Windows XP Keyboard Shortcuts: Complete List (with Free PDF)
Windows XP keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that do common tasks without a mouse. The most useful ones are Ctrl + C (copy), Ctrl + V (paste), Alt + Tab (switch windows), Windows + D (show desktop), Windows + L (lock the computer), Windows + R (Run dialog) and Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Task Manager). Most of them still work in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Windows XP was released on October 25, 2001, and Microsoft ended extended support on April 8, 2014. It still runs on factory machines, point-of-sale terminals, lab equipment, virtual machines and retro PCs. It also still appears in computer awareness sections of exams like NIELIT CCC, IBPS and SSC.
This guide lists every built-in Windows XP shortcut, grouped by where you use it. You will also find which shortcuts changed in Windows 11, how to make your own shortcut keys, fixes for shortcuts that stop working, and a free printable PDF.
Download the Windows XP Shortcuts PDF
Top 15 Windows XP Shortcuts Everyone Should Know
If you learn only 15 shortcuts, learn these. They cover copying, switching windows, finding files and recovering from a frozen program.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item or text |
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item or text |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active window or quit the program |
| F2 | Rename the selected file or folder |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder |
| Shift + Delete | Delete permanently without sending to the Recycle Bin |
| Windows + D | Show the desktop (press again to restore windows) |
| Windows + E | Open My Computer |
| Windows + L | Lock the computer or switch users |
| Windows + R | Open the Run dialog box |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager directly |
Tip: in Windows XP, Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the safest way to reach Task Manager. Ctrl + Alt + Delete only opens Task Manager when the Welcome screen is turned on (see the FAQ below).
General Windows XP Shortcuts
These work almost everywhere in Windows XP: on the desktop, in My Computer and in most programs.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo |
| Ctrl + A | Select all |
| Delete | Delete the selected item (moves it to the Recycle Bin) |
| Shift + Delete | Delete the selected item permanently |
| Ctrl while dragging an item | Copy the item instead of moving it |
| Ctrl + Shift while dragging an item | Create a shortcut to the item |
| Shift + any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop |
| F1 | Open Help for the active program |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder |
| F4 | Show the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| F5 | Refresh the active window |
| F6 | Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active program |
| Alt + Enter | Open Properties for the selected item |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active item or quit the active program |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the System menu (Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Close) for the active window |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document in programs that allow several documents open |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open programs |
| Alt + Esc | Cycle through programs in the order they were opened |
| Shift + F10 | Open the right-click menu for the selected item |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open the Start menu (useful on keyboards without a Windows key) |
| Alt + underlined letter in a menu name | Open that menu |
| Underlined letter in an open menu | Run that command |
| Right Arrow | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
| Left Arrow | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
| Backspace | Go up one folder level in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
| Esc | Cancel the current task |
| Shift while inserting a CD | Stop the CD from playing automatically |
| Print Screen | Copy an image of the whole screen to the clipboard |
| Alt + Print Screen | Copy an image of the active window only |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager |
| Ctrl + Alt + Delete | Open Task Manager (Welcome screen on) or the Windows Security dialog (classic logon or domain PC) |
Windows Logo Key Shortcuts in Windows XP
Microsoft called these “Natural Keyboard” shortcuts because they need the Windows logo key, which first appeared on the Microsoft Natural Keyboard. No Windows key? Use Ctrl + Esc to open the Start menu.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Windows | Open or close the Start menu |
| Windows + D | Show the desktop, press again to restore windows |
| Windows + M | Minimize all windows |
| Windows + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows |
| Windows + E | Open My Computer |
| Windows + F | Search for files or folders |
| Ctrl + Windows + F | Search for computers on the network |
| Windows + R | Open the Run dialog box |
| Windows + L | Lock the computer, or switch users when Fast User Switching is on |
| Windows + Break (Pause) | Open the System Properties dialog box |
| Windows + U | Open Utility Manager (Magnifier, Narrator, On-Screen Keyboard) |
| Windows + F1 | Open Windows Help and Support |
| Windows + Tab | Cycle through the buttons on the taskbar |
| Windows + B | Move focus to the notification area (system tray) |
Tip: Windows + R combined with a command like notepad, calc or msconfig is the fastest way to open tools in XP. See our Windows Run commands guide.
Windows Explorer and My Computer Shortcuts
Use these in Windows Explorer, especially when the Folders pane (tree view) is open on the left.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Home | Jump to the top of the active window |
| End | Jump to the bottom of the active window |
| Right Arrow | Expand the selected folder, or select its first subfolder |
| Left Arrow | Collapse the selected folder, or select its parent folder |
| Num Lock + * (asterisk) | Show every subfolder under the selected folder |
| Num Lock + + (plus) | Show the contents of the selected folder |
| Num Lock + – (minus) | Collapse the selected folder |
| Backspace | Go up one folder level |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Go back to the previous folder |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Go forward |
| F4 | Open the Address bar drop-down list |
| F5 | Refresh the folder contents |
| F6 or Tab | Move between the Folders pane, file list and Address bar |
| Ctrl + click | Select several individual files |
| Shift + click | Select a continuous range of files |
Dialog Box Shortcuts
These work in any Windows XP dialog box, such as Display Properties, Open, Save As or Print.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move forward through tabs |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move backward through tabs |
| Tab | Move forward through options |
| Shift + Tab | Move backward through options |
| Alt + underlined letter | Run the command or select the option with that letter |
| Enter | Run the command for the active option or button |
| Spacebar | Tick or clear the active check box |
| Arrow keys | Select a button within a group of option buttons |
| F1 | Show Help |
| F4 | Show the items in the active drop-down list |
| Backspace | Open the folder one level up in the Open or Save As dialog |
| Esc | Close the dialog without saving changes |
Text Editing Shortcuts (Notepad, WordPad and Text Boxes)
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the start of the next word |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the start of the previous word |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Move the cursor to the start of the next paragraph |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Move the cursor to the start of the previous paragraph |
| Shift + any arrow key | Select text one character or line at a time |
| Ctrl + Shift + any arrow key | Select a block of text (word or paragraph at a time) |
| Home / End | Move to the start or end of the line |
| Shift + Home / Shift + End | Select to the start or end of the line |
| Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End | Move to the start or end of the document |
Curious what Undo really does? Read our guide on what Ctrl + Z is used for.
Accessibility Shortcuts (StickyKeys, FilterKeys, High Contrast)
These turn accessibility features on or off. Each one shows a confirmation box first.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Shift five times | Turn StickyKeys on or off (press Ctrl, Shift, Alt one at a time) |
| Right Shift for eight seconds | Turn FilterKeys on or off (ignores brief or repeated keystrokes) |
| Num Lock for five seconds | Turn ToggleKeys on or off (beeps when Caps, Num or Scroll Lock is pressed) |
| Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock | Turn MouseKeys on or off (move the pointer with the number pad) |
| Left Alt + Left Shift + Print Screen | Turn High Contrast on or off |
| Windows + U | Open Utility Manager |
Internet Explorer 6 Shortcuts
Windows XP ships with Internet Explorer 6, which has no tabs (tabs arrived in IE7). So Ctrl + N opens a new window, not a new tab.
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Alt + Left Arrow or Backspace | Go back |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Go forward |
| Alt + Home | Go to your home page |
| F5 or Ctrl + R | Refresh the page |
| Ctrl + F5 | Refresh and reload the page from the server |
| Esc | Stop loading the page |
| F11 | Toggle full-screen mode |
| Alt + D | Select the Address bar |
| F4 | Open the Address bar history list |
| Ctrl + Enter | Add www. and .com around what you typed in the Address bar |
| Ctrl + D | Add the current page to Favorites |
| Ctrl + B | Open the Organize Favorites dialog box |
| Ctrl + I | Open the Favorites bar |
| Ctrl + H | Open the History bar |
| Ctrl + E | Open the Search bar |
| Ctrl + F | Find text on the page |
| Ctrl + L or Ctrl + O | Open the Open dialog box (type a web address) |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new window with the same page |
| Ctrl + S | Save the page |
| Ctrl + P | Print the page |
| Ctrl + W | Close the window |
| Tab / Shift + Tab | Move forward or backward through links |
Notepad Shortcuts in Windows XP
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + N | New file |
| Ctrl + O | Open a file |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + P | |
| Ctrl + F | Find |
| F3 | Find next |
| Ctrl + H | Replace |
| Ctrl + G | Go to a line number (only when Word Wrap is off) |
| F5 | Insert the current time and date |
Example: type .LOG on the first line of a Notepad file and save it. Every time you open it, Notepad adds the date and time at the end, which makes a simple work diary.
Remote Desktop Connection Shortcuts
Windows XP Professional includes Remote Desktop. Inside a remote session, some normal shortcuts are caught by your own PC, so XP uses these replacements.
| Shortcut | What it does on the remote PC | Normal equivalent |
| Ctrl + Alt + End | Open the Windows Security dialog | Ctrl + Alt + Delete |
| Alt + Page Up | Switch programs left to right | Alt + Tab |
| Alt + Page Down | Switch programs right to left | Alt + Shift + Tab |
| Alt + Insert | Cycle programs in the order last used | Alt + Esc |
| Alt + Home | Open the Start menu | Windows key |
| Alt + Delete | Open the window’s System menu | Alt + Spacebar |
| Ctrl + Alt + Break | Switch between window and full screen | None |
| Ctrl + Alt + Minus (number pad) | Copy the active window to the remote clipboard | Alt + Print Screen |
| Ctrl + Alt + Plus (number pad) | Copy the whole remote screen to the remote clipboard | Print Screen |
Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Shortcuts
MMC hosts admin tools such as Computer Management, Device Manager, Event Viewer and Services.
Main window
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + O | Open a saved console |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new console |
| Ctrl + S | Save the console |
| Ctrl + M | Add or remove a snap-in |
| Ctrl + W | Open a new window |
| F5 | Refresh all console windows |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the MMC window menu |
| Alt + F4 | Close the console |
| Alt + A | Open the Action menu |
| Alt + V | Open the View menu |
| Alt + F | Open the File menu |
| Alt + O | Open the Favorites menu |
Console window
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Ctrl + P | Print the current page or active pane |
| Alt + Minus | Open the menu for the active console window |
| Shift + F10 | Open the right-click menu for the selected item |
| F1 | Open Help for the selected item |
| Alt + Enter | Open Properties for the selected item |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| Ctrl + F10 | Maximize the active console window |
| Ctrl + F5 | Restore the active console window |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active console window |
Character Map Shortcuts
Open Character Map with Windows + R, type charmap, then press Enter. Click any character in the grid, then use:
| Shortcut | What it does |
| Right Arrow | Move right, or to the start of the next line |
| Left Arrow | Move left, or to the end of the previous line |
| Up Arrow / Down Arrow | Move up or down one row |
| Page Up / Page Down | Move up or down one screen |
| Home / End | Move to the start or end of the row |
| Ctrl + Home | Move to the first character |
| Ctrl + End | Move to the last character |
| Spacebar | Switch between enlarged and normal view of the selected character |
Prefer typing symbols directly? See our full list of Alt codes for symbols.
Do Windows XP Shortcuts Work in Windows 10 and 11?
Yes, most of them do. Clipboard, Alt + Tab, Alt + F4, F2, Ctrl + Shift + Esc, Windows + D, Windows + L, Windows + M and Windows + R behave the same today. The shortcuts below are the ones that changed.
| Shortcut | Windows XP | Windows 10 and 11 |
| Windows + E | Opens My Computer | Opens File Explorer |
| Windows + F | Searches for files and folders | Opens Feedback Hub |
| Windows + U | Opens Utility Manager | Opens Accessibility (Ease of Access) settings |
| Windows + Tab | Cycles through taskbar buttons | Opens Task View |
| Windows + Break | Opens System Properties | Opens Settings, System, About |
| Windows + F1 | Opens Help and Support | Opens a web search for Windows help |
| Backspace in Explorer | Goes up one folder | Goes back (use Alt + Up Arrow to go up) |
| Ctrl + Alt + Delete | Task Manager or Windows Security dialog | Security options screen (Lock, Switch user, Sign out, Task Manager) |
| Ctrl + N in the browser | New IE6 window | New window (Ctrl + T opens a tab) |
Shortcuts that do not exist in Windows XP. People often try these on XP and think the keyboard is broken:
| Shortcut | Added in | What it does in newer Windows |
| Windows + Arrow keys | Windows 7 | Snap or maximize windows |
| Windows + number | Windows 7 | Open the program pinned to that taskbar position |
| Windows + X | Windows 8 | Open the Quick Link (power user) menu |
| Windows + I | Windows 8 | Open Settings |
| Windows + Shift + S | Windows 10 | Take a screenshot of an area |
| Windows + V | Windows 10 | Open clipboard history |
| Windows + . (period) | Windows 10 | Open the emoji panel |
On XP, use Print Screen or Alt + Print Screen and paste into Paint instead of Windows + Shift + S.
How to Create Your Own Shortcut Key in Windows XP
Windows XP lets you open any program with a key combination you choose. It works for shortcuts on the desktop or in the Start menu.
- Right-click the program’s shortcut on the desktop or in the Start menu and choose Properties.
- Open the Shortcut tab.
- Click inside the Shortcut key box.
- Press a letter or number. XP adds Ctrl + Alt automatically, so pressing N gives Ctrl + Alt + N.
- Click OK. Press your new combination from anywhere to launch the program.
To remove it, open the same box and press Backspace. Avoid combinations a program already uses.
Download the Windows XP Shortcuts PDF
Get every shortcut on this page as a printable cheat sheet. Keep it next to a legacy PC, or use it to revise for your exam.
Download Windows XP Shortcuts PDF
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to lock Windows XP?
Press Windows + L. If Fast User Switching is on, it shows the Welcome screen. On domain PCs it shows the Computer Locked screen.
How do I open Task Manager in Windows XP?
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Ctrl + Alt + Delete also opens it when the Welcome screen is enabled.
Why does Ctrl + Alt + Delete open a Windows Security box instead of Task Manager?
Your PC uses the classic logon screen or is joined to a domain. In that mode, Ctrl + Alt + Delete opens Windows Security, and you click Task Manager from there.
How do I take a screenshot in Windows XP?
Press Print Screen for the whole screen or Alt + Print Screen for the active window. Then open Paint and press Ctrl + V to paste and save it.
What is the shortcut for Show Desktop in Windows XP?
Press Windows + D. Press it again to bring your windows back. Windows + M also minimizes everything.
What does Windows + Break do in Windows XP?
It opens System Properties, where you can see your XP edition, service pack, processor and RAM.
How do I turn off StickyKeys in Windows XP?
Press Shift five times and choose Cancel, or go to Control Panel, Accessibility Options, Keyboard. Clear Use StickyKeys, then open its Settings and clear Use shortcut.
Do Windows XP shortcuts work in Windows 11?
Most do. Windows + E, F, U, Tab and Break now do different things, and Backspace in File Explorer goes back instead of up. See the comparison table above.
How do I open the Start menu without a Windows key?
Press Ctrl + Esc. It works in Windows XP and every later version.
Can I create custom shortcut keys in Windows XP?
Yes. Open a program shortcut’s Properties, click the Shortcut key box and press a letter. XP sets it as Ctrl + Alt + that letter.
Key Takeaways
- Windows XP has 150+ built-in shortcuts across general use, Explorer, dialog boxes, accessibility, Internet Explorer, Remote Desktop and MMC.
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the most reliable way to open Task Manager on XP.
- Windows + L, D, M and R work exactly the same in Windows 11.
- Windows + E, F, U, Tab and Break changed meaning after XP.
- Snap (Windows + Arrow), Windows + Shift + S and Windows + V do not exist in XP.
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