Windows 8 keyboard shortcuts
New
Press this key
WindowsKey and start
typing
Ctrl+plus or Ctrl+minus
Ctrl+scroll wheel
To do this
Search your PC
Zoom in or out of a large number of
items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Zoom in or out of a large number of
items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Open the charms
WindowsKey+C
In an app, open the commands for
the app
Open the Search charm to search
WindowsKey+F
files
WindowsKey+H
Open the Share charm
WindowsKey+I
Open the Settings charm
Switch the main app and snapped
WindowsKey+J
app
WindowsKey+K
Open the Devices charm
Lock the screen orientation (portrait
WindowsKey+O
or landscape)
Open the Search charm to search
WindowsKey+Q
apps
Open the Search charm to search
WindowsKey+W
settings
Show the commands available in the
WindowsKey+Z
app
Switch input language and keyboard
WindowsKey+spacebar
layout
Change to a previously selected
WindowsKey+Ctrl+spacebar
input
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Press this key
WindowsKey+Tab
WindowsKey+Ctrl+Tab
WindowsKey+Shift+Tab
WindowsKey+PgUp
WindowsKey+PgDown
WindowsKey+Shift+period
WindowsKey+period
Esc
To do this
Cycle through open apps (except
desktop apps)
Cycle through open apps (except
desktop apps) and snaps them as
they are cycled
Cycle through open apps (except
desktop apps) in reverse order
Move the Start screen and apps to
the monitor on the left (Apps in the
desktop won’t change monitors)
Move the Start screen and apps to
the monitor on the right (Apps in the
desktop won’t change monitors)
Snaps an app to the left
Snaps an app to the right
Stop or exit the current task
General
Press this key
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F10
Alt+F4
Alt+Esc
Alt+underlined letter
To do this
Display Help
Rename the selected item
Search for a file or folder
Display the address bar list in File
Explorer
Refresh the active window
Cycle through screen elements in a
window or on the desktop
Activate the menu bar in the active app
Close the active item, or exit the active
app
Cycle through items in the order in which
they were opened
Perform the command for that letter
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Press this key
Alt+Enter
Alt+Spacebar
Alt+Left arrow
Alt+Right arrow
Alt+Page Up
Alt+Page Down
Alt+Tab
Ctrl+F4
Ctrl+A
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)
Ctrl+D (or Delete)
Ctrl+R (or F5)
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert)
Ctrl+X
Ctrl+Y
Ctrl+Z
Ctrl+plus (+) or
Ctrl+minus (-)
Ctrl+ mouse scroll
wheel
Ctrl+Right arrow
Ctrl+Left arrow
Ctrl+Down arrow
To do this
Display properties for the selected item
Open the shortcut menu for the active
window
Back
Forward
Move up one screen
Move down one screen
Switch between open apps (except
desktop apps)
Close the active document (in apps that
allow you to have multiple documents
open simultaneously)
Select all items in a document or window
Copy the selected item
Delete the selected item and move it to
the Recycle Bin
Refresh the active window
Paste the selected item
Cut the selected item
Redo an action
Undo an action
Zoom in or out of a large number of
items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Change the size of desktop icons or
zoom in or out of a large number of
items, like apps pinned to the Start
screen
Move the cursor to the beginning of the
next word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the
previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the
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Press this key
Ctrl+Up arrow
Ctrl+Alt+Tab
Ctrl+arrow key (to
move to an
item)+Spacebar
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow
key
Ctrl+Esc
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
To do this
next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning of the
previous paragraph
Use the arrow keys to switch between all
open apps
Select multiple individual items in a
window or on the desktop
Select a block of text
Open the Start screen
Open Task Manager
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple
Ctrl+Shift
keyboard layouts are available
Turn the Chinese input method editor
Ctrl+Spacebar
(IME) on or off
Display the shortcut menu for the
Shift+F10
selected item
Select more than one item in a window or
Shift with any arrow key on the desktop, or select text within a
document
Delete the selected item without moving
Shift+Delete
it to the Recycle Bin first
Open the next menu to the right, or open
Right arrow
a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or close a
Left arrow
submenu
Esc
Stop or leave the current task
WindowsKey
Press this key
WindowsKey+F1
To do this
Open Windows Help and
Support
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Press this key
WindowsKey
WindowsKey+B
WindowsKey+C
WindowsKey+D
WindowsKey+E
WindowsKey+F
WindowsKey+G
WindowsKey+H
WindowsKey+I
WindowsKey+J
WindowsKey+K
WindowsKey+L
WindowsKey+M
WindowsKey+O
WindowsKey+P
WindowsKey+Q
WindowsKey+R
WindowsKey+T
WindowsKey+U
WindowsKey+V
WindowsKey+Shift+V
WindowsKey+W
To do this
Display or hide the Start
screen
Set focus in the notification
area
Open the Charms
Display and hide the desktop
Open Computer
Open the Search charm and
search for files
Cycle through Gadgets on the
desktop
Open the Share charm
Open the Settings charm
Switch the main app and
snapped app
Open the Devices charm
Lock your PC or switch users
Minimize all windows
Lock device orientation
Choose a presentation display
mode
Open the Search charm and
search for apps
Open the Run dialog box
Cycle through apps on the
taskbar
Open Ease of Access Center
Cycle through notifications
Cycle through notifications in
reverse order
Open the Search charm and
search for settings
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Press this key
WindowsKey+X
WindowsKey+Z
WindowsKey+,
WindowsKey+Pause
WindowsKey+Ctrl+F
WindowsKey+Shift+M
WindowsKey+number
WindowsKey+Shift+number
WindowsKey+Ctrl+number
WindowsKey+Alt+number
WindowsKey+Ctrl+Shift+number
WindowsKey+Tab
To do this
Open the Quick Link menu
Show the commands available
in the app
Temporarily peek at the
desktop
Display the System Properties
dialog box
Search for PCs (if you're on a
network)
Restore minimized windows on
the desktop
Start the desktop app pinned
to the taskbar in the position
indicated by the number. If the
app is already running, switch
to that app.
Start a new instance of the
desktop app pinned to the
taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
Switch to the last active
window of the desktop app
pinned to the taskbar in the
position indicated by the
number
Open the Jump List for the
desktop app pinned to the
taskbar in the position
indicated by the number
Open a new instance of the
desktop app located at the
given position on the taskbar
as an administrator
Cycle through open apps
(except desktop apps)
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Press this key
WindowsKey+Ctrl+Tab
WindowsKey+Shift+Tab
WindowsKey+Ctrl+B
WindowsKey+Up arrow
WindowsKey+Down arrow
WindowsKey+Left arrow
WindowsKey+Right arrow
WindowsKey+Home
WindowsKey+Shift+Up arrow
WindowsKey+Shift+Down arrow
WindowsKey+Shift+Left arrow or
Right arrow
WindowsKey+Spacebar
WindowsKey+Ctrl+Spacebar
WindowsKey+Enter
WindowsKey+Page Up
To do this
Cycle through open apps
(except desktop apps) and
snap them as they are cycled
Cycle through open apps
(except desktop apps) in
reverse order
Switch to the app that
displayed a message in the
notification area
Maximize the desktop window
Minimize the desktop window
Maximize the desktop window
to the left side of the screen
Maximize the desktop window
to the right side of the screen
Minimize all but the active
desktop window (restores all
windows on second stroke)
Stretch the desktop window to
the top and bottom of the
screen
Restore/minimize active
desktop windows vertically,
maintaining width
Move a window in the desktop
from one monitor to another
Switch input language and
keyboard layout
Change to a previously
selected input
Open Narrator
Move the Start screen and
apps to the monitor on the left
(apps in the desktop won’t
change monitors)
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Press this key
WindowsKey+Page Down
WindowsKey+Shift+period (.)
WindowsKey+period (.)
WindowsKey+/
WindowsKey+Alt+Enter
WindowsKey+plus or minus
WindowsKey+Esc
To do this
Move the Start screen and
apps to the monitor on the right
(apps in the desktop won’t
change monitors)
Snap an app to the left
Snap an app to the right
Initiate IME reconversion
Open Windows Media Center
Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Exit Magnifier
Dialogue box
Press this key
F1
F4
Ctrl+Tab
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Ctrl+number
(number 1-9)
Tab
Shift+Tab
To do this
Display Help
Display the items in the active list
Move forward through tabs
Move back through tabs
Move to nth tab
Move forward through options
Move back through options
Perform the command (or select the option)
Alt+underlined letter
that goes with that letter
Select or clear the check box if the active
Spacebar
option is a check box
Open a folder one level up if a folder is
Backspace
selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
Select a button if the active option is a group
Arrow keys
of option buttons
File Explorer
Press this key
To do this
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Press this key
Alt+D
Ctrl+E
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+N
Ctrl+W
Ctrl+mouse scroll
wheel
Ctrl+Shift+E
Ctrl+Shift+N
Num
Lock+asterisk (*)
Num Lock+plus
(+)
Num Lock+minus
(-)
Alt+P
Alt+Enter
Alt+Right arrow
Alt+Up arrow
Alt+Left arrow
Backspace
Right arrow
Left arrow
End
Home
F11
To do this
Select the address bar
Select the search box
Select the search box
Open a new window
Close the current window
Change the size and appearance of file and
folder icons
Display all folders above the selected folder
Create a new folder
Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Display the contents of the selected folder
Collapse the selected folder
Display the preview pane
Open the Properties dialog box for the
selected item
View the next folder
View the folder that the folder was in
View the previous folder
View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it's collapsed),
or select the first subfolder
Collapse the current selection (if it's
expanded), or select the folder that the folder
was in
Display the bottom of the active window
Display the top of the active window
Maximize or minimize the active window
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Taskbar
Press this key
To do this
Open an app or quickly open
another instance of an app
Shift+click a taskbar button
Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar
button
Shift+right-click a taskbar
button
Shift+right-click a grouped
taskbar button
Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar
button
Open an app as an administrator
Show the window menu for the app
Show the window menu for the
group
Cycle through the windows of the
group
Ease of Access
Press this key
Right Shift for eight seconds
Left Alt+left Shift+Print Screen
Left Alt+left Shift+Num Lock
Shift five times
Num Lock for five seconds
WindowsKey+U
To do this
Turn Filter Keys on and off
Turn High Contrast on or off
Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Open the Ease of Access Center
Magnifier
Press this key
WindowsKey+plus or
minus
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar
Ctrl+Alt+D
Ctrl+Alt+F
Ctrl+Alt+I
Ctrl+Alt+L
Ctrl+Alt+R
To do this
Zoom in or out
Preview the desktop in full-screen
mode
Switch to docked mode
Switch to full-screen mode
Invert colors
Switch to lens mode
Resize the lens
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Press this key
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys
WindowsKey+Esc
To do this
Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
Exit Magnifier
Narrator
Press this key
Spacebar or Enter
Tab and arrow keys
Ctrl
Caps Lock+D
Caps Lock+M
Caps Lock+H
Caps Lock+V
Caps Lock+W
Caps Lock+Page Up or Page
Down
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-)
Caps Lock+Spacebar
Caps Lock+Left or Right arrows
Caps Lock+F2
Press Caps Lock twice in quick
succession
Caps+Esc
To do this
Activate current item
Move around on the screen
Stop reading
Read item
Start reading
Read document
Repeat phrase
Read window
Increase or decrease the volume
of the voice
Increase or decrease the speed
of the voice
Do default action
Move to previous/next item
Show commands for current
item
Turn Caps Lock on or off
Exit Narrator
Narrator touch
Press this key
Tap once with two fingers
Tap three times with four
fingers
Double-tap
To do this
Stop Narrator from reading
Show all Narrator commands
(including the ones not in this list)
Activate primary action
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Press this key
Triple-tap
Touch or drag a single
finger
Flick left/right with one
finger
Swipe left/right/up/down
with two fingers
Swipe down with three
fingers
To do this
Activate secondary action
Read what’s under your fingers
Move to next or previous item
Scroll
Start reading on explorable text
Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop
Press this key
Alt+Page Up
Alt+Page Down
To do this
Move between apps from left to right
Move between apps from right to left
Cycle through apps in the order that they
Alt+Insert
were started
Alt+Home
Display the Start screen
Ctrl+Alt+Break
Switch between a window and full screen
Ctrl+Alt+End
Display the Windows Security dialog box
In full-screen mode, activate the connection
Ctrl+Alt+Home
bar
Alt+Delete
Display the system menu
Place a copy of the active window, within the
Ctrl+Alt+minus (-)
client, on the Terminal server clipboard
on the numeric
(provides the same functionality as pressing
keypad
Alt+Print Screen on a local PC)
Place a copy of the entire client window area
Ctrl+Alt+plus (+) on on the Terminal server clipboard (provides
the numeric keypad the same functionality as pressing Print
Screen on a local PC)
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to
Ctrl+Alt+Right
a control in the host app (for example, a
arrow
button or a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are embedded in
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Press this key
Ctrl+Alt+Left arrow
To do this
another (host) app.
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to
a control in the host app (for example, a
button or a text box). Useful when the
Remote Desktop controls are embedded in
another (host) app.
Windows Help viewer
Press this key
F3
F10
Home
End
Alt+Left arrow
Alt+Right
arrow
Alt+Home
Alt+A
Alt+C
Alt+N
Ctrl+F
Ctrl+P
To do this
Move the cursor to the search box
Display the Options menu
Move to the beginning of a topic
Move to the end of a topic
Move back to the previously viewed topic
Move forward to the next (previously viewed)
topic
Display the Help and Support home page
Display the customer support page
Display the Table of Contents
Display the Connection Settings menu
Search the current topic
Print a topic
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