To save some time, most desktop operating systems offer Keyboard shortcuts that not only reduce your efforts to find some system settings or apps but save your mouse clicks as well. Here in this article, we have gathered a list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11 or 10 that definitely help you to become a pro user.
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General
| Ctrl+X | Cut the selected item |
| Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+INSERT) | Copy selected item |
| Ctrl+V (or Shift+INSERT) | Insert selected item |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo action |
| Alt+Tab | Switch between open apps |
| Alt+F4 | Close an active item or quit an active app |
| Windows logo key +L | Lock YOUR PC |
| Windows logo key +D | Show and hide desktop |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer |
| F4 | View the address bar list in File Explorer |
| F5 | Update active window |
| F6 | Toggle between screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
| F10 | Enable the menu bar in the active app |
| Alt+F8 | Display your password on the login screen |
| Alt+ESC | Toggle between items in the order in which they were opened |
| Alt+underlined letter | Run command on this letter |
| Alt+Enter | View properties for the selected item |
| ALT+SPACEBAR | Open the context menu for the active window |
| ALT+LEFT ARROW | Back |
| ALT+RIGHT ARROW | Farther |
| ALT+PAGE UP | Move up a screen |
| ALT+PAGE DOWN | Move down a screen |
| Ctrl+F4 | Close active document (in full-screen apps where multiple documents can be open at the same time) |
| Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window |
| Ctrl+D (or DELETE) | Delete a selected item and move it to the Trash |
| Ctrl+R (or F5) | Update active window |
| Ctrl+Y | Repeat an action |
| Ctrl+Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
| Ctrl+Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
| Ctrl+Down Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
| Ctrl+Up Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
| Ctrl+Alt+Tab | Toggle between all open apps using the arrow keys |
| Shift+Alt+Arrow keys | Move a group of tiles highlighted on the Start menu in the specified direction |
| Ctrl+Shift+Arrow Keys | If a tile has focused on the Start menu, move it to another tile to create a folder |
| Ctrl+Arrow Keys | Scale the size of the open Start menu |
| Ctrl+Arrow (to move to an item)+Spacebar | Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop |
| Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key | Select text block |
| Ctrl+ESC | Open the Start menu |
| Ctrl+Shift+ESC | Open Task Manager |
| Ctrl+Shift | Change keyboard layout (if multiple keyboard layouts are available) |
| Ctrl+Spacebar | Enable or disable the Chinese Input Method Editor |
| SHIFT+F10 | Display context menus for the selected item |
| SHIFT with an arrow key | Select multiple items in a window or desktop, or select text in a document |
| SHIFT+DEL | Delete the selected item without first moving it to the Trash |
| RIGHT ARROW KEY | Open the next menu to the right of the current menu or submenu |
| LEFT ARROW KEY | Open the next menu to the left of the current menu or close the submenu |
| ESC | Pause or stop the current task |
Windows logo key
| Windows logo key | Open or close the Start menu |
| Windows logo key +A | Open Action Center |
| Windows Logo button +B | Set focus to the notification area |
| Windows logo key +C | Open Microsoft Teams |
| Windows logo key +Shift+C | Open the Charms menu |
| Windows logo key +D | Show and hide desktop |
| Windows logo key +Alt+D | Show and hide the date and time on the desktop |
| Windows logo key +E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows logo key +F | Open the feedback hub and take a screenshot |
| Windows logo key +G | Open the game bar with the game open |
| Windows logo key +H | Start dictation |
| Windows logo key +I | Open Settings |
|
Windows logo key +J | Focus on a Windows tip, if available.
If a Windows tip appears, focus on the tip. Pressing the keyboard shortcut again puts the focus on the screen element to which the Windows tip is associated. |
| Windows logo key +K | Open quick connect action |
| Windows logo key +L | Lock your PC or change your account |
| Windows logo key +M | Minimize all windows |
| Windows logo key +O | Lock device alignment |
| Windows logo key +P | Select a display mode for presentation |
| Windows logo key +R | Open the Run dialog box |
| Windows logo key +S | Open Search |
| Windows logo key +T | Toggle between apps on the taskbar |
| Windows logo key +U | Open ease of access center |
| Windows logo key +V | Switch between notifications |
| Windows logo key +SHIFT+V | Switch between notifications in reverse order |
| Windows logo key +X | Open the Direct Link menu |
| Windows logo key +Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and Desktop |
| Windows logo key +Z | View an app’s available commands in full-screen mode |
| Windows logo key + period (.) or semicolon (;) | Open emoji section |
| Windows logo key + comma (,) | Temporarily preview the desktop |
| Windows logo key + PAUSE key | Display the System Properties dialog box |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+F | Search for PCs on a network |
| Windows logo key +Shift+M | Restore minimized windows to the desktop |
| Windows logo key + number | Open the desktop and launch the app pinned to the taskbar at the location specified by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. |
| Windows logo key+SHIFT+number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar at the location indicated by the number. |
| Windows logo key+CTRL+number | Open the desktop and go to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar at the location indicated by the number. |
| Windows logo key +Alt+Number | Open desktop and open Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar at the location specified by the number. |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+Shift+Number | As an administrator, open the desktop and a new instance of the app located in the specified location on the taskbar |
| Windows logo key +Tab | Open active applications |
| Windows logo key +Up Arrow | Maximize Windows |
| Windows logo key +Down Arrow | Remove the current app from the screen or minimize desktop windows |
| Windows logo key + Left Arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window on the left side of the screen |
| Windows logo key + Right Arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window on the right side of the screen |
| Windows logo key +POS1 | Minimize all windows except the active desktop window (the second keystroke restores all windows) |
| Windows logo key +Shift+Up Arrow | Enlarge desktop windows to the top and bottom of the screen |
| Windows logo key +Shift+Down Arrow | Restore/minimize active desktop window vertically with unchanged width |
| Windows logo key +Shift+Left Arrow or Right Arrow | Move the app or window on the desktop from one monitor to another |
| Windows logo key + SPACEBAR | Change input language and keyboard layout |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+Spacebar | Switch to a previously selected input |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+Enter | Open Narrator |
| Windows logo key + slash (/) | Start IME reconversion |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+V | Open shoulder pat |
Prompt
| Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+INSERT) | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl+V (or Shift+INSERT) | Insert selected text |
| Ctrl+M | Switch to markup mode |
| Alt+Select button | Start selection in block mode |
| Arrow keys | Move the cursor in the specified direction |
| PAGE UP | Move the cursor up one page |
| PAGE DOWN | Move the cursor down one page |
| Ctrl+POS1 (selection mode) | Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer |
| Ctrl+End (Selection Mode) | Move the cursor to the end of the buffer |
| Ctrl+Up Arrow | Move up one line in the output history |
| Ctrl+Down Arrow | Move down one line in the output history |
| Ctrl+POS1 (History Navigation) | If the command line is empty, move the display area to the beginning of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all characters that are on the command line to the left of the cursor. |
| Ctrl+End (History Navigation) | If the command line is empty, move the display area to the command line. Otherwise, delete all characters that are on the command line to the right of the cursor. |
Dialog box
| F4 | Show items in the active list |
| Ctrl+Tab | Navigate forward through tabs |
| Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Navigate backward through tabs |
| CTRL+Number (Number 1-9) | Go to the latest tab |
| Tab key | Navigate forward through options |
| SHIFT+TAB | Navigate backward through options |
| Alt+underlined letter | Run command (or select option) to which the letter belongs |
| SPACEBAR | Select or clear check boxes if the active option is a check box |
| BACKSPACE KEY | Open folders at the next level when a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
| Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of radio buttons |
File Explorer
| Alt+D | Select address bar |
| Ctrl+E | Select search box |
| Ctrl+F | Select search box |
| Ctrl+N | Open a new window |
| Ctrl+W | Close active window |
| Ctrl+Mouse Wheel | Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons |
| Ctrl+Shift+E | Show all folders above the selected folder |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Create a new folder |
| NUM key+asterisk (*) | Show all subfolders below the selected folder |
| NUM+PLUS (+) | View the contents of the selected folder |
| NUM+MINUS (-) | Collapse selected folders |
| Alt+P | Show preview window |
| Alt+Enter | Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item |
| ALT+RIGHT ARROW | Show next folder |
| ALT+UP ARROW | View the folder where the folder was located |
| ALT+LEFT ARROW | Show the previous folder |
| BACKSPACE KEY | Show the previous folder |
| RIGHT ARROW KEY | Show current selection (if collapsed) or select the first subfolder |
| LEFT ARROW KEY | Collapse the current selection (if expanded) or select the folder in which the folder was located |
| END | Show the bottom of the active window |
| HOME | Show top of the active window |
| Q11 | Maximize or minimize the active window |
Virtual Desktops
| Windows logo key +Tab | Open active applications |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+D | Add a virtual desktop |
| Windows logo key+Ctrl+Right Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the right |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+Left Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the left |
| Windows logo key +Ctrl+F4 | Close the virtual desktop in use |
Taskbar
| SHIFT+click taskbar button | Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app |
| Ctrl+Shift+Click Taskbar Button | Open the app as an administrator |
| SHIFT+right-click taskbar button | Show the window menu for the app |
| SHIFT+right-click grouped taskbar button | Show the window menu for the group |
| Ctrl+click grouped taskbar button | Switch between the group’s windows |
Settings
| Windows logo key +I | Open Settings |
| BACKSPACE KEY | Return to the Settings home screen |
| Enter text on any page with a search box | Search settings |
These were some popular keyboard shortcuts to use on Windows 11 or 10 to become more advanced users and save time.
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