What the Pause/Break key does
Pause once halted scrolling text in DOS and Ctrl+Break stopped a running program. Today its main use is Windows+Pause, which opens the System page in Settings, and Ctrl+Break to stop a macro in Excel or a command in some terminals.
On a Mac
No key and no direct equivalent. Use About This Mac from the Apple menu for system info and Command+period to cancel operations.
On a laptop
Try Fn+P (Lenovo, Dell) or Fn+B. If absent, the On-Screen Keyboard has a Pause key.
Shortcuts that use the Pause/Break key
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows+Pause | Open System settings / About |
| Ctrl+Break | Stop an Excel macro or a batch job |
| Fn+P / Fn+B (laptop) | Pause on some models |
| Ctrl+C | Modern replacement for Ctrl+Break in terminals |
If the Pause/Break key is missing or not working
If Windows+Pause does nothing, your laptop probably has no Pause key; open Settings → System → About instead. Test the key below.
Test it here: click the tester, press the key, and it should light up green. A red key is stuck; a key that never lights up is dead or intercepted by the system. The full keyboard tester has the press log and more detail.
Click the tester, then press any key. Browser shortcuts are blocked while it has focus.
—
- key
- —
- code
- —
- keyCode
- —
none
Max at once: 0 (rollover)
None detected. A key held for more than 2 seconds is flagged.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Pause Break key do? +
Little today. Windows+Pause opens the system About page and Ctrl+Break stops some running programs and macros.
Where is Pause Break on a laptop? +
Often missing. Try Fn+P or Fn+B, or use the On-Screen Keyboard.
How do I open System Properties without a Pause key? +
Right-click Start and choose System, or press Windows+X then Y.