Windows General Shortcut Keys
| ALT+TAB | Switch between open applications in all versions of Windows. Reverse the direction by pressing ALT+SHIFT+TAB at the same time. |
| Ctrl+TAB | Switches between program groups, TABs, or document windows in applications that support this feature. |
| Reverse the direction by pressing | |
| Ctrl+SHIFT+TAB at the same time. | |
| ALT+double-click | In Windows 95 or later, display the properties of the object you double- click. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties. |
| ALT+PRINT SCREEN | Create a screenshot only for the active program window in all versions of Windows. For example, if you opened the calculator and pressed these shortcut keys, only the calculator window would be created as a screenshot. If the PRINT SCREEN key is pressed alone, the whole screen will be made into a screenshot. |
| Ctrl+ALT+DEL | Open the Windows option screen for locking computer, switching user, Task Manager, etc. in later versions of Windows. Pressing Ctrl+ALT+DEL multiple times reboots the computer. |
| Ctrl+SHIFT+ESC | Immediately bring up the Windows Task Manager in Windows 2000 and later. |
| Ctrl+ESC | Open the Windows Start menu in most versions of Windows. In Windows 8, this opens the Start screen and in Windows 3.x, this opens the Task Manager. |
| ALT+ESC | Switch between open applications on Taskbar in Windows 95 and later. |
| ALT+SPACEBAR | Drops down the window control menu for the currently open Windows program in Windows 95 and later. |
| ALT+ENTER | Opens taskbar settings |
| SHIFT+DEL | Permanently Delete any file or another object without throwing it into the Recycle Bin in Windows 95 and later. |
| Hold down the SHIFT key | When putting in an audio or data CD that uses Auto play, holding down the SHIFT key prevents that CD from playing. |
