This article was published in 2011 and updated in October 2026.
Imagine you’re in the middle of an important document and your mouse or touchpad suddenly stops working. Don’t panic — you can do almost everything in Windows with the keyboard alone. Here are the most useful keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11 and 10, plus a few tricks to get your mouse working again.
Navigate without a mouse
- Tab / Shift + Tab — move to the next / previous button, field or link
- Arrow keys — move within menus, lists and files
- Enter — open or confirm; Space — tick a checkbox or press a button
- Esc — cancel or close a menu
- Shift + F10 or the Menu key — open the right-click menu
- Alt — show the menu bar or ribbon shortcuts in many programs
Windows shortcuts
- Windows key — open the Start menu; just start typing to search for an app or file
- Alt + Tab — switch between open windows
- Windows + D — show the desktop
- Windows + E — open File Explorer
- Windows + I — open Settings
- Windows + S — search
- Windows + L — lock the computer
- Windows + X, then U, then U — shut down (Alt + F4 on the desktop also opens the shutdown dialog)
Editing shortcuts
- Ctrl + S — save
- Ctrl + O — open an existing file; Ctrl + N — new document or window
- Ctrl + C / Ctrl + X / Ctrl + V — copy / cut / paste
- Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y — undo / redo
- Ctrl + A — select all; Shift + arrow keys — select text
- Ctrl + B / Ctrl + I / Ctrl + U — bold / italic / underline
- Ctrl + L / Ctrl + E / Ctrl + R — align left / center / right (in Word and many editors)
- Ctrl + F — find
Browser shortcuts
- Ctrl + T — new tab; Ctrl + W — close tab; Ctrl + Shift + T — reopen closed tab
- Ctrl + Tab — next tab
- Ctrl + L, Alt + D or F6 — jump to the address bar
- Tab to move between links, Enter to open one
Control the pointer with the keyboard: Mouse Keys
If you really need a pointer, Windows can move it with the numeric keypad. Press Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock and confirm to turn on Mouse Keys (or enable it under Settings → Accessibility → Mouse). Then use the number keys to move the pointer and 5 to click.
Getting your mouse working again
- Wireless mouse: replace or recharge the batteries, check the on/off switch and plug the USB receiver into a different port.
- Bluetooth mouse: turn Bluetooth off and on again, or remove and re-pair the mouse in Settings → Bluetooth & devices.
- Laptop touchpad: many laptops have a key (often Fn + an F key) that turns the touchpad on and off — it may have been switched off by accident.
- Restart the computer: press Ctrl + Alt + Del, then use Tab and the arrow keys to reach the power button.
Once you get used to these shortcuts, you’ll probably keep using them even when your mouse works — they’re often much faster.
Suggested reading: Tips for buying a laptop · Buying a gaming notebook · Slow internet connection: possible reasons
TechCrates
Apr 11. 2011
Thats real nice Salman.. knew the basic shortcuts, but the many of them are new to me.. thks
admin
Apr 12. 2011
You’re welcome ….:-)
Tony
Apr 12. 2011
Its helpful and useful. However, I think we can’t remember all of them.
admin
Apr 12. 2011
Exactly…remembering all the shortcuts is quite hard…But shared here are just basics that are easy to remember 🙂
Anup
Apr 13. 2011
These shortcuts seems very useful. Specially I was searching for windows shortcut key.
admin
Apr 13. 2011
Good to know that you find it useful … 🙂
divas
Apr 15. 2011
I’ve learned many new shortcuts – search,aligning,switching tabs…
Thanks!
admin
Apr 15. 2011
Good to know that ….. 🙂 and thanks for stopping by !!
Madras Geek
Apr 16. 2011
well written .. Bookmarked, useful one.
admin
Apr 17. 2011
Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
international hifu
Oct 12. 2011
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB is a shortcut for going back to your previous tab.
admin
Oct 12. 2011
yeah … alternatively you can also use the combination of ctrl and any num key to go that tab .. Ex. ctrl + 2 takes to 2 tab
Natalie
Mar 10. 2013
Ctrl + N is new document or file I think.. Is it??
jay
Jun 27. 2020
I am so exhausted of every short cut that someone programs in to turn mice off, change the language of the computer, etc.
TLDR: Dell laptop, F6 turns the touchpad off. Like I needed a quick short cut for that.
I am just so tired of accidentally hitting a short cut and searching for answers, where everyone responds about system restores and updating drivers, and all kinds of ridiculous and excessive fixes.
AGAIN: I accidentally hit F6, had to tab through web pages for an answer, and then noticed the F6 key had an icon like a touchpad on it. Mouse is now working. Until the next quick shortcut I accidentally hit.