Keyboard Shortcuts and System Commands for Popular Programs

In the windows operating system, a keyboard shortcut is a set of one or more keys that invoke a command in software or an operating system.

They are typically an alternate means for invoking commands that would otherwise be accessible only through a menu, a mouse, or an aspect of the user interface. These shortcuts can expedite common operations by reducing input sequences to a few keystrokes.

Check out a few useful Shortcuts below

Shortcut Keys in Microsoft Word

• F1 key: Get help on a selected command or use the Office assistant.
• Shift and F1 Key: Review text formatting.
• F2 Key: Move text or image.
• Shift + F2 Key: Copy text.
• F3 Key: Insert an autotext entry.
• Shift + F3 Key: Change the case of the selected text.
• F4 Key: Perform last action again.
• Shift + F4 Key: Perform a Find or Go To action again.
• F5 Key: Displays the Go To dialogue box. You can also get to Find and Replace from here.
• Shift + F5 Key: Move to a previous revision.
• F6 Key: Go to the next frame or pane.
• Shift + F6 Key: Go to the previous frame or pane.
• F7 Key: Launch the Spell Checker.
• Shift + F7 Key: Launch the Thesaurus.
• F8 Key: Extend the current selection.
• Shift + F8 Key: Shrink the current selection.
• F9 Key: Refresh.
• Shift + F9 Key: Switch between a field code and its result.
• F10 Key: Show KeyTips.
• Shift + F10 Key: Display a Shortcut Menu (same as right-clicking).
• F11 Key: Go to the next field.
• SHIFT + F11 Key: Go to the previous field.
• F12 Key: Open Save As, equivalent to tools menu.
• Shift + F12 Key: Save document, equivalent to tools menu.
• Ctrl and A: Selects all in the current document.
• Ctrl and B: Bold text.
• Ctrl and C: Copies the item or text.
• Ctrl and D: Displays the Font dialogue box.
• Ctrl and E: Switch a paragraph between center and left alignment.
• Ctrl and F: Displays the Find dialog box to search the current document.
• Ctrl and G: Displays the Go To dialog box to search for a specific location in the current document.
• Ctrl and H: Displays the Replace dialogue box.
• Ctrl and I: Italicize text.
• Ctrl and J: Switch a paragraph between justified and left alignment.
• Ctrl and K: Create a hyperlink.
• Ctrl and L: Left align a paragraph.
• Ctrl and M: Indent a paragraph from the left.
• Ctrl and N: Create a new document.
• Ctrl and O: Opens a new document.
• Ctrl and P: Prints a document.
• Ctrl and R: Switch the alignment of a paragraph between left and right.
• Ctrl and S: Saves a document.
• Ctrl and U: Underlines text.
• Ctrl and V: Pastes the copied item or text.
• Ctrl and X: Cuts the selected item or text.
• Ctrl and Y: Redo the last action.
• Ctrl and Z: Undo the last action.
• Ctrl and Enter: Insert a page break.
• Ctrl and F2: Select Print Preview command.
• Ctrl and F4: Closes the active window.
• Ctrl and F6: Opens the next window if multiple are open.

Microsoft Excel Shortcut Keys

• F2: Edit the active cell.
• F5: Displays the Go To box.
• F7: Open the Spelling dialogue box to check a selected range.
• F11: Create a chart of data in the current range in a separate sheet.
• Alt + Shift + F1: Insert a new worksheet.
• Shift + F3: Opens Insert Function dialogue box.
• Shift + F5: Opens the Find and Replace dialogue box.
• Ctrl + Shift + Colon (:): Enter the current time.
• Ctrl + Semicolon (;): Enter the current date.
• Ctrl + A: Select all content in the worksheet.
• Ctrl + B: Bold highlighted selection.
• Ctrl + I: Italicize highlighted selection.
• Ctrl + K: Open the Insert hyperlink dialogue box.
• Ctrl + U: Underline highlighted selection.
• Ctrl + 5: Apply strikethrough formatting.
• Ctrl + P: Brings up the print dialog box.
• Ctrl + Z: Undo.
• Ctrl + F9: Minimize a workbook window to an icon.
• Ctrl + F10: Maximize a selected workbook window.
• Ctrl + F6: Switch to the next workbook window when multiple are open.
• Ctrl + Page Up: Move to previous sheet in a workbook.
• Ctrl + Page Down: Move to next sheet in a workbook.
• Ctrl + Tab: Switch to next tab in dialogue box.
• Ctrl + Apostrophe ('): Insert the value of the above cell into the cell currently selected.
• Ctrl + Shift + !: Apply the Number format.
• Ctrl + Shift + $: Apply the Currency format.
• Ctrl + Shift + #: Apply the Date format.
• Ctrl + Shift + %: Apply the Percentage format.
• Ctrl + Shift + ^: Apply the Exponential format.
• Ctrl + Shift + @: Apply the Time format.
• Ctrl + Arrow Key: Move to the edge of the current data region in a worksheet.
• Ctrl + Space: Select an entire column in a worksheet.
• Shift + Space: Select an entire row in a worksheet.

Windows Shortcut Keys

• Windows Key + R: Opens the Run menu.
• Windows Key + E: Opens Explorer.
• Alt + Tab: Switch between open programs.
• Windows Key + Up Arrow: Maximize current window.
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager.
• Windows Key + Break: Opens system properties.
• Windows Key + F: Opens search for files and folders.
• Windows Key + D: Hide/display the desktop.
• Alt + Esc: Switch between programs in order they were opened.
• Alt + Letter: Select menu item by underlined letter.
• Ctrl + Esc: Open Start menu.
• Ctrl + F4: Close active document (does not work with some applications).
• Alt + F4: Quit active application or close current window.
• Alt + Spacebar: Open menu for active program.
• Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow: Move cursor forward or back one word.
• Ctrl + Up or Down Arrow: Move cursor forward or back one paragraph.
• F1: Open Help menu for active application.
• Windows Key + M: Minimize all windows.
• Shift + Windows Key + M: Restore windows that were minimized with previous keystroke.
• Windows + F1: Open Windows Help and Support.
• Windows + Tab: Open Task view.
• Windows + Break: Open the System Properties dialog box.
• Hold Right SHIFT key for eight seconds: Switch FilterKeys on and off.
• Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen: Switch High Contrast on and off.
• Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock: Switch Mouse keys on and off.
• Press Shift five times: Switch Sticky keys on and off.
• Hold Num Lock for five seconds: Switch Toggle keys on and off.