Keyboard Shortcut Keys – Complete Practical Guide

A computer keyboard is used to type text, enter numbers, control programs, navigate documents, manage files, and perform commands quickly. Learning keyboard shortcut keys helps beginners and computer students work faster and reduces the need to use a mouse for every task.

This Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys guide covers the most commonly used keys and shortcuts for Windows, Microsoft Office, web browsers, file management, and everyday computer work.

Function Keys

Key	Function	Simple Explanation
F1	Help	Opens Help in many applications.
F2	Rename	Renames a selected file or folder in Windows.
F3	Search	Opens or focuses search in many applications.
F4	Address Bar/Action	Performs different functions depending on the application.
F5	Refresh	Refreshes a webpage, folder, or screen in many applications.
F6	Navigation	Moves focus between different areas of an application.
F7	Spelling/Other Function	Opens spelling or other application-specific features.
F8	Startup/Selection	Performs different functions depending on the application.
F9	Refresh/Update	Performs application-specific functions.
F10	Menu	Activates the menu bar in many Windows applications.
F11	Full Screen	Opens or exits full-screen mode in many applications.
F12	Developer/Save As	Performs different functions depending on the application.

Important Keyboard Keys

Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Esc	Escape	Cancels an operation or closes a menu/dialog.
Tab	Move Forward	Moves to the next field or option.
Caps Lock	Capital Letters	Types letters in uppercase until turned off.
Shift	Uppercase/Symbol	Used with other keys for capital letters and special symbols.
Ctrl	Control	Used with other keys to perform shortcuts.
Alt	Alternate	Used with other keys to access commands and menus.
Windows Key	Start	Opens the Windows Start menu.
Spacebar	Space	Inserts a blank space.
Enter	Confirm/New Line	Confirms a command or starts a new line.
Backspace	Delete Left	Deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
Delete	Delete Right	Deletes the selected item or character to the right.
Insert	Insert/Overwrite	Changes text insertion behavior in applications that support it.
Home	Beginning	Moves to the beginning of a line or document area.
End	End	Moves to the end of a line or document area.
Page Up	Previous Screen	Moves upward by approximately one screen.
Page Down	Next Screen	Moves downward by approximately one screen.
Arrow Keys	Navigate	Move the cursor or selection.
Print Screen	Screenshot	Captures the screen or copies it to the Clipboard depending on Windows settings.
Num Lock	Number Pad	Turns the numeric keypad number function on/off.
Scroll Lock	Scroll Control	Controls scrolling behavior in applications that support it.
Pause/Break	Pause	Performs special functions in some applications.

Ctrl Shortcut Keys

These are some of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts.

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + A	Select All	Selects all available content.
Ctrl + B	Bold	Makes selected text bold in supported applications.
Ctrl + C	Copy	Copies selected content.
Ctrl + D	Bookmark/Duplicate	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + E	Center/Other Function	Centers text in many word processors.
Ctrl + F	Find	Searches for text.
Ctrl + G	Go To/Group	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + H	Replace/History	Opens Replace in many editors or History in browsers.
Ctrl + I	Italic	Makes selected text italic.
Ctrl + J	Downloads/Justify	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + K	Hyperlink	Inserts a hyperlink in many applications.
Ctrl + L	Address Bar/Align Left	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + M	Formatting/New Item	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + N	New	Creates a new document/window in many applications.
Ctrl + O	Open	Opens a file or project.
Ctrl + P	Print	Opens the Print dialog.
Ctrl + Q	Quit/Other Function	Performs application-specific actions.
Ctrl + R	Refresh/Align Right	Performs different functions depending on the application.
Ctrl + S	Save	Saves the current file.
Ctrl + T	New Tab	Opens a new browser tab in web browsers.
Ctrl + U	Underline	Underlines selected text in supported applications.
Ctrl + V	Paste	Pastes copied or cut content.
Ctrl + W	Close	Closes the current document or browser tab.
Ctrl + X	Cut	Cuts selected content.
Ctrl + Y	Redo	Repeats or restores an undone action.
Ctrl + Z	Undo	Reverses the last action.

Shift Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Shift + Arrow	Select Text	Selects text or items in the arrow direction.
Shift + Home	Select to Beginning	Selects from the cursor to the beginning of the line.
Shift + End	Select to End	Selects from the cursor to the end of the line.
Shift + Page Up	Select Up	Selects content upward.
Shift + Page Down	Select Down	Selects content downward.
Shift + Delete	Permanent Delete	Deletes a selected file without sending it to the Recycle Bin.
Shift + F10	Context Menu	Opens the right-click menu.
Shift + Tab	Previous Field	Moves to the previous field.

Alt Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Alt + Tab	Switch Apps	Switches between open applications.
Alt + F4	Close	Closes the active window.
Alt + Enter	Properties	Opens properties for a selected file or folder.
Alt + Space	Window Menu	Opens the active window’s menu.
Alt + Left Arrow	Back	Goes back to the previous location in many applications.
Alt + Right Arrow	Forward	Goes forward in many applications.
Alt + Up Arrow	Parent Folder	Moves up one folder level in File Explorer.
Alt + D	Address Bar	Selects the address bar in File Explorer and browsers where supported.

Windows Key Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Windows	Start	Opens the Start menu.
Windows + D	Show Desktop	Shows or hides the desktop.
Windows + E	File Explorer	Opens File Explorer.
Windows + I	Settings	Opens Windows Settings.
Windows + L	Lock	Locks the computer.
Windows + R	Run	Opens the Run dialog box.
Windows + S	Search	Opens Windows Search.
Windows + A	Quick Settings/Action Center	Opens quick settings in newer Windows versions.
Windows + X	Quick Link Menu	Opens advanced Windows tools.
Windows + V	Clipboard	Opens Clipboard History when enabled.
Windows + P	Project	Opens display projection options.
Windows + U	Accessibility	Opens accessibility settings.
Windows + Tab	Task View	Shows open applications and virtual desktops.
Windows + G	Game Bar	Opens Xbox Game Bar.
Windows + W	Widgets	Opens Widgets in supported Windows versions.
Windows + Z	Snap Layouts	Opens Snap Layout options in Windows 11.

Window Management Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Alt + Tab	Switch Window	Switches between open programs.
Alt + F4	Close Window	Closes the active window.
Windows + Up Arrow	Maximize	Maximizes the active window.
Windows + Down Arrow	Minimize/Restore	Minimizes or restores the active window.
Windows + Left Arrow	Snap Left	Places the window on the left side.
Windows + Right Arrow	Snap Right	Places the window on the right side.
Windows + Home	Minimize Others	Minimizes other windows.
Windows + D	Desktop	Shows or hides the desktop.
Windows + M	Minimize All	Minimizes all windows.

File Management Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + C	Copy	Copies a file or folder.
Ctrl + X	Cut	Cuts a file or folder.
Ctrl + V	Paste	Pastes the file or folder.
Ctrl + A	Select All	Selects all files/folders.
Ctrl + Z	Undo	Reverses the previous file operation.
Ctrl + Y	Redo	Repeats an undone operation.
Ctrl + Shift + N	New Folder	Creates a new folder.
F2	Rename	Renames a selected file/folder.
Delete	Recycle Bin	Moves selected items to the Recycle Bin.
Shift + Delete	Permanent Delete	Deletes selected items permanently.
Alt + Enter	Properties	Displays file/folder properties.

Internet Browser Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + T	New Tab	Opens a new browser tab.
Ctrl + W	Close Tab	Closes the current tab.
Ctrl + Shift + T	Reopen Tab	Reopens the last closed tab.
Ctrl + N	New Window	Opens a new browser window.
Ctrl + Shift + N	Private Window	Opens Incognito/private browsing in supported browsers.
Ctrl + L	Address Bar	Selects the website address.
Ctrl + F	Find	Finds text on the webpage.
Ctrl + D	Bookmark	Saves the current webpage as a bookmark.
Ctrl + H	History	Opens browsing history.
Ctrl + J	Downloads	Opens downloads.
Ctrl + R	Refresh	Reloads the webpage.
F5	Refresh	Reloads the webpage.
Ctrl + +	Zoom In	Makes webpage content larger.
Ctrl + –	Zoom Out	Makes webpage content smaller.
Ctrl + 0	Reset Zoom	Returns the webpage to normal zoom.
Alt + Left Arrow	Back	Goes to the previous webpage.
Alt + Right Arrow	Forward	Goes to the next webpage.

Text Editing Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + A	Select All	Selects all text.
Ctrl + C	Copy	Copies selected text.
Ctrl + X	Cut	Cuts selected text.
Ctrl + V	Paste	Pastes text.
Ctrl + Z	Undo	Reverses the last change.
Ctrl + Y	Redo	Repeats the previous change.
Ctrl + B	Bold	Makes text bold.
Ctrl + I	Italic	Makes text italic.
Ctrl + U	Underline	Underlines text.
Ctrl + F	Find	Searches for text.
Home	Start of Line	Moves to the beginning of a line.
End	End of Line	Moves to the end of a line.
Ctrl + Home	Start of Document	Moves to the beginning.
Ctrl + End	End of Document	Moves to the end.

Screenshot Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
PrtScn	Screenshot	Captures the screen to the Clipboard in common Windows configurations.
Alt + PrtScn	Active Window	Captures the active window.
Windows + PrtScn	Save Screenshot	Captures the full screen and saves it automatically.
Windows + Shift + S	Snipping Tool	Lets you select an area of the screen.

Clipboard Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Ctrl + C	Copy	Copies selected content.
Ctrl + X	Cut	Cuts selected content.
Ctrl + V	Paste	Pastes copied content.
Windows + V	Clipboard History	Displays previously copied items when enabled.

Accessibility Shortcut Keys

Shortcut Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Windows + U	Accessibility	Opens accessibility settings.
Windows + Plus (+)	Magnifier	Opens or increases Magnifier.
Windows + Minus (-)	Zoom Out	Decreases Magnifier zoom.
Windows + Esc	Close Magnifier	Closes Magnifier.
Windows + Ctrl + Enter	Narrator	Turns Narrator on or off.
Shift 5 Times	Sticky Keys	Opens Sticky Keys options.

Function Keys in Common Applications

Function keys can perform different actions depending on the software.

Key	Common Use
F1	Help
F2	Rename
F3	Search
F4	Address Bar/Other Commands
F5	Refresh
F6	Navigation
F7	Spelling/Grammar in some applications
F8	Application-specific command
F9	Application-specific command
F10	Menu Bar
F11	Full Screen
F12	Developer Tools/Save As depending on application

Number Pad Keys

Key	Function	Simple Explanation
Num Lock	Number Mode	Turns numeric keypad numbers on/off.
0–9	Numbers	Enters numbers.
+	Addition	Mathematical addition.
–	Subtraction	Mathematical subtraction.
*	Multiplication	Mathematical multiplication.
/	Division	Mathematical division.
.	Decimal	Enters a decimal point.
Enter	Confirm	Confirms the calculation or command.

Special Character Keys

Key	Common Character
Shift + 1	!
Shift + 2	@
Shift + 3	#
Shift + 4	$
Shift + 5	%
Shift + 6	^
Shift + 7	&
Shift + 8	*
Shift + 9	(
Shift + 0	)

The exact symbols can differ with the selected keyboard layout and language.

Practical Keyboard Example

Suppose you are creating a computer assignment.

Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
Press Ctrl + Shift + N to create a new folder.
Press F2 to rename the folder.
Open Microsoft Word.
Type your assignment.
Press Ctrl + A to select text.
Press Ctrl + B to make important text bold.
Press Ctrl + C to copy information.
Press Ctrl + V to paste it.
Press Ctrl + Z if you make a mistake.
Press Ctrl + S to save your work.
Press Alt + Tab to switch between applications.
Press Windows + Shift + S to take a screenshot.
Press Windows + L when you finish working.

Keyboard Shortcut Practice for Students

A good way to learn keyboard shortcuts is to practice them every day.

Practice 1 – File Management

Windows + E
Ctrl + Shift + N
F2
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + V
Delete

Practice 2 – Text Editing

Ctrl + A
Ctrl + C
Ctrl + X
Ctrl + V
Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + Y
Ctrl + B
Ctrl + I
Ctrl + U

Practice 3 – Internet

Ctrl + T
Ctrl + W
Ctrl + Shift + T
Ctrl + L
Ctrl + F
Ctrl + D
Ctrl + H
Ctrl + J
Ctrl + Tab

Practice 4 – Windows

Windows + E
Windows + I
Windows + R
Windows + S
Windows + D
Windows + L
Alt + Tab
Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Most Important Keyboard Shortcuts to Learn First

Ctrl + A – Select All
Ctrl + B – Bold
Ctrl + C – Copy
Ctrl + F – Find
Ctrl + I – Italic
Ctrl + N – New
Ctrl + O – Open
Ctrl + P – Print
Ctrl + S – Save
Ctrl + T – New Tab
Ctrl + U – Underline
Ctrl + V – Paste
Ctrl + W – Close
Ctrl + X – Cut
Ctrl + Y – Redo
Ctrl + Z – Undo
Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen Closed Tab
Ctrl + Shift + N – New Folder/Private Window depending on context
Alt + Tab – Switch Applications
Alt + F4 – Close Window
Windows + D – Show Desktop
Windows + E – File Explorer
Windows + I – Settings
Windows + L – Lock Computer
Windows + R – Run
Windows + S – Search
Windows + V – Clipboard History
Windows + X – Quick Link Menu
Windows + Tab – Task View
Windows + Shift + S – Screenshot
Ctrl + Shift + Esc – Task Manager
F2 – Rename
F5 – Refresh
F11 – Full Screen
Esc – Cancel/Exit
Home – Beginning
End – End
Page Up – Scroll Up
Page Down – Scroll Down
Delete – Delete
Shift + Delete – Permanent Delete

Practical Learning Tip

If you are learning Computer Fundamentals and Keyboard Skills, do not try to memorize every shortcut in one day. Start with Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + A, Ctrl + S, Ctrl + F, Ctrl + P, Alt + Tab, Alt + F4, Windows + E, Windows + R, Windows + L, F2, and F5.