Windows 7 shortcut

New in Windows 7

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

1. 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)

1. 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

1. 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

1. 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 [more info]
   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.

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

Viewing Folders With Explorer

1. 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

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15 Killer Windows 7 Keyboard

One of my personal favorites among the new features that Windows 7 came with was the introduction of some awesome and long awaited keyboard shortcuts. I personally use them as much as I can to save time, and I recommend the practice of using keyboard shortcuts to others too.

This article talks about 15 really cool keyboards shortcuts that are specific to Windows 7. I can bet that you don’t know all of them. Check them out, some of them will surprise you for sure.

1. Ctrl+Shift+N to Create a New Folder

Creating a new folder in Windows explorer is something we all need to do on a frequent basis. And until now, there was no default shortcut key available for this task. But Windows 7 changed that.

You could now use Ctrl+Shift+N to quickly create a new folder in Windows or anywhere on your computer where a folder can be created.

2. Ctrl+Shift+Click to Open a Program As Administrator

There are many instances when just clicking on the icon of the application and opening it doesn’t solve your purpose. You need to right click on it and click on “Run as Administrator” so that you can make the required changes to the app.

In Windows 7, this can be done with a keyboard shortcut. You just need to point your mouse cursor on that program and then click on it while pressing Ctrl+Shift keys to open it as administrator.

3. Shift+Right-Click Enhances Send to Menu

The above screenshot shows the default send to menu that I get when I simply right click on a program.

Now, if I press the Shift key, and while having it pressed, I right click on the icon, I get an enhanced send to menu. See the screenshot below to check how it looks.

Nice, isn’t it?

4. Shift+Right-Click on a Folder to Open Command Prompt

If you do Shift+right-click on a folder, you’ll find an option that says “Open command windows here.” If you love working with the command prompt, this option should come in handy.

5. Win+Space to Quickly Show Desktop

Remember our quick tip on hiding open windows in windows 7 ? Well, this is the keyboard shortcut version of that mouse cursor trick. Pressing the Win key and the space bar simultaneously shows you the desktop immediately.

6. Win+Up/Down/Left/Right for Moving the Active Window

If you intend to quickly move the active window to make space for other apps, you could do that by using the Win key and one of the arrow keys. Each arrow key would move the window in the direction it is meant to.

7. For Dual Monitors: Win+Shift+Left Arrow Key to Move Active Window to Left Monitor

If you are on a dual monitor setup using Windows 7 then you could press the Win+Shift+Left arrow key combination to move the active application window to the left monitor.

8. For Dual Monitors: Win+Shift+Right Arrow Key to Move Active Window to Right Monitor

Similarly, if you need to move the current window to the right monitor screen, just press Win+Shift+right arrow key.

9. Win+T to Get to Taskbar Items

You could use the key combination Win+T to toggle through the applications pinned on the taskbar in Windows 7.

10. Shift+Click on a Taskbar App to Open a New Instance of the App

Let’s say you’ve got a bunch of Chrome windows open. And you need to quickly open a new blank window of the browser. Here’s the way – point your cursor to the chrome icon on the taskbar, hit Shift and click on it. There you go!

11. Win+B to Move Focus to the System Tray

In a previous article, we talked about a technique to add more clocks to the default Windows clock in the system tray. Now, if you need to get there without using your mouse cursor, how’d you do that?

Answer – Win+B. That would move the focus on the system tray, and then you could use the arrow keys to cycle through the items, including the Windows clock.

12. Win+P for Quickly Connecting Your Laptop to a Projector

Windows 7 has a nifty projection menu feature which enables you to quickly connect your laptop to a projector or an extended monitor. Win+P is the keyboard shortcut for that purpose.

13. Win+1, Win+2..so on for Opening Taskbar Programs

Want to quickly open a program that’s pinned to your Windows 7 taskbar? You can press the Win key and the number corresponding to the location of the app on the taskbar.

14. Win+Pause helps you check System Properties

Need to take a quick look at what’s the processor model you are using, or may be check the device manager, or advanced system settings? You could use Win+pause key combination to open the system properties window.

15. Ctrl+Shift+Esc Can Quickly Windows Task Manager

I think this was in Vista too, I am not sure. But it’s a cool shortcut nevertheless. Just press the Ctrl key, Shift key and the ESC key simultaneously and you have the task manager pop up right in front!

So that was about the amazing Windows 7 keyboard shortcuts. I hope you find them useful. In fact, learn them if you are on Windows 7. That’s what I did and it has helped a great deal. If I’ve missed a cool shortcut, do share that in the comments.

Now, if you are on Windows XP, and would love to get some these shortcuts that are relevant to XP, we’ll have you covered tomorrow. We will tell you how you could get some of the above shortcuts working on XP. Stay tuned!

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