Windows 7 Shortcut Keys

Windows 7 is the next version of Microsoft Windows, an operating system for both home and business. As with its previous counterparts (Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, Windows 95, Vista), developers of Windows 7 have made available many shortcut keys to make our lives easier. These shortcut keys are very similar to those of Windows Vista. We'll take a look at some of these shortcut keys below.

New in Windows 7

The → symbol stands for the right arrow key, ← for the left arrow key, etc.

Win+↑	Maximize the current window
Win+↓	If the current window is maximized, restore it; if the current window is restored, minimize it
Win+←	Dock the current window to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is moved to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is restored to its original size
Win+→	Dock the current window to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is moved to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is restored to its original size
Win+Shift+←	Move current window to the left monitor (with dual monitors)
Win+Shift+→	Move current window to the right monitor (with dual monitors)
Win+Home	Minimize all but the current window
Win+Space	Peek at the desktop
Win+[Plus sign]	Zoom in
Win+[Minus sign]	Zoom out
Win+P	Open the projection menu (generally used for laptops connected to projectors)
Alt+P	In Explorer, show/hide the preview pane

Taskbar Modifiers (New in Windows 7)

Shift+Click	Open a new instance of the program
Ctrl+Click	Cycle between windows in a group
Middle Click	Open a new instance of the program
Ctrl+Shift+Click	Open a new instance of the program as Administrator
Shift+Right-Click	Show window menu

Managing Windows

Alt+F4	Close the active window
Alt+Tab	Switch to previous active window
Alt+Esc	Cycle through all open windows
Win+Tab	Flip 3D [more info]
Ctrl+Win+Tab	Persistent Flip 3D
Win+T	Cycle through applications on taskbar (showing its live preview)
Win+M	Minimize all open windows
Win+Shift+M	Undo all window minimization
Win+D	Toggle showing the desktop
Win+↑	Maximize the current window
Win+↓	If the current window is maximized, restore it; if the current window is restored, minimize it
Win+←	Dock the current window to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is moved to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is restored to its original size
Win+→	Dock the current window to the right half of the screen *If it is already docked right, it is moved to the left half of the screen *If it is already docked left, it is restored to its original size
Win+Shift+←	Move current window to the left monitor (with dual monitors)
Win+Shift+→	Move current window to the right monitor (with dual monitors)
Win+Home	Minimize all but the current window
Win+Space	Peek at the desktop
Win+[Plus sign]	Zoom in
Win+[Minus sign]	Zoom out

Starting Programs

Win+1	Open the first program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+2	Open the second program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+n	Open the nth program on your Quick Launch bar
Win+U	Open the ease of access center
Win+F	Open the search window
Win+X	Open the Mobility Center
Win+E	Open Explorer
Win+R	Open the Run window
Win+B	Move focus to notification tray (the right-most portion of the taskbar)
Win+P	Open the projection menu (generally used for laptops connected to projectors)
Win+Pause	Open the System Properties portion from the Control Panel
Ctrl+Shift+Esc	Open Windows Task Manager

Logging In And Out

While the below shortcuts seem unwieldy because of their length, they're quite easy to remember once you try them out a few times.

Win, →, Enter	Shutdown
Win, →, →, R	Restart
Win, →, →, S	Sleep
Win, →, →, W	Switch Users
Win+L	Locks computer

Viewing Folders With Explorer

Alt+←	Go back
Alt+→	Go forward
Alt+↑	Go up a directory
Alt+D	Move focus to address bar
Alt+D, Tab	Move focus to search bar
Alt+Enter	Open the Properties window of the current selection
Ctrl+Mousewheel	Change the view type (extra large, small, list view, detail, etc.)
Alt+P	Show/hide the preview pane