Keyboard Modifiers and Special Actions

This page explains what keyboard modifiers are, why they are used, and what happens when you use keyboard shortcuts. The text is written for regular users and does not require special technical knowledge.

What is a keyboard modifier

A keyboard modifier is a key that usually does not perform an action by itself, but changes the meaning of another key, button, or command.

In simple terms, a modifier works like an extra instruction: not just “press the button”, but “press the button in a special way”.

Examples of modifiers:

• Shift
• Ctrl
• Alt
• Win
• Fn
• Command on macOS
• Option on macOS

For example:

• C — just the letter C.
• Ctrl + C — the copy command.
• Shift + C — an uppercase C.
• Alt + F4 — close the active window.

How to read keyboard shortcut notation

A notation like:

Ctrl + C

means:

1. Press and hold the Ctrl key.
2. While still holding Ctrl, press the C key.
3. Release both keys.

A notation like:

Shift + "Restart"

means:

1. Press and hold the Shift key.
2. While still holding Shift, click the “Restart” button with the mouse.
3. After that, you can release Shift.

Important: the + sign in such notation is not something you need to press. It only shows that the actions are performed together.

Main modifiers

Shift

Shift usually means “perform the action in a changed version”.

It is most often used for:

• typing uppercase letters;
• typing upper symbols on keys, such as !, ?, :;
• selecting several items in a row;
• starting a special version of an action.

Examples

Ctrl

Ctrl is often used for control commands: copy, paste, save, find, undo.

This key usually does not change the character typed from the keyboard. Instead, it starts a command in the program or operating system.

Examples

Alt

Alt is often used for window control, menus, and system commands.

In older programs and in some professional applications, Alt can open the top menu of the application.

Examples

Win

Win is the key with the Windows logo.

It is used for Windows operating system commands.

Examples

Fn

Fn is most often found on laptops and compact keyboards.

This key enables additional functions of other keys: screen brightness, volume, mute, Wi‑Fi, keyboard backlight, and other actions.

Examples

The exact behavior of Fn depends on the laptop or keyboard model.

Command and Option on macOS

Apple computers use their own modifiers.

Examples:

Special Windows actions

Shift + "Restart"

What it does

Shift + "Restart" opens Windows advanced startup options.

This is not a normal restart. Instead of starting Windows in the usual way, Windows opens a blue recovery and diagnostics menu.

How to do it

1. Open the Start menu.
2. Click the power button.
3. Press and hold the Shift key.
4. While still holding Shift, click “Restart”.
5. Wait for the blue menu with additional options to appear.

What will happen

The computer will not immediately boot into normal Windows. Instead, it will open a menu where you can choose additional actions.

Usually, this menu includes:

• system recovery;
• Safe Mode;
• recovery command prompt;
• startup settings;
• uninstalling recent updates;
• system image recovery.

When to use it

This action is useful if:

• Windows is unstable;
• you need to enter Safe Mode;
• you need to remove a problematic update;
• you need to repair Windows startup;
• the usual way to access recovery settings is unavailable.

Important

The Shift + "Restart" action itself is usually safe. It only opens the recovery menu. The risk may come later from the menu options themselves, for example when resetting the system or deleting data.

Ctrl + Alt + Delete

What it does

Opens a special Windows system screen.

On this screen, you can:

• lock the computer;
• switch user;
• sign out of the account;
• change the password;
• open Task Manager.

How to do it

1. Press and hold Ctrl.
2. Press and hold Alt.
3. Press Delete.
4. When the system screen appears, release the keys.

When to use it

Use it if:

• a program has frozen;
• you need to open Task Manager;
• you need to quickly lock the computer or end the session;
• the system responds poorly, but the keyboard still works.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

What it does

Opens Windows Task Manager directly.

This is a faster option than Ctrl + Alt + Delete if you specifically need the program that shows running processes.

How to do it

1. Press and hold Ctrl.
2. Press and hold Shift.
3. Press Esc.
4. Task Manager should open immediately.

When to use it

Use it if:

• a program has frozen;
• you need to force-close an application;
• you need to check CPU, memory, disk, or network usage;
• you need to check which programs are running.

Win + R

What it does

Opens the Run dialog.

This dialog can be used to start system commands, programs, and settings.

How to do it

1. Press and hold Win.
2. Press R.
3. Type the required command.
4. Press Enter or click “OK”.

Command examples

Important

Do not type commands into the Run dialog if you do not understand what they do. Some commands can change system settings.

Win + L

What it does

Locks the computer.

After that, to continue working, you need to sign in again: enter a password, PIN, or use another sign-in method.

How to do it

1. Press and hold Win.
2. Press L.
3. The lock screen will appear immediately.

When to use it

Use it when you step away from the computer and do not want someone else to use your open session.

Alt + F4

What it does

Closes the active window.

If a program is active, Windows will try to close the program. If a document with unsaved changes is open, the program will usually ask whether to save the changes.

How to do it

1. Make the required window active: click it with the mouse.
2. Press and hold Alt.
3. Press F4.
4. If a question about saving appears, choose the required option.

When to use it

Use it to quickly close a window or program.

Important

If you press Alt + F4 while the desktop is active, Windows may open the shutdown, restart, or sign-out dialog.

Shift + Delete

What it does

Deletes the selected file or folder without moving it to the Recycle Bin.

A normal deletion with the Delete key usually sends the item to the Recycle Bin. It can be restored from there. Shift + Delete skips the Recycle Bin.

How to do it

1. Select a file or folder.
2. Press and hold Shift.
3. Press Delete.
4. Confirm the deletion if Windows shows a warning.

When to use it

Use it only if you are sure that the file is no longer needed.

Important

After Shift + Delete, restoring the file is more difficult. Sometimes it is possible with special recovery programs, but there is no guarantee.

F2

What it does

Usually renames the selected file, folder, or object.

How to do it

1. Select a file or folder.
2. Press F2.
3. Type the new name.
4. Press Enter.

When to use it

Use it when you need to quickly rename a file without opening the mouse context menu.

F5

What it does

Refreshes the current window, page, or list.

Examples

• In a browser, it refreshes the page.
• In File Explorer, it refreshes the file list.
• In some programs, it reloads data.

How to do it

Press F5.

On some laptops, you may need to press Fn + F5 if the F1–F12 keys perform brightness, volume, and other system actions by default.

F8 during computer startup

What it does

In older versions of Windows, pressing F8 while turning on the computer opened the advanced startup options menu, including Safe Mode.

In modern Windows 10 and Windows 11, this method often does not work by default because the system boots too quickly and uses a different recovery mechanism.

How to do it

1. Fully shut down the computer.
2. Turn it on.
3. Immediately after turning it on, press F8 several times.
4. If the menu appears, choose the required mode.

When to use it

This method may be useful on older computers or older versions of Windows.

Modern alternative

For Windows 10 and Windows 11, this is used more often:

Shift + "Restart"

Esc, Del, F2, and F12 during computer startup

These keys are often used to enter BIOS/UEFI or choose a boot device.

The exact behavior depends on the computer or motherboard manufacturer.

How to do it

1. Fully shut down the computer.
2. Turn it on.
3. Immediately after turning it on, press the required key several times.
4. If a menu appears, choose the required item.

When to use it

Use it if you need to:

• boot from a USB flash drive;
• change the boot order;
• enable or disable BIOS/UEFI settings;
• check hardware;
• install an operating system.

Important

Do not change BIOS/UEFI settings if you do not understand what they are for. Incorrect settings may cause the computer to stop booting normally.

How to press shortcuts correctly

Pressing keys together

If you see:

Ctrl + C

it does not mean that you need to press all keys at exactly the same millisecond.

It is better to do this:

1. Press and hold the first modifier: Ctrl.
2. Press the second key: C.
3. Release the second key.
4. Release the modifier.

Several modifiers

If you see:

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

it is convenient to press it like this:

1. Press and hold Ctrl.
2. Press and hold Shift.
3. Press Esc.
4. Release all keys.

A keyboard key combined with a mouse button

If you see:

Shift + "Restart"

this means a combination of a keyboard key and a mouse action:

1. Hold Shift on the keyboard.
2. Click the “Restart” button with the mouse.
3. Release Shift after the action starts.

If a shortcut does not work

Possible reasons:

• the active window does not support this shortcut;
• another keyboard layout is enabled;
• the Fn key changes the behavior of function keys;
• the program intercepts the shortcut for its own actions;
• the keyboard is not working correctly;
• the shortcut is different in another version of Windows or another program.

Shortcuts that require caution

Some shortcuts require special attention.

Quick reference

General principle

Modifiers are not meant to make work more complicated. They allow the same key or button to have several different meanings.

A normal action answers the question: “What should be done?”

A modifier clarifies: “How exactly should it be done?”

For example:

• Delete — delete in the usual way.
• Shift + Delete — delete without the Recycle Bin.
• “Restart” — restart Windows normally.
• Shift + "Restart" — restart Windows into the advanced recovery options.