Vista - Keyboard Shortcut

**Brink**

How to Assign a Keyboard Shortcut to Open a Program and Shortcuts in Vista and Windows 7

Information

This will show you how to assign a keyboard shortcut (hotkey) to use to open or run a shortcut of your choice in Vista and Windows 7. This can be used on a shortcut of a file, folder, drive, library (Windows 7 only), program's .exe file, etc......

Note

Quick Launch shortcuts in Vista have their own keyboard shortcuts to use instead.

In Windows 7, each program pinned to the taskbar can be opened by pressing the Windows key + 1 to 0 (1-10) keyboard shortcut instead. You would use a number for how the program icons are ordered on the taskbar from left to right (for top or bottom taskbar) or top to bottom (for left or right taskbar) desktop location.

Warning

The shortcut must be located in either the Start Menu All Programs area, on the desktop, pinned to the taskbar (Windows 7 only), or pinned to the Start Menu for the keyboard shortcut you assign to it will work.

Here's How:

1. Right click on a shortcut that you want to assign a keyboard shortcut to open or run it with, and click on Properties.
NOTE: For an example here, I'm using a Shutdown shortcut.

2. In the Start in: field, make sure the full path of the folder that the program .exe for this shortcut is located is correct here.
NOTE: For more about this, see: Microsoft Help and Support: KB283065 Article

3. Click on the None area next to Shortcut Key: . (see screenshot below)

4. Type in a key (letter, number, arrow key, character key, or F1 to F12 key) that you want to be used as the keyboard shortcut. (see screenshot below)
For example: I typed the letter S to get Ctrl+Alt+S as the shortcut keys to press to open/run the Shut Down shortcut.

Note

Type a left key to get the shortcut to the right of it.

0-9 numbers = Ctrl + Alt + (number)

A-Z letters = Ctrl + Alt + (letter)

F1-F12 function keys = (function key)

Characters (ex: =,) = Ctrl + Alt + (character)
NOTE: You will only be able to use the bottom character on a key. You will not be able to use Shift to use the upper character on a key.

Arrow keys = Ctrl + Alt + (direction of arrow)

5. Click on OK to apply.

6. Now you press the Ctrl + Alt + (key) or function key to open or run the shortcut for the program or action.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Shawn,

I created a shortcut for the Snipping tool, and using either CTRL + ALT + Z or CTRL + SHIFT + Z is not working - I am currently having to use a third party app for creating shortcuts (HoeKey) because it does a *lot* more than just simple shortcuts, allowing you to map the Windows Key as well, and including extra functionality, including minimize to System Tray and other functions.

However, with Vista Ultimate 32bit setting a shortcut key for Snipping Tool always worked. Any idea why it might not be working in Vista Ultimate 64bit (SP1) ?

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

Hi Johngalt,

Not sure why it is not working for you. It is working fine on my 64 Bit Vista Ultimate SP1. You might try another letter to see if that is the problem.

Shawn

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Ahhh, I figured it out. I was using the shortcut in the Quick Launch menu, and not the item from the start menu - I just verified - I set ST's shortcut to CTRL + ALT + Z from the ST in Start menu, then went to Quick Launch and changed the shortcut on that ST to CTRL + ALT + X and then went back to the start menu - the shortcut remains at CTRL + ALT + Z. So, the Quick Launch items cannot be used for creating a system wide shortcut. Very weird.

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

Johngalt,

Nope. It will not work for Quick Launch. Quick Launch has it's own keyboard shortcuts for them. Windows Key + 0 to 9.

Quick Launch

Shawn

**johngalt** · 05-19-2008

Yeah, I belated figured that out. BTW, I took a tutorial similar to your tuts about creating logoff, shutdown and reboot shortcuts and took it a step further. I renamed the shortcuts 1 - Reboot, 2 - Shutdown, and 3 - Logoff, and then placed them in Quicklaunch. Now, they are easily there for use either by clicking on them (renaming them with numbers puts them at the top of the list when sorting by name) or by the QuickLaunch shortcuts Win + 1, etc.

Again, though, sorry about the goof earlier in trying to use the QuickLaunch Snipping Tool icon.

**Brink** · 05-19-2008

LOL, no problem Johngalt. That's a good idea you have on naming the shortcuts like that to make it easier to remember the QL keyboard shortcut numbers for them.

Shawn

**pyewacket97** · 09-14-2008

I'm a little confused here. I have the current Microsoft Vista Ultimate and I created a shortcut for the snipping tool, but it's not working.

Maybe I went through Quicklaunch? I'm not sure. I searched for the program in the start menu, right clicked it, added the keyboard shortcut I wanted to use, applied it, went through the whole permissions thing and now it doesn't work.

So I tried again and went to its file location, but when I right click on the properties, the tabs are different and there's no area in which to add custom keyboard shortcuts.

Is there something I'm doing wrong?

I use a MAC at work and this function is built in, so this whole snippet thing is really frustrating for me....

**Brink** · 09-14-2008

Hi PyeWacket, and welcome to Vista Forums.

It can only be added to a shortcut of the Snipping Tool exe file and not directly from the exe file. You may need to create a new shortcut from the exe file and try adding the keyboard shortcut to it instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**sqkrchik** · 05-12-2009

I'm having a problem getting the snipping tool shortcut to work in explorer. (I've had two updates download since 5/2, and I think my problem might be related to that.) Per Microsoft One Note, I should be able to use the "window key + s" to bring up the tool in explorer and then it copies to one note. This worked up until 5/2 when I did the download. I tried adding the key command to a shortcut, but it still won't work in explorer. Any ideas?

05-19-2008
johngalt Windows 7 Ultimate \| Windows 8 build 7989 3,848 posts 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Shawn, I created a shortcut for the Snipping tool, and using either CTRL + ALT + Z or CTRL + SHIFT + Z is not working - I am currently having to use a third party app for creating shortcuts (HoeKey) because it does a lot more than just simple shortcuts, allowing you to map the Windows Key as well, and including extra functionality, including minimize to System Tray and other functions. However, with Vista Ultimate 32bit setting a shortcut key for Snipping Tool always worked. Any idea why it might not be working in Vista Ultimate 64bit (SP1) ?
My System Specs

05-19-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Hi Johngalt, Not sure why it is not working for you. It is working fine on my 64 Bit Vista Ultimate SP1. You might try another letter to see if that is the problem. Shawn
My System Specs

05-19-2008
johngalt Windows 7 Ultimate \| Windows 8 build 7989 3,848 posts 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Ahhh, I figured it out. I was using the shortcut in the Quick Launch menu, and not the item from the start menu - I just verified - I set ST's shortcut to CTRL + ALT + Z from the ST in Start menu, then went to Quick Launch and changed the shortcut on that ST to CTRL + ALT + X and then went back to the start menu - the shortcut remains at CTRL + ALT + Z. So, the Quick Launch items cannot be used for creating a system wide shortcut. Very weird.
My System Specs

05-19-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Johngalt, Nope. It will not work for Quick Launch. Quick Launch has it's own keyboard shortcuts for them. Windows Key + 0 to 9. Quick Launch Shawn
My System Specs

05-19-2008
johngalt Windows 7 Ultimate \| Windows 8 build 7989 3,848 posts 3rd Rock	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Yeah, I belated figured that out. BTW, I took a tutorial similar to your tuts about creating logoff, shutdown and reboot shortcuts and took it a step further. I renamed the shortcuts 1 - Reboot, 2 - Shutdown, and 3 - Logoff, and then placed them in Quicklaunch. Now, they are easily there for use either by clicking on them (renaming them with numbers puts them at the top of the list when sorting by name) or by the QuickLaunch shortcuts Win + 1, etc. Again, though, sorry about the goof earlier in trying to use the QuickLaunch Snipping Tool icon.
My System Specs

05-19-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut LOL, no problem Johngalt. That's a good idea you have on naming the shortcuts like that to make it easier to remember the QL keyboard shortcut numbers for them. Shawn
My System Specs

09-14-2008
pyewacket97 Vista Ultimate 2 posts	Re: Keyboard Shortcut I'm a little confused here. I have the current Microsoft Vista Ultimate and I created a shortcut for the snipping tool, but it's not working. Maybe I went through Quicklaunch? I'm not sure. I searched for the program in the start menu, right clicked it, added the keyboard shortcut I wanted to use, applied it, went through the whole permissions thing and now it doesn't work. So I tried again and went to its file location, but when I right click on the properties, the tabs are different and there's no area in which to add custom keyboard shortcuts. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I use a MAC at work and this function is built in, so this whole snippet thing is really frustrating for me.... Last edited by pyewacket97; 09-14-2008 at 04:41 PM.. Reason: added more detail..
My System Specs

09-14-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1 29,548 posts Texas, USA	Re: Keyboard Shortcut Hi PyeWacket, and welcome to Vista Forums. It can only be added to a shortcut of the Snipping Tool exe file and not directly from the exe file. You may need to create a new shortcut from the exe file and try adding the keyboard shortcut to it instead. Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

05-12-2009
sqkrchik Vista Home Premium 3 posts	Re: Keyboard Shortcut I'm having a problem getting the snipping tool shortcut to work in explorer. (I've had two updates download since 5/2, and I think my problem might be related to that.) Per Microsoft One Note, I should be able to use the "window key + s" to bring up the tool in explorer and then it copies to one note. This worked up until 5/2 when I did the download. I tried adding the key command to a shortcut, but it still won't work in explorer. Any ideas?
My System Specs

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