keyboard shortcut to select file in windows explorer

Try shift+tab that will tab in the reverse order

Alt-Enter sometimes works from the address bar. It seems a bit temperamental though, not properly figured it out. Using Windows 10

"WinE to open windows explorer

CTRLL to move to the address bar

C:\Users as an example where I navigate, followed by Enter

Now simply press any character, as long as there is a file in the directory that starts with this character

This should move the selection onto the first file with a Name that matches the character."

"I just found this question and was searching for the same thing.

In Explorer in Windows 8, if you press enter while in the address bar, it goes directly to the file list.

Unfortunately, the behavior is not the same in the file open dialog, even though most of the shortcuts there are the same.

You can easily get there from the find dialog: if you press F3, then ESC, then down, you will end up in the file list (both in Explorer and the file open dialog). Unfortunately (and bizarrely), however, F3 doesn't always take you to the search box. It depends on what element you have selected at the time.

It is amazing how poorly thought out the Explorer shortcuts are. There are direct shortcuts for most elements in the interface, including rarely used options like Map Network Drive--but not for selecting the file list!"

"File list is the default selected area just after opening file explorer. Try pressing a letter that matches the first letter in a file or folder name to see the item become selected. Alternately press down arrow to navigate into the file/folder list.
First file/folder is skipped when using down arrow after folder is first opened. No file or sub directory folder is actively selected when file explorer first opens. (Kind of like a bug or flaw!) Work around for keyboard users to select the first file/folder is down arrow then up arrow."