Both can open a context menu, but Shift+F10 is the standard Windows shortcut to try. Microsoft documents it for the selected item in Windows 10 and Windows 11. The dedicated Menu key is also documented as an alternative in a Microsoft 365 workflow, but not every keyboard has one.
Which shortcut should you use?
Press Shift+F10 to open the context menu for the item that is currently selected or focused. Microsoft lists this as the Windows shortcut for displaying a selected item’s context menu in its Windows keyboard shortcuts reference, which covers Windows 10 and Windows 11.
If your keyboard has a dedicated Menu key—sometimes labeled Application—you can try that too. Microsoft gives the Menu key as an alternative to Shift+F10 when opening the context menu for a selected feature in its Microsoft 365 Quick Access Toolbar instructions.
Menu key and Shift+F10 compared
| Input | What the documentation establishes | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Shift+F10 | Microsoft lists it as displaying the context menu for the selected item in Windows 10 and Windows 11. | A keyboard shortcut combination. |
| Menu key | Microsoft names it as an alternative for a selected feature in the described Microsoft 365 workflow. | A dedicated key, which may not be present on every keyboard. |
In both documented examples, the menu belongs to the selected item or feature. The inputs are not a promise that every application or control will respond identically: Microsoft notes that some shortcut behavior can vary by application.
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How to open the menu with a keyboard
- Use the keyboard to move focus to, or select, the item whose options you want.
- Press Shift+F10. If your keyboard has a Menu or Application key, you can use it instead in workflows that support it.
- Use the arrow keys to move through the menu, then press Enter to choose an option. Press Esc to close it without choosing.
Microsoft’s accessibility walkthroughs for Start, the desktop, and File Explorer likewise direct users to navigate to or select an item before pressing Shift+F10 to open its context menu.
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If Shift+F10 does not open a menu
- Check focus: move focus onto the item first. A context menu is associated with the selected or focused item, not simply the pointer’s last location.
- Account for keyboard layout: on some laptops, function keys have secondary actions or require an Fn key. If Shift+F10 is intercepted by a device function, try the keyboard’s Fn combination for F10.
- Consider the application: shortcut behavior can vary by app. Use the app’s keyboard guidance if the focused control does not show a menu.
- No Menu key? That is normal; the dedicated key is not present on every keyboard. Use Shift+F10 instead.
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