Windows Shortcut Keys

By Vidya Sagar

➢ Essential shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Action

Ctrl + A Select all content.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy selected items to clipboard.

Ctrl + X Cut selected items to clipboard.

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste content from clipboard.

Ctrl + Z Undo an action, including undelete files (limited).

Ctrl + Y Redo an action.

Ctrl + Shift + N Create new folder on desktop or File Explorer.

Close active window. (If no active window is present,

Alt + F4
then a shutdown box appears.)

Ctrl + D (Del) Delete selected item to the Recycle Bin.

Delete the selected item permanently, skipping Recycle

Shift + Delete
Bin.

F2 Rename selected item.

ESC Close current task.

Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.

PrtScn Take a screenshot and stores it in the clipboard.

Windows key + I Open Settings app.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + E Open File Explorer.

Windows key + A Open Action center.

Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop.

Windows key + L Lock device.

Windows key + V Open Clipboard bin.

Windows key + Period (.) or

Open emoji panel.
semicolon (;)

Windows key + PrtScn Capture full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder.

Windows key + Shift + S Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.

Windows key + Left arrow

Snap app or window left.
key

Windows key + Right arrow

Snap app or window right.
key
 ➢ Desktop shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key (or Ctrl + Esc) Open Start menu.

Ctrl + Arrow keys Change Start menu size.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.

Ctrl + Shift Switch keyboard layout.

Close active window. (If no active window is present,

Alt + F4
then a shutdown box appears.)

Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh current window.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab View open apps.

Ctrl + Arrow keys (to select)

Select multiple items on desktop or File Explorer.
+ Spacebar

Alt + Underlined letter Runs command for the underlined letter in apps.

Switch between open apps while pressing Tab multiple

Alt + Tab
times.

Alt + Left arrow key Go back.

Alt + Right arrow key Go forward.

Alt + Page Up Move up one screen.

Alt + Page Down Move down one screen.

Alt + Esc Cycle through open windows.

Alt + Spacebar Open context menu for the active window.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Alt + F8 Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen.

Shift + Click app button Open another instance of an app from the Taskbar.

Ctrl + Shift + Click app

Run app as administrator from the Taskbar.
button

Shift + Right-click app button Show window menu for the app from the Taskbar.

Ctrl + Click a grouped app

Cycle through windows in the group from the Taskbar.
button

Shift + Right-click grouped

Show window menu for the group from the Taskbar.
app button

Ctrl + Left arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.

Ctrl + Right arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.

Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous

Ctrl + Up arrow key
paragraph

Ctrl + Down arrow key Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.

Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key Select block of text.

Ctrl + Spacebar Enable or disable Chinese IME.

Shift + F10 Open context menu for selected item.

F10 Enable app menu bar.

Shift + Arrow keys Select multiple items.

Windows key + X Open Quick Link menu.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + Number (0-

Open app in number position from the Taskbar.
9)

Windows key + T Cycle through apps in the Taskbar.

Windows key + Alt + Open Jump List of the app in number position from the
Number (0-9) Taskbar.

Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop.

Windows key + M Minimize all windows.

Windows key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

Windows key + Home Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window.

Windows key + Shift + Up Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the
arrow key screen.

Windows key + Shift + Down Maximize or minimize active desktop windows vertically
arrow key while maintaining width.

Windows key + Shift + Left

Move active window to monitor on the left.
arrow key

Windows key + Shift + Right

Move active window to monitor on the right.
arrow key

Windows key + Left arrow

Snap app or window left.
key

Windows key + Right arrow

Snap app or window right.
key

Windows key + S (or Q) Open Search.

Windows key + Alt + D Open date and time in the Taskbar.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + Tab Open Task View.

Windows key + Ctrl + D Create new virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + F4 Close active virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + Right

Switch to the virtual desktop on the right.
arrow

Windows key + Ctrl + Left

Switch to the virtual desktop on the left.
arrow

Windows key + P Open Project settings.

Windows key + A Open Action center.

Windows key + I Open Settings app.

Backspace Return to Settings app home page.

 ➢ File Explorer shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + E Open File Explorer.

Alt + D Select address bar.

Ctrl + E (or F) Select search box.

Ctrl + N Open new window.

Ctrl + W Close active window.

Ctrl + F (or F3) Start search.

Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Change view file and folder.

Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation

Ctrl + Shift + E
pane.

Ctrl + Shift + N Creates a new folder on desktop or File Explorer.

Ctrl + L Focus on the address bar.

Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8) Changes folder view.

Alt + P Display preview panel.

Alt + Enter Open Properties settings for the selected item.

Alt + Right arrow key View next folder.

Alt + Left arrow key (or

View previous folder.
Backspace)
 Keyboard shortcut Action

Alt + Up arrow Move up a level in the folder path.

F11 Switch active window full-screen mode.

F5 Refresh the instance of File Explorer.

F2 Rename selected item.

F4 Switch focus to address bar.

F5 Refresh File Explorer's current view.

F6 Cycle through elements on the screen.

Home Scroll to the top of the window.

End Scroll to the bottom of the window.

 ➢ Windows key shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key Open Start menu.

Windows key + A Open Action center.

Windows key + S (or Q) Open Search.

Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop.

Windows key + L Locks computer.

Windows key + M Minimize all windows.

Windows key + B Set focus notification area in the Taskbar.

Windows key + C Launch Cortana app.

Windows key + F Launch Feedback Hub app.

Windows key + G Launch Game bar app.

Windows key + Y Change input between desktop and Mixed Reality.

Windows key + O Lock device orientation.

Windows key + T Cycle through apps in the Taskbar.

Switch input between the desktop experience and

Windows key + Z
Windows Mixed Reality.

Windows key + J Set focus on a tip for Windows 10 when applicable.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + H Open dictation feature.

Windows key + E Open File Explorer.

Windows key + I Open Settings.

Windows key + R Open Run command.

Windows key + K Open Connect settings.

Windows key + X Open Quick Link menu.

Windows key + V Open Clipboard bin.

Windows key + W Open the Windows Ink Workspace.

Windows key + U Open Ease of Access settings.

Windows key + P Open Project settings.

Windows key + Ctrl + Enter Open Narrator.

Windows key + Plus (+) Zoom in using the magnifier.

Windows key + Minus (-) Zoom out using the magnifier.

Windows key + Esc Exit magnifier.

Windows key + Forward-

Start IME reconversion.
slash (/)

Windows key + Comma (,) Temporarily peek at the desktop.

Windows key + Up arrow

Maximize app windows.
key
 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + Down arrow

Minimize app windows.
key

Windows key + Home Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window.

Windows key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

Windows key + Shift + Up Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the
arrow key screen.

Windows key + Shift + Maximize or minimize active windows vertically while

Down arrow key maintaining width.

Windows key + Shift + Left

Move active window to monitor on the left.
arrow key

Windows key + Shift + Right

Move active window to monitor on the right.
arrow key

Windows key + Left arrow

Snap app or window left.
key

Windows key + Right arrow

Snap app or window right.
key

Windows key + Number (0-

Open app in number position in the Taskbar.
9)

Windows key + Shift + Open another app instance in the number position in the
Number (0-9) Taskbar.

Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to the last active window of the app in the number
Number (0-9) position in the Taskbar.

Windows key + Alt + Open Jump List of the app in number position in the
Number (0-9) Taskbar.
 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift Open another instance as an administrator of the app in
+ Number (0-9) the number position in the Taskbar.

Windows key + Ctrl +

Change previous selected input option.
Spacebar

Windows key + Spacebar Change keyboard layout and input language.

Windows key + Tab Open Task View.

Windows key + Ctrl + D Create a virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + F4 Close active virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + Right

Switch to the virtual desktop on the right.
arrow

Windows key + Ctrl + Left

Switch to the virtual desktop on the left.
arrow

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift

Wake up the device when black or a blank screen.
+B

Windows key + PrtScn Capture full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder.

Windows key + Shift + S Create part of the screen screenshot.

Windows key + Shift + V Cycle through notifications.

Windows key + Ctrl + F Open search for the device on a domain network.

Windows key + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist.

Windows key + Alt + D Open date and time in the Taskbar.

 Keyboard shortcut Action

Windows key + Period (.) or

Open emoji panel.
semicolon (;)

Windows key + Pause Show System Properties dialog box.

Thank You