Windows XP keyboard shortcuts

Windows XP  

Zeynel -
2 years ago
- Shortcuts

Windows XP is considered an outdated operating system as this article has written. However, for some (valid) reason if you're still using it, you may want to take advantage of these shortcuts. They're mostly not changed in newer Windows versions, but we thought a Windows XP-specific article would be nice. Use these shortcuts to get faster through the operating system, and please don't forget to keep your unsupported system secure by using an antivirus.

These shortcuts involve using Windows key on your keyboard. They're usually globally available, meaning you may use them no matter what program is currently active.
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Win

Open / Close the Start menu

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or Ctrl + Esc
1
Win + R

Open the Run dialog box

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Win + D

Display desktop, hide other windows. Press again to restore all windows

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Win + M

Minimize all open windows

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Win + ↑  Shift + M

Restore minimized windows

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Win + E

Open Windows Explorer

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Win + F

Search for a file or a folder

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Ctrl + Win + F

Search for computers

0
Win + L

Lock the computer (opens login screen)

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Win + U

Open Utility Manager

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Win + F1

Display Windows Help

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These shortcuts can be used when editing text or when working with any type of items. Windows XP and many programs support them.
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Ctrl + C

Copy

-1
Ctrl + X

Cut

1
Ctrl + V

Paste

0
Ctrl + Z

Undo

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Ctrl + Y

Redo

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Del

Delete

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↑  Shift + Del

Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

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Ctrl + A

Select all

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Ctrl

(hold when dragging an item) Copy selected item

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Ctrl + ↑  Shift

(hold when dragging an item) Create a shortcut to selected item

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Ctrl + F4

Close active document or tab in a program

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Alt + Tab

Switch between open programs in taskbar

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F6

Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

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F4

Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer

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↑  Shift + F10

Display the shortcut menu for the selected item

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Alt + Space

Display the System menu for the active window

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Ctrl + Esc

Open / Close the Start menu

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Alt then A - Z

(press underlined letter in a menu) Display the corresponding menu

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F10

Activate the menu bar in the active program (similar to Alt key)

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F5

Refresh the active window

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↑  Shift

(when inserting a CD or DVD) Prevent automatically playing / launching the CD or DVD

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End

Go to the bottom of the list

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Home

Go to the top of the list

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Num Lock + *

Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder

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Num Lock + +

Display the contents of the selected folder

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Num Lock + -

Collapse the selected folder

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Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder

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Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder

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Backspace

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

These general shortcuts can also be used in Windows Explorer:
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Ctrl + C

Copy selected files/folders

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Ctrl + X

Cut selected files/folders

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Ctrl + V

Paste

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Ctrl + Z

Undo last action (undo copy, move, delete, etc)

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Ctrl + Y

Redo

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Del

Delete (by default, will move items to Recycle Bin)

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↑  Shift + Del

Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.

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Ctrl + A

Select all (in current folder)

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Ctrl

(hold when dragging an item) Copy selected item

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Ctrl + ↑  Shift

(hold when dragging an item) Create a shortcut to selected item

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F2

Rename the selected item

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F3

Search for a file or a folder

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F5

Refresh the active window

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F4

Display the Address bar list

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Ctrl + Tab

Move forward through the tabs

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Ctrl + ↑  Shift + Tab

Move backward through the tabs

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Tab

Move forward through the options

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↑  Shift + Tab

Move backward through the options

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Alt then A - Z

(press underlined letter in a menu) Display the corresponding menu option

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⤶ Enter

Perform the command for the active option or button

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Space

Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box

0

Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

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Ctrl + O

Open a saved console

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Ctrl + N

Open a new console

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Ctrl + S

Save the open console

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Ctrl + M

Add or remove a console item

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Ctrl + W

Open a new window

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F5

Update the content of all console windows

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Alt + Space

Display the MMC window menu

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Alt + A

Display the Action menu

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Alt + V

Display the View menu

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Alt + F

Display the File menu

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Alt + O

Display the Favorites menu

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Alt + F4

Close the console

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Ctrl + C

Copy

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Ctrl + X

Cut

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Ctrl + V

Paste

0
Ctrl + Z

Undo

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Ctrl +

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word

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Ctrl +

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word

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Ctrl +

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph

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Ctrl +

Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph

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Ctrl + ↑  Shift +

Highlight a block of text

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↑  Shift +

Select a block of text one character at a time

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Ctrl + A

Select All

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↑   Right Shift

(hold for 8 seconds) Switch FilterKeys either on or off

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Left Alt + ↑   Left Shift + Print Screen

Switch High Contrast either on or off

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Left Alt + ↑   Left Shift + Num Lock

Switch the MouseKeys either on or off

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↑  Shift then ↑  Shift then ↑  Shift then ↑  Shift then ↑  Shift

(5 times Shift) Switch the StickyKeys either on or off

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Num Lock

(hold for 5 seconds) Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off

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Win + U

Open Utility Manager


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Program information

Program name: Windows XP Windows XP (General)

Windows XP is an operating system developed by Microsoft. It was released in October 25, 2001. With increased performance and stability, an easier user interface, improved hardware support, Windows XP received positive reviews upon its release. Mainstream support for Windows XP ended on April 14, 2009. Extended support ended on April 8, 2014.

Web page: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_...

Last update: 11/30/2021 7:35 PM UTC

How easy to press shortcuts: 80%

More information >>

Updated: Updated program information. (3 updates.) 11/30/2021 3:10:30 PM New program added.
11/30/2021 3:14:22 PM Updated program information.
11/30/2021 8:35:31 PM Updated program information.

Shortcut count: 92

Platform detected: Windows or Linux

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