Resetting a Single Shortcut Key

If you have defined custom shortcut keys in Word, you may at some point want to get rid of one of your previously defined shortcuts. Word makes it easy to remove all of your custom shortcuts (as described in other WordTips), but you may want to only reset the purpose of a single shortcut key. Follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

1. Choose Customize from the Tools menu. Word displays the Customize dialog box.
2. Click on the Keyboard button. Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Position the insertion point in the Press New Shortcut Key text box.
4. Press the shortcut key you want to reset. For instance, if you want to reset Ctrl+B, then press Ctrl+B. Just below the Press New Shortcut Key text box you should see the name of the active Word function that is currently using this shortcut. (If you don't see anything there, then it is not currently in use.) Make note of the function.
5. Using the Categories and Commands lists, locate the function you noted in step 4. You will know you have the right function when the shortcut key you want to reset shows up in the Current Keys list.
6. Within the Current Keys list, select the shortcut key you want to reset.
7. Click on the Remove button. Word removes shortcut key definition.
8. Click on OK to dismiss the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
9. Click on OK to dismiss the Customize dialog box.

If you are using Word 2007 you should follow these steps instead:

1. Click the Office button and then click Word Options. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
2. At the left of the dialog box click Customize.
3. Click the Customize button. Word displays the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
4. Position the insertion point in the Press New Shortcut Key text box.
5. Press the shortcut key you want to reset. For instance, if you want to reset Ctrl+B, then press Ctrl+B. Just below the Current Keys text box you should see the name of the active Word function that is currently using this shortcut. (If you don't see anything there, then it is not currently in use.) Make note of the function.
6. Using the Categories and Commands lists, locate the function you noted in step 5. You will know you have the right function when the shortcut key you want to reset shows up in the Current Keys list.
7. Within the Current Keys list, select the shortcut key you want to reset.
8. Click on the Remove button. Word removes shortcut key definition.
9. Click on Close to dismiss the Customize Keyboard dialog box.
10. Click on Cancel to dismiss the Word Options dialog box.