Skip to main content

Windows keyboard shortcuts

1. New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

Windows 11 brings a few Keyboard Shortcuts for accessing its cool new features such as widgets, snap layouts, action center, and quick settings.

FYI, Win key is the Windows Logo key on your keyboard.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open up the Widgets pane. It supplies you with the weather forecast, local traffic, news, and even your calendar.Win + W
Toggle up the Quick Settings. It controls the Volume, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brightness sliders, Focus Assist, and other settings.Win + A
Bring up the Notification Center. It shows all your notifications in the OS.Win + N
Open the Snap Layouts flyout. It helps you organize apps and windows for multitasking.Win + Z
Open Teams Chat app from Taskbar. It helps you quickly select a chat thread directly from the Taskbar.Win + C

Here are the most frequently used and essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Select all contentsCtrl + A
Copy the selected itemsCtrl + C
Cut the selected itemsCtrl + X
Paste the copied or cut itemsCtrl + V
Undo an actionCtrl + Z
Redo an actionCtrl + Y
Switch between the running applicationsAlt + Tab
Open Task ViewWin + Tab
Close the active app or If you are on Desktop, open the Shutdown box to shut down, restart, log out or put your PC to sleep.Alt + F4
Lock your computer.Win + L
Display and hide the desktop.Win + D
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.Ctrl + Delete
Delete the selected item permanently.Shift + Delete
Capture a full screenshot and saves it in the clipboard.PrtScn or Print
Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.Win + Shift + S
Open Start button context menu.Windows + X
Rename selected item.F2
Refresh the active window.F5
Open Menu bar in the current app.F10
Go back.Alt + Left arrow
Go forward.Alt + Left arrow
Move up one screenAlt + Page Up
Move down one screenAlt + Page Down
Open Task Manager.Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Project a screen.Win + P
Print the current page.Ctrl + P
Select more than one item.Shift + Arrow keys
Save the current file.Ctrl + S
Save AsCtrl + Shift + S
Open a file in the current app.Ctrl + O
Cycle through the apps on the taskbar.Alt + Esc
Display your password on the login screenAlt + F8
Open the shortcut menu for the current windowAlt + Spacebar
Open properties for the selected item.Alt + Enter
Open the context menu (right-click menu) for the selected item.Alt + F10
Open Run command.Win + R
Open a new program window of the current appCtrl + N
Take a screen clippingWin + Shift + S
Open Windows 11 settingsWin + I
Go back to Settings home pageBackspace
Stop or close the current taskEsc
Enter/Exit the full-screen modeF11
Launch Emoji keyboardWin + period (.) or Win + semicolon (;)

3. Desktop and Virtual Desktops Shortcuts for Windows 11

These simple shortcuts will help you navigate your desktop and virtual desktops more smoothly.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open Start menuWindow logo key (Win)
Switch keyboard layoutCtrl + Shift
View all open appsAlt + Tab
Select more than one item on the desktopCtrl + Arrow keys + Spacebar
Minimize all open windowsWin + M
Maximize all minimized windows on the desktop.Win + Shift + M
Minimize or maximize all but the active windowWin + Home
Snap the current app or window to the LeftWin + Left Arrow Key
Snap the current app or window to the RIght.Win + Right Arrow Key
Stretch the active window to the top and bottom of the screen.Win + Shift + Up arrow key
Restore or minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.Win + Shift + Down arrow key
Open Desktop viewWin + Tab
Add a new virtual desktopWin + Ctrl + D
Close the active virtual desktop.Win + Ctrl + F4
Toggle or switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the RightWin key + Ctrl + Right arrow
Toggle or switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the LeftWin key + Ctrl + Left arrow
Create a shortcutCTRL + SHIFT while dragging icon or file
Open WIndows SearchWin + S or Win + Q
Take a peek look at the desktop until you release the WINDOWS key.Win + Comma (,)

4. Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

You can use below keyboard shortcuts to take control of your taskbar:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Run an app as administrator from the taskbarCtrl + Shift + Left Click app button or icon
Open the app in the first position on your taskbar.Win + 1
Open the app in the number position from the taskbar.Win + Number (0 - 9)
Cycle through apps in the taskbar.Win + T
View Date and Time from the taskbarWin + Alt + D
Open another instance of an app from the taskbar.Shift + Left Click app button
Show the window menu for the group apps from the taskbar.Shift + Right-click grouped app icon
Highlight the first item in the Notification Area and use the Arrow key switch between the itemWin + B
Open the application’s menu on the task barAlt + Windows key + number keys

5. File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11

These keyboard shortcuts can help you navigate your Windows filesystem quickly than ever:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open the File Explorer.Win + E
Open the search box in the file explorer.Ctrl + E
Open the current window in a new window.Ctrl + N
Close active window.Ctrl + W
Start the mark modeCtrl + M
Change the file and folder view.Ctrl + Mouse Scroll
Switch between left and right panesF6
Create a new folder.Ctrl + Shift + N
Expand all subfolders in the navigation pane on the left.Ctrl + Shift + E
Select address bar of the File Explorer.Alt + D
Changes folder view.Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8)
Display the preview panel.Alt + P
Open the Properties settings for the selected item.Alt + Enter
Expand the selected drive or folderNum Lock + plus (+)
Collapse the selected drive or folder.Num Lock + minus (-)
Expand all the subfolders under the selected drive or folder.Num Lock + asterisk (*)
Go the next folder.Alt + Right arrow
Go the previous folderAlt + Left arrow (or Backspace)
Go to the parent folder the folder was in.Alt + Up arrow
Switch focus to address bar.F4
Refresh the File ExplorerF5
Expand the current folder tree or select the first subfolder (if it’s expanded) in the left pane.Right Arrow key
Collapse the current folder tree or select the parent folder (if it’s collapsed) in the left pane.Left Arrow Key
Move to the top of the active window.Home
Move to the bottom of the active window.End

6. Command Prompt Shortcuts for Windows 11

If you are a Command Prompt user, then these shortcuts will come handy:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Scroll to the top of the Command Prompt (cmd).Ctrl + Home
Scroll to the bottom of the cmd.Ctrl + End
Select everything on the current lineCtrl + A
Move the cursor up a pagePage Up
Move the cursor down a pagePage Down
Enter Mark mode.Ctrl + M
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.Ctrl + Home (in Mark mode)
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.Ctrl + End (in Mark mode)
Cycle through command history of active sessionUp or Down arrow keys
Move cursor left or right in the current command line.Left or Right arrow keys
Move your cursor to the start of the current lineShift + Home
Move your cursor to the end of the current lineShift + End
Move cursor up one screen and select text.Shift + Page Up
Move cursor down one screen and select text.Shift + Page Down
Move the screen up one line in the output history.Ctrl + Up arrow
Move the screen down one line in the output history.Ctrl + Down arrow
Move cursor up one line and select the text.Shift + Up
Move cursor down one line and select the text.Shift + Down
Move the cursor one word at a time.Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys
Open search for Command Prompt.Ctrl + F

7. Dialog box Shortcuts for Windows 11

Use the following Windows hotkeys to navigate the Dialog box of any application easily:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Move forward through tabs.Ctrl + Tab
Move back through tabs.Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Switch to nth tab.Ctrl + N (number 1–9)
Show the items in the active list.F4
Move forward through options of the dialog boxTab
Move back through options of the dialog boxShift + Tab
Execute the command (or select the option) that is used with the underlined letter.Alt + underlined letter
Check or Uncheck the check box if the active option is a check box.Spacebar
Select or move to a button in a group of active buttons.Arrow keys
Open the parent folder if a folder is selected in the Open or Save As dialog box.Backspace

8. Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

Windows 11 provides these keyboard shortcuts to make your computer more accessible and easier to use for everyone:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open Ease of Access CentreWin + U
Turn on Magnifier and Zoom inWin + plus (+)
Zoom out using MagnifierWin + minus (-)
Exit MagnifierWin + Esc
Switch to docked mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + D
Switch to full-screen mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + F
Switch to lens mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + L
Invert colors in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + I
Cycle through views in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + M
Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + R
Pan in the direction of the arrow keys in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys
Zoom in or out using mouseCtrl + Alt + mouse scroll
Open NarratorWin + Enter
Open on-screen keyboardWin + Ctrl + O
Turn Filter Keys on and offPress Right Shift for eight seconds
Turn High Contrast on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + PrtSc
Turn Mouse Keys on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + Num Lock
Turn Sticky Keys on or offPress Shift five times
Turn Toggle Keys on or offPress Num Lock for five seconds
Open Action CenterWin + A

9. Other Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open Game barWin + G
Record the last 30 seconds of the active gameWin + Alt + G
Start or stop recording the active gameWin + Alt + R
Take a screenshot of the active gameWin + Alt + PrtSc
Show/hide recording timer of the gameWin + Alt + T
Start IME reconversionWin + forward slash (/)
Open Feedback HubWin + F
Launch Voice TypingWin + H
Open the Connect quick settingWin + K
Lock your device orientationWin + O
Display the System Properties PageWin + Pause
Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)Win + Ctrl + F
Move an app or window from one monitor to anotherWin + Shift + Left or Right arrow key
Switch input language and keyboard layoutWin + Spacebar
Open Clipboard HistoryWin + V
Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.Win + Y
Launch Cortana appWin + C
Open another instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Shift + Number key (0-9)
Switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Ctrl + Number key (0-9)
Open Jump List of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Alt + Number key (0-9)
Open another instance as an administrator of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Ctrl + Shift + Number key (0-9)