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A "Few" Commonly Used Computer Short-Cut Keys

Updated: Mar 11, 2021


Here is a list of commonly used short-cut keys that can provide an easier and quicker method of using your computer and some programs:



Copy the ones you need or would like to learn and make your own shortlist.


List of basic computer shortcut keys:


Alt + F = File menu options in the current program.

Alt + E = Edits options in the current program.

F1 = Universal help (for any sort of program).

Ctrl + A = Selects all text.

Ctrl + X = Cuts the selected item.

Ctrl + Del = Cut selected item.

Ctrl + C = Copy the selected item.

Ctrl + Ins = Copy the selected item.

Ctrl + V = Paste the selected item.

Ctrl + Z = Un-Do the last thing you did.

Shift + Ins = Paste the selected item.

Home = Takes the user to the beginning of the current line.

Ctrl + Home = Go to the beginning of the document.

End = Go to the end of the current line.

Ctrl + End = Go to the end of a document.

Shift + Home = Highlight from current position to beginning of the line.

Shift + End = Highlight from current position to end of the line.

Ctrl + (Left arrow) = Move one word to the left at a time.

Ctrl + (Right arrow) = Move one word to the right at a time.


Microsoft Windows shortcut keys list


Alt + Tab = Switch between open applications.

Alt + Shift + Tab = Switch backward between open applications.

Alt + Print Screen = Create screenshot for the current program.

Ctrl + Alt + Del = Reboot/Windows task manager.

Ctrl + Esc = Bring up the start menu.

Alt + Esc = Switch between applications on the taskbar.

F2 = Rename selected icon.

F3 = Start find from the desktop.

F4 = Open the drive selection when browsing.

F5 = Refresh contents.

Alt + F4 = Close current open program.

Ctrl + F4 = Close window in program.

Ctrl + Plus Key = Automatically adjust widths of all columns in Windows Explorer.

Alt + Enter = Open properties window of selected icon or program.

Shift + F10 = Simulate right-click on selected item.

Shift + Del = Delete programs/files permanently.

Holding Shift During Boot up = Boot safe mode or bypass system files.


Word shortcut keys


Ctrl + A = Select all contents of the page.

Ctrl + B = Bold highlighted selection.

Ctrl + C = Copy selected text.

Ctrl + X = Cut selected text.

Ctrl + N = Open new/blank document.

Ctrl + O = Open options.

Ctrl + P = Open the print window.

Ctrl + F = Open find box.

Ctrl + I = Italicise highlighted selection.

Ctrl + K = Insert link.

Ctrl + U = Underline highlighted selection.

Ctrl + V = Paste.

Ctrl + Y = Redo the last action performed.

Ctrl + Z = Undo last action.

Ctrl + G = Find and replace options.

Ctrl + H = Find and replace options.

Ctrl + J = Justify paragraph alignment.

Ctrl + L = Align selected text or line to the left.

Ctrl + Q = Align selected paragraph to the left.

Ctrl + E = Align selected text or line to the center.

Ctrl + R = Align selected text or line to the right.

Ctrl + M = Indent the paragraph.

Ctrl + T = Hanging indent.

Ctrl + D = Font options.

Ctrl + Shift + F = Change the font.

Ctrl + Shift + > = Increase selected font +1.

Ctrl + ] = Increase selected font +1.

Ctrl + [ = Decrease selected font -1.

Ctrl + Shift + * = View or hide non printing characters.

Ctrl + (Left arrow) = Move one word to the left.

Ctrl + (Right arrow) = Move one word to the right.

Ctrl + (Up arrow) = Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph.

Ctrl + (Down arrow) = Move to the end of the paragraph.

Ctrl + Del = Delete word to the right of the cursor.

Ctrl + Backspace = Delete word to the left of the cursor.

Ctrl + End = Move cursor to end of the document.

Ctrl + Home = Move cursor to the beginning of the document.

Ctrl + Space = Reset highlighted text to default font.

Ctrl + 1 = Single-space lines.

Ctrl + 2 = Double-space lines.

Ctrl + 5 -- 1.5-line spacing.

Ctrl + Alt + 1 = Change text to heading 1.

Ctrl + Alt + 2 = Change text to heading 2.

Ctrl + Alt + 3 = Change text to heading 3.

F1 = Open help.

Shift + F3 = Change case of selected text.

Shift + Insert = Paste.

F4 = Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+).

F7 = Spell check selected text and/or document.

Shift + F7 = Activate the thesaurus.

F12 = Save as.

Ctrl + S = Save.

Shift + F12 = Save.

Alt + Shift + D = Insert the current date.

Alt + Shift + T = Insert the current time.

Ctrl + W = Close document.


Excel shortcut keys


F2 = Edit the selected cell.

F5 = Go to a specific cell.

F7 = Spell check selected text and/or document.

F11 = Create chart

Ctrl + Shift + ; = Enter the current time.

Ctrl + ; = Enter the current date

Alt + Shift + F1 = Insert new worksheet.

Shift + F3 = Open the Excel formula window.

Shift + F5 = Bring up the search box

Ctrl + A = Select all contents of a worksheet.

Ctrl + B = Bold highlighted selection.

Ctrl + I = Italicize highlighted selection.

Ctrl + C = Copy selected text.

Ctrl + V = Paste

Ctrl + D = Fill

Ctrl + K = Insert link

Ctrl + F = Open find and replace options.

Ctrl + G = Open go-to options.

Ctrl + H = Open find and replace options.

Ctrl + U = Underline highlighted selection.

Ctrl + Y = Underline selected text.

Ctrl + 5 = Strikethrough highlighted selection.

Ctrl + O = Open options.

Ctrl + N = Open new document.

Ctrl + P = Open print dialog box.

Ctrl + S = Save.

Ctrl + Z = Undo last action.

Ctrl + F9 = Minimize current window.

Ctrl + F10 = Maximize currently selected window.

Ctrl + F6 = Switch between open workbooks/windows.

Ctrl + Page up & Page Down = Move between Excel worksheets

Ctrl + Tab = Move between two or more open Excel files

Alt + = = Create the formula to sum all of the above cells.

Ctrl + = Insert the value of above cell into the current cell.

Ctrl + Shift + ! = Format number in comma format.

Ctrl + Shift + $ = Format number in currency format.

Ctrl + Shift + # = Format number in date format.

Ctrl + Shift + % = Format number in percentage format.

Ctrl + Shift + ^ = Format number in scientific format.

Ctrl + Shift + @ = Format number in time format.

Ctrl + (Right arrow) = Move to next section of text.

Ctrl + Space = Select entire column.

Shift + Space = Select entire row.

Ctrl + W = Close document.


Outlook shortcut keys


Alt + S = Send the email.

Ctrl + C = Copy selected text.

Ctrl + X = Cut selected text.

Ctrl + P = Open print dialog box.

Ctrl + K = Complete name/email typed in address bar.

Ctrl + B = Bold highlighted selection.

Ctrl + I = Italicize highlighted selection.

Ctrl + U = Underline highlighted selection.

Ctrl + R = Reply to an email.

Ctrl + F = Forward an email.

Ctrl + N = Create a new email.

Ctrl + Shift + A = Create a new appointment to your calendar.

Ctrl + Shift + O = Open the outbox.

Ctrl + Shift + I = Open the inbox.

Ctrl + Shift + K = Add a new task.

Ctrl + Shift + C = Create a new contact.

Ctrl + Shift+ J = Create a new journal entry.


WINKEY shortcuts:


WINKEY + D = Bring desktop to the top of other windows.

WINKEY + M = Minimize all windows.

WINKEY + SHIFT + M = Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.

WINKEY + E = Open Microsoft Explorer.

WINKEY + Tab = Cycle through open programs on the taskbar.

WINKEY + F = Display the Windows Search/Find feature.

WINKEY + CTRL + F = Display the search for computers window.

WINKEY + F1 = Display the Microsoft Windows help.

WINKEY + R = Open the run window.

WINKEY + Pause /Break = Open the system properties window.

WINKEY + U = Open utility manager.

WINKEY + L = Lock the computer

WINKEY + . = Emoji and symbols

WINKEY only = Opens start menu

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