Keyboard shortcuts are generally used to reducing input sequences. The user uses the computer shortcut key by the press and holds several keys simultaneously or a sequence of keys one after the other.
Shortcut keys are an easier and quicker method of navigating commands on the computer. These are commonly accessed or work by using the Alt key, Ctrl key, or Shift key in conjunction with another key.
Here is a list of some of the most commonly used basic pc shortcut keys, window shortcut keys, MS word shortcut keys, and Excel shortcut keys which helps users to access easily in less time and frequently. It is also a part of General Knowledge for Competitive examination and helps to aspirants in their Lab test or computer skill test in Railway NTPC and State PSU examination.
Basic Computer Shortcut keys
| Shortcut Keys | Function |
|---|---|
| Alt+E | Edit options in the current program. |
| Alt+F | File menu options in current program. |
| Ctrl+A | Select all the text. |
| Ctrl+Alt+Del | Restart system/Open Task Manager |
| Ctrl+C/Ctrl+Ins | Copy Selected text or file |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+V/Shift+Ins | Paste Selected all text or file. |
| Ctrl+X/Shift+Delete | Cut selected item. |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Del | Delete selected items |
| End | Goes to end of current line. |
| Enter | Execute a Program |
| Esc | Terminate most of the Operation |
| F1 | View help information (For All Programs) |
| F2 | Rename a selected file. |
| Home | Go to beginning |
| Page up/Page down | Goes to the Top/Bottom of the document/window |
| Shift+Delete | Delete the selected item permanently. |
| Tab/ shift+Tab | Select the next/Previous item. |
Microsoft Windows Shortcut Keys
Shortcut Keys | Functions |
|---|---|
| Alt + Enter | Opens properties window of selected icon or program. |
| Alt + Esc | Switches between applications on the taskbar. |
| Alt + F4 | Closes current open program. |
| Alt + Print Screen | Creates a screenshot for the current program. |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | Switches backward between open applications. |
| Alt + Tab | Switches from one open application to another open application. |
| Ctrl + A | Selects all items on a page. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | Opens windows task manager/reboot. |
| Ctrl + C | Copies a selection to the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl + Esc | Brings up the start menu. |
| Ctrl + F4 | Closes window in the program. |
| Ctrl + F | Start a search tool |
| Ctrl + N | Starts a new file. |
| Ctrl + O | Opens a recently used file. |
| Ctrl + P | Prints a file. |
| Ctrl + Plus (+) Key | Automatically adjusts widths of all columns in Windows Explorer. |
| Ctrl + S | Saves changes to a file. |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Display a shortcut menu for column headings in a file list. |
| Ctrl + V | Pastes a selection from the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl + X | Cuts a selected item. |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo a change. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo a change. |
| Esc | Cancels a selection. |
| F2 | Renames the selected icon. |
| F3 | Start to find from the desktop. |
| F4 | Opens the drive selection when browsing. |
| F5 | Refreshes contents. |
| Holding Shift During Bootup | Enables boot safe mode or bypass system files. |
| Shift + Del | Deletes selected programs/files permanently. |
| Shift + F10 | Simulates right click on selected item. |
Microsoft Word Shortcut Keys
| Shortcut Keys | Functions |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + 1 | Sets single line spacing. |
| Ctrl + 2 | Sets double line spacing. |
| Ctrl + 5 | Sets line spacing to 1.5. |
| Ctrl + A | Selects All /whole document. |
| Ctrl + B | Makes selected text Bold. |
| Ctrl + C | Copies a selection to the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl + D | Font Options |
| Ctrl + E | Aligns text center. |
| Ctrl + F | Finds text |
| Ctrl + I | Italic selected text. |
| Ctrl + J | Justify text. |
| Ctrl + K | Make Hyperlink |
| Ctrl + L | Aligns text left. |
| Ctrl + M | Increase Indent Margin |
| Ctrl + N | Creates a new document. |
| Ctrl + O | Opens an existing document. |
| Ctrl + P | Prints a document. |
| Ctrl + Q | Remove Indent Margin/Paragraph format |
| Ctrl + R | Aligns text right. |
| Ctrl + S | Saves changes to a document. |
| Ctrl + T | Hanging Indent |
| Ctrl + U | Underlines selected texts. |
| Ctrl + V | Pastes a selection from the Clipboard. |
| Ctrl + W | Close document. |
| Ctrl + X | cut a selection |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo last action. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo last action. |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Change the font. |
| Ctrl + Shift + > | Increase font size |
| Ctrl + Shift + < | Decrease font size |
| Ctrl +] | Increase font size by +1. |
| Ctrl + [ | Decrease font size by -1 |
| Ctrl + Shift +F | Change Font |
| Ctrl + Shift +P | Change Font size |
| Ctrl + Shift +W | Underline but not space |
| Ctrl + Shift +D | Double Underline but not space |
| Ctrl + Shift +K | Small Capital |
| Ctrl + Shift +A | All Capital |
| Ctrl + End | Moves to the end of the document. |
| Ctrl + Home | Moves to the beginning of the document. |
| Ctrl + Shift + * | View or hide non printing characters. |
| Ctrl + Shift + (+) | Superscript |
| Ctrl + (=) | Subscript |
| Ctrl + (Left arrow) | Move one word to the left. |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move one word to the right. |
| Ctrl + (Up arrow) | Move to the beginning of the line or paragraph. |
| Ctrl + (Down arrow) | Move to the end of the paragraph. |
| Ctrl + Del | Delete the word to the right of the cursor. |
| Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the word to the left of the cursor. |
| Ctrl + End | Move the cursor to end of the document. |
| Ctrl + Home | Move the cursor to the beginning of the document. |
| Ctrl + Space | Reset highlighted text to the default font. |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 | Change text to heading 1. |
| Ctrl + Alt + 2 | Change text to heading 2. |
| Ctrl + Alt + 3 | Change text to heading 3. |
| F1 | Open Help. |
| F2 | Move Text |
| F3 | Insert Auto Text |
| F4 | Repeat the last action performed (Word 2000+). |
| F5 | Go to |
| F6 | Go to next frame |
| F7 | Spelling check selected text and/or document. |
| F8 | Extend a selection |
| F9 | Update Selected Field |
| F10 | Active the Menu Bar |
| F11 | Go to next field |
| F12 | Saves the document as a new file/ Save as (file menu) |
| Shift + F12 | Save. |
| Shift + F3 | Change case of selected text. |
| Shift + Insert | Paste. |
| Shift + F7 | Activate the thesaurus. |
| Alt + Shift + D | Insert the current date. |
| Alt + Shift + T | Insert the current time. |
MS EXCEL SHORTCUT KEYS
| SHORTCUT KEYS | FUNCTIONS |
|---|---|
| Alt + = | Auto sum all of the above cells. |
| Alt + Shift + F1 | Insert new worksheet. |
| Ctrl + (Right arrow) | Move to next section of text. |
| CTRL+ UP ARROW | Move to the 1st page. |
| CTRL+ DOWN ARROW | Move to the last page. |
| Ctrl + ; | Enter the current date |
| Ctrl + Shift + ; / Ctrl + : | Enter the current time. |
| Ctrl + 5 | Apply strjkejhrough formatting. |
| Ctrl +7. | Show or hide the standard toolbar |
| Ctrl +9 | Hide rows |
| CTRL+SHIFT+( | Unhide rows |
| Ctrl +0 | Hide Columns |
| CTRL+SH|FT+) | Unhide Columns |
| CTRL+ SPACEBAR | Select the entire column |
| ALT+C | Move the selected field into the column area. |
| ALT+D | Move the selected field into the data area. |
| ALT +Shift +F1 | Insert a new worksheet |
| CTRL + Home | Move to the beginning of the worksheet |
| CTRL+End | Move to the last cell on the worksheet |
| ALT+ ENTER | start a new line in the same cell. |
| Ctrl + A | Select all contents of a worksheet. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
| Ctrl + D | Fill down |
| Ctrl + R | Fill to the right |
| Ctrl + F | Open find and replace options. |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize the currently selected window. |
| Ctrl + F6 | Switch between open workbooks/windows. |
| Ctrl + F9 | Minimize the current window. |
| Ctrl + G | Open go-to options. |
| Ctrl + H | Open find and replace options. |
| Ctrl + I | Italic highlighted the selection. |
| Ctrl + | Insert the value of the above cell into the current cell. |
| Ctrl + K | Insert link |
| Ctrl + N | Open new document. |
| Ctrl + O | Open options. |
| Ctrl + P | Open print dialog box. |
| Ctrl + S | Save. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + W | Close document. |
| Ctrl + Y | Underline selected text. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action. |
| F11 | Create a chart |
| F2 | Edit the selected cell. |
| F5 | Go to a specific cell. |
| F7 | Spell check selected text and/or document. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ! | Format number in comma format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + # | Format number in date format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + $ | Format number in currency format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + % | Format number in percentage format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + @ | Format number in time format. |
| Ctrl + Shift + ^ | Format number in scientific format. |
| Ctrl + Space | Select the entire column. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move between two or more open Excel files |
| Ctrl + Page up | Move to Previous Excel worksheets in the same document. |
| Ctrl+ Page Down | Move to the next Excel worksheets in the same document. |
| Shift + F3 | Open the Excel formula window. |
| Shift + F5 | Bring up the search box |
| Shift + Spacebar | Select the entire row. |
Outlook Shortcut keys
| Shortcut keys | Functions |
|---|---|
| Alt + S | Send the email. |
| Ctrl + B | Bold highlighted selection. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy selected text. |
| Ctrl + F | Forward an email. |
| Ctrl + I | Italicize highlighted a selection. |
| Ctrl + K | Complete name/email typed in the address bar. |
| Ctrl + N | Create a new email. |
| Ctrl + P | Open print dialog box. |
| Ctrl + R | Reply to an email. |
| Ctrl + Shift + A | Create a new appointment to your calendar. |
| Ctrl + Shift + C | Create a new contact. |
| Ctrl + Shift + I | Open the inbox. |
| Ctrl + Shift + K | Add a new task. |
| Ctrl + Shift + O | Open the outbox. |
| Ctrl + Shift+ J | Create a new journal entry. |
| Ctrl + U | Underline highlighted selection. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected text. |
WINKEY shortcuts
| Shortcut keys | Functions |
|---|---|
| WINKEY + CTRL + F | Display the search for computers window. |
| WINKEY + D | Bring desktop to the top of other windows. |
| WINKEY + E | Open Microsoft Explorer. |
| WINKEY + F | Display the Windows Search/Find feature. |
| WINKEY + F1 | Display Microsoft Windows help. |
| WINKEY + L | Lock the computer (Windows XP & later). |
| WINKEY + M | Minimize all windows. |
| WINKEY + Pause /Break | Open the system properties window. |
| WINKEY + R | Open the run window. |
| WINKEY + SHIFT + M | Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D. |
| WINKEY + Tab | Cycle through open programs on the taskbar. |
| WINKEY + U | Open utility manager. |
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Arati Nayak
I am Arati Nayak. I like to share knowledge for students and Aspirants to make everything easy, clear, and unique.