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Keystroke Shortcuts for Vista

Keyboard shortcuts or “hot keys” are keys or keystroke combinations that can be used to perform specific functions that would normally be performed by using a mouse to click through various menus. By using these keystroke shortcuts, keyboard enthusiasts can save time and energy -- and we all know how arduous mouse-clicking can be.

Below is a listing of the keyboard shortcuts associated with Windows Vista. Each operating system has its own hot keys, so if you are not using Vista, you might want to take a look at my list of keyboard shortcuts for other versions of Windows. (If you’re obsessed with keyboard shortcuts, I know you won’t want to miss my Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts article.)

Note: Most of the following work with other versions of Windows, as well.

Ease of Access Shortcuts

Left ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN - Turns the High Contrast feature on or off.

Press SHIFT five times - Turns Sticky Keys on or off. (Sticky Keys allow a user to press certain keys such as SHIFT, ALT, or CTRL and have it remain active until the next time that key is pressed.)

Press NUM LOCK for five seconds - Turns Toggle Keys on or off. (Toggle Keys are an accessibility feature designed to beep audibly when the CAPS LOCK, NUM LOCK, or SCROLL LOCK keys are pressed. Very helpful if you’re in the habit of accidentally pressing any of these keys.

Windows logo key + U - Opens the Ease of Access Center, which is a location where you can adjust accessibility settings.

General Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL + C - Copies the selected item

CTRL + X - Cuts the selected item

CTRL + V - Pastes the selected item

CTRL + Z - Reverses an action. Known as the “undo” key

CTRL + Y - Reverses the “undo” key’s action. Call it the “Redo” key

DELete - Deletes the selected item and moves it to the Recycle Bin, where it belongs

SHIFT + DELete - Deletes the selected item permanently without moving it to the Recycle Bin

F2 - Rename an item such as a filename or icon

CTRL + RIGHT ARROW - Moves cursor to the beginning of the next word

CTRL + LEFT ARROW - Moves cursor to the beginning of the -- care to guess? That’s right, the previous word

CTRL + DOWN ARROW - Moves cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph

CTRL + UP ARROW - Moves cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph

CTRL + SHIFT + an ARROW key - Selects (highlights) a block of text

SHIFT + an ARROW key - Selects more than one item in a window or on the Desktop; or selects text within a document

CTRL + A - Selects all items in a document or window

F3 - Search for a file or folder

ALT + ENTER - Displays properties for the selected item. (Same as right-click > Properties)

ALT + F4 - Closes the active item, window, pop-up, or exits the active program

ALT + SPACEBAR - Opens the shortcut menu for the active window

CTRL + F4 - Closes the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open at the same time)

ALT + TAB - Switches between open items

CTRL + ALT + TAB - Uses the arrow keys to switch between open items

Windows Logo Key + TAB - Cycles through programs on the Taskbar by using Vista’s Flip 3-D (not available in all versions of Vista)

CTRL + Windows Logo Key + TAB - Uses the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the Taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D.

ALT + ESC - Cycles through items in the order in which they were opened

F6 - Cycles through screen elements in a window or on the Desktop

F4 - Displays the Address Bar list in Windows Explorer

SHIFT + F10 - Displays the shortcut menu for the selected item

CTRL + ESC - Opens the Start menu

ALT + underlined letter (of options in the Menu bar for that application). Displays the corresponding menu

ALT + underlined letter (of options within each menu within an application). Performs the menu command or other underlined command. (I don’t understand it, either.)

F10 - Activates the menu bar in the active program

RIGHT ARROW - Opens the next menu to the right (once F10 has been pressed), or opens a sub-menu

LEFT ARROW - Opens the next menu to the left (once F10 has been pressed), or closes a submenu

F5 - Refreshes the active window

ALT + UP ARROW - Displays the folder one level up in Windows Explorer

ESCape - Cancels the current task

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC - Opens Task Manager

SHIFT when you insert a CD , prevents the CD from automatically playing

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL + TAB - Moves forward through tabs

CTRL + SHIFT + TAB - Moves backward through tabs

TAB - Moves forward through options

SHIFT + TAB - Moves backward through options

ALT + underlined letter - Performs the command (or selects the option) that corresponds with that letter

ENTER - Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands

SPACEBAR - Selects or clears the check box if the active option is a check box. (That makes sense.)

Arrow Keys - Selects a button if the active option is a group of button option.

F1 - Displays Help

F4 - Displays items in the active list

BACKSPACE - Opens a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Microsoft Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Logo Key - Opens or closes the Start menu

Windows Logo Key + BREAK - Displays the System Properties dialog box

Windows Logo Key + D - Displays the Desktop

Windows Logo Key + M - Minimizes all open windows

Windows Logo Key + SHIFT + M - Restores minimized windows to the Desktop

Windows Logo Key + E - Opens (My) Computer

Windows Logo Key + F - Search for a file or folder

CTRL + Windows Logo Key + F - Search for computers (if you are on a network)

Windows Logo Key + L - Locks your computer or switches users

Windows Logo Key + R - Opens the Run dialog box

Windows Logo Key + T - Cycles through programs on the Taskbar

Windows Logo Key + TAB - Cycles through programs on the Taskbar using Flip 3-D (not available in all versions of Vista)

CTRL + Windows Logo Key + TAB - Uses the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the Taskbar by using Flip 3-D

Windows Logo Key + SPACEBAR - Brings all Vista Gadgets to the front and selects Windows Sidebar.

Windows Logo Key + G - Cycles through Sidebar gadgets

Windows Logo Key + U - Opens Ease of Access Center

Windows Logo Key + X - Opens Windows Mobility Center (Available on premium versions of Vista only) where a user can manage mobile PC settings)

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