Computer keyboard shortcut keys

Updated: 10/07/2019 by Computer Hope

Shortcut keys ABCs

Shortcut keys help provide an easier and quicker method of navigating and
executing commands in computer software. Shortcut keys are commonly
accessed by using the Alt key (on IBM compatible computers), Command
key (on Apple computers), Ctrl key, or Shift key in conjunction with another
key. The de facto standard for listing a shortcut is listing the modifier key, a
plus symbol, and another key. In other words, "Ctrl+S" is telling you to press
and hold the Ctrl key, and then press the S key too.

You can also find the shortcut keys in popular

programs by looking for underlined letters in their
menus. For example, the file menu image has an
underline on the "F" in File, which means you can
press the Alt key and then the "F" key to access the
file menu.

Some programs require the user to press and hold Alt to see the underlined
characters. In the image above, you can see that some of the common
features, such as Open (Ctrl+O) and Save (Ctrl+S), have shortcut keys
assigned to them. As you begin to memorize shortcut keys, you'll notice
that many applications share them. We have a list of the most commonly
shared ones in the basic PC shortcut keys section.

Tip

Users outside the United States or who have a non-US copy of Microsoft
Windows or a Microsoft application may not be able to use all the shortcut
keys listed below.

Basic PC shortcut keys

Below is a list of some of the most commonly used basic shortcut keys that
work with IBM compatible computers and software. It is highly
recommended that all users keep a reference to these shortcut keys or try
to memorize them. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.

Tip

Besides the special character shortcuts listed here, some are also located
on the number keys (below the F1 - F12 keys). You can enter these special
characters by pressing the Shift key and the number key that has the
special character listed on it.

Shortcut Keys Description

Alt+F File menu options in current program.
Alt+E Open Edit options in current program.
Alt+Tab Switch between open programs.
View help information (F1 is used by almost every Windows
F1
program to display help).
F2 Rename a selected file.
F5 Refresh the current program window.
Ctrl+D Bookmarks the current page in most Internet browsers.
Create a new or blank document in some software, or open a
Ctrl+N
new tab in most Internet browsers.
Ctrl+O Open a file in the current software.
Ctrl+A Select all text.

Ctrl+B Change selected text to be bold.

Ctrl+I Change selected text to be in italics.

Ctrl+U Change selected text to be underlined.
Ctrl+F Open find window for current document or window.
Ctrl+S Save current document file.
Ctrl+X Cut selected item.
Shift+Del Cut selected item.
Ctrl+C Copy selected item.
Ctrl+Ins Copy selected item
Ctrl+V Paste
Shift+Ins Paste
Ctrl+Y Redo last action.
Ctrl+Z Undo last action.
Ctrl+K Insert hyperlink for selected text.
Ctrl+P Print the current page or document.
Home Goes to beginning of current line.
Ctrl+Home Goes to beginning of document.
End Goes to end of current line.
Ctrl+End Goes to end of document.
Shift+Home Highlights from current position to beginning of line.
Shift+End Highlights from current position to end of line.
Ctrl+Left
arrow Moves one word to the left at a time.

Ctrl+Right
Moves one word to the right at a time.
arrow
Ctrl+Esc Open the Start menu.
 Ctrl+Shift+Esc Open Windows Task Manager.
Alt+F4 Close the currently active program.
Open the properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut,
Alt+Enter
etc.).

PC shortcut keys for special characters

Many special characters can be created using keyboard shortcuts. Below
are some of the more common and popular special characters and the
keyboard shortcuts to create them.

Shortcut Keys Special Character

Alt+0224 à
Alt+0232 è
Alt+0236 ì
Alt+0242 ò
Alt+0241 ñ
Alt+0228 ä
Alt+0246 ö
Alt+0252 ü
Alt+0248 ø
Alt+0223 ß
Alt+0198 Æ
Alt+0231 ç
Alt+0191 ¿
Alt+0176 ° (degree symbol)
Alt+0177 ± (plus/minus symbol)
Alt+0153 ™
Alt+0169 ©
Alt+0174 ®
Alt+0128 € (Euro currency)
Alt+0162 ¢ (Cent symbol)
Alt+0163 £ (British Pound currency)
Alt+0165 ¥ (Japanese Yen currency)