Computer keyboard shortcut keys

• Shortcut keys ABCs

• Basic PC shortcut keys

• PC shortcut keys for Special Characters

• Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

• Apple shortcut keys

• Linux and Unix shortcut keys

• F1 - F12 function keys

• Top 10 keyboard shortcuts

• Microsoft Excel shortcut keys

• Microsoft Word shortcut keys

• Internet Explorer shortcut keys

• Microsoft FrontPage shortcut keys

• Microsoft Outlook shortcut keys

• Mozilla Firefox keyboard shortcuts

• YouTube keyboard shortcuts

• Keyboard terms

• How do I create a Windows shortcut key?

Shortcut keys ABCs

Shortcut keys help provide an easier and usually quicker method of navigating and executing commands in computer software programs. 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 to their most popular program by looking for underlined letters in their menus. For example, the image to the right 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 same 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 the same shortcut keys. 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 foreign copy of Microsoft Windows or a Microsoft application may not be able to use all of the below shortcut keys.

Basic PC shortcut keys

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

Tip: Besides the special character shortcuts listed here, some special characters 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 KeysDescription

Alt+FFile menu options in current program.

Alt+EEdit options in current program

Alt+TabSwitch between open programs

F1Universal Help in almost every Windows program.

F2Rename a selected file

F5Refresh the current program window

Ctrl+NCreate a new, blank document in some software programs

Ctrl+OOpen a file in current software program

Ctrl+ASelect all text.

Ctrl+BChange selected text to be Bold

Ctrl+IChange selected text to be in Italics

Ctrl+UChange selected text to be Underlined

Ctrl+FOpen find window for current document or window.

Ctrl+SSave current document file.

Ctrl+XCut selected item.

Shift+DelCut selected item.

Ctrl+CCopy selected item.

Ctrl+InsCopy selected item

Ctrl+VPaste

Shift+InsPaste

Ctrl+YRedo last action

Ctrl+ZUndo last action

Ctrl+KInsert hyperlink for selected text

Ctrl+PPrint the current page or document.

HomeGoes to beginning of current line.

Ctrl+HomeGoes to beginning of document.

EndGoes to end of current line.

Ctrl+EndGoes to end of document.

Shift+HomeHighlights from current position to beginning of line.

Shift+EndHighlights from current position to end of line.

Ctrl+Left arrowMoves one word to the left at a time.

Ctrl+Right arrowMoves one word to the right at a time.

Ctrl+EscOpens the START menu

Ctrl+Shift+EscOpens Windows Task Manager

Alt+F4Close the currently active program

Alt+EnterOpen the Properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut, 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 KeysSpecial Character

Alt+0224à

Alt+0232è

Alt+0236ì

Alt+0242ò

Alt+0241ñ

Alt+0228ä

Alt+0246ö

Alt+0252ü

Alt+0248ø

Alt+0223ß

Alt+0198Æ

Alt+0231ç

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)