Controlling the mouse from the keyboard in Windows 7. Controlling the mouse cursor using the keyboard: hot keys and their combinations
Sometimes it happens that for one reason or another we cannot control a computer mouse, for example, if it is faulty, or its batteries are dead, due to problems with drivers, etc. But there is a fairly simple way out of this situation - you can fully control the mouse cursor using the keyboard.
In order to use the mouse control function from the keyboard, press the key combination: ALT (left) + SHIFT (left) + NUM LOCK (the method works on all versions of Windows OS),
a window like this will open.
Press "Enter" on your keyboard.
Moving the pointer using the keyboard
Once the keyboard pointer control feature has been activated, you will be able to move the mouse pointer using the number pad on your keyboard.
Moving the mouse pointer
Keyboard shortcut:
- 2 – down;
- 8 – up;
- 4 – left;
- 6 – right;
- 7 – up and left;
- 9 – up and to the right;
- 1 – down and left;
- 3 – down and to the right;
Mouse button selection
To select items on the screen, you must first select which button will be active: the left, right, or both buttons.
- Slash (/) – select the left mouse button;
- Minus sign (-) – select right;
- Asterisk (*) – both buttons.
Please note that if, for example, you made the left button active, it will remain so until another button is selected.
Actions with objects
- Selecting an object - make the left mouse button active, move the pointer to the element (file, folder, etc.) and press key 5;
- Right-click an object – make the right mouse button active, move the pointer to the element (file, folder, etc.) and press the 5 key;
- Double-click—Activate the left mouse button, move the pointer over the object, and press the (+) key.
Drag and drop elements
- Drag - hover over an object and press the zero (0) key;
- Placement—Hover the cursor over the location where you want to move the item and press the decimal point key (.)
But that’s not all, there is one nuance that must be kept in mind in advance: when the mouse control function from the keyboard is activated, the cursor will move very slowly. But this can be easily fixed.
If you find yourself in a situation where the mouse does not work or is simply not there, you can even control the cursor from the keyboard. To do this, the system provides a number of accessibility settings. It is called Making your mouse easier to use and allows you to move the cursor using the number pad, double-click and even drag-and-drop.
Note Note: For the keyboard cursor control feature to work, you will need a keyboard with a separate numeric keypad. It is not necessary to disconnect the mouse to test this function.
How to enable keyboard cursor control in Windows 10
Like a large number of other options, this option is activated both from the Settings application and from the classic Control Panel. The first option is simpler, but in the second case you will have access to more settings, which will allow you to customize this process to your own preferences.
The fastest way is a keyboard shortcut Left Alt+ Left Shift+NumLock. This is an emergency combination that will save you the trouble of trying to open Settings or Control Panel without a mouse. The system will warn you about activating keyboard cursor control and you only need to press Enter to confirm your choice. After this, you can use the number pad to move the cursor.
You can activate this function in another way:
You can now use buttons 2, 4, 6 and 8 to move the cursor down, left, right and up, and 1, 7, 9 and 3 to move the cursor diagonally. Please note that by default the system will only enable cursor control when Num Lock is enabled. This means that in other applications you will not be able to enter numbers from the number pad (in Word or in a browser, for example), since now these buttons will not be responsible for entering characters, but for controlling the cursor. Also, the cursor will not move if Num Lock is disabled.
The system works extremely simply: the longer you press the button, the faster the cursor moves. To increase its speed, enable the setting Use Ctrlfor acceleration and Shiftto slow down. This will help you move the cursor around the screen faster, but will require you to hold Ctrl to speed up or Shift to slow down.
How to set up keyboard cursor control in Windows
Windows Settings is extremely sparse for configuring this function, so we recommend looking at the Control Panel to see additional options.
Here you can activate cursor control using the keyboard. To do this, check the box next to Enable mouse pointer control from keyboard. After this, you can use the keyboard block to move the cursor.
In addition, from here you can disable keyboard pointer control using the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + Num Lock. But you shouldn't disable this option, since it is used to enable cursor control from the keyboard when a mouse is not connected. Alternatively, you can disable the mode warning and sound signal.
Another important parameter is the speed of pointer movement. Nobody wants to hold a button down for half an hour to drag the cursor from one end to the other. Therefore, it makes sense to increase the speed using two sliders. One determines the maximum speed, the other determines the acceleration rate. The longer you hold the move button, the faster the cursor will move, and the higher the Acceleration parameter, the faster/slower the cursor will move while holding down the Ctrl/Shift buttons. To enable the acceleration or deceleration function, you need to check the box next to Ctrl - acceleration, Shift - slowdown.
Chapter Other options allows you to configure the mode depending on the state of the Num Lock key, and also enable or disable the display of an additional icon in the system tray that indicates the state of the keyboard cursor control mode.
How to control the mouse pointer from the keyboard
When you have found how to enable cursor control from the keyboard, you need to figure out which keys are responsible for which actions.
- 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 – move the pointer down, left, right or up.
- 1 / 7 / 9 / 3 – left and down, left and up, right and up, right and down.
Key 5 is responsible for clicking the mouse. It can be right, left or both at the same time. First you need to turn on the button you want, and then use 5 to “press”. To change this parameter, use the following buttons (without square brackets):
- [/] - enable the left mouse button.
- [*] - enable both buttons
- [-] - enable the right mouse button.
- [+] - double click on an object.
Drag and drop elements:
- – drag an element. You need to hover over the object with the cursor, press 0 and drag it to the desired location.
- [.] – release the element. When the object is in the place you want, click. to let him go.
Of course, you can’t play CS: Go like that, but in case of a rainy day, this mode will help you work with your computer even without a mouse.
Greetings!
Nothing is immune from breakdown, and it is especially unpleasant when it happens during work. Among the typical breakdowns of a computer mouse, the following can be noted: loss of functionality due to kinking of the cable, or failure of the keys due to wear. If your mouse has broken down and you need to continue working with your computer, then this material is for you!
The basis of the problem
If you have a laptop, then the problem can be partially solved by switching to using the touchpad it has. But classic (stationary) personal computers a priori do not have a touchpad. You can, of course, switch between interface elements using the Tab key, but this activity, frankly speaking, is not the most convenient and gets boring pretty quickly. The most frustrating thing is that you need to continue working, but a problem arises that often confuses an unprepared user.
How to control a computer without a mouse?
Several solutions have been prepared for this case. The described methods imply both the presence of a numeric keypad on the keyboard you are using (located on the right), and its absence (compact keyboard).
Yes, and do not forget to first disconnect the broken mouse from the PC.
So let's get started.
1) If you need to open the menu Start and launch any application from there, then to do this you need to press the key on the keyboard Win(sometimes indicated on the keyboard with the Windows logo) and in the menu that opens, use the arrow keys to get to the desired item or program shortcut. You can also use the search bar and enter the item or program you need - just start typing the name immediately after opening the menu Start. The search box can also be displayed when pressing the combination Win+S on keyboard.
2) When working with input forms, use the key Tab– when pressed, movement occurs between forms (items). And to confirm the action, press the key Enter.
3) If there is a need to close the active window, then use the key combination Alt+F4, and if you need to switch between windows, then the combination Alt+Tab.
4) In work, the context menu is often used and it is just as easy to call it from the keyboard - a separate key with a list icon is allocated for this. It is usually located near the right Ctrl.
5) To access the menu (and its items), which is located at the top of any application or Windows Explorer, just press the key Alt– as a result, symbolic prompts and combinations will be displayed, when clicked you can open any item of the current menu and perform other operations. For example, to create a new folder in Windows Explorer, just type the combination Alt+2.
Naturally, the possible operations and displayed combinations are different and depend on the currently open and active window or application. For example, in Microsoft Word the above combination Alt+2 will execute the command to cancel the last input (complete analogue of the standard combination Ctrl+Z).
Using these features, it is already easier to work with a computer without using a mouse. Next we will talk about controlling the mouse cursor (arrow) using the keyboard.
Enable mouse cursor control from the keyboard
Windows has a very convenient ability to control the mouse cursor without the mouse itself. This feature is enabled and configured in the system window.
To open this tool you need to open the menu Start and enter in the search bar Accessibility Center, and then press the key Enter.
After opening this window, press the key Tab until the selection frame is highlighted on the item Making your mouse easier to use. Press the key Enter to confirm your selection.
In the window that appears, you will also need to proceed to the item called Setting up pointer control.
Finally, a window called Customize mouse buttons. In this window, check the first item, which is responsible for enabling mouse pointer control from the keyboard. Using the key Tab get to this point, and then use the key Space.
In the same window, among other things, you can fine-tune the speed of cursor movement and some other parameters.
How to control the mouse cursor from the keyboard
Well, we have come to the final part of this material. Here we will talk about how to control the mouse pointer from the keyboard, of course, provided that the corresponding option is enabled, which was described in detail above.
Control is carried out from the numeric keypad (NumPad), which is found on most keyboards.
The cursor control commands from the keyboard are as follows:
4 - movement to the left, 8 - upward movement, 2 - downward movement, 6 - movement to the right. Keys 1 , 3 , 7 , 9 move the mouse pointer diagonally, for example, pressing 9 – will move simultaneously to the right and up.
5 – emulates single left mouse clicks
+ – emulates double-clicking the left mouse button
0 (zero key) – captures the required object for its subsequent movement (dragging). After moving the object to the desired location, press the key dot symbol to release it and then place it in a new location.
Brief summary
The article talked about the opportunities available to everyone in the Windows environment to control a computer without using a mouse. Of course, there are third-party solutions that can help you manage more efficiently. However, the described solution is suitable when the mouse is broken and you need to quickly resolve the issue and continue working.
If you have any questions, you can ask them in the comments.
In this guide, we will tell you how to work on a computer without a mouse using a keyboard. If your computer mouse is broken, or for some other reason you cannot use it, do not panic. The keyboard has all the necessary keys and shortcuts to perform basic Windows functions.
You can also learn some keyboard shortcuts to improve your productivity while working on your computer.
Important keys for operating Windows:
Arrow keys: Allows you to move up, down, left, and right on a page or menu (where available).
Enter (Enter): Used to execute any command or confirm dialogue.
Space: Typically used for scrolling. But if you work only with a keyboard, without a mouse, you can use the Problem key to turn on/off various options in the window using the Control Panel or System Properties.
Tab: allows you to go to next element, text field, or link on the page. The Tab key highlights everything that can be clicked on the page for further interaction.
Shift: Allows you to use additional functions of individual keys. For example, the Shift + Tab key combination allows you to navigate to previous element on the page, as opposed to simply pressing Tab.
Ctrl: Used in combination with other keys to quickly perform various actions.
KeyWindows (WIN): The Windows logo key is called the Windows key. It can be used to launch Start, or in combination with other keys to perform various actions.
Menu key: This key is located between the space bar and the right Ctrl key. It allows you to navigate using the arrow keys. Also, the Menu key performs a similar action when you right-click the mouse, but not the same because it only opens a menu for the selected item.
Page Up/Page Down: These keys move you up or down one page. A page is typically the size of the content you currently see on your screen.
Open desktop using keyboard
When pressing keys Windows + D you go to the desktop from any program. Whether you want to select an operating system, cancel a disk check, or enter a Windows password, it can all be accomplished using the arrow keys and the Enter button.
Open Start without mouse using keyboard
You can press the key Windows to open the menu Start" Next, use the up/down arrow keys to move between items.
You can also use the key Tab to go to another part of the Start menu.
Use mouse cursor with keyboard
The Windows operating system allows you to control the mouse cursor using the keyboard buttons. Of course, it's not as convenient as using a real mouse, but if you have no other choice, this method can be useful.
To enable mouse cursor control using the keyboard, press the keys left Alt + left Shift + Num Lock, and then click Enter to confirm the dialog box that appears.
Once enabled, you can use the keys on the numeric keypad on the right to move the mouse cursor. Keys 8, 4, 2 and 6 are used to move while the key 5 allows you to perform a click similar to a left mouse click.
To right click you must first click key 5 and key – (Minus).
Other Important Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know About
The following key combinations will be useful not only for those who do not have a mouse, but also for faster and more convenient use of the computer.
- F2: rename file
- Del: remove element
- Shift+Delete: permanently remove an element
- Ctrl + Shift + N: create a new folder
- Ctrl+A: select everything on the page
- Ctrl+C: copy
- Ctrl+X: cut
- Ctrl+V: insert
- Win+S: Open Windows search field
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: open task manager
- Alt+F4: Close the currently open program/window
- Win+ Tab: see all open windows
Conclusion
Various keyboard keys and their combinations should help you when working with a computer without a mouse. Of course, this is not a complete list of available functions and keys, but this should be enough for initial work with the computer.
On the other hand, a keyboard cannot completely replace a mouse as it is required for use in many applications and games. Sooner or later you will still have to buy a mouse.
If you still have questions about how to work on a computer without a mouse using a keyboard, write in the comments below.
We work without a mouse.101 keyboard combinations that can make your life easier (part 1)
If you work with a computer a lot, then you know that to work quickly and productively you need to try to do without a mouse.
Test yourself by noting how many of the 101 suggested combinations you actually use.
Firefox
- Raise or lower the page. Spacebar – lower the page, Shift+Space – raise the page.
- Find. Ctrl+F or Alt-N for next page.
- Add a page to bookmarks. Ctrl+D.
- Quick search./.
- New inset . Ctrl+T.
- Go to the search bar. Ctrl+K.
- Go to the address bar. Ctrl+L.
- Increase text size. Ctrl+=. Reduce text sizeCtrl+-
- Close the tab. Ctrl-W.
- Refresh the page. F5.
- Go to the home page. Alt-Home.
- Restore a closed page. Ctrl+Shift+T.
- Bookmarks by keywords. This is the most productive. If you visit a site frequently, you bookmark it (of course!), then go to bookmark properties (right-click on them). Add a short keyword to the keyword input line, save, and after that you can simply enter this keyword in the address bar (Ctrl+L) and immediately go to the site.
Gmail
- Write a new letter. C.
- Reply to the letter. R.
- Reply to all.A.
- Forward the letter. F.
- Save the current letter and open the next letter.Y+O.
- Delete the letter and open the next one. #+O (or Shift-3+O).
- Send a written letter. Tab-Enter.
- Search. /.
- Navigation. Move down J and up K through the contact list.
- List of messages. N and P move the cursor to the next or previous message in the message list.
- Ignore. M– letters with marked addresses are no longer included in the list of incoming letters and are archived.
- Select a chain of letters. X – the email chain will be selected. You can archive it, apply a shortcut to it, and select an action for it.
- Save the draft. Control-S.
- Go to the list of messages. G+I.
- Go to tagged emails. G+S.
- Go to the address book. G+C.
Windows
- Create shortcut key combinations. To create shortcut keys for quick switching, right-click on the shortcut key creation icon (you can find one on your desktop) and enter the combination. For example, such as Ctrl-Alt-W for the Word program.
- Switch between windows. Alt-Tab – select the desired window, then lower the keys. Or, hold down the Windows key, press Tab to cycle through the taskbar buttons to find the window you want, then press Enter when you find it. If you add a Shift button to any of these methods, window selection will be done in the reverse direction.
- Go to the desktop. Windows key-D.
- Context menu. Instead of right-clicking, press Shift-F10. Then scroll up or down the menu using the up and down arrow keys.
- Shutdown. To quickly shut down your computer, press the Window key and then U. With this key, you can also press S to pause, U to shut down, or R to restart.
- The most general. You know this, of course, but for beginners you need to mention the most famous combinations: Ctrl-O – open, Ctrl-S – save, Ctrl-N – open a new document, Ctrl-W – close window, Ctrl-C – copy, Ctrl -V – paste, Ctrl-X – cut. Ctrl-Z – undo (backward), Ctrl-Y – undo (forward). To see the contents of the clipboard in MS Office, press Ctrl-C twice. Ctrl-Home – go to the beginning of the document, Ctrl-End – go to the end.
- Menu. When you press Alt, a menu appears that you need to navigate using the arrow buttons. Alt plus the underlined letter of each menu option leads to the use of that option. Or simply remember the key combination for this option for even faster use.
- Windows Explorer. Windows-E - My Computer program starts.
So, we remember that user experience can be largely ensured. When you use hotkey combinations on your keyboard, you don't have to waste time opening a menu to launch a program or select an option, but sometimes knowing and using hotkeys is a must. For example, if for some reason the mouse does not work (due to its unexpected technical breakdown or problems with the software operation of USB equipment), as well as in the case when, when working with graphics, you need to move the mouse cursor with very high precision. In such a situation, you can use Windows accessibility features to emulate a mouse using the keyboard. It's about how to do without a mouse, when working with a computer, I’ll tell you today.
I’ll warn you right away that this article is not for beginners, but if you want to figure it out, I think there won’t be any problems.
How to control a computer without a mouse? Mouse emulation using a keyboard.
To start the emulation mode, press the sequential key combination: Left Alt + Left Shift + NumLock.
In the dialog box that opens, click the “Yes” button and after that the mouse emulation mode will begin to operate.
Also, the system will prompt you to go to accessibility mode to configure it. Pay attention to the "Customize Mouse Buttons" window: it allows you to specify options for the behavior of the mode (for example, the speed of the mouse pointer, etc.).
When the mode is launched, a characteristic icon depicting a mouse is displayed in the system tray (notification area, where the clock is).
To exit this mode, simply press Left Alt + Left Shift + NumLock again.
Hot keys in this mode are located on the numeric keypad on the right. We do not use the central “number” buttons (for a laptop we use a small numeric keypad). So that you understand how to work without a mouse, let's look at these keys in more detail.
NumLock helps to pause and re-enable mouse emulation mode. When you click it, the mouse icon in the tray is crossed out.
Often there is even a mouse symbol on the key itself.
All number buttons except “0” and “5” are directly responsible for moving the mouse pointer in all directions. When you hold down the keys, the pointer “slides” across the screen.
The Ctrl and Shift keys help slow down or speed up the movement of the cursor, provided that these modifiers are allowed by the settings (the corresponding tab at the initial stage of starting the emulation mode).
Button “5” is a click. Double-clicking allows you to press a key in rapid succession. The mouse button whose click is emulated depends on the mode you are currently in.
The “+” button double-clicks the key (as does sequential pressing of “5”)
“/” is responsible for switching to left mouse button mode.
"-" turns on the right button.
“*” is responsible for switching to the mode of both buttons simultaneously.
“0” is holding down a mouse button, and “.” - releasing the key.
The current status and activity of all the commands described above is displayed in the system tray.
What Windows key combinations will be especially useful, and how can you control your computer without a mouse if you don’t have one at hand?
The simplest computer hot keys, which you often use both in Explorer and on the desktop, are:
- Enter - replaces double click;
- Delete - deletes an object.
Other handy keyboard shortcuts that are useful in emulation mode:
Win + B - switches focus to the system tray. You can then use the arrow keys to select, Enter to simulate a double-click, and Shift + F10 to simulate a right-click.
Win + E launches File Explorer, and Win + F launches Explorer and displays the search bar.
Win + R - opens the "Run Program" dialog.
Shift + F10 - Displays the context menu of the current object.
Win + L - locks the computer.
Keep in mind that in this list, hotkeys, as in many others, does not matter: it can be either Russian or English. That is, the combination Win + R in the English layout does the same as Win + K in Russian (i.e. opens).
Also, hotkeys can be assigned to shortcuts that are located on the desktop. To do this, open the shortcut properties dialog box.
In it, go to the “Shortcut” tab and place the cursor in the “Shortcut” field. Now press the desired key combination. For example, Ctrl + Shift + or Ctrl + Alt + . Instead of letters, you can use one of the function keys.
A little trick: if you are not sure that you can quickly remember all the necessary hotkey combinations, give yourself a hint in the form of a desktop screensaver. At any time you need, just press Win + D and you will see a convenient cheat sheet with a list of hotkeys. Press the keyboard shortcut to cancel the command and continue working.
And in order to consolidate information about how to control the cursor without a mouse, do a few simple exercises:
- Select any shortcut on your desktop (for example, antivirus) and assign a keyboard shortcut to it. Run the program using shortcut.
- Activate the emulation mode and disconnect (!) the mouse from the computer (or lock the touchpad) and perform several familiar operations: open a folder, create a text document, open, lock the PC, etc.).
I hope you understand how to use a computer without a mouse using its full capabilities.
Practice every day, and soon using short commands will become a habit, and working with your PC will be faster and more productive, and you will be able to perform all the necessary operations even without a mouse!
How to enable keyboard pointer control
Controlling the pointer from the keyboard
By enabling keyboard pointer control, you can move the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad.
Mouse button selection
Before you can select items on the screen using your keyboard, you must select the active mouse button: left, right, or both.
Note
The selected mouse button will remain active until you select another button.
Selecting items using the keyboard
Once you have selected a button, you can select items on the screen.
Drag and drop items using the keyboard
You can use the numeric keypad to press, hold, and release the active mouse button. This is a useful feature if you need to drag an element.
Note
You can use the numeric keypad to press, hold, and release the active mouse button. This is a useful feature if you need to drag an item.
To change settings such as how quickly the pointer moves and when you hear a sound when you turn on keyboard pointer control, in the Ease of Access Center, under Control the mouse with the keyboard, select element Setting up pointer control.
Has your mouse stopped working or just frozen? Are you desperate? Don't worry! You can work on a computer or laptop with Windows 7 - Windows 10 or XP, without a mouse and even without a keyboard shortcut.
In this case, you can work without a mouse and control the cursor using the mouse keys. This is a standard feature of all versions of Windows and you do not need to install anything.
This feature allows the keyboard to completely replace the mouse. When working without a mouse, you can not only use the cursor, but also paste and copy, save or write on the Internet.
In a word, you can completely do without a mouse, although at the first stage such control may seem a little inconvenient.
I just assure you that you will get used to it very quickly, this is especially true for laptops that come with a touchpad.
Of course, you can’t always argue with the fact that a mouse is more convenient, but for several days you can easily do without it.
There are also programs that help you move the mouse more efficiently without a keyboard - try what suits you best. All this is discussed in the guide below.
Controlling the cursor from the keyboard without a mouse
To start controlling the cursor on a computer or laptop from the keyboard without a mouse, alternately press the combination left Alt + left Shift + Num Lock.
Immediately after this, you will hear a beep and see a window as in the picture. In the window that appears, click the “OK” button.
You can now move the cursor using the numeric keypad (press and hold a specific key).
The picture below shows the diagram. Each number indicates the correct direction of the cursor.
To exit the activated keyboard control function, press Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock again.
Keyboard operations without mouse
The overall control process is the numeric keypad, which is part of the keyboard on the right side. Main functions:
- Num Lock - turn it on and off. If you disable the mouse keys, the keyboard will again function as a numeric keypad.
- Key 5 – right mouse button.
- Key / + 5 – LMB.
- Button _ - RMB.
- Button * - both mouse keys.
- Button 0 - select and drag. There is no need to hold it, you just need to press once. It can also be used for scrolling.
- The Del button allows you to drag and drop a file.
- Number keys - cursor control and not only right, left, up and down, but also intermediate directions.
If the function is enabled, an icon will appear in the tray (lower right corner). It shows whether the function is active.
If you right-click on it, settings will appear, among other things, to set the cursor speed.
Programs for cursor without mouse
If “trouble” has already arrived, and you need to work quickly, do not forget about hot keys. It’s hard to get used to them right away, but there is a way out - programs will come to the rescue.
The first Hotkeys program (free). After installation, press and hold the “Win” button (or “Win” + “Z”) for a few seconds.
Then a virtual keyboard will appear on the screen, which will show all the available key combinations.
The second program is “LabelControl”. After installation and pressing Ctrl you will see numbered elements for cursor control.
If you work with browsers, then pay attention to Firefox and its “Mouseless Browsing” extension.
With its help you will instantly move from site to site. There are also similar extensions in other browsers (I don’t remember the names right now).
I was inspired to write this guide because my mouse was broken. This forced me to learn to use another option to move the cursor.
I think this knowledge may be useful to someone else and I hope this text helps someone else.
If something goes wrong for you, ask in the comments. Whoever asks will not get lost. Good luck.
It's hard to imagine working on Windows 7, Windows 10, or Windows XP without a mouse. It's only when a device stops working that most of us become helpless and the operating system suddenly becomes an impregnable fortress.
Usually in this case, we try to remember the key combinations that will allow us to take the simplest, most basic steps.
However, if memory fails, there is a way to at least simulate a mouse.
Windows allows you to control the mouse cursor using the numeric keypad. Here are tips, methods, instructions.
- Win + D: Minimize or restore all windows.
- Win + E: Launch Windows Explorer (Explorer).
- Win + F: Start searching for files.
- Win + Ctrl + F: Start searching for computers on the network.
- Win + R: Displays the Run dialog box.
- Win + Break: Displays System Properties.
- Win + L: Change user (Lock computer).
- Win + M: Minimize the window.
- Win + SHIFT + M: Undoes minimizing the window.
- Win + TAB: Cycle through the buttons on the taskbar.
- F1: Help.
- CTRL + ESC: Open the Start menu.
- ALT + TAB: Switch between open programs.
- ALT + F4: Closes the program.
- SHIFT + DELETE: Permanently delete the file.
How to Manage Copy and Paste on the Keyboard Without a Mouse
- CTRL + C: Copy.
- CTRL + X: Delete.
- CTRL + V Paste.
- CTRL + Z: Undo.
- CTRL + B: Bold text.
- CTRL + U: Underlines text.
- CTRL + I: Cut.
Common keyboard and mouse control commands
- SHIFT + F10 opens a menu for the selected object (acts like the right mouse button).
- ALT + spacebar: Opens the program system menu.
- CTRL + F4: Closes the internal window, but not the program itself.
- ALT + F6: Switch between windows of the same program.
- F5: Refreshes the current window.
- CTRL + A: Select everything in the window.
- BACKSPACE: Return to the top level folder.
Controlling keyboard without mouse in explorer
- F2: renames.
- F3: Search all files.
- ALT + ENTER: Open the properties window for the selected element.
What inspired me to write this guide was that my mouse broke - it was night and I didn’t have another one.
By the way, mice are not always repaired - if the laser is damaged, you can forget about it forever.
This forced me to learn how to use keyboard controls without a mouse. I think this knowledge may be useful to someone else.
I hope that this text will help you continue working on your computer (it’s easier on a laptop - there’s a touchpad, but with it you can only control the cursor and call up the context menu).
How to control a mouse without a mouse? A strange question that, unfortunately, users encounter quite often. Although it was asked, it should be noted, illiterately. It would be more appropriate to ask how to control the cursor without a mouse.
general information
It should be noted that not many people know the answer to the question of how to control a mouse without a mouse, without a keyboard or controls. And since the first is more widespread than the second, the main attention will be paid to it. It doesn’t matter what the cause of the technical malfunction is - the USB cable is broken, problems with drivers or something else.
If you have an extended keyboard, then you can bypass the malfunctions. Only for this you need certain support. What is an extended keyboard? Look at its right side - if there are numbers, then this is what you need. The answer to the question of how to control a mouse without a mouse is very simple, but few people know it.
Hotkeys
This is one of the most versatile ways to control the cursor. The key combination allows you not to waste time launching programs, selecting the necessary options, and even creating the illusion of the presence of additional equipment, including a mouse. So, to activate the cursor control mode using hot keys, you need to press the left Alt without releasing it, hold down Shift and, without lifting your fingers, NumLock.
After this, a beep will sound and a window will appear on the desktop asking you to enable the ability to control the pointer using the keyboard. By default, “Yes” is highlighted, that is, consent. To activate this keyboard function, you must press the enter button. To deactivate this feature, you only need to press NumLock once. It should be noted that while this feature is active, it will not be possible to enter numbers or use the keyboard extension.
What to do then?
Those who use our advice while reading the article probably noticed that everything seems to have been done correctly - the mode is activated, but there is no result. The fact is that this is a push-type mechanism with which you can literally move pixel by pixel. And speaking about how to control the cursor without a mouse, it should be especially noted that if the pointer needs to be moved a significant distance, then you should hold down the corresponding key.
Let's look at a small example. So, our computer boots up, and the cursor is in the center of the screen. And we need to launch the program shortcut, which is located on the left. We activate the mode of using the keyboard as a mouse and hold down the number 3 under NumLock. Initially the cursor will barely move. But after a few seconds it will accelerate to a fairly good speed, and the shortcut can be selected.
Emulation Control
We continue to look at how to control a mouse without a mouse. We have already learned how to move the cursor. But how to interact with something? How, for example, can I select and activate the same shortcut? The number five, located under NumLock, helps with this. Oh yes, we forgot to say something else! Using the Shift and Ctrl keys, you can increase or decrease the speed of cursor movement. If you want to change these settings, then you should find the mouse symbol in the lower right corner, select it and change them in the emulation parameter in the window that opens. If you want to double-click, the plus button, located on the same NumLock, will help with this.
Other keys are also used. So, if you click on /, the mouse emulation will switch to left-click mode. Using “-” we switch to the right one. If you click on *, the emulation will work in the mode of both buttons. In order to hold something, you need to press 0. If you need to release it, use “.”. In order to know about the current state and activity of the team, you should look at the system tray. But emulation is not necessary in order to perform certain actions. How to control the keyboard without a mouse? Physical equipment will help you perform certain actions even in standard mode. The only question is which ones. And is this functionality enough?
Interaction with a regular keyboard
How to control a computer without a mouse, having only buttons? To do this, you need to know what the existing keys are responsible for. Thus, the enter button (aka Enter) successfully replaces a double click. If you need to send an object to the trash, then Delete will help. If you need to navigate between different shortcuts, documents and files, you should use Tab. But these are ordinary buttons that most people know about.
Is there anything else you need to know? Yes, and these are combinations. If you press Win + L, the computer will be locked. The Win + E combination helps launch File Explorer. If you use Win + F, the search bar will also be displayed. Pressing Win + R opens the “Run a Program” dialog. To switch focus to the system tray, you need to use the combination Win + B. If you want to access the context menu of the current object (or simply imitate a right-click), you can use Shift + F10.
To the question of how to control a computer without a mouse, there are, as you can see, quite a few different answers. It should be noted that the keyboard layout does not matter. It doesn’t matter whether you press R in English or K in Russian, the result will be the same.
Quickly activate shortcuts
When talking about how to control a computer without a mouse, it is difficult to ignore such an interesting topic as calling a program. This is done through hotkeys and shortcuts located on the desktop. First you need to open the properties dialog box. After this, you need to go to the “Shortcut” tab and place the cursor in the field called “Shortcut”. After this, you need to press a certain key combination. For example, Ctrl +<буква>. If you are not sure that you will remember a large number of hot combinations, then you can use a little trick. Initially, you need to make a screensaver on your desktop, where all the combinations will be written. And as soon as some combination slips out of your head, you can quickly find it using Win + D. As you can see, it's not very difficult.