Assigning a Shortcut Key to a Start Menu Item

Written by Barry Dysert (last updated August 31, 2020)

2

In an effort to keep your hands on the keyboard as much as possible, you may find it convenient to assign shortcut keys to items in your Start menu. The process is similar to adding a shortcut key to any other item. Follow these steps:

  1. Click on Start to display the Start menu.
  2. If you are using Windows 7, right-click on the option for which you want to create a shortcut. Windows displays a context menu. If you are using Windows 10, right-click on the option for which you want to create a shortcut, click More, then click Open File Location Windows displays the Windows Administrative Tools window for that option. Right-click on the option in the resulting list on the right side of the window to display a context menu.
  3. Choose Properties from the Context menu. Windows displays a Properties dialog box for that menu item.
  4. Make sure the Shortcut tab is displayed. (See Figure 1.)
  5. Figure 1. Assigning a shortcut key to a Start menu item.

  6. Click once within the Shortcut Key box.
  7. Press the letter or number you want to use for your shortcut key. Windows automatically adds "Ctrl+Alt+" to the beginning of the character you press. Thus, you would press D if you wanted your shortcut key to be Ctrl+Alt+D.
  8. Click OK.

The shortcut key should be immediately available. All you need to do is press whatever shortcut key you created.

If you later want to remove the shortcut key, follow the same steps but press the Delete key in step 6.

 This tip (11818) applies to Windows 7 and 10.

Author Bio

Barry Dysert

Barry has been a computer professional for over 35 years, working in different positions such as technical team leader, project manager, and software developer. He is currently a software engineer with an emphasis on developing custom applications under Microsoft Windows. When not working with Windows or writing Tips, Barry is an amateur writer. His first non-fiction book is titled "A Chronological Commentary of Revelation." ...

MORE FROM BARRY

Determining If a Drive Should be Defragmented

Disk fragmentation is one of those things which, if severe, can adversely affect your system's performance. This tip ...

Discover More

Understanding Processes in the Task Manager

Your computer is typically running scores of processes behind the scenes of the relatively few windows you may have open. ...

Discover More

Adjusting the Size of an Event Log

Event logs are used to store information about what goes on, behind the scenes, on your system. Whether you want to ...

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Shortcuts Every Windows User Should Know

Shortcuts improve productivity and speed up repetitive tasks. Here are twenty basic Windows shortcuts you should know.

Discover More

Two Quick Ways to Close a Frozen App

When an app freezes, it can be frustrating. Rather than restarting your computer try one of these methods to close a ...

Discover More

New Windows 10 Shortcuts

At times, it is helpful to work quicker to get things done faster. Windows 10 offers several new shortcuts to help you ...

Discover More
Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 6 - 0?

2020-09-08 07:54:44

Ron S MVP

That works for "traditional", "real" applications.
.
What about the "new & improved" Win10 UWP <cr>applets. Things like Weather or the new "Office" tile?


2020-08-31 10:22:22

Bob Ama

Is there a way to see which shortcuts have already been mapped for the computer I'm on? Say, for example, that I share a computer with someone and I want to utilize (and also not overwrite) shortcuts that they've already created, but they're on holiday for the next week and so I can't ask them directly.


Newest Tips