Ctrl+click
Ctrl+click is a keyboard and mouse shortcut combination that performs different functions depending on where and how it's used. Below are each of the locations where this shortcut is used and the function it performs.
If you are using an Apple computer, use the Command key instead of Ctrl to perform the following examples.
Highlighting objects
If you single-click while pressing Ctrl, you may select multiple files or objects at the same time. The following steps show how to practice highlighting multiple options using the control method (Ctrl+click) in the example box below.
- Click one of the options in the selection box under step 5. For example, you could click the first "Mouse" option.
- Press and hold the left or right Ctrl on the keyboard.
- While continuing to hold Ctrl, select each additional item you want to highlight. For example, you could click "Tips" and "Tricks" to have "Mouse," "Tips," and "Tricks" all highlighted.
- If done correctly, multiple items in the list are selected. To remove one of the highlighted items, click a highlighted item again while still pressing Ctrl.
- Once all items you want are highlighted, let go of Ctrl.
Open links in a new tab
While in a browser, pressing Ctrl and left clicking any hyperlink opens that link in a new tab. This shortcut is helpful for when you're reading a web page and are interested in a link, but want to continue reading the current page.
Using the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Left-click opens the link in a new tab and then also moves you to that new tab.
Open links in a word processor
In a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, pressing Ctrl and clicking a hyperlink opens the web page in the default browser. Using this shortcut is helpful when reading a document and you want to view a web page or verify the link works.