keyboard shortcut to select file in windows explorer

Question

I typically go to the windows explorer using windowskey+e. Then I use Alt-D to go the address bar to type the folder name.

Is there keyboard shortcut to directly go the file list on the right side instead of going tab tab tab? I typically just want to select a file for copy/delete etc.

Thanks.

Solution 1

Try shift+tab that will tab in the reverse order

Solution 2

After launching Explorer, press F6. This toggles between the file list, the address bar, and (annoyingly) the close button for the "folder tree" pane. While on the folder view's close button, you can press tab to move into the actual folder tree.

Solution 3

A bit long-winded but might be preferred to multiple tabbing.

On Windows 10 try: Alt-H S A Down

Alt-H opens the 'Home' ribbon menu, S A selects all. Then using the up/down arrow keys to cancel the selection. Note Alt-H are pressed simultaneously then released, S A Down are pressed one at a time.

Solution 4

Alt-Enter sometimes works from the address bar. It seems a bit temperamental though, not properly figured it out. Using Windows 10

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Comments

[Ravindra Bawane]

Alt-Enter does not go directly to the folder list. In 32bit versions of Windows and many years ago it switched between windowed and full-screen, but I could not find official documentation on its current standard behavior.