Windows Vista Shortcut Keys

Most of the Windows Vista keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys in this guide are applicable to other Windows OS too, such as Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, etc. For offline reference, you can always refer to Window Vista built-in Windows Help And Support, where I copy and post this so-called complete set of Windows Vista keyboard shortcut!

Keyboard shortcut to turn on / off Window Vista Ease Of Access features

Right SHIFT for eight seconds
Turn on / off the Filter Keys feature - used to ignore or slow down brief or repeated keystrokes and adjust keyboard repeat rate.

Left ALT + left SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN
Turn on / off High Contrast feature - try to see it yourself

Left ALT + left SHIFT + NUM LOCK
Turn on / off Mouse Keys feature - use the numeric keypad to move a mouse pointer

SHIFT five times
Turn on / off Sticky Keys feature - used to define pressing hotkey one at a time (for example, CTRL + ALT + DEL)

NUM LOCK for five seconds
Turn on / off Toggle Keys feature - used to alert an audible sound when CAP LOCK, SCROLL LOCK, or NUM LOCK is pressed.

Windows + U
Open the Windows Vista Ease Of Access dialog box

General keyboard shortcuts or hotkey in Windows Vista

F1
Display help page

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

F10
Activate the menu bar in the active program

CTRL + C
Copy the selected item

CTRL + X
Cut the selected item

CTRL + V
Paste the selected item

CTRL + Z
Undo the last committed action

CTRL + Y
Redo the last undo action

DELETE
Delete the selected item and move it to Windows Recycle Bin

SHIFT + DELETE
Delete the selected item without save it into Windows Recycle Bin

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

CTRL + SHIFT with an arrow key
Select a block of text

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 + SPACE BAR
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop

CTRL + A
Select all items in a document or window

ALT + ENTER
Display properties for the selected item

ALT + F4
Close the active item, or exit the active program. When Vista Desktop is the active window, this hotkey fire up the classic Shutdown Windows dialog box.

ALT + SPACE BAR
Open the shortcut menu for the active window

CTRL + F4
Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously, such as Microsoft Word 2007 or any MDI program)

ALT + TAB
Switch between open items

CTRL + ALT + TAB
Use the arrow keys to switch between open items

CTRL + Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size of icons on the desktop

Windows + TAB
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D

CTRL + Windows + TAB
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D

ALT + ESC
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened

SHIFT + F10
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

CTRL + ESC
Open the Start menu

ALT + underlined letter
Display the corresponding menu, perform the menu command (or other underlined command

RIGHT ARROW
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu

LEFT ARROW
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu

ALT + UP ARROW
View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer

ESC
Cancel the current task

CTRL + SHIFT + ESC
Open Task Manager

SHIFT when you insert a CD
Prevent the CD from automatically playing

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys in Windows Vista

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

BACK SPACE
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Microsoft (Windows) keyboard hotkey


What is a Microsoft (Windows) keyboard?

If your found a Windows Logo key that sit in between CTRL and ALT keys, then it’s considered a Windows (Windows) keyboard. So, the Windows key is referring to this additional key that labeled with Windows logo.

Windows
Open or close the Start menu

Windows + PAUSE
Display the System Properties dialog box, where you will see the Windows Vista Experience Index

Windows + D
Display the desktop

Windows + M
Minimize all windows

Windows + SHIFT + M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop

Windows + E
Open My Computer

Windows + F
Search for a file or folder

CTRL + Windows + F
Search for computers (if you are on a network)

Windows + L
Lock your computer or switch users

Windows + R
Open the Run dialog box

Windows + T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar

Windows + TAB
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D

CTRL + Windows + TAB
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Windows Flip 3D

Windows + SPACE BAR
Bring all gadgets to the front and select Windows Sidebar

Windows + G
Cycle through Windows Sidebar gadgets

Windows + U
Open Ease of Access Center

Windows + X
Open Windows Mobility Center

Windows with any number key
Open the Quick Launch shortcut that is in the position that corresponds to the number. For example, Windows + 1 to launch the first shortcut in the Quick Launch menu.

Windows Explorer keyboard shortcut / hotkey in Windows Vista

CTRL + N
Open a new window

END
Display the bottom of the active window

HOME
Display the top of the active window

F11
Maximize or minimize the active window

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 + LEFT ARROW
View the previous folder

RIGHT ARROW
Display the current selection (if it is collapsed), or select the first subfolder

ALT + RIGHT ARROW
View the next folder

CTRL + Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons

ALT + D
Select the Address bar

Windows Sidebar keyboard shortcut / hotkeys in Windows Vista

Windows + SPACEBAR
Bring all gadgets to the front and select Sidebar

Windows + G
Cycle through Sidebar gadgets

TAB
Cycle through Sidebar controls

Windows Photo Gallery keyboard shortcuts / hotkeys in Windows Vista

CTRL + F
Open the Fix pane

CTRL + P
Print the selected picture

ENTER
View the selected picture at a larger size

CTRL + I
Open or close the Details pane

CTRL + PERIOD (.)
Rotate the picture clockwise

CTRL + COMMA (,)
Rotate the picture counter-clockwise

F2
Rename the selected item

CTRL+E
Search for an item

ALT + LEFT ARROW
Go back

ALT + RIGHT ARROW
Go forward

PLUS SIGN (+)
Zoom in or resize the picture thumbnail

MINUS SIGN (-)
Zoom out or resize the picture thumbnail

CTRL + Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size of the picture thumbnail

CTRL + B
Best fit

LEFT ARROW
Select the previous item

DOWN ARROW
Select the next item or row

UP ARROW
Previous item (Easel) or previous row (Thumbnail)

PAGE UP
Previous screen

PAGE DOWN
Next screen

HOME
Select the first item

END
Select the last item

DELETE
Move the selected item to the Recycle Bin

SHIFT + DELETE
Permanently delete the selected item

LEFT ARROW
Collapse node

RIGHT ARROW
Expand node

Windows Photo Gallery keyboard shortcuts / hotkeys to work with video files in Windows Vista

J
Move back one frame

K
Pause the playback

L
Move forward one frame

I
Set the start trim point

O
Set the end trim point

M
Split a clip

HOME
Stop and rewind all the way back to the start trim point

ALT + RIGHT ARROW
Advance to the next frame

ALT + LEFT ARROW
Go back to the previous frame

CTRL + K
Stop and rewind playback

CTRL + P
Play from the current location

HOME
Move the start trim point

END
Move to the end trim point

PAGE UP
Seek to nearest split point before the current location

PAGE DOWN
Seek to nearest split point after the current location

Keyboard shortcuts / hotkeys to work with Windows Vista Help And Supports

ALT+C
Display the Table of Contents

ALT+N
Display the Connection Settings menu

F10
Display the Options menu

ALT + LEFT ARROW
Move back to the previously viewed topic

ALT + RIGHT ARROW
Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic

ALT + A
Display the customer support page

ALT + HOME
Display the Help and Support home page

HOME
Move the to beginning of a topic

END
Move to the end of a topic

CTRL + F
Search the current topic

CTRL + P
Print a topic

F3
Move to the Search box.