Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

You can create keyboard shortcuts to open programs, which can often be simpler than opening programs using your mouse or other pointing device. Before completing these steps, verify that a shortcut was created for the program to which you want to assign a keyboard shortcut. If no shortcut was created, browse to the folder that contains the program, right-click the program file, and then click Create Shortcut to create one.

1.	Locate the shortcut to the program for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut.
2.	Right-click the shortcut, and then click Properties.
3.	In the Shortcut Properties dialog box, click the Shortcut tab, and then click the Shortcut key box.
4.	Press the key on your keyboard that you want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT (keyboard shortcuts automatically start with CTRL+ALT), and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. You can now use this keyboard shortcut to open the program when you're using the desktop. The shortcut will also work while using some programs, though it might not work with some programs that have their own keyboard shortcuts.

Notes

The Shortcut key box will display None until you select the key, and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt followed by the key you selected.
You cannot use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE keys to create a keyboard shortcut.

Create keyboard shortcuts to open programs

See also