How to Use Your Computer Without a Mouse: Shortcuts & Mouse Keys

Tips and tricks for using shortcut keys on your computer's keyboard instead of your mouse

This wikiHow teaches you how to navigate your computer without using a mouse. You can do this by using the "Mouse Keys" feature on supported Windows computers and all Macs, or you can use a combination of keyboard shortcuts and the arrow keys to get around.

Things You Should Know

  • Use keyboard shortcuts on Windows and Mac to navigate and click.
  • On Windows, you can use the Mouse Keys features if you have a number pad.
  • On Mac, you can use Mouse Keys on any keyboard.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

On Windows

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    Try using basic keyboard shortcuts. You can use your computer's arrow keys and the ↵ Enter key to move the selection around the currently open window and select things, respectively, and typing a letter when on the desktop or in a Windows app (e.g., File Explorer) will cause the selection to jump to an item starting with that letter. There are a few other basic keyboard shortcuts you can use:[1]
    • Alt+Tab ↹ — Switch between currently open windows.
    • Alt+F4 — Close the currently open app or window.
    • ⊞ Win+D — Minimize all open windows to show the desktop.
    • Ctrl+Esc — Open the Start menu.
    • ⊞ Win+E — Open the File Explorer.
    • ⊞ Win+X — Open the Advanced settings menu.
    • ⊞ Win+I — Open Settings.
    • ⊞ Win+A — Open the Action Center.
    • ⊞ Win+⎙ Print Screen — This will take a screenshot of the entire screen.
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    Make sure your computer has a number pad. If you don't have a grid of number keys on the right side of your computer's keyboard (in addition to the standard row of number keys at the top of the keyboard), you won't be able to use this method.
    • You can still use the keyboard shortcuts listed in the first step.
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    Open Start
    Windows Start
    .     Press the ⊞ Win key (the key with the Windows logo on it) to do so. You should see the Start window open.
    • You can also press Ctrl+Esc to open the Start window.
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    Type in control panel. This will search your computer for the Control Panel.
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    Select Control Panel. Use the arrow keys to select this option in the search results, then press ↵ Enter. The Control Panel will open.
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    Click Ease of Access, then click Ease of Access Center.
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    Select Make the keyboard easier to use. It's a link in the middle of the window. Press the ↓ key until you've selected this option, then press ↵ Enter to open it.
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    Select Set up Mouse Keys. You'll find this blue link near the top of the page. Scroll down to it using the ↓ key, then press ↵ Enter.
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    Enable Mouse Keys. Press the ↓ key until the "Turn on Mouse Keys" box and line of text is selected, then press the + key.
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    Scroll down to the "Pointer speed" section. Press the ↓ key until you've selected the "Top speed" slider in the "Pointer speed" section.
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    Adjust the pointer speed. Once you've adjusted one value, you can press the Tab ↹ key to move to the next one:
    • Top speed — Determines how fast your pointer moves at its quickest. Press the → key to raise the mouse's top speed, or press ← to lower it. This setting should be fairly high (e.g., 75 percent or higher).
    • Acceleration — Determines how quickly your pointer reaches its maximum speed. Press the → key to raise the acceleration, or press ← to lower it. This setting should be at around 50 percent.
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    12
    Select OK. It's at the very bottom of the window. This will enable Mouse Keys and exit the window.
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    Use the number pad to move around the pointer. You can use the 4, 8, 6, and 2 keys to move the mouse left, up, right, and down, respectively.
    • Using the 1, 7, 9, and 3 keys will cause the mouse to move at a 45° angle.
    • If your mouse doesn't start moving, press Num (or Fn+Num on some computers), then try moving your mouse again.
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    Press the 5 key to click. You'll find this key in the middle of the number pad.
    • If pressing 5 brings up a drop-down menu, press / in the number pad to disable this feature. You should be able to click using 5 after doing so.
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    Bring up the right-click menu. Every Windows computer has a "context menu" key that usually resembles a ☰ symbol surrounded by a box. With an item (e.g., an icon) selected, pressing this key will prompt the right-click menu to appear.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

On Mac

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    1
    Try using basic keyboard shortcuts. You can use your Mac's arrow keys and the ⏎ Return key to move the cursor's selection around the currently open window, but you can also use the following shortcuts to perform a few more complex tasks:[2]
    • ⌘ Command+Q — Quit an app (or currently open window).
    • ⌘ Command+Space — Open the Spotlight search bar in the middle of the screen.
    • ⌘ Command+Tab ↹ — Switch to the next window.
    • ⌘ Command+N — Opens a new Finder window if you're on the desktop.
    • Alt+F2, then ⌘ Command+L — Opens System Preferences.
    • Ctrl+F2 — Select the Apple Menu (pressing ⏎ Return will open it).
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    Open the Accessibility Options window. Depending on your Mac model, use one of the following keyboard shortcuts to do this:[3]
    • MacBook with Touch Bar — Quickly tap the Touch ID button three times.
    • MacBook without Touch Bar — Press Fn+⌥ Option+⌘ Command+F5 at the same time.
    • iMac (desktop Mac) — Press ⌥ Option+⌘ Command+F5 at the same time.
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    3
    Enable Mouse Keys. Tap the Touch ID button three times (MacBook with Touch Bar) or press ⌘ Command+⌥ Option+F5 (all other Macs) to do so.
    • You can also use the ↓ arrow key to select the "Enable Mouse Keys" box and then press the ⏎ Return (or Spacebar on some computers) key to check it.
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    Leave the Accessibility Options window open. This will allow you to disable Mouse Keys by using the keyboard shortcut that you used to enable Mouse Keys.
    • Unfortunately, you can't type with Mouse Keys enabled.
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    Move your mouse cursor around. Using the U, 8, O, and K keys, you can move the cursor left, up, right, or down, respectively.
    • Pressing the J, 7, 9, or L keys will move the cursor at a 45° angle down to the left, up to the left, up to the right, or down to the right, respectively.
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    Click with the 5 key. The 5 key is essentially the left-click button when you're using Mouse Keys.
    • You can also hold down Control while tapping 5 to simulate a right-click.
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    Hold down the mouse. Maneuvering the pointer to rest over an icon and then pressing the M key will simulate a "hold" action, allowing you to drag the icon beneath your mouse pointer by using the movement keys.
    • This is also helpful when attempting to activate hold-sensitive menus, such as the Trash menu.
    • You can press . to release the hold.
    • Using the Terminal to open applications can be a quick method for starting apps.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How can I be a faster typist on the computer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You need to practice more. The more you type on the computer, the faster you will become. You can also take some online classes or use a pro that teaches you how to type faster.
  • Question
    Can I use f11 to enter full screen mode?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, and you can turn it back on the normal screen if you press f11 again.
  • Question
    How can I create a shortcut without a mouse?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Select the file with CTRL SPACE, CTRL C (copy file), Press CTRL SPACE to deselect file, Press SHIFT F10 and then Press P.
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References

  1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12445/windows-keyboard-shortcuts
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201236
  3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204434

About This Article

Kyle Smith
Written by:
Kyle Smith
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This article has been viewed 1,516,506 times.
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Co-authors: 59
Updated: February 28, 2023
Views: 1,516,506
Categories: Setting Up Your Computer | Computer Mouse Devices
Article SummaryX

1. Make sure your keyboard has the ten-key numeric keypad.
2. Open the Ease of Access Center.
3. Click Make the keyboard easier to use.
4. Enable Mouse Keys and increase the pointer speed.
5. Use the numeric keypad to move the pointer.

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