Complete List Of Windows Vista Keyboard Shortcuts Or Hotkeys

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!

Windows keyboard shortcuts, or Windows Hotkeys, require one to press 2 or more keys at the same time to trigger a Windows task that will otherwise require few mouse movements and mouse clicks to complete.

By using some of these Windows Vista keyboard shortcuts for commonly used functions will greatly enhance your experience with Windows Vista – it is more convenient, speedy, and efficient than moving and clicking pointing device here and there!

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

Technorati tags: Vista Ultimate, Vista Tips, Vista Tricks, Vista Help, Vista Tutorial, Vista Guide, Know-how, Vista Hotkeys, Vista Keyboard Shortcuts

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