Hotkeys and shortcuts for Microsoft Windows Vista (Windows)

(Total 86)

Ctrl + c , ctrl + x , ctrl + V
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
ctrl+c for copy, ctrl+x for cut and ctrl+v for paste.
Ctrl + Z
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Undo an action.
Ctrl + Y
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Redo an action.
Delete
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin.
Shift + Delete
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin.
Shift + F10
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Activates context menu of active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection.
F2
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Changes the file name of an object.
f2 , then arrow left / Arrow Right
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Move one character to the left or right of an object name.
f2 , then ctrl + Arrow Left / Ctrl + Arrow Right
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Move one word to the left or right of an object name.
f2 , then home / End
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Jump to the beginning or end of an object name.
f2 , then ctrl + A
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Select complete object name (is selected by default)
Hold shift then press arrow up / Arrow Down
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Select multiple items: Hold the shift key, navigate with arrow up/arrow down to extend selection to multiple items.
Hold ctrl key, navigate with arrow up / arrow down , and hit space
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Select multiple items: Hold the ctrl key, navigate with arrow up/arrow down to select or de-select multiple items using space.
Ctrl + A
General Vista Shortcuts (e.g. Vista Explorer, Desktop)
Select all objects e.g. in a Folder Tree.
Win + E
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Start Windows Explorer in "My Computer" location.
Alt + D / F4
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Jump to the address bar on the top of the Explorer Window.
Tab / Shift + Tab
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Moves between Explorer Panes.
Ctrl + E
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Jumps to Search Box in Explorer.
arrow keys , see above for selecting items.
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Navigate between objects.
Shift + Arrow Left / Arrow Right
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Go to previous or next Window (same effect as the forward and backward button).
Alt + Arrow Up
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Go to the parent directory.
Home / End
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Activates the first or last object in Explorer Window.
F2
Windows/Vista Explorer Shortcuts
Changes the filename of an object, see above for editing shortcuts.
win key / Ctrl + Esc
Working on the Vista Desktop
Activate Start Menu. Then use arrow keys. Then use space and enter to navigate within Start Menu.
Win + D
Working on the Vista Desktop
Minimize all open Application Windows and return to a clean desktop. Pressing it again restores the previous state.
Arrow Keys
Working on the Vista Desktop
Navigate between objects on the desktop. Then use space or enter to select or start e.g. an application or open a folder.
Home / End
Working on the Vista Desktop
Activate the first (top left corner) or last object (bottom right corner) on the desktop.
Enter
Working on the Vista Desktop
Launch the active object.
Shift + F10
Working on the Vista Desktop
Activate context menu of an active object. Replaces the right mouse button. Once in the context menu use arrow keys, a-z and enter to get to the selection.
Alt + tab , alt + Shift + Tab
Working on the Vista Desktop
Holding the alt key and continuously press tab to move forward between open applications. Release tab when the desired object is active to launch it. Add shift to the shortcut combination to move backwards.
Alt + Esc / Alt + Shift + Esc
Working on the Vista Desktop
Cycle Through the Applications in the order they were opened/accessed.
tab , shift + tab on empty desktop
Working on the Vista Desktop
Navigate between desktop, the quick-launch bar, task bar and notification bar. Then use arrow keys and enter or space to activate specific icons.
a ... z
Working on the Vista Desktop
Pressing the initial letter of the name of any objects will highlight the respective application or folder. Continue typing the object name if multiple objects start with the same letter.
Win + pause
Working on the Vista Desktop
Access System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on.
Alt + F4
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Close the active item or folder. Also will open "Shuts Down Windows" menu when on an empty desktop.
F10 / Alt +letter, then arrow keys
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Jump to Application Menu.
Alt + Space
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Open the title bar menu.
Alt + space , then enter
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Restore Window.
Alt + space , then x
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Maximize Window.
Alt + space , then n
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Minimize Window.
F11
Work with Vista (Application) Windows
Turn full page view on or off.
Win + E
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Start Windows Explorer.
Win + R
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Open the Run Window.
Win + break
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Display System Properies Window.
Win + D
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Display the Windows Desktop.
Win + M
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Minimizes all open Windows and display the desktop.
Win + Shift + M
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Restores the Windows previously minimized with win+m.
Win + F / f3 on empty desktop.
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Open Windows Search
Ctrl + Win + F
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Search for Computers (with Active Directory activated).
Win + F1
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Display Windows Help.
Win + L
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Lock the keyboard or computer.
Win + U
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
Start Ease of Access Center.
Alt + Enter
Use Vista Features with Shortcuts
View the properties for a selected items.
Ctrl + F
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Open the fix pane.
Ctrl + P
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Print the selected picture.
Enter
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
View the selected picture at a larger size.
Ctrl + I
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Open or close the details pane.
Ctrl + . / Ctrl + ,
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Rotate the picture clockwise or counter-clockwise
F2
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Rename the selected item.
Ctrl + E
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Search for an item.
Alt + Arrow Left / Alt + Arrow Right
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Go back or go forward.
[ + ] / -
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Zoom in and out or resize the picture thumbnail.
Ctrl + B
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Best fit.
Arrow Left / Arrow Right
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Select the previous or next item.
Arrow Down
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Select the next item or row.
Arrow Up
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Previous item (Easel) or previous row (Thumbnail).
Page Up / Page Down
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Previous or next screen.
Home / End
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Select the first or last item.
Delete
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Move the selected item to the Recycle Bin.
Shift + Delete
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Permanently delete the selected item.
Arrow Left
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Collapse node.
Arrow Right
Vista Photo Gallery Shortcuts
Expand node.
J
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Move back one frame.
K
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Pause the playback.
L
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Move forward one frame.
I
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Set the start trim point.
O
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Set the end trim point.
M
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Split a clip.
Home
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Stop and rewind all the way back to the start trim point.
Alt + Arrow Right / Alt + Arrow Left
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Advance to the next or previous frame.
Ctrl + K
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Stop and rewind playback.
Ctrl + P
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Play from the current location.
Home / End
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Move the start trim point.
Page Up / Page Down
Vista photo Gallery Shortcuts (when working with Videos)
Seek to nearest split point before or after the current location.
Alt + Shift
Other Vista Shortcuts
Change language option if language bar is active.
shift when inserting CD / DVD
Other Vista Shortcuts
Prevent CD or DVD from from automatically playing.