tips

Keyboard Shortcut Keys Windows 7, Vista and Internet Explorer

By Steve Krause

Updated October 13, 2023

Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcut keys can save you a lot of time. Here’s a complete guide along with a few tips for IE and Windows Apps.

If you spend as much time in front of a computer as I do, learning a shortcut that can shave a few seconds off a common task can be significant.  Throw in the fact that I’m also a bit lazy…  and it should explain why I’m always looking around for new Keyboard Shortcuts.  The majority of Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts remain the same from Windows Vista and XP (thank you for that, Microsoft), so many of the shortcuts I’ve compiled in this groovyPost should look familiar.  If you have a favorite I’ve missed or you find a new one, please be sure to tell me about it in the comments so I can add it to the list!

9/22/2023 Editor Update — I just published a list of Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 and Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts. Take a look at the latest shortcut goodness!

My personal favorite BTW – is the pressing F6 while using Internet Explorer.  F6 automatically selects your Address Bar for you.  It saves me a lot of time!

Windows 7 and Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts

• Windows logo key   ::  Open or close the Start menu
• Windows logo key + Left Arrow Key :: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
• Windows logo key + Right Arrow Key :: Snap current window to left side of screen for side-by-side viewing
• Windows logo key + Left Arrow 2x :: Snap current window left across multiple monitors for side-by-side viewing
• Windows logo key + PAUSE  ::  Display the System Properties dialog box
• Windows logo key + D  ::  Display the desktop
• Windows logo key + M  ::  Minimize all windows
• Windows logo key + SHIFT+M  ::  Restore minimized windows to the desktop
• Windows logo key + E  ::  Open Computer
• Windows logo key + F  ::  Search for a file or folder
• CTRL+Windows logo key + F  ::  Search for computers (if you are on a network)
• Windows logo key + L  ::  Lock your computer or switch users
• Windows logo key + R  ::  Open the Run dialog box
• Windows logo key + T  ::  Cycle through programs on the taskbar
• Windows logo key + TAB  ::  Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
• CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB  ::  Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
• Windows logo key + SPACEBAR  ::  Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar
• Windows logo key + G  ::  Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
• Windows logo key + U  ::  Open Ease of Access Center
• Windows logo key + X  ::  Open Windows Mobility Center
• Windows logo key with any number key  ::  Open the Quick Launch shortcut that is in the position that corresponds to the number. For example, Windows logo key + 1 :: Launch the first shortcut in the Quick Launch menu.
• Windows Key + S :: OneNote Screen Clipping Tool (Requires OneNote)
• Windows Key + = :: Open Magnifier Tool

General Keyboard Shortcuts

• F1  ::  Display Help
• F2  ::  Rename the selected item
• F3  ::  Search for a file or folder
• F4  ::  Display the Address bar list in Windows Explorer
• F5 – Refresh the active window
• F6  ::  Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
• F7  ::  Check Spelling in open document
• F10  ::  Activate the menu bar in the active program
• CTRL+A  ::  Select all items in a document or window
• CTRL+C  ::  Copy the selected item
• CTRL+X  ::  Cut the selected item
• CTRL+V  ::  Paste the selected item
• CTRL+Z  ::  Undo an action
• CTRL+Y  ::  Redo an action
• SHIFT+DELETE  ::  Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first  (Outlook Tip also)
• SHIFT+F10  ::  Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
• SHIFT when you insert a CD  ::  Prevent the CD from automatically playing
• CTRL+ESC  ::  Open the Start menu
• CTRL+SHIFT with an arrow key  ::  Select a block of text
• CTRL+SHIFT+ESC  ::  Open Task Manager
• CTRL+F4  ::  Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
• CTRL+ALT+TAB  ::  Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
• CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel  ::  Change the size of icons on the desktop
• ALT+ESC  ::  Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
• ALT+ENTER  ::  Display properties for the selected item
• ALT+F4  ::  Close the active item, or exit the active program
• ALT+SPACEBAR  ::  Open the shortcut menu for the active window
• ALT+UP ARROW  ::  View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
• ALT+TAB  ::  Switch between open items
• ALT+SHIFT+TAB  ::  Switch between open items in reverse order
• Windows logo key + TAB  ::  Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
• CTRL+Windows logo key + TAB  ::  Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3-D
• ESC  ::  Cancel the current task

Internet Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

• CTRL+click  ::  Open links in a new tab in the background
• CTRL+SHIFT+click  ::  Open links in a new tab in the foreground
• CTRL+T  ::  Open a new tab in the foreground
• CTRL+TAB or CTRL+SHIFT+TAB  ::  Switch between tabs
• CTRL+W  ::  Close current tab (or the current window if tabbed browsing is disabled)
• ALT+ENTER  ::  Open a new tab in the foreground from the Address bar
• CTRL+n (where n is a number between 1 and 8)  ::  Switch to a specific tab number
• CTRL+9  ::  Switch to the last tab
• CTRL+ALT+F4  ::  Close other tabs
• CTRL+Q  ::  Toggle Quick Tabs (thumbnail view) on or off
• ALT+M  ::  Open the Home menu
• ALT+R  ::  Open the Print menu
• ALT+J  ::  Open the RSS menu
• ALT+O  ::  Open the Tools menu
• ALT+L  ::  Open the Help menu
• F1  ::  Display Help
• F11  ::  Toggle between full-screen and regular views of the browser window
• TAB  ::  Move forward through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
• SHIFT+TAB  ::  Move back through the items on a webpage, the Address bar, or the Links bar
• ALT+HOME  ::  Go to your home page
• ALT+RIGHT ARROW  ::  Go to the next page
• ALT+LEFT ARROW or BACKSPACE  ::  Go to the previous page
• SHIFT+F10  ::  Display a shortcut menu for a link
• CTRL+TAB or F6  ::  Move forward through frames and browser elements (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
• CTRL+SHIFT+TAB  ::  Move backward between frames (only works if tabbed browsing is disabled)
• CTRL+F  ::  Find on this page
• F5  ::  Refresh the current web page
• CTRL+F5  ::  Refresh the current web page, even if the time stamp for the web version and your locally stored version are the same
• ESC  ::  Stop downloading a page
• CTRL+O  ::  Open a new website or page
• CTRL+N  ::  Open a new window
• CTRL+W  ::  Close the current window (if you only have one tab open)
• CTRL+S  ::  Save the current page
• CTRL+P  ::  Print the current page or active frame
• CTRL+I  ::  Open Favorites
• CTRL+H  ::  Open History
• CTRL+J  ::  Open Feeds
• ALT+P  ::  Open the Page menu
• ALT+T  ::  Open the Tools menu
• ALT+H  ::  Open the Help menu

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

• CTRL+TAB  ::  Move forward through tabs
• CTRL+SHIFT+TAB  ::  Move back through tabs
• TAB  ::  Move forward through options
• SHIFT+TAB  ::  Move back through options
• ALT+underlined letter  ::  Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
• ENTER  ::  Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
• 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

Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcuts

• Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key + SPACEBAR  ::  Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar
• Windows logo key Picture of Windows logo key +G  ::  Cycle through Sidebar gadgets
• TAB  ::  Cycle through Sidebar controls

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts

• END  ::  Display the bottom of the active window
• HOME  ::  Display the top of the active window
• F11  ::  Maximize or minimize the active window
• CTRL+N  ::  Open a new window
• CTRL+Mouse scroll wheel  ::  Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
• NUM LOCK+ASTERISK (*) on numeric keypad  ::  Display all subfolders under the selected folder
• NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN (+) on numeric keypad  ::  Display the contents of the selected folder
• NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN (-) on numeric keypad  ::  Collapse the selected folder
• LEFT ARROW  ::  Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded), or select the parent folder
• ALT+D  ::  Select the Address bar
• ALT+LEFT ARROW  ::  View the previous folder
• ALT+RIGHT ARROW  ::  View the next folder
• RIGHT ARROW  ::  Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder

More Keyboard Shortcuts we love!

• Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (or PRTSCRN)  ::  Turn High Contrast on or off
• Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK ::  Turn Mouse Keys on or off
• SHIFT five times  ::  Turn Sticky Keys on or off
• NUM LOCK for five seconds  ::  Turn Toggle Keys on or off
• Windows logo key +U  ::  Open the Ease of Access Center
• SHIFT with any arrow key  ::  Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
• CTRL with any arrow key+SPACEBAR  ::  Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
• CTRL+RIGHT ARROW  ::  Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
• CTRL+LEFT ARROW  ::  Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
• CTRL+DOWN ARROW  ::  Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
• CTRL+UP ARROW  ::   Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph

Time to save this groovyPost! <CRTL+SHIFT+P> …… Live Writer needed for that one ;)