Computer Keyboard Shortcut Keys - 1

Unix / Linux shortcut keys

Introduction

Shortcuts are designed to help shorten the time required to perform frequently used commands or actions. In the below sections we have listed keyboard shortcut keys that can be performed by pressing two or more keys at once. In addition to keyboard shortcut keys, we have also listed command line shortcut keys that can be typed in at the shell.

Please note that the below shortcut keys and command line shortcuts will not work on all variants of Unix and/or Linux.

Keyboard shortcut keys

CTRL + B	Moves the cursor backward one character.
CTRL + C	Cancels the currently running command.
CTRL + D	Logs out of the current session.
CTRL + F	Moves the cursor forward one character.
CTRL + H	Erase one character. Similar to pressing backspace.
CTRL + P	Paste previous line and/or lines.
CTRL + S	Stops all output on screen (XOFF).
CTRL + Q	Turns all output stopped on screen back on (XON).
CTRL + U	Erases the complete line.
CTRL + W	Deletes the last word typed in. For example, if you typed 'mv file1 file2' this shortcut would delete file2.
CTRL + Z	Cancels current operation, moves back a directory and/or takes the current operation and moves it to the background. See bg command for additional information about background.

Command line shortcuts

In addition to the below command line shortcuts, it is also helpful to use the alias command that allows you to specify a keyword for frequently used commands or mistakes.

~	Moves to the user's home directory.
!!	Repeats the line last entered at the shell. See history command for previous commands.
!$	Repeats the last argument for the command last used. See history command for previous commands.
reset	Resets the terminal if terminal screen is not displaying correctly.
shutdown -h now	Remotely or locally shuts the system down.

Apple Macintosh shortcut keys

Please note that not all of the below shortcut keys will work in all versions of Mac OS.

Open Apple + Down	Opens the selected icon.
Shift + Click	Select the icon and add it to the set of those selected.
Tab	Highlight the next icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Shift + Tab	Highlight the previous icon inside the folder, in alphabetical order.
Left arrow	Used when viewing by icon to select the icon to the left of the one highlighted.
Right arrow	Used when viewing by icon to select icon to the right of the one highlighted.
Up arrow	Used to select the icon above the one currently highlighted.
Down arrow	Used to select the icon below the one currently highlighted.
Open Apple + ?	Mac help
Open Apple + E	Eject
Open Apple + Shift + Up Arrow	Used to direct the input focus to the desktop level.
Open Apple + M	Minimize window
Open Apple + N	New finder window
Open Apple + Shirt + N	New folder
Open Apple + W	Close the current window.
Open Apple + C	Copy the elected item to the clipboard.
Open Apple + X	Cut the selected item.
Open Apple + V	Paste item from the clipboard
Open Apple + L	Make alias
Open Apple + R	Show original item
Open Apple + T	Add to favorites
Open Apple + O	Open the selected icon.
Open Apple + F	Display the find dialog box.
Open Apple + G	Repeat the last find operation.
Open Apple + Shift + G	Takes a snapshot of the screen and saves it to a PICT file.

Microsoft Windows shortcut keys

Below is a listing of all the major shortcut keys in Microsoft Windows as well as the versions of Microsoft Windows they're supported in. If you're looking for shortcut keys or information about how to navigate Microsoft Windows using your keyboard instead of the mouse see document CH000791.

Shortcut Keys	3.x	95	98	ME	NT	2000	XP	Vista	Description
Alt + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch between open applications.
Alt + Shift + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch backwards between open applications.
Alt + double-click		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties.
Ctrl + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Same as above but backwards.
Alt + Print Screen	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in.
Ctrl + Alt + Del	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager.
Ctrl + Esc	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager.
Alt + Esc		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Switch Between open applications on taskbar.
F1	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates help for current open application.
F2	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Renames selected Icon.
F3		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Starts find from desktop.
F4		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Opens the drive selection when browsing.
F5		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Refresh Contents.
F10	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates menu bar.
Shift + F10		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Simulates right-click on selected item.
F4		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar.
Alt + F4	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Closes Current open program.
Ctrl + F4	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Closes Window in Program.
F6		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Move cursor to different Windows Explorer pane.
Ctrl + Space bar	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Drops down the window control menu.
Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad)			X	X	X	X	X	X	Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer
Alt + Enter		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Opens properties window of selected icon or program.
Shift + Del		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin.
Holding Shift	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting.
Holding Shift		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing.
Enter	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Activates the highlighted program.
Alt + Down arrow		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Display all available options on drop down menu.
* (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer.
+ (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.
- (on the keypad)		X	X	X	X	X	X	X	Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer.

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a Microsoft Windows operating system and using a keyboard with a Windows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by "WINKEY".

Shortcut Keys	Description
WINKEY	Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
WINKEY + F1	Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center.
WINKEY + F3	Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook.
WINKEY + D	Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
WINKEY + M	Minimizes all windows.
WINKEY + SHIFT + M	Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D.
WINKEY + E	Open Microsoft Explorer.
WINKEY + Tab	Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
WINKEY + F	Display the Windows Search / Find feature.
WINKEY + CTRL + F	Display the search for computers window.
WINKEY + F1	Display the Microsoft Windows help.
WINKEY + R	Open the run window.
WINKEY + Pause / Break key	Open the system properties window.
WINKEY + U	Open Utility Manager.
WINKEY + L	Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only).