View source for Shift key

{{Short description|Key on typewriter or computer keyboard}}
[[File:Keyboard-left keys.jpg|thumb|right|The Shift key on an English Windows keyboard (above the left [[Control key|"Ctrl" key]])]]
The '''Shift key''' {{keypress|Shift}} is a [[modifier key]] on a [[alphanumeric keyboard|keyboard]], used to type [[majuscule|capital letters]] and other alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two Shift keys, on the left and right sides of the row below the [[home row]]. The Shift key's name originated from the [[typewriter]], where one had to press and hold the button to shift up the case stamp to change to capital letters;
the Shift key was first used in the [[E. Remington and Sons|Remington]] No. 2 Type-Writer of 1878; the No. 1 model was capital-only.<ref>{{citation
 |title       = Remington No. 2, 1878
 |url         = http://home.earthlink.net/~dcrehr/rem2.html
 |first       = Darryl
 |last        = Rehr
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091026164821/http://home.earthlink.net/~dcrehr/rem2.html
 |archive-date = 2009-10-26
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title       = Remington Standard 2
 |url         = https://www.typewritermuseum.org/collection/index.php3?machine=rem2&cat=ku
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221427/http://www.typewritermuseum.org/collection/index.php3?machine=rem2&cat=ku
 |archive-date = 2021-02-13
|access-date= 2021-08-08 
}}</ref>
On the [[Keyboard layout#QWERTY|US layout]] and similar [[keyboard layout]]s, characters that typically require the use of the Shift key include the [[bracket|parentheses]], the [[question mark]], the [[exclamation point]], and the [[colon (punctuation)|colon]].

When the [[Caps Lock]] key is engaged, the Shift key may be used to type [[lowercase letters]] on many [[operating system]]s, though not on [[macOS]] or on Windows keyboard layouts that have the [[SGCAPS]] feature.

==Labeling==
[[Image:Tastatur Erika Nr 5 Fraktur.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Keyboard of a German manual typewriter (early 20th century), with Shift keys labelled "Umschalter" ("switch")]]
[[File:ISOIEC-9995-7-001--ISO-7000-0251--Symbol-for-Level-2-Select.svg|thumb|right|upright=0.6|Keyboard symbol for "Level 2 Select" (i.e. "Shift")]]

The keyboard symbol for the Shift key (which is called '''[[ISO/IEC 9995#Shift|Level 2 Select key]]''' in the international standard series [[ISO/IEC 9995]]) is given in ISO/IEC 9995-7 as symbol 1, and in ISO 7000 ''“Graphical symbols for use on equipment”'' as a directional variant of the symbol ISO-7000-251. In [[Unicode]] 6.1, the character approximating this symbol best is U+21E7 {{smallcaps|upwards white arrow}} (⇧).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/21e7/index.htm|title=Unicode Character 'UPWARDS WHITE ARROW' (U+21E7)|website=www.fileformat.info}}</ref> This symbol is commonly used to denote the Shift key on modern keyboards (especially on non-US layouts and on the [[Apple Keyboard]]), sometimes in combination with the word "Shift" or its translation in the local language. This symbol also is used in texts to denote the Shift key.
{{clear}}

==Uses on computer keyboards==
On [[computer keyboard]]s, as opposed to [[typewriter keyboard]]s, the {{keypress|shift}} key can have many more uses:

* It is sometimes used to modify the [[function key]]s. Modern [[Microsoft Windows]] keyboards typically have only 12 function keys; {{keypress|Shift|F1}} must be used to type {{keypress|F13}}, {{keypress|Shift|F2}} for {{keypress|F14}}, etc.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* It can modify various [[control key|control]] and [[alt key]]s. For example, if {{keypress|Alt|Tab}} is used to cycle through open [[window (computing)|window]]s, {{keypress|Shift|Alt|Tab}} cycles in the reverse order, and using {{keypress|Ctrl|Shift|S}} could open a "Save as…" dialogue allowing to choose a new file name and directory instead of overwriting the current file.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* In most graphical systems using a mouse and keyboard, the {{keypress|shift}} key can be used to select a range. For example, if a file is selected in a list, Shift-clicking on a file further down the list will select the files clicked on plus the ones in between. Similarly, when editing text a Shift-click will select the text between the click point and the text cursor.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* The Shift key can be used in conjunction with the arrow keys to select text.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* Holding Shift while drawing with the mouse in graphics programs generally confines the shape to a straight line, usually vertically or horizontally, or to draw squares and circles using the rectangle and ellipse tools, respectively.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* The Shift key can also be used to modify the [[computer mouse|mouse]] behavior on a computer. For example, holding Shift while clicking on a [[hyperlink|link]] in a [[web browser]] might cause the page to open in a new window, or to be downloaded.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* In some web browsers, holding {{keypress|shift}} while scrolling will scan through previously viewed web pages.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* In mostly Pinyin Input Method, {{keypress|shift}} key usually use to switch between Chinese and lowercase English.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* In older versions of macOS (10.12 Sierra and below), holding {{keypress|shift}} while performing certain actions, such as minimising a window or enabling/disabling [[Dashboard (Mac OS)|Dashboard]] or [[Mission Control (macOS)|Mission Control]], makes the animation occur in slow motion. For some animations, holding {{keypress|Control}} will make the animation move just slightly slower, and holding {{keypress|Control|Shift}} will result in an extremely slow-motion animation.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}
* Pressing either Shift key when the screen is blank or the computer is asleep will wake the computer.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

On some keyboards, if both Shift keys are held down simultaneously only some letters can be typed. For example, on the [[Dell]] keyboard Model RT7D20 only 16 letters can be typed. This phenomenon is known as "masking" and is a fundamental limitation of the way the keyboard electronics are designed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/html/|title=Keyboard Matrix Help|website=www.dribin.org|access-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102211142/http://www.dribin.org/dave/keyboard/html/|archive-date=2 January 2018}}</ref>

==Windows specific==
The following is a list of actions involving the Shift key for the [[Microsoft Windows]] operating system.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Actions
! Result
! Windows versions
|-
|Press {{keypress|[[Control key|Ctrl]]|Shift|[[Escape key|Esc]]}}
|Opens the [[Windows Task Manager]].
|3.1+
|-
|Hold&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;+&nbsp;click&nbsp;''Restart''
|Reboots Windows only and not the entire system.
|95, 98, ME
|-
|Hold&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;+&nbsp;insert&nbsp;''[[CD]]''
|Holding Shift while inserting a [[compact disc]] in a [[Microsoft Windows]] computer will bypass the [[autorun]] feature. This ability has been used to circumvent the [[MediaMax CD-3]] CD [[copy protection]] system.
|95+
|-
|Hold&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;+&nbsp;click&nbsp;''close'' button
|In [[Windows Explorer]], closes the current folder and all parent folders.
|95+
|-
|Press {{keypress|Shift|[[Delete key|Delete]]}}
|In [[Windows Explorer]], if pressed with objects selected, such as files and folders, this will bypass the Recycle Bin and delete the selected objects permanently. Alternatively, holding Shift and selecting the Delete option in the [[context menu]] of the selected objects will achieve this. Retrieving deleted objects after this is only possible using recovery software.
|95+
|-
|Press {{keypress|Shift|[[Tab key|Tab]]}}
|Focuses on the previous object in the objects that are focusable in many Windows applications, such as the previous form control on a form in [[Internet Explorer]].
|3.1+
|-
|Press&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;5&nbsp;times
|Toggles [[StickyKeys]] on and off.
|95+
|-
|Hold&nbsp;the&nbsp;right&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;for&nbsp;8&nbsp;seconds
|Toggles [[FilterKeys]] on and off.
|95+
|-
|Press&nbsp;both&nbsp;{{keypress|Shift}}&nbsp;keys
|Deactivates [[StickyKeys]] if it is activated.
|95+
|-
|Press left {{keypress|[[Alt key|Alt]]}} + left {{keypress|Shift}} + {{keypress|[[Num lock|Num Lock]]}}
|Toggles [[MouseKeys]] on and off.
|95+
|-
|Press left {{keypress|[[Alt key|Alt]]}} + left {{keypress|Shift}} + {{keypress|[[Print screen|Print Screen]]}}
|Toggles [[Contrast (vision)|High Contrast]] on and off.
|95+
|-
|Press {{keypress|[[Windows key|Win]]|Shift|Tab}}
|Highlights the last task in the task bar. Continue to cycle through the taskbar with the arrow keys, {{keypress|[[Windows key|Win]]|Tab}} (forward), {{keypress|[[Windows key|Win]]|Shift|Tab}} (reverse), or alphanumeric keys (highlights the task that begins with the alphanumeric character that is pressed). Press {{keypress|Space Bar}} or {{keypress|Enter}} to open the task.
|95+
|-
|Press {{keypress|[[Alt key|Alt]]|Shift|Tab}}
|Displays a list of the tasks in the task bar for as long as the {{keypress|Alt}} is held down. Selects the last task in the list. Continue to cycle through the list by pressing {{keypress|Shift|Tab}}. Release {{keypress|Alt}} to open the selected task.
|3.1+
|-
|Press {{keypress|[[Control key|Ctrl]]|Shift|[[Tab key|Tab]]}}
|Selects the previous tabbed window in any Windows applications is that use the tabbed window control.
|3.1+
|-
|Press {{keypress|[[Windows key|Win]]|Shift|S}}
|Opens [[Snip & Sketch]]
|10
|}

==See also==
* [[AltGr key]]
* [[Command key]]
* [[Option key]]
* [[StickyKeys]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{keyboard}}
{{keyboard keys}}

[[Category:Computer keys]]