| Shortcut Keys | 3.x | 95 | 98 | ME | NT | 2000 | XP | Vista | Description |
| Alt + Tab | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Switch between open applications. |
| Alt + Shift + Tab | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Switch backwards between open applications. |
| Alt + double-click | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Display the properties of the object you double-click on. For example, doing this on a file would display its properties. |
| Ctrl + Tab | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Switches between program groups or document windows in applications that support this feature. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Same as above but backwards. |
| Alt + Print Screen | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Create a screen shot only for the program you are currently in. |
| Ctrl + Print Screen | | | | | | X | X | X | Creates a screen shot of the entire screen |
| Ctrl + Alt + Del | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Reboot the computer and/or bring up the Windows task manager. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | | | | | | X | X | X | Immediately bring up the Windows task manager. |
| Ctrl + Esc | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Bring up the Windows Start menu. In Windows 3.x this would bring up the Task Manager. |
| Alt + Esc | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Switch Between open applications on taskbar. |
| F1 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Activates help for current open application. |
| F2 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Renames selected Icon. |
| F3 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Starts find from desktop. |
| F4 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Opens the drive selection when browsing. |
| F5 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Refresh Contents to where you were on the page. |
| Ctrl + F5 | | | | | | | | X | Refreshes page to the beginning of the page. |
| F10 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Activates menu bar. |
| Shift + F10 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Simulates right-click on selected item. |
| F4 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Select a different location to browse in the Windows Explorer toolbar. |
| Alt + F4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Closes Current open program. |
| Ctrl + F4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Closes Window in Program. |
| F6 | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Move cursor to different Windows Explorer |
| Alt + Space bar | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Drops down the window control menu. |
| Ctrl + (the '+' key on the keypad) | | | X | X | X | X | X | X | Automatically adjust the widths of all the columns in Windows explorer |
| Alt + Enter | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Opens properties window of selected icon or program. |
| Alt + Space bar | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Open the control menu for the current window open. |
| Shift + Del | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Delete programs/files without throwing them into the recycle bin. |
| Holding Shift | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Boot Safe Mode or by pass system files as the computer is booting. |
| Holding Shift | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | When putting in an audio CD, will prevent CD Player from playing. |
| 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. |
| * (on the keypad) | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Expands all folders on the currently selected folder or drive in Windows Explorer. |
| + (on the keypad) | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Expands only the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer. |
| - (on the keypad) | | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | Collapses the currently selected folder in Windows Explorer. |
