All keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 and Windows 7

One of the characteristics that have always defined Windows is its multiple keyboard shortcuts that many of us are completely unaware of. Although it is true that there are a good number of key combinations, we can also rest assured that it will not cost us as much to learn them as it seems.

If you want to move with Windows lightly like a true professional, take a look at this special one. You can navigate the interface efficiently, position applications, change system settings and much more with just two or three keystrokes on your keyboard. Here you have the definitive guide with all the keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 and Windows 7 .

Common shortcuts (Windows 10 / Windows 7)

We start with the most common shortcuts when using both operating systems.

Windows Key + D - Minimize all applications.
Ctrl + Shift + M - Restore all minimized apps.
Windows Key + L - Lock your PC to go directly to the lock window.
Windows key + E - Open the file explorer window.
Windows key + I - Open the Windows 10 settings page.
Windows Key + A - Opens Windows Action / Notification Center.
Windows key + X - Open the context menu of the start button.
Windows Key + Shift + Left / Right Key - Move a window to your next monitor. You have to have a multiscreen setup.
Windows key + T - Choose the program among those open on the taskbar. Then press Enter to choose.
Alt + Up Key - Go up one level in the file browser.
Alt + Left Key - Takes you to the previous folder in the file explorer.
Alt + Right Key - Takes you to the next folder in the file explorer.
Alt + Tab - Change work window. If you also press Alt while holding Tab, you can choose which window to go to.
Alt + F4 - You close the current window.
Windows key + Number key - Open the application from your taskbar located in the same position as the number pressed.
Windows key +, - Temporarily hide all applications to display the desktop while holding down both keys.
Alt + F8 - Show password on login screen.
Alt + Esc - Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
Alt + Spacebar - Open the context menu of the active window.
Ctrl + A - Select all elements in a document or window.
Ctrl + D (or Del) - Delete the selected item and move it to the recycle bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5) - Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y - Redo an action.
Ctrl + Right Arrow - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Left Arrow - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down Arrow - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up Arrow - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab - Use the arrow keys to switch between all open applications.
Alt + Shift + Arrow Keys - When a group or icon has focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys - When a window has the focus on the Start menu, move it to another window to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys - Resize the Start menu when it is opened.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Spacebar - Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key - Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc - Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc - Opens the Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift - Changes the keyboard layout when there are multiple keyboard layouts available.
Ctrl + Spacebar - Enables or disables the Input Method Editor (IME) for Chinese.
Shift + F10 - Displays the context menu for the selected item.
Shift with an arrow key - Select multiple items in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Del - Deletes the selected item without moving it to the recycle bin.
Ctrl + X - Cut element.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) - Copy item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) - Paste item.
Ctrl + Z - Undo an action.
Esc - Interrupt the current task.
Imp pant - Takes a screenshot of the entire screen.
F2 - Rename the selected item.
F3 - Search for a document in File Explorer.
F4 - Displays the address bar list in File Explorer.
F5 - Refresh the active window.
F6 - Scroll through items on the screen in a window or on the desktop.
F10 - Activates the menu bar in the active application.

Windows Snap (Windows 10 / Windows 7)

Since version 7, Windows has a function known as "Windows Snap" or simply "Snap", which serves to position the windows that are running so that you can work with two or more programs at the same time without having to switch between them by using the mouse.

This Snap function was introduced in Windows 7, but it is present in later versions 8, 8.1 and 10, and it will be very useful to save time, making our work more comfortable .

Windows Key + Left Key - Snap the active window to the left.
Windows Key + Right Key - Snap the active window to the right.
Windows Key + Up Key - Snap the active window up.
Windows Key + Down Key - Snap the active window down.

Dialog Boxes (Windows 10 / Windows 7)

The so-called dialog boxes are pop-up windows that are generated to establish communication between the user and the operating system at the time of executing a specific action.

F4 - Show the elements of the active list.
Ctrl + Tab - Move through the tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab - Back through tabs.
Ctrl + number key - Move to the nth tab.
Tab - Advance through the options.
Shift + Tab - Back through options.
Alt + underlined letter - Run the command (or select the option) used with the letter.
Space bar - If the active option is a checkbox, activate or deactivate it.
Backspace - Open a folder one level higher if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog.
Arrow Keys - If the active option is a group of option buttons, select a button.

File Explorer (Windows 10 / Windows 7)

A tool integrated into Windows systems since time immemorial. With these commands you can move around the browser window very quickly .

Alt + D - Select the address bar.
Ctrl + E - Select the search box.
Ctrl + F - Select the search box.
Ctrl + N - Open a new window.
Ctrl + W - Close the active window.
Ctrl + mouse wheel - Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Ctrl + Shift + E - Show all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N - Create a new folder.
Num Lock + * - Show all subfolders of the selected folder.
Num Lock + plus sign (+) - Show the contents of the selected folder.
Num lock + minus sign (-) - Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P - Show the preview pane.
Alt + Enter - Open the Properties dialog for the selected item.
Alt + Right Arrow - View Next Folder.
Alt + Up Arrow - View the folder that contained the folder.
Alt + Left Arrow - View the previous folder.
Backspace - View the previous folder.
Right Arrow - Show current selection if collapsed or select first subfolder.
Left Arrow — Collapse the current selection if it is expanded or select the folder that contained the folder.
End - Show the bottom of the active window.
Home - Show the top of the active window.
F11 - Maximize or minimize the active window.

Taskbar (Windows 10 / Windows 7)

Although most of the programs and folders are located on the desktop, the taskbar is the center of much of the activity on our computer. Here you will find a good handful of commands to manage the functions that are in it .

Shift + click a taskbar button - Open an application or quickly open another instance of an application.
Ctrl + Shift + click a button on the taskbar - Opens an application as an administrator.
Shift + right-click a button on the taskbar - Displays the application window menu.
Shift + right-click a button on the grouped taskbar - Displays the group window menu.
Ctrl + click a button on the grouped taskbar - To scroll through the group windows.

Remote Desktop Connection (Windows 7)

The Remote Desktop connection feature allows you to connect two Windows computers as long as they are connected to the same network or to the Internet . Here's how to manage different actions using keyboard shortcuts.

Alt + Page Up / Page Down - Move between applications from left to right.
Alt + Insert - Cycle through programs in the order they were started.
Alt + Home - Access the Start menu.
Ctrl + Alt + Break - Switches between windowed mode and full screen mode.
Ctrl + Alt + End - Activates the Windows Security dialog.
Alt + Del - Activates the system menu.
Ctrl + Alt + minus sign (-) - Places a copy of the active client window on the Terminal Server Clipboard.
Ctrl + Alt + plus sign (+) - Takes a screenshot of the entire screen just like pressing Print Screen on a local computer.
Ctrl + Alt + Right Arrow - Exit Remote Desktop Controls to switch to a host program control.
Ctrl + Alt + Left Arrow - Exit Remote Desktop Controls to switch to a host program control.

Windows Help Viewer (Windows 7)

Alt + C - Show the table of contents.
Alt + N - Show the Connection Settings menu.
F10 - Show the Options menu.
Alt + Left Arrow - Return to the previously consulted topic.
Alt + Right Arrow - Advance to the next topic (viewed above).
Alt + A - Show the customer support page.
Alt + Home - Display the main Help and Support page.
Home - Go to the beginning of a topic.
End - Go to the end of a topic.
Ctrl + F - Find the current topic.
Ctrl + P - Print a topic.
F3 - Move the cursor to the search box.

Virtual desktops (Windows 10)

One of the main novelties that Windows 10 introduced, and that can help us organize ourselves a little better when we work with several applications at the same time. And if you know how to move between desks like a fish in water, then much better .

Windows key + Ctrl + D - Create a new virtual desktop.
Windows Key + Ctrl + Left Key - To move to the desktop on the left.
Windows Key + Ctrl + Right Key - To move to the desktop on the right.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4 - Close the current desktop.
Windows key + Tab - View all your desktops and applications.

Command Prompt (Windows 10)

Learn about all the Windows command prompt commands to perform different tasks and obtain information about the status of your computer .

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) - Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) - Pastes the selected text.
Ctrl + M - Enters mark mode.
Alt + select key - Starts selection in block mode.
Arrow Keys - Moves the cursor in the specified direction.
Page Up - Moves the cursor up one page.
Page Down - Move the cursor down one page.
Ctrl + Home (mark mode) - Moves the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (mark mode) - Moves the cursor to the end of the buffer.
Ctrl + Up Arrow - Move up one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Down Arrow - Move down one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Home (history browsing) - When the command line is empty, move the window to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, it removes all characters to the left of the cursor on the command line.
Ctrl + End (history navigation) - If the command line is empty, move the window to the command line.