What does the ctrl function key do on the keyboard and what combinations are there with it? The most useful Windows keyboard shortcuts (hot keys) Hot keys return to previous page
Ctrl+C- a standard and frequently used keyboard shortcut when working on a computer for copying data to the Windows clipboard. To copy a certain fragment of text, tabular data, etc. to the clipboard, you must first select this fragment (as a rule, this is done by pressing and holding the left mouse button, after which the mouse is moved over the fragment that needs to be selected and the button is released).
To then copy the selected fragment to the clipboard, the user presses the Ctrl+C key combination, which requires pressing and holding the Ctrl key on the keyboard (far left in the bottom row), and then, without releasing it, pressing the C key, and then releasing both keys .
This action (along with pasting from the buffer - by clicking Ctrl+V) is often called copy-paste according to the words Copy+Paste - copying and pasting.
The use of the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C (for the “copy” command), Ctrl+V (for the “paste”), Ctrl+Z (“undo”), Ctrl+X (“cut”) was popularized by Apple in 1983-1984 .g., and then picked up by Microsoft.
other methods
There are other ways to copy data to the clipboard - from the context menu, from the main menu, toolbar, etc. but using the Ctrl+C key combination, this action is perhaps the fastest and most convenient. In some programs (for example, Inkscape), the combination does not work on the Russian keyboard layout, and then you have to use these alternatives.
The Ctrl-Insert key combination is also known, which in some programs performs the specified action.
Copying multiple objects at once
To select several fragments at once (for example, cells in a table, etc.), hold down the Ctrl key (to select individual objects) or the Shift key (to select a range of objects).
To select all the text at once, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+A.
For your convenience when working with a computer, useful keyboard shortcuts in Windows are provided:
- Ctrl + Alt + Delete - open the “Task Manager” or “Windows Security” window;
- Ctrl + Esc - open/close the Start menu;
- Ctrl + Z - undo (back);
- Ctrl + Y - undo (forward (cancel Ctrl + Z));
- Ctrl + A - select all;
- Ctrl + W - close a tab in a program or browser;
- Ctrl + T - open a new tab in the browser;
- Ctrl + N - open a new browser window, create a new document, project or similar action;
- Ctrl + Tab - move forward through program or browser tabs;
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab - move back through tabs;
- Ctrl + R - refresh (for example, a page in a browser);
- Ctrl + Backspace - delete a word (deletes to the left);
- Ctrl + Delete - delete a word (deletes to the right);
- Ctrl + Home (End) - move the cursor to the beginning (end) of the text;
- Ctrl + Up (Down) - vertical scrolling of text or moving up (down) paragraphs of text;
- Ctrl + F - search in the browser;
- Ctrl + D - add page to Favorites;
- Ctrl + I - Favorites panel;
- Ctrl + H – Journal;
- Ctrl + mouse wheel up (down) - increase (decrease) the size of the tab content in a program or browser (for example, if you need to increase/decrease the size of text, pictures, videos). In browsers, this operation can also be done using Ctrl + + and Ctrl + -, and Ctrl + 0 - return to the original size;
- Ctrl + LMB - Select several objects in random order.
- Alt + F4 - close the active window;
- Alt + Tab or Alt + Shift + Tab - switch between windows;
- ALT + D - select text in the browser address bar;
- Alt + Enter - call “Object properties”;
- Alt + Space - call the window system menu
- Alt left + Shift left + Num Lock - enable or disable pointer control from the keyboard;
- Alt left + Shift left + PRINT SCREEN - enable or disable high contrast.
- Shift + LMB - Select several adjacent objects;
- Shift + Ctrl + Home (End) - select to the beginning (end) of the text;
- Shift - Block CD-ROM autorun (hold while the drive reads the newly inserted disc);
- Shift + Delete Permanently deletes an object without placing it in the trash.
- Win + D - minimize/restore all windows, including dialog windows, i.e. show the Desktop;
- Win + E - open the Explorer program (My Computer folder);
- Win + R - open the “Run a program” window (“Start” --> “Run…”);
- Win + F - open a search window;
- Win + F1 - Open Windows Help;
- Win + L - lock the computer;
- Win + Pause/Break - opens the “System” window;
- Win + U - call the utility manager;
- Win + Tab - switch between application buttons in the taskbar. When adding Shift (Win + Shift + Tab), the search proceeds in the reverse order. To open the program window selected in this way, press Enter. In Windows 7, this combination enables the Aero Flip 3D feature.
- Print Screen - take a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard;
- Alt + Printscreen - take a screenshot of the current active program window to the clipboard;
- Backspace - Go one level up (back) in an explorer or browser window;
- Tab - Move forward through options in a program or browser window;
- Shift + Tab - Move backward through options.
- F2 - Rename the selected object;
- F5 - Refresh the explorer or browser window;
- F11 - full screen mode in the browser.
Note:
The Win key is located between the Ctrl and Alt keys on the left side (it has the Windows logo (the Start icon) on it.
The combination “key” + “key” means that you first press the first key, and then, while holding it, press the second. Same with the third one.
LMB - left mouse button.
Knowing hotkey combinations is extremely important for the modern user. And many people are interested in what happens if you press Ctrl+W. In fact, it is not so difficult to understand the dangers of this action. You can immediately note: nothing dangerous will happen. So just for fun, you can try to click on these buttons on the keyboard. And then you will know from your own experience what is about to happen. If such experiments are not to your liking, then it is better to read more about this combination.
Drive
Are you wondering what happens if you press Ctrl+W on your keyboard? Then do not be surprised by the sudden opening of the drive after the action has been performed. Sometimes this key combination helps control the DVD drive.
True, such cases are extremely rare. And often they are installed manually by the user. That is, by default, Ctrl+W has a different purpose. But for the future, know that sometimes it helps to open the drive. You never know, you will have to deal with some non-standard Windows settings.
Clear field
Sometimes you really want to know what happens if you press Ctrl+W while on the desktop in the operating system. But some are afraid to do this. For the sake of curiosity, take the suggested action. And see what happens.
What will you see? Nothing. No actions will take place on the computer. After all, this key combination is not intended for use in Windows by default. This means that in order to assign an action, you will have to use specialized programs. There are a lot of them, but the main thing is that you now know that the computer does not react at all to this combination of buttons on the keyboard. Why then do users tell each other: “Press Ctrl+W”? Is this just a way to scare unknowing people?
Browser
Not at all. In reality, there is still a small range of applications on a computer that will require such a combination. For example, this applies to browsers installed on the operating system. It's no secret that these utilities can be completely controlled using the keyboard.
What happens if you press Ctrl+W directly in the browser? Try to do this - the result will not be long in coming. Don't like to experiment? Then you should know in advance that this combination is used to close tabs. More precisely, it removes the selected page. If at the time of clicking you only had one tab open, the browser will close altogether.
Don't be alarmed, this is how it should be. Remember that Ctrl+W is not a scary combination or function at all. But try to remember what it means. Otherwise, you may accidentally close an important tab.
Games
True, there is one more point that is worth considering. What happens if you press Ctrl+W during a game? In fact, this is difficult to predict. But, as practice shows, in most cases, after the manipulations performed, your character will run away.
In some games, Ctrl+W has a special meaning. And you can use it to control your character comfortably. As already mentioned, the meaning “Run” is often found. Somewhat less often - “Sight”.
In general, it’s difficult to predict what Ctrl+W is responsible for in the game. It's better to look at the settings and remember them. As you can see, there is nothing dangerous. But there are exceptions.
Infection
Sometimes, however, there are cases when pressing Ctrl+W is dangerous for the operating system. For example, if your computer is infected. And with all this, you are given a message that to close, say, a banner, you need to press Ctrl+W. In this case, the Trojan will be activated. And, as a result, you will lose all control over the computer.
But this rarely happens. Basically, such a combination on the keyboard does not pose any danger. Click on it and you will see how your computer will remain safe and sound.
Hi all. Dmitry Kostin is with you, and no matter how strange it may sound, today I will tell you what the ctrl key does on the keyboard, and also show you the most useful key combinations where this button is involved. Go!
What is the ctrl key for?
Ctrl(control) is a special system key that was originally intended for entering controlled characters. You don’t even have to worry about what it is, since today we no longer use it as originally intended.
Now Ctrl is used only in conjunction with other keys to give the system various commands. And we will look at these same commands today.
This key is a mandatory attribute on keyboards, unless, of course, you have a regular computer or laptop. But if you use Apple computers or MacBooks, then you will never find Ctrl there. The fact is that on Apple products these same functions are performed by the command button.
Keyboard shortcuts
Well, now let's look at the keys that work in combination with CTRL. And let's see what beneficial effect they give. In fact, there are many hotkeys, and they work not only in dialog boxes, but also in documents and the browser.
C | Copy an object or text |
X | Cutting an object or text |
V | Inserting an object or text |
Mouse wheel up and down | Enlarge/reduce desktop icons |
ESC | Open START menu |
Alt+Delete | Calling Windows Task Manager |
A | Select all content (For example, all files in a folder, or all text in a document) |
N | Create a new document/open a new browser tab |
S | Saving a document |
O | Opening a document |
P | Print a document (Word, PDF and others) |
F | Find part of the text of a document or file in Explorer |
Z | Undo last action |
Mouse click | Select multiple objects in any order |
Drag an object | Copy (for example a file) |
F4 | Closing the active document (useful when working in multiple windows) |
Arrow up/down | Move through paragraphs in a document |
Tab | Move forward through browser tabs |
Shift+Tab | Move back through browser tabs |
By the way, if you remember, in one of the articles I talked about... So, if you want to do this for shortcuts on the desktop, then the ctrl button together with the alt must be involved in this process.
As you can see, ctrl is in no way inferior in usefulness, which we discussed earlier. I'll even tell you more. This is not even a complete list of combinations. I just chose the most necessary ones. But they will just let you understand the purpose of the control key.
Well, this is where I will end my article. I hope that it was useful to you and that you learned something new from it. And I say goodbye to you for today. Come back tomorrow! I'll be looking forward to seeing you.
Best regards, Dmitry Kostin.
Probably, every user on his way to the heights of computer mastery asks the questions: How can I speed up the system? How to make work more comfortable? And here numerous “registry tweaks”, tweaks, boosters and optimizers come into play. Some users, caught up in this process, even gain the very valuable experience of reinstalling a system that has been optimized to death.
But now let's leave such entertainment for a while and try to look at the problem from the other side. Completely different. For example, two people have cars (no, not Pentiums or Athlones, but the cars they drive). These two people get behind the wheel and race. And it turns out that one of them drives faster. You can, of course, say that his car is more powerful. But let's put them behind the same cars. Somebody will go faster anyway. Because he CAN drive fast. It’s the same with those machines that are computers. Someone barely presses the buttons, performing one useful action in five minutes. And for some, their fingers simply flutter over the keyboard, windows on the screen change at such a speed that less experienced users do not even have time to understand what is happening.
So, we conclude: in order to increase the productivity of your communication with a computer, you need to master the means of this very communication. What means do we have? Mouse and keyboard. There are not so many buttons on the mouse, and their purpose is immediately clear. But the keyboard... A bunch of keys, usually 105 or 106, and if everything is clear with letters and numbers, then with the rest of the keys it’s not so simple. But there are also key combinations! Even an advanced user may not know some of the secrets here.
Let's say right away that any self-respecting computer scientist should master the ten-finger touch typing method. Why so categorical? Simple arithmetic: how many times a day do you have to press keys on your keyboard? We can assume that quite a lot, even if you do not type several sheets of text, but limit yourself to typing Internet addresses in your favorite browser or entering a network password. Count how much time you spend looking down at the keyboard, finding the right key, placing your finger on it and pressing it. Now imagine how much shorter this procedure will be if you don’t have to look at the keyboard and search for the right key. To train a blind ten-finger finger, it takes a week or two of daily lessons for several hours. And for the rest of your life, you will gain the ability to work with a keyboard much faster and, undoubtedly, more comfortably than before. Draw your own conclusions.
Now let's figure out WHAT you need to press, or, simply put, what key combinations there are and what you can do with them. Windows Help says: "When using Windows, use keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse. Using keyboard shortcuts, you can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, the desktop, various menus and dialog boxes, and web pages. Using shortcuts keys will make it easier to interact with the computer." And this is undoubtedly the truth.
Now let's finally get down to business and start studying these very combinations. The first table shows the most commonly used ones. If you still don't use them, get them on board immediately.
Note for complete novice users: the "+" sign between the key designations means that these keys should be pressed together, and in the order in which they are indicated. So, for example, if you see the message “press CTRL+C,” this means that you need to first press the CTRL key, and then, without releasing it, press the C key and then release them in the reverse order. If you press the C key first, and then CTRL, something completely different from what you intended will happen...
Key combinations. Table 1
Combination | Action |
---|---|
CTRL+C, CTRL+INS | Copy |
CTRL+V, SHIFT+INS | Insert |
CTRL+X | Cutting |
SHIFT+DEL | When working with text - cutting, when working with files - deleting without placing in the trash |
CTRL+Z | Undo last action |
Hold down CTRL while dragging an element | Copying a dragged element |
Hold down CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an element | Create a shortcut for a dragged element |
F2 | Rename a selected object |
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
CTRL + LEFT ARROW | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
CTRL + DOWN ARROW | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
CTRL + UP ARROW | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
CTRL + SHIFT with any arrow | Selecting a paragraph |
SHIFT with any arrow | Select multiple items in a window or desktop, or select text in a document |
CTRL+A | Select all |
F3 | Open search window |
ALT+ENTER, ALT+double click | Launching the properties window for the selected object |
ALT+F4 | Close active window |
ALT + SPACEBAR | Open the system menu of the active window |
ALT+minus | Open the system menu of a child window in a program that allows simultaneous work with several windows |
CTRL+F4 | Close the active document in a program that allows simultaneous work with several documents |
ALT+TAB | Go to next window |
ALT+SHIFT+TAB | Go to the next window in the opposite direction |
ALT+F6 | Moving to the next document in a program that allows simultaneous work with several documents |
ALT+ESC | Switch between items in the order they were opened |
F6 | Switch between screen elements in a window or desktop |
F4 | Display the address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer |
SHIFT+F10 | Open the context menu for the selected element |
CTRL+ESC | Opening the Start menu |
ALT + underlined letter in menu title | Display the corresponding menu |
Underlined letter in open menu command name | Execute the appropriate command |
F10 | Activating the menu bar of the current program |
F5 | Refresh the active window |
BACKSPACE | View a folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer. When working with text, delete the character to the left of the cursor." |
DELETE | When working with files, delete the file to the trash. When working with text, delete the character to the right of the cursor |
ESC | Cancel current action |
SHIFT when inserting a CD into the drive | Refusal of automatic start |
Now let's see what you can do with the keyboard in dialog boxes.
Key combinations. table 2
For those who prefer to work with Windows Explorer, the following table will be useful, which shows ways to work with the directory tree.
Key combinations. Table 3
Combination | Action |
---|---|
Up and down arrows | Navigating the Explorer Tree |
END and HOME | Move to the bottom and top position of the tree respectively |
"*" (asterisk) on the numeric keypad. Num Lock enabled | Display all folders subfolders of the selected directory |
Plus sign on the numeric keypad. Num Lock enabled | Expands the selected branch |
Minus sign on the numeric keypad. Num Lock enabled | Collapses the selected branch |
Left arrow | Collapses the selected branch, or branches to the parent branch |
Right Arrow | Expands the selected branch, or navigates to the first subfolder |
Among other things, your keyboard most likely has special keys that open up additional options. These are the Windows key, the context menu key, and the Turbo or Fn key. The Turbo key (aka Fn) in combination with the F11 key locks the keyboard. And, accordingly, it unlocks by pressing the same combination again. The purpose of the context menu button is clear from its name. As an alternative, you can use the combination SHIFT+F10. For those who have not yet understood: using this button, they call up the context menu, that is, the menu that is usually called up by right-clicking on an object.
Now let's look at the Windows key.
Key combinations. Table 4
Combination | Action |
---|---|
Win | Opens the "Start" menu |
Win+D | Minimizes windows, press again - maximizes them |
Win+M | Minimizes windows, except dialog ones |
Win+SHIFT+M | Maximizes windows |
Win+E | Launching Explorer |
Win+R | Launching the Run dialog box |
Win+F | Search |
Win+CTRL+F | Search for a computer |
Win+F1 | Launch Windows Help |
Win+U | Opening Utility Manager |
Win+BREAK | Opening the system properties window |
Win+L | For Windows XP - blocking the computer, or, if the computer is not included in the domain, switching users |
Win+TAB | Switch between buttons on the taskbar. By clicking on any button, you can expand the selected window by pressing Enter. |
Now let's talk about quickly launching programs. Firstly, you can use the Run window, which, as you already know, is opened by pressing the Win+R key combination. Below is a small list of the most commonly used commands entered into the Run window.
Key combinations. Table 5
Team | What's running |
---|---|
cmd, command | Command line |
notepad | Notebook |
wordpad | Text editor WordPad |
calc | Calculator |
mspaint | Graphic editor Paint |
regedit | Registry Editor |
winmine | "Mine Mines" game |
control | Control Panel |
x: | Explorer window with table of contents of disk directories (x - drive letter) |
excel | Excel Spreadsheets |
winword | Word processor |
If you are too lazy to type commands, you can do the following. Create a shortcut for a program or document that you plan to run frequently. Open the shortcut properties and in the "Shortcut" line, specify the key combination that will launch this shortcut.
Since you use the Windows operating system, then most likely you also have Microsoft Office installed. And, probably, you sometimes (and maybe often) have to create text documents using Word. But the text must not only be created, it must also be formatted. And to do this, you have to look up from the keyboard and use your mouse to poke at buttons and menus: alignment, underlining, font size... And if you type quickly (haven’t you forgotten that you absolutely need to master the touch typing method?), then get distracted by You don’t want a mouse at all, because it wastes quite a lot of time. So, to optimize yourself yourself, it would not hurt you to learn how to use the keyboard to format text.
By default, the most frequently used commands have keyboard shortcuts already configured. If you want to see which combination is used for which command, or even reconfigure it to your own combinations, go here: Tools - Settings - Commands tab - Keyboard button.
Well, below are some default combinations. Learn and use.
Character Formatting
Key combinations. Table 6
Combination | Action |
---|---|
CTRL+SHIFT+F | Font selection |
CTRL+SHIFT+P | Selecting font size |
CTRL+D | Window for changing font format |
SHIFT+F3 | Changing the case of letters |
CTRL+SHIFT+A | Convert all letters to uppercase and back |
CTRL+B | Adding bold style |
CTRL+U | Underline text |
CTRL+SHIFT+W | Underline words but not spaces |
CTRL+SHIFT+D | Double underline text |
CTRL+SHIFT+H | Convert to hidden text |
CTRL+I | Adding italics |
CTRL+SHIFT+K | Convert all letters to small caps |
CTRL+"=" (equal sign) | Convert to subscript |
CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+X | Convert to superscript |
CTRL+SPACEBAR | Removing additional formatting from selected characters |
CTRL+SHIFT+Q | Designing selected characters in Symbol font |
CTRL+SHIFT+8 | Displaying non-printing characters |
SHIFT+F1 (then click the text of interest) | Displaying character formatting information |
CTRL+SHIFT+C | Copy formatting |
CTRL+SHIFT+V | Paste formatting |
Formatting Paragraphs
Key combinations. Table 7
Combination | Action |
---|---|
CTRL+0 (zero) | Increase or decrease the space before the current paragraph by one line |
CTRL+E | Centering a paragraph |
CTRL+J | Justify a paragraph |
CTRL+L | Align a paragraph left |
CTRL+R | Align a paragraph to the right |
CTRL+M | Adding left padding |
CTRL+SHIFT+M | Removing left indentation |
CTRL+T | Creating a lip |
CTRL+SHIFT+T | Reducing the protrusion |
CTRL+Q | Remove additional formatting from selected paragraphs |
CTRL+SHIFT+S | Applying a style |
CTRL+SHIFT+N | Applying a style |
CTRL+SHIFT+L | Applying a style |
Editing and moving text and pictures
Key combinations. Table 8
Combination | Action |
---|---|
BACKSPACE | Deleting one character to the left of the cursor |
CTRL+BACKSPACE | Delete one word to the left of the cursor |
DEL | Deleting one character to the right of the cursor |
CTRL+DEL | Delete one word to the right of the cursor |
CTRL+X, SHIFT+DEL | Deleting a selection to the clipboard |
CTRL+Z | Cancel action |
CTRL+Y | Repeat action |
F2, then move the cursor and press ENTER | |
SHIFT+DOWN ARROW | One line down |
SHIFT+UP ARROW | One line up |
CTRL+SHIFT+DOWN ARROW | Until the end of the paragraph |
CTRL+SHIFT+UP ARROW | Before the beginning of the paragraph |
SHIFT+PAGE DOWN | One screen down |
SHIFT+PAGE UP | Up one screen |
ALT+CTRL+PAGE DOWN | Until the end of the document |
CTRL+SHIFT+HOME | Before the document begins |
CTRL+A | Select entire document |
CTRL+SHIFT+F8, then - cursor movement keys (to exit the mode - ESC key) | Select a vertical block of text |
F8, then - cursor movement keys (to exit the mode - ESC key) | Select a specific fragment of a document |
Work with documents
Key combinations. Table 10