How to Use the Keyboard Without a Mouse in Windows: Full Accessibility and Essential Shortcuts

Have you lost your mouse or just want to learn how to get the most out of your keyboard in Windows? Nowadays, using a computer without a mouse is not only possible, but can also be much faster and more efficient in many situations.. Whether for convenience, accessibility needs, or just curiosity, Knowing how to move, click and work only with the keyboard is essential.. Today I bring you the definitive guide to navigate Windows using only the keyboard., so you can forget about the mouse when you need it.

Let's see from the accessibility features built into Windows until the Best keyboard shortcuts to navigate, manage files, and use your favorite apps like a pro. Whether you have Windows 10 or Windows 11, here you have all the Tricks and combinations you need.

How to Enable and Configure Mouse Keys in Windows

One of the most powerful and unknown features of Windows is the ability to move the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad, thanks to the option of Mouse keysThis feature allows you to do virtually any action you would do with a mouse, but from the keyboard.

To enable Mouse Keys in Windows, follow these steps:

1. Open the Ease of Access Center: Click the start button, select the Control panel, look for the section Ease of access and enters the Ease of Access Center.
2. Click on Make mouse use easier.
3. Activate the option Controlling the mouse with the keyboard and brand Enable Mouse Keys.

Once this feature is activated, you will be able to use the numeric keypad to move the pointer around the screen. So even if your mouse fails or you need more precision, you have an alternative.

How do you move the pointer with Mouse Keys? The numeric keypad imitates mouse movements according to the following arrangement:

• Top and left: 7
• Top: 8
• Top and right: 9
• Left: 4
• Right: 6
• Below and to the left: 1
• Below: 2
• Down and to the right: 3

This allows you move around the screen with precision.

Select and click with the numeric keypad

To be able to click (left, right or double click) from the keyboard, you need to configure the button you want to use:

• Select the left button: Press the forward slash (/).
• Select both buttons: Press the asterisk (✲).
• Select the right button: Press the minus sign (-).

Once you have selected the active button, you can perform various actions:

• Click: Press 5 with the left button active.
• Right click: Press 5 with the right button selected.
• Double click: Press the plus sign (+) with the left mouse button active.

To drag elements, select the object you want to move and press 0. To release it once placed, press the period (.). This way, you can move files, folders or icons without touching the mouse..

Essential keyboard shortcuts for moving without a mouse

In addition to the Mouse Keys, Windows incorporates a wide variety of keyboard shortcuts that allow you to navigate the system, manage files, switch between applications and much more without using the mouse.

Below are the most useful and frequent ones:

Basic Movements:

• TAB: Moves focus through the elements of a window or form.
• SHIFT+TAB: Returns to the previous item.
• ENTER: Selects or executes the active option.

These commands They are essential for navigating through programs, forms, or Windows menus. With TAB and ENTER you can open, close, select and execute almost any function.

Universal management combinations:

• Ctrl+C: Copy.
• Ctrl+X: Cut.
• Ctrl+V: Paste.
• Ctrl+A: Select all.
• Ctrl+S: Save.
• Ctrl+O: Open file.
• Ctrl+Z: Undo action.
• Ctrl+Y: Redo action.
• Ctrl+P: To print.

These combinations come by default in most Windows programs, from text editors to browsers.

Windows 10 and Windows 11 Specific Shortcuts

Both versions of the Microsoft operating system They have specific quick accesses for the system itselfThis allows you to control windows, switch applications, open tools, manage virtual desktops, and more.

Among the most useful accesses are:

• Windows key: Opens or closes the start menu.
• Ctrl+Esc: It also opens the start menu.
• Win+D: Show or hide the desktop.
• Win+E: Open the file explorer.
• Win+R: Open the “Run” window.
• Win+S: Start search.
• Win + U: Open the Ease of Access Center.
• Win+X: Quick administration menu.
• Win + number: Open the program pinned to the taskbar in that position.
• Win + arrows (left/right/up/down): Quickly organize windows.
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open the Task Manager.
• Alt+Tab: Switch between open applications.
• Alt+F4: Close the active window.

With these combinations you can manage programs, windows and files quickly, without taking your hands off the keyboard.. For users with special needs, Open Narrator (Win + Enter or Win + Ctrl + N) will facilitate navigation and spoken description of the screen.

Windows Narrator: Navigate with just your keyboard and voice

Windows has significantly improved its accessibility options, especially with The Narrator, which is available on Windows 10 and more advanced on Windows 11.

This screen reader allows people with visual impairments and those seeking mouse independence to move, read and manage everything on the computer..

Its main functions are:

• Read and describe aloud any element on the screen, such as buttons, menus, web pages, and files.
• Allows you to write, navigate and work with documents using only the keyboard.
• Provides contextual information about the text, including character, paragraph, font attributes, and color.
• Includes support for braille displays.
• Allows you to customize the speed, pitch, and volume of your voice, and to install additional voices.

To quickly activate Narrator:

• press Windows + Ctrl + N to access Narrator settings.
• Activate the option Turn on Narrator.
• You can set it to activate automatically when you log in and adjust its options.

Regarding keyboard navigation when Narrator is active, remember that:

• Use the arrow keys or Tab to move between elements.
• Press Enter to select a link, button, or option.
• Many commands use the Narrator Key (by default Caps Lock or Insert).
• Ctrl: Stops the current reading.
• Narrator + Ctrl + +: Increases the narrator's volume.
• Narrator + Ctrl + –: Decreases the volume.
• Narrator + + o -: Changes the reading speed.
• Narrator + Ctrl + D: Describes images on screen.

These features make Narrator an essential tool for users with special needs and those who want greater control and audio feedback.

Advanced management and shortcuts for browsers and applications

Outside of Windows, It is possible to navigate without a mouse in your favorite browsers and programs using specific combinationsBrowsers like Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have their own shortcuts, and platforms like YouTube and Twitter have shortcuts for controlling content and socializing without using a mouse.

In major browsers (Chrome, Edge, Firefox):

• Alt + Left Arrow: Return to the previous page.
• Alt + Right Arrow: Advance in history.
• Space bar: Scroll down a full page.
• Shift + Spacebar: Scroll up one page.
• CTRL+N: Open a new window.
• Ctrl+T: Open a new tab.
• Ctrl + W / Ctrl + F4: Close tab.
• ctrl+f: Search on the page.
• Ctrl+L: Go to the address bar.

On sites like YouTube, shortcuts make it easy to control video playback, activate subtitles, skip intervals or mute. For example, the K key or space bar pauses and resumes playback, while the J and L keys rewind and fast-forward. To learn other useful tricks, you can check out our complete guide on keyboard shortcuts on communication platforms.

Twitter also offers shortcuts for composing tweets, liking, or sending messages without using a mouse.

Simulate right click from the keyboard: a little-known feature

A useful and uncommon trick is the use of the context menu key, usually located to the right of the space bar, between Alt Gr and Right Ctrl. When pressed, the menu that would appear when right-clicking on any element is displayed.. Then, navigate with the arrows and select with Enter. To learn other keyboard tricks, we recommend visiting our page on shortcuts and tricks of specialized programs.

On keyboards portable or with missing keys, it is usually possible to use Shift + F10 as an alternative to access the same menu.

Total control: extended access and curiosities

Windows and some drivers Some graphics cards include additional shortcuts that can be useful, although it is important to know their limitations. For example, certain graphics cards Intel allow you to rotate the screen with Ctrl + Alt + Arrows, and other accesses include Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) or quick language changes (Ctrl + Shift). To better manage your keyboard settings, visit our guide on How to change keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11.

With these combinations, Manage virtual desktops, arrange windows, or zoom the screen with Win + and + / – It is simple and fast.

Mastering these shortcuts not only increases your speed, but also improves accessibility and prepares you for unexpected situations like a mouse failure or the need to work on the go.

Learning to use the keyboard in Windows will give you much more fluid control over your computer. Not only will you gain efficiency, but also greater autonomy and peace of mind, knowing that you always have control in your hands..