The following tables summarize the standard Microsoft® Windows® shortcut key assignments.
The following shortcuts can be used by any program, but they must have the given meaning:
| Key | Meaning |
| F1 | Display context-sensitive Help. |
| Shift+F1 | Display context-sensitive Help (same as F1). |
| F2 | Rename the selected item. |
| F3 | Find next. |
| F5 | Refresh the active window. |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program. |
| Alt+Enter | Display the Properties dialog box for the selected item. |
| Ctrl+A | Select all. |
| Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Insert | Copy. |
| Ctrl+X, Ctrl+Delete | Cut. |
| Ctrl+V, Shift+Insert | Paste. |
| Ctrl+Y, Alt+Shift+Backspace | Redo. |
| Ctrl+Z, Alt+Backspace | Undo. |
| Ctrl+F | Open the Find dialog box. |
| Ctrl+H | Open the Replace dialog box. |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new blank document or the New dialog box. |
| Ctrl+O | Open the Open dialog box. |
| Ctrl+P | Open the Print dialog box. |
| Ctrl+S | Save the active document (normally without opening the Save As dialog box). |
| Shift+F10 | Display the context menu for the selected item. |
The following shortcuts are standard for Windows controls. Custom controls should use shortcuts consistently.
| Asterisk (*) on numeric keypad | Display all sub-items under the selected item. |
| Plus sign (+) on numeric keypad | Display the sub-items directly under the selected item. |
| Minus sign (-) on numeric keypad | Collapse the items directly under the selected item group. |
| left arrow | Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded) and move focus to the group leaf root. |
| right arrow | Display the sub-items directly under the selected item (if it is collapsed). |
| Alt+left arrow | View the previous group. |
| Alt+right arrow | View the next group. |
| Ctrl+up arrow | Scroll the view without change of the selection. |
| Ctrl+down arrow | Scroll the view without change of the selection. |
| Any printable key or keys | Moves the selection to the item matching prefix letters in the beginning of label. |
| Key | Meaning |
| Alt | Activate or inactivate the menu bar. |
| Alt+Esc | Cycle through items in the order they were opened. |
| Alt+Shift+Esc | Cycle through items in the reverse order they were opened. |
| Alt+hyphen | Display context menu for the active child window (multiple-document interface [MDI] application). |
| Application key | Display the context menu for the selected item. |
| Print Screen | Copy the entire screen image to the clipboard. |
| Alt+Print Screen | Copy the active window image to the clipboard. |
| Alt+spacebar | Display the system menu for the active window. |
| Alt+Tab | Cycle through open primary windows. |
| Alt+Shift+Tab | Reverse cycle through open primary windows. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Cycle through open primary windows without closing the menu. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Tab | Reverse cycle through open primary windows without closing the menu. |
| Ctrl+Esc | Display the Start menu. |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Start Task Manager. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Delete | Display the Windows security screen. |
| Shift+<click program on taskbar> | Launch the program. (Windows 7) |
| Ctrl+Shift+<click program on taskbar> | Launch the program elevated. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key | Display or hide the Start menu. |
| Windows logo key+left arrow | Dock active window to left half of screen (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+right arrow | Dock active window to right half of screen (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+up arrow | Maximize active window (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+down arrow | Restore/minimize active window (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+Shift+up arrow | Maximize active window vertically, maintaining width (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+Shift+down arrow | Restore/minimize active window vertically, maintaining width (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+Shift+left arrow | Move window to monitor on the left. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+Shift+right arrow | Move window to monitor on the right. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+spacebar | Temporarily peek at the desktop. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+P | Display projection options. Use arrow keys to select option. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+T | Move focus to taskbar. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+Home | Minimize all non-active background windows. (Windows 7) |
| Windows logo key+<number> | Launch a new instance of the program located at the given position on the taskbar (Windows 7) or Quick Launch (Windows Vista).
(Example: Windows logo key+1 to launch first program.) |
| Windows logo key+B | Set focus in the notification area. |
| Windows logo key+Break | Display the System Properties dialog box. |
| Windows logo key+D | Show the desktop. |
| Windows logo key+E | Open Windows Explorer navigated to Computer. |
| Windows logo key+F | Search for a file or folder. |
| Windows logo key+Ctrl+F | Search for computers (if you are on a network). |
| Windows logo key+G | Cycle through Sidebar gadgets. |
| Windows logo key+L | Lock your computer (if you're connected to a network domain), or switch users (if you're not connected to a network domain). |
| Windows logo key+M | Minimize all windows. |
| Windows logo key+Shift+M | Restore minimized windows to the desktop. |
| Windows logo key+R | Open the Run dialog box. |
| Windows logo key+spacebar | Bring Windows Sidebar to the front. |
| Windows logo key+T | Set focus on the taskbar and cycle through programs. |
| Windows logo key+Tab | Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D. |
| Windows logo key+Shift+Tab | Reverse cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D. |
| Windows logo key+Ctrl+Tab | Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D. |
| Windows logo key+U | Open Ease of Access Center. |
| Windows logo key+X | Open Windows Mobility Center. |
| Windows logo key+F1 | Launch Windows Help and Support. |
| Windows logo key, program name, Enter | Launch program. |
The following shortcuts can be used by any program, but they should have a consistent meaning:
| Key | Meaning |
| F3 or Ctrl+F | Search for a file or folder. |
| F4 | Display the Address bar list. |
| Alt+D | Select the Address bar. |
| Alt+up arrow | View the folder one level up. |
| Alt+left arrow or Backspace | Go back to previous location viewed. |
| Alt+right arrow | Go forward to next location in viewed. |
| Alt+F4 or Ctrl+W | Close the active item, or exit the active program. |
| Ctrl+D or 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. |
| Ctrl+N | Opens current location in a new window. |
| Ctrl+Shift while dragging an item | Create shortcut to selected item. |
| Left Alt+Shift | Switch input languages or keyboard layouts (available and configurable when the user installed multiple keyboard layouts). |
| Ctrl+Shift | Switch keyboard layouts or input languages (available and configurable when the user installed multiple keyboard layouts). |
| Ctrl or left Alt+Shift+~, number (0~9), or grave accent key | Shortcut key for input languages (available and configurable when the user installed multiple keyboard layouts). |
| Esc | Cancel the current task or search. |