Microsoft Word is undoubtedly one of the best word processors around. Whether you want to write a letter, story, essay, or something else entirely, Microsoft Word can handle it.
To become a Word expert, you need to master its keyboard shortcuts. They can help you speedily navigate the Ribbon, apply formatting to text, justify lines and paragraphs, and much more.
Using keyboard shortcuts can save you time, meaning you don't have to fiddle with your mouse and get distracted from the all important task of writing. That's why we've put together this list of Windows shortcuts that you must know for Word.
FREE DOWNLOAD: This cheat sheet is available as a downloadable PDF from our distribution partner, TradePub. You will have to complete a short form to access it for the first time only. Download Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows.
Microsoft Word Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows
Shortcut |
Action |
---|---|
General |
|
Ctrl + N |
Create a new document |
Ctrl + O |
Open a document |
Ctrl + S |
Save the document |
Ctrl + P |
Print the document |
Ctrl + W |
Close the document |
Ctrl + Z |
Undo |
Ctrl + Y |
Redo |
Esc |
Cancel |
Ribbon |
|
Alt + F |
Open the File page |
Alt + H |
Switch to the Home tab |
Alt + N |
Switch to the Insert tab |
Alt + G |
Switch to the Design tab |
Alt + P |
Switch to the Layout tab |
Alt + S |
Switch to the References tab |
Alt + M |
Switch to the Mailings tab |
Alt + R |
Switch to the Review tab |
Alt + W |
Switch to the View tab |
Alt + Q |
Search the Ribbon |
Navigation |
|
Ctrl + F |
Open the Navigation pane to search |
Ctrl + G |
Open the Go To window to navigate to an element |
Home |
Move the cursor to the start of the line |
End |
Move the cursor to the end of the line |
Ctrl + Left arrow |
Move the cursor left by one word |
Ctrl + Right arrow |
Move the cursor right by one word |
Ctrl + Up arrow |
Move the cursor up by one paragraph |
Ctrl + Down arrow |
Move the cursor down by one paragraph |
Ctrl + Alt + Page up |
Move the cursor to the top of the screen |
Ctrl + Alt + Page down |
Move the cursor to the bottom of the screen |
Page up |
Scroll up a page |
Page down |
Scroll down a page |
Ctrl + Home |
Move the cursor to the start of the document |
Ctrl + End |
Move the cursor to the end of the document |
Shift + F5 |
Move the cursor to the last change |
Ctrl + Alt + Z |
Cycle through the last four changes |
Select Text |
|
Ctrl + A |
Select all |
Shift + Arrow keys |
Select text in the specified direction |
Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow |
Select the left word |
Ctrl + Shift + Right arrow |
Select the right word |
Shift + Home |
Select to the start of the line |
Shift + End |
Select to the end of the line |
Ctrl + Shift + Up arrow |
Select to the start of the paragraph |
Ctrl + Shift + Down arrow |
Select to the end of the paragraph |
Shift + Page up |
Select to the top of the screen |
Shift + Page down |
Select to the bottom of the screen |
Ctrl + Shift + Home |
Select to the start of the document |
Ctrl + Shift + End |
Select to the end of the document |
Edit Text |
|
Ctrl + H |
Open the Replace window to find and replace |
Ctrl + X |
Cut the selected content |
Ctrl + C |
Copy the selected content |
Ctrl + V |
Paste from the clipboard |
Ctrl + Shift + C |
Copy the selected formatting |
Ctrl + Shift + V |
Paste the selected formatting |
Alt + Shift + R |
Copy the header/footer from the previous section |
Ctrl + Backspace |
Delete the word on the left |
Ctrl + Delete |
Delete the word on the right |
Format Paragraphs |
|
Ctrl + J |
Justify paragraph |
Ctrl + E |
Center paragraph |
Ctrl + L |
Align paragraph left |
Ctrl + R |
Align paragraph right |
Ctrl + M |
Indent paragraph |
Ctrl + Shift + M |
Remove paragraph indent |
Ctrl + 1 |
Apply single spacing |
Ctrl + 2 |
Apply double spacing |
Ctrl + 0 |
Add or remove a space before the paragraph |
Ctrl + Shift + N |
Apply the Normal style |
Ctrl + Alt + 1 / 2 / 3 |
Apply the Heading 1 / 2 / 3 style |
Ctrl + Q |
Remove paragraph formatting |
Format Text |
|
Ctrl + D |
Open the Font window |
Ctrl + B |
Apply bold |
Ctrl + I |
Apply italic |
Ctrl + U |
Apply underline |
Ctrl + Shift + W |
Apply underline to words, not spaces |
Ctrl + Shift + D |
Apply double underline |
Ctrl + Shift + A |
Format text upper case |
Ctrl + Shift + K |
Format text small caps |
Ctrl + Shift + > |
Increase font size |
Ctrl + Shift + < |
Decrease font size |
Tables |
|
Up arrow |
Move up a row |
Down arrow |
Move down a row |
Alt + Home |
Move to the row's first cell |
Alt + End |
Move to the row's last cell |
Tab |
Move to the row's next cell |
Shift + Tab |
Move to the row's previous cell |
Alt + Page up |
Move to the column's first cell |
Alt + Page down |
Move to the column's last cell |
Tips and Tricks to Master Microsoft Office
Soon these keyboard shortcuts will become second nature and you will be able to speed through documents, formatting and customizing with ease.
Of course, Word comes part of the Microsoft Office package, so there's much more to learn. That's why we have collected the ultimate Microsoft Office tips and tricks.