Windows XP Pocket Reference

Keyboard Accelerators Listed by Key

The following keystrokes work in Windows Explorer and most of the components that come with Windows XP. However, some applications (including Microsoft applications) don't always follow the rules.

Key	Action
F1	Start Help (supported in most applications)
F2	Rename selected icon or file in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop
F3	Open a Search window (in Windows Explorer or on the Desktop only)
F4	Open a drop-down list (supported in many dialog boxes)—for example, press F4 in a File Open dialog to drop down the Look In list
F5	Refresh the view in Windows Explorer, on the Desktop, in the Registry Editor, and in some other applications
F6	Move focus between panes in Windows Explorer
F10	Send focus to the current application's menu
Arrow keys	Basic navigation: move through menus, reposition the text cursor (insertion point), change the file selection, and so on
Backspace	Move up one level in folder hierarchy (Windows Explorer only)
Delete	Delete selected item(s) or selected text
Down Arrow	Open a drop-down listbox
End	Go to end of line when editing text, or end of file list
Enter	Activate highlighted choice in menu or dialog box, or insert a carriage return when editing text
Esc	Close dialog box, message window, or menu without activating any choice (usually the same as clicking Cancel)
Home	Go to beginning of line (when editing text), or beginning of file list
Page Down	Scroll down one screen
Page Up	Scroll ...