Windows 7 Cheat Sheet | Keyboard Shortcuts | Hotkeys

From Desktop

Windows Key + Tab : Aero
[press Tab to cycle between
Windows]

Windows Key + E : Windows Explorer is launched.

Windows Key + R : Run
Command is launched.

Windows Key + F : Search
(which is there in previous Windows versions too)

Windows Key + X : Mobility Center

Windows Key + L : Lock Computer (It is there from the earlier versions as well)

Windows Key + U : Launches Ease of Access

Windows Key + P : Projector

Windows Key + T : Cycle Super Taskbar Items

Windows Key + S : OneNote Screen Clipping Tool
[requires OneNote]

Windows Key + M : Minimize All Windows

Windows Key + D : Show/Hide Desktop

Windows Key + Up :
Maximize Current Window

Windows Key + Down :Restore Down/Minimize
Current Windows

Windows Key + Left : Tile Current Window to the Left

Windows Key + Right : Tile Current Windows to the Right
[Continue pressing the Left and Right keys to rotate the window as well]

Windows Key + # (# is any number) : Quickly Launch a
new instance of the
application in the Nth slot on the taskbar. Example Win+1
launches first pinned app, Win+2 launches second, etc.

Windows Key + = : Launches the Magnifier

Windows Key + Plus : Zoom in

Windows Key + Minus : Zooms out

Windows Key + Space : Peek at the desktop 


From Windows Explorer

Alt + Up : Go up one level

Alt + Left/ Right : Back/Forward

Alt + P : Show/hide
Preview Pane


Task Modifiers

Shift + Click on icon :
Open a new instance

Middle click on icon :
Open a new instance

Ctrl + Shift + Click on
icon : Open a new instance with Admin privileges

Shift + Right-click on
icon : Show window menu (Restore / Minimize / Move /
etc). Note: Normally you can
just right-click on the
window thumbnail to get this menu.

Shift + Right-click on
grouped icon : Menu with Restore All / Minimize All /
Close All, etc.

Ctrl + Click on grouped
icon : Cycle between the windows (or tabs) in the group.


Though some of them are there in previous versions of Windows, Windows 7 has incorporated many of them and have started many fresh.