150 Keyboard Shortcuts to Get Your Work Done Faster

A single key can be a powerful tool if you know the right shortcuts compared to reaching for the mouse or navigating a menu.

Try a keyboard command, and you will find out how useful it can be in helping you boost your productivity. Not even your work finished quickly, it also improves efficiency. Give a try and you might find you are getting addicted to the keyboard shortcuts.

Here is an updated list to speed up your work.

Shortcut Keys System

CTRL+A  — Select All

CTRL+C  — Copy

CTRL+X  — Cut

CTRL+V  — Paste

CTRL+Z  — Undo

CTRL+B  — Bold

CTRL+U  — Underline

CTRL+I  — Italic

F1  — Help

F2  — Rename selected object

F3  — Find all files

F4  — Opens file list drop-down in dialogs

F5  — Refresh current window

F6  — Shifts focus in Windows Explorer

F10  — Activates menu bar options

ALT+TAB  — Cycles between open applications

ALT+F4  — Quit program, close current window

ALT+F6  — Switch between current program windows

ALT+ENTER  — Opens properties dialog

ALT+SPACE  — System menu for current window

ALT+¢  — Opens drop-down lists in dialog boxes

BACKSPACE  — Switch to parent folder

CTRL+ESC  — Opens Start menu

CTRL+ALT+DEL —  Opens task manager, reboots the computer

CTRL+TAB —  Move through property tabs

CTRL+SHIFT+DRAG  — Create shortcut (also right-click, drag)

CTRL+DRAG  — Copy File

ESC  — Cancel last function

SHIFT  — Press/hold SHIFT, insert CD-ROM to bypass auto-play

SHIFT+DRAG  — Move file

SHIFT+F10  — Opens context menu (same as right-click)

SHIFT+DELETE  — Full wipe delete (bypasses Recycle Bin)

ALT+underlined letter  — Opens the corresponding menu

Document Cursor Controls

HOME  — to beginning of line or far left of field or screen

END  — to end of line, or far right of field or screen

CTRL+HOME  — to the top

CTRL+END  — to the bottom

PAGE UP  — moves document or dialog box up one page

PAGE DOWN  — moves document or dialog down one page

ARROW KEYS  — move focus in documents, dialogs, etc.

CTRL+ >  — next word

CTRL+SHIFT+ >  — selects word

Windows Explorer Tree Control

Numeric Keypad *   — Expand all under current selection

Numeric Keypad +   — Expands current selection

Numeric Keypad –   — Collapses current selection

¦   — Expand current selection or go to first child

%  —  Collapse current selection or go to parent

Special Characters

‘ Opening single quote  — alt 0145

’ Closing single quote  — alt 0146

“ Opening double quote  — alt 0147

“ Closing double quote  — alt 0148

– En dash  — alt 0150

— Em dash  — alt 0151

… Ellipsis  — alt 0133

• Bullet  — alt 0149

® Registration Mark  — alt 0174

© Copyright  — alt 0169

™ Trademark  — alt 0153

° Degree symbol  — alt 0176

¢ Cent sign  — alt 0162

¼   — alt 0188

½   — alt 0189

¾   — alt 0190

Creating unique images in a uniform world

é    — alt 0233

É    — alt 0201

ñ    — alt 0241

÷    — alt 0247

File menu options in current program

Alt + E  — Edit options in current program

F1  — Universal help (for all programs)

Ctrl + A  — Select all text

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

Home  — Go to beginning of current line

Ctrl + Home  — Go to beginning of document

End  — Go to end of current line

Ctrl + End  — Go to end of document

Shift + Home  — Highlight from current position to beginning of line

Shift + End  — Highlight from current position to end of line

Ctrl + f  — Move one word to the left at a time

Ctrl + g  — Move one word to the right at a time

Microsoft® Windows® Shortcut Keys

Alt + Tab  — Switch between open applications

Alt + Shift + Tab  — Switch backwards between open applications

Alt + Print Screen  — Create screenshot for current program

Ctrl + Alt + Del  — Reboot/Windows® task manager

Ctrl + Esc  — Bring up start menu

Alt + Esc  — Switch between applications on taskbar

F2  — Rename selected icon

F3  — Start find from desktop

F4  — Open the drive selection when browsing

F5  — Refresh contents

Alt + F4  — Close current open program

Ctrl + F4  — Close window in program

Ctrl + Plus Key  — Automatically adjust widths of all columns in Windows Explorer

Alt + Enter  — Open properties window of selected icon or program

Shift + F10  — Simulate right-click on selected item

Shift + Del  — Delete programs/files permanently

Holding Shift During Bootup  — Boot safe mode or bypass system files

Holding Shift During Bootup  — When putting in an audio CD, it will prevent CD Player from playing

WINKEY Shortcuts

WINKEY + D  — Bring desktop to the top of other windows

WINKEY + M  — Minimize all windows

WINKEY + SHIFT + M  — Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D

WINKEY + E  — Open Microsoft Explorer

WINKEY + Tab  — Cycle through open programs on taskbar

WINKEY + F  — Display the Windows® Search/Find feature

WINKEY + CTRL + F  — Display the search for computers window

WINKEY + F1  — Display the Microsoft® Windows® help

WINKEY + R  — Open the run window

WINKEY + Pause /Break  — Open the system properties window

WINKEY + U  — Open utility manager

WINKEY + L  — Lock the computer (Windows XP® & later)

Outlook® Shortcut Keys

Alt + S  — Send the email

Ctrl + C  — Copy selected text

Ctrl + X  — Cut selected text

Ctrl + P  — Open print dialog box

Ctrl + K  — Complete name/email typed in address bar

Ctrl + B  — Bold highlighted selection

Ctrl + I  — Italicize highlighted selection

Ctrl + U  — Underline highlighted selection

Ctrl + R  — Reply to an email

Ctrl + F  — Forward an email

Ctrl + N  — Create a new email

Ctrl + Shift + A  — Create a new appointment to your calendar

Ctrl + Shift + O  — Open the outbox

Ctrl + Shift + I  — Open the inbox

Ctrl + Shift + K  — Add a new task

Ctrl + Shift + C  — Create a new contact

Ctrl + Shift+ J  — Create a new journal entry

Word® Shortcut Keys

Ctrl + A  — Select all contents of the page

Ctrl + B  — Bold highlighted selection

Ctrl + C  — Copy selected text

Ctrl + X  — Cut selected text

Ctrl + N  — Open new/blank document

Ctrl + O  — Open options

Ctrl + P  — Open the print window

Ctrl + F  — Open find box

Ctrl + I  — Italicize highlighted selection

Ctrl + K  — Insert link

Ctrl + U  — Underline highlighted selection

Ctrl + V  — Paste

Ctrl + Y  — Redo the last action performed

Ctrl + Z  — Undo last action

Ctrl + G  — Find and replace options

Ctrl + H  — Find and replace options

Ctrl + J  — Justify paragraph alignment

Ctrl + L  — Align selected text or line to the left

Ctrl + Q  — Align selected paragraph to the left

Ctrl + E  — Align selected

There’s a lot here to remember. Make sure to bookmark this page, so you can keep coming back whenever you need it. The best thing is you may learn new shortcuts you haven’t used before.