# What is the IE key-combination that reloads the previous page?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031 "2007-03-15T13:58:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031/1 "2007-03-15T13:58:43Z")

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It has happened to me numerous times. I am typing merrily along, just thiiiiiis close to finishing the greatest post in the history of history when all of a sudden, I hit shift-somethingorother and bam! Flash! Squizzit! Mwop! The browser makes a clicking sound, and finally settles onto the prior page. I curse loudly, and then I click the forward button only to find the original quoted text without so much as a word of my earth shattering and life changing exposition.

What the heck have I done? I’m afraid to try random key-combinations until I hit the one that is the culprit, because I might accidentally select the one that enrolls me in a Microsoft knock-off of AOL with a monthly subscription of $139.95 or something.

Any help?

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**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031/2 "2007-03-15T14:22:13Z")

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ALT+ Left Arrow

Oddly enough, I make this mistake more often now with Firefox than I did with IE (no idea why - it’s the same control). Just so happens that Firefox retains your form input if you do something like that.

Not “browser whoring” for FF but sharing a friendly tidbit if you’re interested.

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**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031/3 "2007-03-15T14:31:38Z")

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If your textbox has lost focus, BACKSPACE might be doing it to you.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-ie-key-combination-that-reloads-the-previous-page/396031/4 "2007-03-15T14:56:00Z")

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Alt \<— will take you back but the good news is that Alt —\> will restore your in process post. Give it a try as an experiment.

Jim