Here's the Windows keyboard shortcuts you need to know

While people tend to think of Windows as a mouse-driven operating system, the truth is that veterans use keyboard shortcuts all the time to speed things up. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of all the major shortcuts available — and where needed, we’ll tell you which ones only apply to Windows 11 instead of 10, or vice versa.

Ctrl key shortcuts

• Ctrl + X: Cut
• Ctrl + C: Copy
• Ctrl + V: Paste
• Ctrl + Z: Undo
• Ctrl + F4: Close the active document (in fullscreen apps that support multiple documents)
• Ctrl + A: Select every item in an app or window
• Ctrl + D: Delete
• Ctrl + E: Open Search (some apps may not support this)
• Ctrl + R: Refresh
• Ctrl + Y: Redo
• Ctrl + right arrow: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
• Ctrl + left arrow: Move the cursor to the start of the previous word
• Ctrl + down arrow: Move the cursor to the start of the next paragraph
• Ctrl + up arrow: Move the cursor to the head of the previous paragraph
• Ctrl + Alt + Tab: Open the app switcher — use Tab to switch between apps
• Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys: Move Start menu tiles or select a block of text
• Ctrl  + arrow keys + Spacebar: Select multiple individual items in a window/desktop
• Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start menu
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
• Ctrl + Shift: Switch keyboard layouts (when available)
• Ctrl + T: Open a new tab (in apps that support it, like File Explorer or Notepad)
• Ctrl + N: Open a new File Explorer window
• Ctrl + W: Close the active tab
• Ctrl + Tab: Move to the next tab
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move to the previous tab
• Ctrl + 1, 2, 3, etc..: Move to a File Explorer tab number
• Ctrl + mouse scrollwheel: Change the size of icons or fonts
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder
• Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button: Open an app as Administrator
• Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button: Cycle through windows in a group

Alt key shortcuts

• Alt (hold) + Tab: Open the app switcher, using Tab to switch apps
• Alt + F4: Close the current active item or app
• Alt + F8: Show your password at the sign-in screen
• Alt + Esc: Cycle through windows in the order they were opened
• Alt + Enter: Display properties for an item
• Alt + Spacebar: Open the shortcut menu for an active window
• Alt + left arrow: Go back
• Alt + right arrow: Go forward
• Alt + Page Up: Scroll up one screen
• Alt + Page Down: Scroll down one screen
• Alt + Shift + arrow keys: Move a group or tile in the Start menu
• Alt + D: Select the address bar in File Explorer
• Alt + P: Display File Explorer’s preview panel

Shift key shortcuts

• Shift + F10: Display the shortcut menu for a selected item
• Shift + arrow keys: Select multiple items in a window/desktop, or text in a document
• Shift + Delete: Delete an item completely (skips the Recycle Bin)
• Shift + click a taskbar button: Open an app or another instance of a previously-opened app
• Shift + right-click a taskbar button: Show the window menu for an app
• Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar button: Show the window menu for a group

Windows key shortcuts

• Windows key: Open the Start menu
• Windows + A: Open the Action Center (Windows 10) or Quick Settings (Windows 11)
• Windows + B: Set focus in the notification area (Windows 10) or to the first icon in the taskbar corner (Windows 11)
• Windows + D: Display the desktop (use again to go back to open apps)
• Windows + E: Open File Explorer
• Windows + G: Open the Game Bar (when a compatible game is running)
• Windows + Alt + B: Turn HDR on or off via the Game Bar
• Windows + H: Start voice dictation
• Windows + I: Open the Settings app
• Windows + K: Open the Connect quick action (Windows 10) or Cast from Quick Settings (Windows 11)
• Windows + L: Lock your PC or switch user accounts
• Windows + M: Minimize all windows
• Windows + O: Lock device orientation (on tablets/convertible laptops)
• Windows + P: Choose a presentation display mode
• Windows + Ctrl + Q: Open Quick Assist remote help session
• Windows + R: Open the Run dialog box
• Windows + S: Open Search
• Windows + Shift + S: Take a screenshot of part of your screen
• Windows + T: Cycle through apps in the taskbar
• Windows + U: Open Accessibility (Windows 11) or Ease of Access (Windows 10) options
• Windows + V: Open the clipboard (when multiple clipboard items are enabled via Settings)
• Windows + W: Open widgets (Windows 11)
• Windows + Z: Show commands available in a fullscreen app (Windows 10) or open snap layouts (Windows 11)
• Windows + .: Open the emojis panel (in Windows 11, this also includes GIFs, symbols, and kaomojis)
• Windows + Pause: Show the System Properties dialog box
• Windows + Ctrl +F: Search for PCs on a network
• Windows + Shift + M: Restore minimized windows
• Windows + N: Open the notification center and calendar (Windows 11)
• Windows + Tab: Open Task view
• Windows + up arrow: Maximize a window
• Windows + down arrow: Minimize a window or remove the current app from the screen
• Windows + left arrow: Maximize a window on the left side of the screen
• Windows + right arrow: Maximize a window on the right side of the screen
• Windows + Home: Minimizes everything except the selected window (use again to restore)
• Windows + Shift + up arrow: Stretch a window to the top and bottom of the screen
• Windows + Shift + down arrow: Restore or minimize active desktop windows vertically
• Windows + Shift + left or right arrow: Move a window from one monitor to another
• Windows + Spacebar: Switch input language and keyboard layout
• Windows + Ctrl + Enter: Turn on Narrator
• Windows + plus key: Open Magnifier
• Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B: Wake a PC from a blank/black screen
• Windows + Alt + up arrow: Snap a window in focus to the top half of the screen (Windows 11)
• Windows + Alt + down arrow: Snap a window in focus to the bottom half of the screen (Windows 11)

Other keyboard shortcuts you should know

• F2: Rename a selected item
• F3: Search for a file or folder in File Explorer
• F5: Refresh the current window
• F6: Cycle through screen elements in a window/desktop
• F10: Bring up the Menu bar in the current app
• Esc: Stop or exit the current task
• PrtScn: Take a screenshot of your full display (switch this to snipping using Settings > Accessibility [Ease of Access in Windows 10] > Keyboard)
• Shift (x5): Enable Sticky Keys (disable this via Settings)
• Tab: Cycle through options
• Shift-Tab: Cycle backwards through options
• Spacebar: Check or uncheck a checkbox
• Arrow keys: Cycle through buttons if a group of them is already highlighted