Windows 7 Keyboard Shortcuts

Posted by:
Stephen L Rose
04:18 PM Monday
Jun 29, 2009
16 Comments

I love keyboard shortcuts. Using a combination of two or more keys that, when pressed, can be used to perform a task that would typically require a mouse or other pointing device saves me time and effort both in Windows and other programs.

Here are some of my favorite Windows 7 shortcuts that you may not be familiar with that are great time savers. For a complete list of all shortcuts, check out this page here.

Windows logo key +T	Cycle through programs on the taskbar
Windows logo key +Spacebar	Preview the desktop
Windows logo key +X	Open Windows Mobility Center
Windows logo key +P	Choose a presentation display mode
Shift+Windows logo key +number	Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Alt+Windows logo key +number	Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Ctrl+Windows logo key +number	Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number

Do you have a favorite that you can’t do without? Share it with us in the comments area.

Comments

rwkyle

Posted on: June 29, 2009 at 6:25PM
I like being able to use windows key, u for shutdown, and then the menu remembers the last command which for me is usually shutdown. Would be nice to have something like this.
jchowl01

Posted on: June 29, 2009 at 7:47PM
Crtl - Shift - ESC - Quick Direct launch of Task Manager is one of my favorites, Saves time when I want to check out Services / Application Status / Performance info
rangerevo8

Posted on: June 29, 2009 at 7:58PM
Windows logo key + D - Shift to Desktop / Minimize all windows

Windows logo key + F - Open a Search Window..
cfischer83

Posted on: June 29, 2009 at 11:35PM
I love key commands and really like a lot of the ones introduced in Vista. I don't have Windows 7 yet (preordered Pro though!) so I have some questions about possible key board shortcuts.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to cycle through windows within a single application?

Is there a keyboard shortcut to bring up the little window previews on the task bar? and perhaps cycle through them?

Is there a keyboard shortcut for Aero Shake?
sinm

Posted on: June 30, 2009 at 10:35AM
How to disable Win+number shortcuts? They have different meaning for me...
Stephen L Rose

Posted on: July 03, 2009 at 12:51AM
Great stuff. I also am a big fan of the Windows + L for lock shortcut. I have been using it since Vista.

No plans for a shake shortcut key but I will mention it to the engineering team next time we chat.
shariat

Posted on: July 03, 2009 at 11:26AM
Ctrl-Win+Number is not usable at all. Same thing for Alt-Win-Number.

There must be a single shortcut for cycling through windows of active application. And also popping up the jump list of active application.

We cannot memorize the number of each application on the taskbar. It is useless
r-nando

Posted on: July 04, 2009 at 7:30AM
Please note the keyboard shortcut brightness controle under fn+f7 and fn+f8 doesnt work any more since i installed windows 7 trial version

Im working on a HP laptop 6735s

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