iSightCornwall Picks: Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows

For many visually impaired people, the most effective way to use a computer is with keyboard commands.

We have put together a list of useful keyboard shortcuts for the Windows operating system.

Hotkeys and Keyboard Shortcuts

• Win + (+): Open Windows Magnifier.
• Win + Escape: Close Windows Magnifier.
• Ctrl + Escape or Win: Display start menu.
• Win + E: Open Windows Explorer.
• Win + R: Open Run dialogue.
• Win + M: Minimize all windows.
• Win + U: Open Utility Manager.
• Alt + Tab: Display CoolSwitch. More commonly known as the AltTab dialogue.
• Printscreen: Copy screenshot of the current screen to the clipboard.
• Alt + Printscreen: Copy screenshot of the current active window to the clipboard.

Generic HotKeys

• Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy.
• Ctrl + X or Shift + Delete: Cut.
• Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste/Move.
• Ctrl + N: New… File, Tab, Entry, etc.
• Ctrl + S: Save.
• Ctrl + O: Open…
• Ctrl + P: Print.
• Ctrl + Z: Undo.
• Ctrl + A: Select all.
• Ctrl + F: Find…
• Ctrl + F4: Close tab or child window.
• F1: Open help.
• F11: Toggle full-screen mode.
• Alt or F10: Activate menu bar.
• Alt + Space: Display system menu. Same as clicking the icon on the title bar.
• Escape: Remove focus from current control/menu, or close dialog box.

Generic Navigation – Keyboard Shortcut Keys

• Tab: Forward one item.
• Shift + Tab: Backward one item.
• Ctrl + Left: Move cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
• Ctrl + Right: Move cursor to the beginning of next word.
• Ctrl + Up: Move cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
• Ctrl + Down: Move cursor to the beginning of next paragraph.
• Shift + Left: Highlight one character to the left.
• Shift + Right: Highlight one character to the right.
• Shift + Up: Highlight from current cursor position, to one line up.
• Shift + Down: Highlight from current cursor position, to one line down.
• Ctrl + Shift + Left: Highlight to beginning of the previous word.
• Ctrl + Shift + Right: Highlight to beginning of next word.
• Ctrl + Shift + Up: Highlight to beginning of previous paragraph.

Generic File Browser – HotKeys

• Arrow Keys: Navigate.
• Shift + Arrow Keys: Select multiple items.
• (Letter): Select first found item that begins with (Letter).
• Alt + Left: Go back one folder.
• Alt + Right: Go forward one folder.
• Enter: Activate (Double-click) selected item(s).
• Alt + Enter: View properties for the selected item.
• F2: Rename selected item(s).
• Delete: Delete selected item(s).
• Ctrl while dragging item(s): Copy.
• Ctrl + Shift while dragging item(s): Create shortcut(s).

Download the Keyboard Shortcuts and Hot Keys for future use (Microsoft Word file)

If you know a helpful shortcut that does not appear on the list above we would love to hear from you. Please email us at info@isightcornwall.org.uk with your suggestions.