| Key | Action |
| F1 | Help |
| F2 | Refresh panel |
| F3 | The built-in file viewer (called lister) shows the file under the cursor. |
| F4 | This starts the editor you selected in the configuration dialog, and loads selected file. |
| F5 | Copy files |
| F6 | Rename files |
| F7 | Create directory |
| F8 or Del | Delete files (to Recycle Bin) |
| F9 | Change language |
| F10 | Change file assotiations ("Open with ..." dialog) |
| F11 | Copy selected files to clipboard |
| F12 | Restore selection from clipboard |
| Alt+F1 | Change left drive |
| Alt+F2 | Change right drive |
| Alt+F3 | Viewing the file under the cursor with an external viewer |
| Alt+F4 | Exit |
| Alt+F5 | Pack selected files |
| Alt+Ctrl+F5 | (user-defined) Pack selected files to current directory |
| Alt+F6 | Unpack all files from archive under cursor (not working on Windows 95!) |
| Alt+F7 | Find |
| Alt+F8 | Opens the history list of the command line |
| Alt+F9 | Same as ALT+F6 (because ALT+F6 is broken on Windows 95) |
| Alt+Shift+F9 | Test archives for integrity |
| Alt+F10 | Open a directory tree window |
| Alt+F11 | Copy filename to clipboard (with UNC-path) |
| Alt+F12 | Copy path of source to clipboard |
| Alt+left or right | Open previous/next directory in list of already visited |
| Alt+down | Open list of already visited dirs |
| Alt+A | Change file/directory attributes |
| Alt+B | Hide/show toolbar |
| Alt+D | Synchronize directories |
| Alt+I | Show tooltips |
| Alt+K | Show/hide function key buttons |
| Alt+L | Unload all plugins from memory |
| Alt+Q | Quick search for file name (starting with specified letter) in current dir. (Don't activate quick search in configuration dialog! Use this key shortcut instead) |
| Alt+R | Open "My Network Places" (and plugins) |
| Alt+S | Copy selection |
| Alt+T | Open "Control Panel" |
| Alt+W | Hide/show tabstops |
| Alt+UP | Edit current directory path above file window |
| Alt+Shift+S | Store list of selected files/dirs to file |
| Alt+Shift+R | Restore selection from file |
| Shift+F1 | Compare selected files by content (if no file is selected, the file under the cursor is compared with a file in the other window, having the same name) |
| Shift+F2 | Compare file lists |
| Shift+F3 | List only file under cursor, when multiple files selected |
| Shift+F4 | Create new text file and load into editor |
| Shift+F5 | Copy files (with rename) in the same directory |
| Ctrl+Shift+F5 | Create shortcut of files in target directory |
| Shift+F6 | Rename files in the same directory |
| Shift+F8 or Del | Delete files directly without moving them to Recycle Bin (if that option is activated in configuration dialog) |
| Shift+F10 | Show context menu |
| Shift+F12 | Copy target path to clipboard |
| Shift+Esc | Minimize Total Commander |
| Num+ | Expand selection |
| Num- | Shrink selection |
| Num* | Invert selection |
| Num/ | Restore selection |
| Ctrl+Num+ | Select all |
| Ctrl+Num- | Deselect all |
| Alt+Num+ | Select all files with the same extension |
| Backspace or Ctrl+PgUp | Change to parent directory (corresponds to cd ..) |
| Ctrl+PgDn | Open directory/archive (also self extracting .EXE archives) |
| Ctrl+< | Jump to the root directory |
| Ctrl+left or right | Open directory/archive and display it in the target window. (If the cursor is not on a directory name, the current directory is displayed instead.) |
| Ctrl+F1 | File display 'brief' (only file names) |
| Ctrl+F2 | File display 'full' (all file details) |
| Ctrl+Shift+F2 | Comments view (use Ctrl+Z to add or change comments) |
| Ctrl+F3 | Sort files by name |
| Ctrl+F4 | Sort files by extension |
| Ctrl+F5 | Sort files by date/time |
| Ctrl+F6 | Sort files by size |
| Ctrl+F7 | Unsorted |
| Ctrl+F8 | Display directory tree |
| Ctrl+F9 | Print file under cursor using the associated program |
| Ctrl+F10 | Show all files |
| Ctrl+F11 | Show only programs |
| Ctrl+F12 | Show user defined files |
| Tab | Switch between left and right file list |
| Letter | Redirected to command line, cursor jumps to command line |
| Ins | Select file or directory |
| Space | Select file or directory (as INSERT). If SPACE is used on an unselected directory under the cursor, the contents in this directory are counted and the size is shown in the 'full' view instead of the string <DIR> |
| Enter | Change directory/run program/run associated program/execute command line if not empty. If the source directory shows the contents of an archive, further information on the packed file is given. |
| Shift+Enter | Run command line/program under cursor with preceding command /c and leave open the program's window. Only works if NOCLOSE.PIF is in your Windows directory! With archive files: call associated program |
| Alt+Shift+Enter | The contents of all directories in the current directory are counted. The sizes of the directories are then shown in the 'full' view instead of the string <DIR> |
| Alt+Enter | Show property sheet |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+B | Directory branch: show contents of current dir and all subdirs in one list |
| Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Ins | Copy files to clipboard (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+D | Open directory hotlist ('bookmarks') |
| Ctrl+G | Vertical/horizontal alignment |
| Ctrl+H | Hide/show hidden system files |
| Ctrl+J | Show currently active panel in target window |
| Ctrl+O | Opens Transfer Manager dialog |
| Ctrl+S | Hide all files except selected ones |
| Ctrl+F | Connect to FTP server |
| Ctrl+Shift+F | Disconnect from FTP server |
| Ctrl+N | New FTP connection (enter URL or host address) |
| Ctrl+I | Switch to target directory |
| Ctrl+L | Calculate occupied space (of the selected files) |
| Ctrl+M | Opens Multi-Rename-Tool dialog |
| Ctrl+Shift+M | Change FTP transfer mode |
| Ctrl+P | Copy current path to command line |
| Ctrl+Q | Show Quick View panel instead of a file list. Viewing file/dir via built-in viewer (Lister) using all plugins linked to it. |
| Ctrl+R | Reread source directory |
| Ctrl+T | Open new folder tab and activate it |
| Ctrl+Shift+T | Open new folder tab, but do not activate it |
| Ctrl+U | Exchange directories |
| Ctrl+V or Shift+Ins | Paste from clipboard to current dir (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+W | Close currently active tab |
| Ctrl+Shift+W | Close all open tabs |
| Ctrl+X or Shift+Del | Cut files to clipboard (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+Z | Edit comment |
| Ctrl+UP | Open dir under cursor in new tab |
| Ctrl+Shift+UP | Open dir under cursor in other window (new tab) |
| Ctrl+Tab | Jump to next tab |
| Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Jump to previous tab |
If Total Commander is active, nearly all keyboard input is directed to the command line.
Here is the layout for some keys:
| Key | Action |
| Enter | The command line is executed, if it contains at least one character (otherwise, the program under the cursor in the source window is started). If the command is cd, md or rd, it is executed internally. If it is an internal DOS command, DOS will be executed with this command. Otherwise, a program with the given name is executed. Hint: If you enter space character in command line then pressing Enter will launch Windows Explorer |
| Shift+Enter | Like ENTER, but with preceding command /c. After the called DOS program is terminated, its window is not automatically closed. This will only work if the file noclose.pif is in your windows directory. |
| Ctrl+Enter | The file under the cursor in the source directory is appended to the command line. |
| Ctrl+Shift+Enter | The file under the cursor including its path is appended to the command line. |
| Ctrl+down or Alt+F8 | A list with the latest command lines (history-list) is opened. Hold down the CTRL key and use the up and down cursor keys to select an entry. By pressing the left or right key, you can edit the command line. This automatically closes the list. |
| Tab or Cursor Keys | Puts the cursor back to the source directory. Cursor left and cursor right move the cursor through the command line, even if the cursor was in the source directory before. If brief was selected, these keys move the cursor through the source directory. You then have to hold down SHIFT to move it inside the command line. Cursor up and cursor down move the cursor bar inside the source window, even if it was inside the command line. |
| Esc or Ctrl+Y | Clears the command line |
| Ctrl+C or Ctrl+Ins | Copy selected text to clipboard (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+X or Shift+Del | Cut selected text to clipboard (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+V or Shift+Ins | Paste text from clipboard to command line. (32 bit) |
| Ctrl+K | Delete to end of line |
| Ctrl+W | Delete word to the left of the cursor |
| Ctrl+T | Delete word to the right of the cursor |
| Key | Action |
| F2 | Refresh |
| F7, Ctrl+F | Find in text... |
| Shift+F7, F5, F3 | Find next |
| Home, Backspaņe | Jump to beginning of file (Backspace works if 1 file is selected) |
| End | Jump to end of file |
| PgDown, Space | Scroll one page down |
| PgUp, Shift+Space | Scroll one page up |
| Alt+Left, P, Backspaņe | Previous file (Backspaņe works if several files are selected) |
| Alt+Right, N | Next file |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Ins | Copy selected text to clipboard |
| Alt+Shift+5 | Jump to position |
| Ctrl+P | Print... |
| A | ANSI-mode |
| S | ASCII-mode |
| V | User-defined codeing |
| W | Wrap text |
| F | Fit image to window |
| 1 | View: Text only |
| 2 | View: Binary |
| 3 | View: Hex |
| 4 | View: Image/Multimedia |
| 5 | View: HTML |
| 6 | View: Unicode |
| 7 | View: UTF8 |
| F1 | Help |
| Esc, Alt+F4, Q, F10, Shift+Q, Alt+Q, Ctrl+Q | Exit |
* Note: commands not mentioned in official documentation and user-defined keyboard shortcuts for Total Commander - eXtended Pack are typed in different color
Please pay attention to the fact that many of keyboard shortcuts are still unassigned. Feel free to bind them to any of 230 Total Commander commands. You can find a full list of all available commands in TOTALCMD.INC (the detailed list can be found here)
Do not forget that Total Commander fully supports Drag & Drop and all other Windows methods.
Thus, for example, if you want to delete a file or directory just drag and drop it on the "F8 Delete" button on the lower function key bar.
In order to create an icon for launching your favorite editor just drag the appropriate EXE file onto the upper button bar (with Shift held down - anywhere within TC window). Then if you want to open a file in that editor you should drag that file onto the icon of editor.
Many of the buttons have a very convenient pop-up menu. For example, right-click on the 'F8 Delete' button or the drive icon and see what happens ;)
Don't be afraid to experiment and many of the hidden features of this great file manager will reveal themselves to you!