Shortcut Keys

Esc (Escape) key

Closes dialog boxes, cancels actions, or returns to the previous screen or menu.

F1 key

Displays the help file for the current application or operating system.

F2 key

Renames a selected file or folder or edits the current cell in an Excel spreadsheet.

F3 key

Opens the search function for the current application or operating system.

F4 key

With the Alt key, closes the current application or window.

F5 key

Refreshes the current webpage or document or runs a slideshow in PowerPoint.

F6 key

Highlights the address bar in a web browser or the taskbar in Microsoft Windows.

F7 key

Activates the spelling and grammar check in Microsoft Word or opens the command history in a Unix terminal.

F8 key

When pressed simultaneously with the Shift or Ctrl key, performs a boot-up function such as Safe Mode or System Restore.

F9 key

Refreshes the document or email inbox in Microsoft Outlook.

F10 key

Activates the menu bar in a Microsoft Windows application or activates the audio mute function on some laptops.

F11 key

Enters or exits full-screen mode in a web browser or opens the dashboard in some applications.

F12 key

Opens the Save As dialog box in Microsoft Office applications or opens the developer tools in a web browser.

Home and End keys

Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of a line of text, or to the top or bottom of a document or webpage.

Page Up and Page Down keys

Moves the cursor up or down one screen in a document or webpage at a time.

Print Screen key

Takes a screenshot of the current screen, saves it to the clipboard, and pastes it into a document or image editing program.

Scroll Lock key

Toggles the scrolling function on and off.

Num Lock key

Toggles the functionality of the numeric keypad between numeric input and cursor movement.

Caps Lock key

Toggles the capitalization of letters on and off.

Windows key

Opens the Start menu or switches between open applications on a Microsoft Windows computer.

Command key (⌘)

Used for various functions on a Mac computer, such as opening the Finder, launching applications, or copying and pasting text.