Did you know that you don't need a mouse to use a computer? I don't recommend trying because it is much slower, but it can be done and many of the keyboard shortcuts make using the computer faster. For instance, the keyboard shortcut I use the most is probably CTRL + S. It saves the document I am working on without having to move my hand over to the mouse. When I am typing a document, I use CTRL + S at end of almost every sentence. Another keyboard shortcut I use a lot is CTRL + Z. It undoes the previous thing I did. I have listed all the keyboard shortcuts here including ones that are specific for Internet Explorer and ones that work in Windows. Many (if not most) of the keyboard shortcuts work in any program that is installed on your computer and they save a lot of time. I also separated out a list of important keyboard shortcuts that should be learned in order to save time.
To perform a keyboard shortcut, a combination of keys are usually pressed together. This is illustrated by the + (plus) sign inbetween the two keys. You can print out the lists to keep at your desk by printing out each section.
Alt + Left Arrow | To go back to the previous site. |
Alt + Right Arrow | To go forward to the next site
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Alt + D | Places your cursor in the address bar. |
F4 | History of recently typed in addresses. |
Ctrl + O | Opens the open dialogue box |
Ctrl + D | Add the current page to favorites |
Ctrl + N | Opens a new browser window |
Ctrl + F | Opens the find dialogue box |
Ctrl + P | Opens the print dialogue box |
Ctrl + R or F5 | Refreshes the current page |
Ctrl + F5 | Reloads a new page from the Internet whether or not it has changed. |
Ctrl + S | Saves the current page to your hard drive |
Page Up | Moves the page up one screen at a time |
Page Down | Moves the page down one screen at a time |
Space Bar | Moves the page down one screen at a time |
Ctrl + I | Opens favorites |
Ctrl + H | Opens history |
CTRL+TAB | Move forward through tabs |
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB | Move backward through tabs |
TAB | Move forward through options |
SHIFT+TAB | Move backward through options |
ALT+Underlined letter | Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option |
ENTER | Carry out the command for the active option or button |
SPACEBAR | Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box |
Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons |
F1 | Display Help |
F4 | Display the items in the active list |
BACKSPACE | Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
CTRL+C | Copy |
CTRL+X | Cut |
CTRL+V | Paste |
CTRL+Z | Undo |
DELETE | Delete |
SHIFT+DELETE | Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin |
CTRL while dragging an item | Copy selected item |
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item | Create shortcut to selected item |
F2 | Rename selected item |
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word |
CTRL+LEFT ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word |
CTRL+DOWN ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph |
CTRL+UP ARROW | Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Highlight a block of text |
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document |
CTRL+A | Select all |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
ALT+ENTER | View properties for the selected item |
ALT+F4 | Close the active item, or quit the active program |
ALT+Enter | Displays the properties of the selected object |
ALT+SPACEBAR | Opens the shortcut menu for the active window |
CTRL+F4 | Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously |
ALT+TAB | Switch between open items |
ALT+ESC | Cycle through items in the order they were opened |
F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
F4 | Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
SHIFT+F10 | Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
ALT+SPACEBAR | Display the System menu for the active window |
CTRL+ESC | Display the Start menu |
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name | Display the corresponding menu |
Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu | Carry out the corresponding command |
F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
RIGHT ARROW | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
LEFT ARROW | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
BACKSPACE | View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
ESC | Cancel the current task |
SHIFT when you insert a CD into the CDROM drive | Prevent the CD from automatically playing |
Windows Key | Display or hide the Start menu |
Windows Key +BREAK | Display the System Properties dialog box |
Windows Key + D | Show the desktop |
Windows Key + M | Minimize all windows |
Windows Key + Shift+ M | Restores minimized windows |
Windows Key + E | Open My Computer |
Windows Key + F | Search for a file or folder |
CTRL+ Windows Key + F | Search for computers |
Windows Key + F1 | Display Windows Help |
Windows Key + L | Lock your computer if you are connected to a network domain, or switch users if you are not connected to a network domain |
Windows Key + R | Open the Run dialog box |
Windows Key + U | Open Utility Manager |