How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10

Windows 10 File Manager has keyboard shortcuts. You can launch File Explorer and use it completely with the keyboard without touching the mouse. It doesn't have Norton Commander, but is very keyboard-friendly.

Launch File Explorer

To launch File Explorer from anywhere on a Windows system, press Windows + E

You can also use other keyboard shortcuts. For example, if File Explorer is the first icon on the left on the Windows 10 taskbar, you can press Windows + 1 to activate that taskbar button. If it is the third icon on the taskbar, you can press Windows + 3 to activate.

Directory navigation

File Explorer will open Quick Access when you launch it. Use the arrow keys to select a file and folder, and then press Enter to enter the folder or open the file. To partially expand (such as Devices and drives in This PC ), select it and press the right arrow key.

To select a file or folder in the directory, enter its name. For example, when in the C: folder and entering ' Win ', File Explorer will select the Windows folder.

To go to the first or last file in a folder, press the Home or End key.

Press Alt + ↑ , Alt + ← and Alt + → to go to the folder above, left or right.

If you need to refresh a directory and see the updated content, press F5 .

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 1 Directory navigation

Enter the directory and search

To navigate to the location bar at the top of the window, press Ctrl + L or Alt + D You can then enter an address (such as C: Users ) and press Enter to get there.

To navigate to the search bar, press Ctrl + F or Ctrl + E You can then enter the search term and press Enter .

Select multiple files

To select some files, hold down the Shift key and use the arrow keys. You can also press Ctrl + A to select all files in the current directory.

To select multiple files, press and hold the Ctrl key. Use the arrow keys to highlight other files or folders and press Space to add them to the selection. Release the Ctrl key when done.

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 2 Select multiple files

Rename the file

To rename a file using the keyboard, select it with the arrow keys (or by starting to enter the file name) and press F2 . File Explorer will automatically highlight the file name, not including the extension. You can then enter a new name for the file and press Enter . Press Escape to cancel renaming the file without saving any changes.

The usual shortcuts for editing active text while editing a file name, so you can press Ctrl + ← to quickly navigate between words in multi-word filenames.

Create a new folder

To create a new folder in the current directory, press Ctrl + Shift + N Enter a name for the folder and press Enter .

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 3 Create a new folder

Copy, paste and delete files

As usual, press Ctrl + C to copy a file, Ctrl + X to cut (delete the file from its current location) and Ctrl + V to paste the file into a new location.

To undo an action, press Ctrl + Z To redo an action that has just been undone, press Ctrl + Y

To delete a selected file, press Delete . To permanently delete the file, go to the Recycle Bin , press Shift + Delete .

Open context menu

To open the context menu for the currently selected items, press Shift + F10 . The context menu will open as if you right-click on an item.

Navigate between menu options with the up and down arrow keys. Press Enter to select an option.

You can also press Alt + Enter to open the Properties window for a selected item, bypassing the context menu. Use the Tab , arrow and Enter keys to use the Properties window . You can also press Alt along with an underlined character displayed in the Properties window to activate the option.

For example, the Advanced button appears as Advanced . with the underlined d . This means you can press Alt + D to activate it.

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 4 Open context menu

See the Preview and Details windows

To open and close the Preview window, which shows you a preview of the currently selected file, press Alt + P

To open and close the Details window, showing you the details of the selected file, press Alt + Shift + P

Launch and close Windows

To open a new File Explorer window, press Ctrl + N To close the current File Explorer window, press Ctrl + W

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 5 Launch and close Windows

Find more shortcuts

For more help, press Alt and release it. You should see the letters appear on the buttons at the ribbon. You can press Alt along with any letter shown here to activate the button. For example, Alt + F opens the File menu .

If you press Alt + H , Alt + S or Alt + V to select the Home, Share or View tabs , you will see a list of shortcuts for actions for that part of the ribbon.

How to use File Explorer without a mouse on Windows 10 Picture 6 Find more shortcuts

As usual in Windows applications, you can also repeatedly press the Tab key to cycle between parts of the interface, then use the arrow and Enter keys to navigate, as well as activate buttons. Press Shift + Tab to cycle back. For example, with the main content window selected, you can press Shift + Tab to navigate to the left sidebar, use the arrow keys to select a folder, and press Enter to open.