen
Ctrl+Alt+End Display the Windows Security dialog box
Alt+Delete Display the system menu
Windows Help
Tab Move between links
Alt+C Display the Table of Contents
Alt+N Display the Connection Settings menu
F10 Display the Options menu
Alt+Arrow Left/Alt+Arrow Right Move back / move forward to the previously/ next viewed topic
Alt+A Display the customer support page
Alt+Home Display the Help and Support home page
Home/End Move to the beginning / to the end of a topic
Ctrl+F Search the current topic. Press tab to leave
Ctrl+P Print a topic
F3 Move the cursor to the search box. Press tab to leave
Ease of Access
Win+U Open Ease of Access Center
Press Shift five times. Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Press Num Lock for five seconds Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Right Shift for eight seconds Turn Filter Keys on or off
left Alt + left Shift +Num Lock Turn Mouse Keys on or off
left Alt + left Shift + prtScn Turn High Contrast on or off (Careful, will change theme!)
Magnifier
Win+[+] Start Magnifier and zoom in
Win+- Zoom out with Magnifier active
Ctrl+Alt+I Invert colors in Magnifier display
Win+Esc Exit Magnifier
Ctrl+Alt+Arrow Keys Move the Magnifier windows
Note: Microsoft lists more shortcuts for Magnifier, but not all of them seem to work.
