Tips&Tricks

PC shortcut keys for special characters

Many special characters can be created using keyboard shortcuts. Below are some of the more common and popular special characters and the keyboard shortcuts to create them.

¥  (Japanese Yen currency)
Shortcut Keys Special Character
Alt+0224 à
Alt+0232 è
Alt+0236 ì
Alt+0242 ò
Alt+0241 ñ
Alt+0228 ä
Alt+0246 ö
Alt+0252 ü
Alt+0248 ø
Alt+0223 ß
Alt+0198 Æ
Alt+0231 ç
Alt+0191 ¿
Alt+0176 °  (degree symbol)
Alt+0177 ±  (plus/minus symbol)
Alt+0153
Alt+0169 ©
Alt+0174 ®
Alt+0128 €  (Euro currency)
Alt+0162 ¢  (Cent symbol)
Alt+0163 £  (British Pound currency)
Alt+0165
Shortcut KeysDescription
Alt+F File menu options in the current program.
Alt+E Open Edit options in the current program.
Alt+Tab Switch between open programs.
F1 View help information (F1 is used by almost every Windows program to display help).
F2 Rename a selected file.
F5 Refresh the current program window.
Ctrl+D Bookmark the current page in most Internet browsers.
Ctrl+N Create a new or blank document in some software, or open a new tab in most Internet browsers.
Ctrl+O Open a file in the current software.
Ctrl+A Select all text.
Ctrl+B Change selected text to be bold.
Ctrl+I Change selected text to be in italics.
Ctrl+U Change selected text to be underlined.
Ctrl+F Open find window for current document or window.
Ctrl+S Save current document file.
Ctrl+X Cut selected item.
Shift+Del Cut selected item.
Ctrl+C Copy selected item.
Ctrl+Ins Copy selected item.
Ctrl+V Paste
Shift+Ins Paste
Ctrl+Y Redo the last action.
Ctrl+Z Undo the last action.
Ctrl+K Insert hyperlink for the selected text.
Ctrl+P Print the current page or document.
Home Go to the beginning of the current line.
Ctrl+Home Go to the beginning of the document.
End Go to the end of the current line.
Ctrl+End Go to the end of the document.
Shift+Home Highlight from the current position to the beginning of line.
Shift+End Highlight from the current position to the end of line.
Ctrl+Left arrow Move one word to the left at a time.
Ctrl+Right arrow Move one word to the right at a time.
Ctrl+Esc Open the Start menu.
Ctrl+Shift+Esc Open Windows Task Manager.
Alt+F4 Close the currently active program.
Alt+Enter Open the properties for the selected item (file, folder, shortcut, etc.).
Windows key+L Lock the computer, requiring password entry to access again.
Windows key+X Access the Power User Tasks Menu in Windows 8 and Windows 10.
Windows key+Down arrow Minimize the active program window.
Windows key+Up arrow Maximize the active program window.

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