Windows XP Shortcut Keys

General Windows XP Shortcut Keys which are applicable to nearly all Windows programs !

[F1]

- Display help. When in Windows Explorer or viewing the desktop, this shows you Windows Help. Otherwise, shows you the active program’s Help Documentation.

[Ctrl] + [C]

- Copy the selected item or text.

[Ctrl]+[X]

- Cut the selected item or text.

[Ctrl] + [V]

- Paste the copied or cutted item or text.

[Ctrl] + [Z]

- Undo the last action.

[Ctrl] + [Y]

- Redo the last action.

[Delete]

- Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.

[Shift] + [Delete]

- Delete the selected item permanantly without moving it to the Recycle Bin.

[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] + 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 + [Space]

- 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]

- Exit the active program.

[Alt] + [Space]

- Open the shortcut menu for the active window.

[Ctrl] + [F4]

- Close the active document ( in programs that allows you to have multiple documents or windows open simultaneously )

[Alt] + [Tab]

- Switch between open programs or items.

[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Tab]

- Use the arrow keys to switch between open items ( Works on Vista Only ). Hit [Enter] to select the program you want to switch to.

[Ctrl] + Mouse scroll wheel { Works On Vista Only ! }

- Change the size of icons on the desktop - Vista Only.

[Windows] + [Tab]

- Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D ( Vista Only ). In Windows XP, cycle through programs using the taskbar buttons and hit [Enter] to select a program.

[Ctrl] + [Windows] + [Tab]

- Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D ( Vista Only ). Hit [Enter] to select the program you want to switch to.

[Alt] + [Esc]

- Cycle thorugh 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 right click menu for selected item.

[Ctrl] + [Esc] or [Windows]

- Open the start menu.

[Alt] + underlined letter ( in Program menu )

- Displays the corresponding menu - for example, [Alt] + [F] in a program opens the File menu.

[F10]

- Activate the menu bar in the Active program.

[Right Arrow] ( in menu bar )

- Open the next menu right to the right or open a sub-menu.

[Left Arrow] ( in menu bar )

- Open the next menu to the left or close a sub-menu.

[F5]

- Refresh the active window or Active WebPage ( in Web Browsers Only )

[Alt] + [Up Arrow]

- View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer.

[Esc]

- Cancel the current task.

[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [Esc]

- Open Task Manager. Also [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Delete] opens the Windows Task Manager in Windows XP.

Hold Down [Shift] when you insert a CD / DVD

- Prevent the CD / DVD from automatically playing !