F1 To F12 keys work
What are the F1 through F12 keys?
Question:
What are the F1 through F12 keys?
Answer:
Commonly known as "function
keys", F1 through F12 may have a variety of different uses or no use at
all. Depending on the installed operating system and the software program
currently open will change how each of these keys operate. A program is
capable of not only using each of the function keys, but also combining the
function keys with the ALT and/or CTRL keys, for example, Microsoft Windows
users can press ALT + F4 to close the program currently active.
Below is a short-listing of some of the
common functions of the functions keys on computers running Microsoft
Windows. As mentioned above not all programs support function keys and/or may
perform different tasks then those mentioned below. If you are looking for
more specific shortcut keys and function key examples we suggest seeing our shortcut key page.
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
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Windows key
Microsoft Windows shortcut keys
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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. See our main shortcut page if you're looking for other
shortcut keys used in other programs.
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Shortcut Keys
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3.x
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95
|
98
|
ME
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NT
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2000
|
XP
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Description
|
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Alt
+ Tab
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X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
|
Switch between open applications.
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Alt
+ Shift + Tab
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Switch backwards between open
applications.
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Alt
+ double-click
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X
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
|
X
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X
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Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this
on a file would display its properties.
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Ctrl
+ Tab
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X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
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Switches between program groups or
document windows in applications that support this feature.
|
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Ctrl
+ Shift + Tab
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Same as above but backwards.
|
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Alt
+ Print Screen
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Create a screen shot only for the program you are
currently in.
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Ctrl
+ Alt +
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Reboot
the computer and/or bring up the Windows task
manager.
|
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Ctrl
+ Esc
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring
up the Task Manager.
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Alt
+ Esc
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Switch Between open applications on
taskbar.
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F1
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Activates help for current open
application.
|
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F2
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Renames selected Icon.
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F3
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Starts find from desktop.
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F4
|
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Opens the drive selection when browsing.
|
|
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F5
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Refresh Contents.
|
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F10
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Activates menu bar.
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Shift
+ F10
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|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
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Simulates right-click on selected item.
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F4
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
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X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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Select a different location to browse in
the Windows Explorer toolbar.
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Alt
+ F4
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Closes Current open program.
|
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Ctrl
+ F4
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Closes Window in Program.
|
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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.
|
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Ctrl
+ (the '+' key on the keypad)
|
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Automatically adjust the widths of all
the columns in Windows explorer
|
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Alt
+ Enter
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Opens properties window of selected icon
or program.
|
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Shift
+
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Delete programs/files without throwing
them into the recycle bin.
|
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|
Holding
Shift
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as
the computer is booting.
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Holding
Shift
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
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When putting in an audio CD, will prevent
CD Player from playing.
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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.
|
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|
*
(on the keypad)
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows
Explorer.
|
|
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+
(on the keypad)
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Expands only the currently selected
folder in Windows Explorer.
|
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-
(on the keypad)
|
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
Collapses the currently selected folder
in Windows Explorer.
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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".
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Shortcut Keys
|
Description
|
|||||||||
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WINKEY
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Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start.
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WINKEY
+ F1
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Opens the Microsoft Windows help and
support center.
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WINKEY
+ F3
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Opens the Advanced find window in
Microsoft Outlook.
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WINKEY
+ D
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Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows.
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WINKEY
+ M
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Minimizes all windows.
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WINKEY
+ SHIFT + M
|
Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and
WINKEY + D.
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WINKEY
+ E
|
Open Microsoft Explorer.
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WINKEY
+ Tab
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Cycle through open programs through the taskbar.
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WINKEY
+ F
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Display the Windows Search / Find
feature.
|
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WINKEY
+ CTRL + F
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Display the search for computers window.
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WINKEY
+ F1
|
Display the Microsoft Windows help.
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WINKEY
+ R
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Open the run window.
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WINKEY
+ Pause / Break key
|
Open the system properties window.
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WINKEY
+ U
|
Open Utility Manager.
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WINKEY
+ L
|
Lock the computer (Windows XP and above
only).
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