Windows Media Player Hot Keys

Keyboard Shortcuts for Playback Controls

Play or pause a file.
CTRL+P
Stop playback.
CTRL+S
Mute the volume.
F8
Increase the volume
F10
Decrease the volume.
F9
Play the previous item.
CTRL+B
Play the next item.
CTRL+F
Rewind.
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Fast-forward.
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Play faster than normal speed (time compression).
CTRL+SHIFT+G
Play at normal speed.
CTRL+SHIFT+N
Play slower than normal speed (time expansion).
CTRL+SHIFT+S
table end
Note Rewind and fast-forward are not available for all files.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Library

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts that are available in the Library feature of Windows Media Player.

Search for items in your library that include the text in the Search box.
ALT+S
Display or hide album information.
ALT+I
Show or hide the List pane.
ALT, O, and then S
Enable the option to add items to the List pane by double-clicking them.
ALT, O, and then A
Enable the option to play all items in a playlist by double-clicking any item in the playlist.
ALT, O, and then P
Enable the option to play only the selected item in a playlist by double-clicking the item in the playlist.
ALT, O, and then I
Highlight items in the Details pane that contain media information for the selected sort order.
ALT, O, and then G
Choose the columns to be displayed in your library.
ALT, O, and then C
Display in the List pane a list of items to play.
ALT+L, and then W
Display in the List pane a list of items to burn to CD.
ALT+L, and then B
Display in the List pane a list of items to synchronize to a portable device.
ALT+L, and then S
Remove all items from the List pane.
ALT+L, and then C
Play items in the Now Playing list repeatedly.
ALT+L, and then R
Play items in the Now Playing list in a random order.
ALT+L, and then P
Shuffle items in the List Pane.
ALT+L, and then H
Sort items in the list by name, artist, album, rating, or file name.
ALT+L, and then S. Then use the arrow keys to select the information to sort by.
Edit items in the List pane by using the Edit Playlist dialog box.
ALT+L, and then U
Create in the List pane a new playlist or a new auto playlist.
ALT+L, and then N. Then use the arrow keys to select either a new playlist or new auto playlist.
Display in the List pane a playlist from your library.

ALT+L, and then E. Then use the arrow keys to select a playlist or open the Add to Playlist dialog box. Use the Edit by Using Playlist Editor command (ALT+L, and then U) to edit the playlist.

Save to your library a playlist that you changed.
ALT+L, and then A
Save to your library a new playlist that you created.
ALT+L, and then A
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for Ripping

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts that are available in the Rip feature of Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 5 rows

Show or hide the Album Information pane, which displays a Web page, provided by WindowsMedia.com, that helps you find information about a CD in the WindowsMedia.com database and update that information in your Player.

ALT+A
Rip music from a CD to your computer.
ALT+C

Show or hide the Media Information pane, which displays media information about the CD, provided by the currently selected online store, if one is available. If no online store is available in your area, the information is provided from a database hosted by WindowsMedia.com.

ALT+I
Stop ripping music from a CD.
ALT+S
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Keyboard Shortcuts for Burning

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts that are available in the Burn feature of Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 8 rows
Edit a playlist.
ALT+A
Start burning a CD.
ALT+B
Stop burning a CD.
ALT+S
Delete a selected item.
DELETE
Move to the next item in the list.
DOWN ARROW
Move to the previous item in the list.
UP ARROW
Refresh the information in the panes.
F5
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for Synchronization

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts that are available in the Sync feature of Windows Media Player.

Edit a playlist.
ALT+A
Start synchronization.
ALT+S
Stop synchronization.
ALT+S
Change synchronization settings.
ALT+C
Delete a selected item.
DELETE
Move to the next item in the list.
DOWN ARROW
Move to the previous item in the list.
UP ARROW
Refresh the information in the panes.
F5
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for the File Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the File menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 9 rows
Display the File menu.
ALT+F
Open a file.
CTRL+O
Specify a URL or path to a file.
CTRL+U
Close or stop playing a file.
CTRL+W
Create a new playlist.
CTRL+N
Edit the current playlist.
CTRL+D
Search specified locations for digital media files.
F3
Exit or close the Player.
ALT+F4
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for the View Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the View menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 11 rows
Display the View menu.
ALT+V
Switch to full mode.
CTRL+1
Switch to skin mode.
CTRL+2
Display the menu bar in full mode.
CTRL+M
Autohide the menu bar in full mode.
CTRL+SHIFT+M
Capture a still image from a DVD.
CTRL+I
Display video in full screen.
ALT+ENTER
Zoom to 50%.
ALT+1
Zoom to 100%.
ALT+2
Zoom to 200%.
ALT+3
table end

Note DVD commands are available only if you have a software decoder and hardware to support playing DVDs.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Play Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the Play menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 18 rows
Display the Play menu.
ALT+P
Play or pause playback.
CTRL+P
Stop playback.<
CTRL+S
Use a fast play speed.
CTRL+SHIFT+G
Use a normal play speed.
CTRL+SHIFT+N
Use a slow play speed.
CTRL+SHIFT+S
Play the previous item.
CTRL+B
Play the next item
CTRL+F
Rewind a file.
CTRL+SHIFT+B
Fast-forward a file.
CTRL+SHIFT+F
Shuffle the playlist.
CTRL+H
Repeat the playlist.
CTRL+T
Turn on or off captions and subtitles.
CTRL+SHIFT+C
Increase the volume.
F10
Decrease the volume.
F9
Mute the volume.
F8
Eject the CD or DVD.
CTRL+E, select CD or DVD drive by using arrow keys, and then press ENTER
table end

Notes The Eject keyboard shortcut is not displayed and does not work if multiple CD or DVD drives are attached to the computer. DVD commands are available only if you have a software decoder and hardware to support playing DVDs.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Tools Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the Tools menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 3 rows
Display the Tools menu.
ALT+T
Search specified locations for digital media files.
F3
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Help Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the Help menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 3 rows
Display the Help menu.
ALT+H
Display Windows Media Player Help.
F1
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Keyboard Shortcuts for the Anchor Window Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the anchor window menu commands in Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 5 rows
Display the anchor window menu.
ALT+F6 to focus on the anchor, then ALT key again Switch to full mode.
CTRL+1
Open or play a file.
CTRL+O
Specify a URL or path to a file.
CTRL+U
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Skin Chooser

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts in the Skin Chooser feature of Windows Media Player.

Table with 2 columns and 4 rows
Apply a skin.
ALT+A
Access and download more skins.
ALT+S
Delete a selected skin.
DELETE
table end

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Skin Shortcut Menu

The following table lists the keyboard shortcuts for the commands on the Skin shortcut menu, which is available only when Windows Media Player is in skin mode. The Skin shortcut menu provides access to many of the same commands that are available when Windows Media Player is in full mode.

Table with 2 columns and 17 rows
Display the shortcut menu.
SHIFT+F10
Browse through the shortcut menu.
SHIFT+F10, arrow keys
Close the shortcut menu.
ESC
Open a file.
CTRL+O
Specify a URL or path to a file.
CTRL+U
Shuffle the playlist.
CTRL+H
Repeat the playlist.
CTRL+T
Increase the volume.
F10
Decrease the volume.
F9
Mute the volume.
F8
Play or pause playback.
CTRL+P
Stop playback.
CTRL+S
Play the previous file.
CTRL+B
Play the next file.
CTRL+F
Switch to full mode.
CTRL+1
Display Windows Media Player Help.
F1
table end

Updated on ... July 28, 2016