Shortcut keys ABCs
Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of navigating and executing commands in computer software. Shortcut keys are commonly accessed by using the Alt key (on IBM compatible computers), Command key(on Apple computers), Ctrl key, or Shift key in conjunction with another key. The de facto standard for listing a shortcut is listing the modifier key, a plus symbol, and another key. In other words, "Ctrl+S" is telling you to press and hold the Ctrl key, and then press the S key too.
You can also find the shortcut keys to their most popular program by looking for underlined letters in their menus. For example, the image to the right has an underline on the "F" in File, which means you can press the Alt key and then the "F" key to access the File menu.
Some programs require the user to press and hold Alt to see the underlined characters. In the same image above, you can see that some of the common features, such as Open (Ctrl+O) and Save (Ctrl+S), have shortcut keys assigned to them. As you begin to memorize shortcut keys, you'll notice that many applications share the same shortcut keys. We have a list of the most commonly shared ones in the basic PC shortcut keys section.
Tip: Users outside the United States or who have a foreign copy of Microsoft Windows or a Microsoft application may not be able to use all of the below shortcut keys.
Basic PC shortcut keys
Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys that work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of these shortcut keys or try to memorize them. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.
Tip: Besides the special character shortcuts listed here, some special characters are also located on the number keys (below the F1 - F12 keys). You can enter these special characters by pressing the Shift key and the
number key that has
the special character listed on it.
Shortcut Keys
|
Description
|
Alt+F
|
File menu options in
current program.
|
Alt+E
|
Edit options in current
program.
|
Alt+Tab
|
Switch between open programs.
|
F1
|
View help information (F1 is
used by almost every Windows program to display help).
|
F2
|
Rename a selected file.
|
F5
|
Refresh the current program
window.
|
Ctrl+N
|
Create a new or blank document in some software,
or open a new tab in most Internet browsers.
|
Ctrl+O
|
Open a file in the
current software.
|
Ctrl+A
|
Select all text.
|
Ctrl+B
|
Change selected text to
be bold.
|
Ctrl+I
|
Change selected text to
be in italics.
|
Ctrl+U
|
Change selected text to
be underlined.
|
Ctrl+F
|
Open find window for current
document or window.
|
Ctrl+S
|
Save current document
file.
|
Ctrl+X
|
Cut selected item.
|
Shift+Del
|
Cut selected item.
|
Ctrl+C
|
Copy selected item.
|
Ctrl+Ins
|
Copy selected item
|
Ctrl+V
|
Paste
|
Shift+Ins
|
Paste
|
Ctrl+Y
|
Redo last action.
|
Ctrl+Z
|
Undo last action.
|
Ctrl+K
|
Insert hyperlink for selected text.
|
Ctrl+P
|
Print the current page or
document.
|
Home
|
Goes to beginning of
current line.
|
Ctrl+Home
|
Goes to beginning of
document.
|
End
|
Goes to end of current
line.
|
Ctrl+End
|
Goes to end of document.
|
Shift+Home
|
Highlights from current
position to beginning of line.
|
Shift+End
|
Highlights from current
position to end of line.
|
Ctrl+Left arrow
|
Moves one word to the left at a
time.
|
Ctrl+Right arrow
|
Moves one word to the
right at a time.
|
Ctrl+Esc
|
Opens the Start menu.
|
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
|
Opens Windows Task Manager.
|
Alt+F4
|
Close the currently
active program.
|
Alt+Enter
|
Open the properties for the selected
item (file, folder, shortcut, etc.).
|
PC shortcut keys for Special Characters
Many special
characters can be created using keyboard shortcuts. Below are some of the more
common and popular special characters and the keyboard shortcuts to create
them.
Shortcut Keys
|
Special Character
|
Alt+0224
|
à
|
Alt+0232
|
è
|
Alt+0236
|
ì
|
Alt+0242
|
ò
|
Alt+0241
|
ñ
|
Alt+0228
|
ä
|
Alt+0246
|
ö
|
Alt+0252
|
ü
|
Alt+0248
|
ø
|
Alt+0223
|
ß
|
Alt+0198
|
Æ
|
Alt+0231
|
ç
|
Alt+0191
|
¿
|
Alt+0176
|
° (degree
symbol)
|
Alt+0177
|
± (plus/minus
symbol)
|
Alt+0153
|
™
|
Alt+0169
|
©
|
Alt+0174
|
®
|
Alt+0128
|
€ (Euro
currency)
|
Alt+0162
|
¢ (Cent
symbol)
|
Alt+0163
|
£ (British
Pound currency)
|
Alt+0165
|
¥ (Japanese
Yen currency)
|