File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

Every one of File Explorer's 268 keyboard shortcuts, collected so you can browse files on windows faster

File Explorer is a file management application developed by Microsoft. It lets users browse files on windows with a professional-grade toolset.

For File Explorer users, mastering keyboard shortcuts is one of the fastest ways to boost productivity. Quick access to tools and commands keeps the creative flow unbroken.

Since File Explorer runs solely on Windows, every shortcut listed here is specific to that operating system.

Windows

268 shortcuts 10 categories

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Copilot 1 shortcut

Open Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot. If Copilot isn't available, it will open Settings

Copilot key

File Explorer 44 shortcuts

Select the address bar.

Alt +D

Display properties for the selected item. / Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item.

Alt +Enter

Navigate to the previous folder. / View the previous folder.

Alt +Left

Navigate to the previous folder. / View the previous folder.

Backspace

When you drop the file, create a shortcut to the original file in that location.

Alt +mouse drag a file

Show or hide the preview pane. / Display the preview panel.

Alt +P

View the next folder.

Alt +Right

Show or hide the details pane.

Alt +Shift +P

Move up a level in the folder path. / View the folder that the folder was in.

Alt +Up

Select multiple individual items.

Ctrl +Arrow key (to move to an item) +Space

Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.

Ctrl +D

Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.

Delete

Select the search box.

Ctrl +E

Select the search box.

Ctrl +F

Focus on the address bar.

Ctrl +L

When you drop the file, create a copy in that location.

Ctrl +mouse drag a file

Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.

Ctrl +mouse scroll wheel

Open a new window.

Ctrl +N

Move to that tab number.

Ctrl +Number (1-9)

Resize all columns to fit text.

Ctrl +Plus (+)"

Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane. / Display all folders above the selected folder.

Ctrl +Shift +E

Create a new folder.

Ctrl +Shift +N

Change the view style. For example, 2 is Large icons and 6 is Details.

Ctrl +Shift +Number (1-9)

Move to the previous tab.

Ctrl +Shift +Tab

Open a new tab and switch to it.

Ctrl +T

Closes the active tab. Closes the window if there's only one tab open. / Close the active window.

Ctrl +W

Move to the next tab.

Ctrl +Tab

Scroll to the bottom of the active window. / Display the bottom of the active window.

End

Rename the selected item.

F2

Search for a file or folder.

F3

Select the address bar to change the current path.

F4

Refresh the window.

F5

Cycle through elements in the window.

F6

Maximize or minimize the active window.

F11

Scroll to the top of the active window. / Display the top of the active window.

Home

Collapse the current selection (if it's expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.

Left

Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder.

Right

Select multiple items.

Shift +Arrow keys

Permanently delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin.

Shift +Delete

Display the context menu for the selected item.

Shift +F10

When you drop the file, move it to that location.

Shift +mouse drag a file

Display the Show more options context menu for the selected item.

Shift +mouse right-click

Display all subfolders under the selected folder. / Display the contents of the selected folder.

NumLock ++

Collapse the selected folder.

NumLock +-

Text Editing 45 shortcuts

Delete characters to the left of the cursor

Backspace

Select all text

Ctrl +A Ctrl +A

Apply the bold format to the selected text

Ctrl +B Ctrl +B

Delete words to the left of the cursor

Ctrl +Backspace

Copy the selected text

Ctrl +C +Insert Ctrl +C

Delete words to the right of the cursor

Ctrl +Delete

Move the cursor forward to the beginning of the next paragraph

Ctrl +Down Ctrl +Down

Move the cursor forward to the end of the document

Ctrl +End Ctrl +End

Find text

Ctrl +F Ctrl +F

Find and replace text

Ctrl +H Ctrl +H

Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the document

Ctrl +Home Ctrl +Home

Apply the italic format to the selected text

Ctrl +I Ctrl +I

Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous word

Ctrl +Left Ctrl +Left

Move the cursor forward to the beginning of the next word

Ctrl +Right Ctrl +Right

Paste as plain text

Ctrl +Shift +V

Apply the underline format to the selected text

Ctrl +U Ctrl +U

Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous paragraph

Ctrl +Up Ctrl +Up

Paste the last item from the clipboard

Ctrl +Shift +V +Insert Ctrl +V

Cut the selected text

Ctrl +X Ctrl +X

Redo typing that was undone with Ctrl + Z

Ctrl +Y Ctrl +Y

Undo the last typing

Ctrl +Z Ctrl +Z

Delete characters to the right of the cursor

Delete

Move the cursor forward to the next line

Down

Move the cursor forward to the end of the line

End

Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the line

Home

Move the cursor backward to the previous character

Left

Move the cursor forward by one page

PageDown +PageDown

Move the cursor backward by one page

PageUp +PageUp

Move the cursor forward to the next character

Right

Select paragraphs forward from the current cursor position

Ctrl +Shift +Down

Select text between the current cursor position and the end of the document

Ctrl +Shift +End

Select text between the current cursor position and the beginning of the document

Ctrl +Shift +Home

Select words backward from the current cursor position

Ctrl +Shift +Left

Select words forward from the current cursor position

Ctrl +Shift +Right

Select paragraphs backward the current cursor position

Ctrl +Shift +Up

Select lines forward from the current cursor position

Shift +Down

Select text from the current cursor position to the end of the current line

Shift +End

Select text from the current cursor position to the beginning of the current line

Shift +Home

Select characters backward from the current cursor position

Shift +Left

Select one page of text forward from the current cursor position

Shift +PageDown

Select one page of text backward from the current cursor position

Shift +PageUp

Select characters forward from the current cursor position

Shift +Right

Select lines backward from the current cursor position

Shift +Up

Indent the cursor one tab stop

Tab

Move the cursor backward to the previous line

Up

General Windows 30 shortcuts

Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu

Alt +A

Cycle through windows in the order in which they were opened

Alt +Esc

Close the active window. If no windows are open, prompt to shutdown

Alt +F4

Show your password on the sign-in screen

Alt +F8

Go back

Alt +Left

Move down one screen

Alt +PageDown

Move up one screen

Alt +PageUp

Capture a screenshot of the active window and copy it to the clipboard

Alt +PrtScn

Go forward

Alt +Right

When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction

Alt +Shift +Up +Down +Left +Right

Open the context menu for the active window

Alt +Space

Switch between open windows. To cycle through multiple windows, continue to hold the Alt key and press Tab multiple times

Alt +Tab

For actions in command or context menus, some windows and apps specify keyboard shortcuts by underlining a character in the action name. Press Alt and then the letter to do that action

Alt +A-Z

Select all items in a window

Ctrl +A Ctrl +A

Switch to the security screen where you can lock the desktop, switch user, sign out, change a password, or open Task Manager

Ctrl +Alt +Delete

View a thumbnail of all open apps. Use the arrow keys to switch between open apps

Ctrl +Alt +Tab

Open the Start menu

Ctrl +Esc

In apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time, close the active document but not the entire app

Ctrl +F4

Refresh the current window

Ctrl +F5 +R

When multiple keyboard layouts are available, switch the keyboard layout

Ctrl +Shift

When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder

Ctrl +Shift +Down +Left +Right +Up

Open Task Manager

Ctrl +Shift +Esc

Enable or disable the Chinese input method editor (IME)

Ctrl +Space

Redo an action that was previously undone with Ctrl + Z

Ctrl +Y Ctrl +Y

Undo the previous action

Ctrl +Z Ctrl +Z

Stop or leave the current task, or dismiss a dialog box

Esc

Refresh the active window

F5

Cycle through elements in a window or on the desktop

F6

Activate the menu bar in the active window

F10

Select a region of the screen to capture a screenshot to the clipboard. You can then open the [Snipping Tool](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/use-snipping-tool-to-capture-screenshots-00246869-1843-655f-f220-97299b865f6b) to share or markup the image. **Note:** You can turn off this default behavior. Select **Start****Settings****Accessibility****Keyboard****Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping** to **Off**.

PrtScn +PrintScreen

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General 86 shortcuts

Open the sound output page, which includes settings for the output device, spatial sound, and the volume mixer.

Windows key

Cut the selected item

Ctrl +X

Copy the selected item

Ctrl +C

Copy the selected item

Ctrl +Insert

Paste the selected item

Ctrl +V

Paste the selected item

Shift +Insert

Undo an action

Ctrl +Z

Switch between open apps

Alt +Tab

Close the active item, or exit the active app

Alt +F4

Lock your PC

Windows key +L

Display and hide the desktop

Windows key +D

Rename the selected item

F2

Search for a file or folder in File Explorer

F3

Display the address bar list in File Explorer

F4

Refresh the active window

F5

Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop

F6

Activate the Menu bar in the active app

F10

Show your password on the sign-in screen

Alt +F8

Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened

Alt +Esc