Windows 7 Shortcuts

‎28-10-2009

There are a number of keyboard and mouse shortcuts in Windows 7, not all of them are common knowledge.
Here's a list of the ones we've found so far, if there's anything missing, feel free to edit the article or post your suggestions as a comment below!

Window Shortcuts

These shortcuts allow you to manage and manipulate the window(s) currently open on your computer.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Win & Home: Minimise all but the current active window
Win & Space: Make all open windows transparent so you can see the desktop
Win & Up arrow: Maximise the currently active window
Shift & Win & Up arrow: Maximise the currently active window vertically
Win & Down arrow: Minimise the currently active window
Win & Left/Right arrows: Dock the window at either side of the monitor and fill that half of the screen
Shift & Win & Left/Right arrows: Move the window to the monitor on the left or right (if you're using multiple displays)
Ctrl & Shift & N: Create a new folder in Windows Explorer
Alt & Up: Go up a folder level in Windows Explorer
Alt & P: Show or hide the preview panel in Windows Explorer
Win & P: Switch between available display options (useful for multiple monitor/projector setups)
Win & (+ or -): Zoom in or out
Win & G: Cycle between open Windows Gadgets

Mouse Shortcuts

Drag window to the top: Maximise the window
Drag window left/right: Dock the window to fill that half of the screen
Drag and shake window: Minimise everything but the window you are shaking
Double-Click Top Window Border (on the edge): Maximise window vertically

Keyboard & Mouse Shortcuts

Shift & Right click on a file: Adds Copy as Path and extra locations to the Send To menu (Copy as Path copies the full path to that file to the clipboard so you can paste it elsewhere)
Shift & Right click on a folder: Adds Open Command Window Here (meaning you can open a command prompt which starts in that folder), Copy as Path and Open in a new process

Taskbar Shortcuts

These shortcuts are for use specifically with the Windows 7 taskbar.
Keyboard Shortcuts

Win & 1-9: Starts the application pinned to the taskbar in that position, or switches to that program
Shift & Win & 1-9: Starts a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar in that position (useful for opening multiple web browser windows)
Ctrl & Win & 1-9: Cycles through open windows for the application pinned to the taskbar in that position
Alt & Win & 1-9: Opens the Jump List for the application pinned to the taskbar in that position
Win & T: Focus and scroll through items on the taskbar
Win & B: Focuses the System Tray icons

Keyboard & Mouse Shortcuts

Shift & Left click on a taskbar icon: Open another instance of a program
Ctrl & Shift & Left click on a taskbar icon: Open the program as an administrator
Shift & Right click on a taskbar icon: Show the window menu for the program (as per previous versions of Windows, this allows you to stack and cascade windows)
Shift & Right click on a grouped taskbar icon: Show the window menu for the group
Ctrl & Left click on a grouped taskbar icon: Maximise and cycle through the windows of the group