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Keyboard shortcuts are essential for anyone looking to enhance their efficiency and workflow in Windows. They go beyond simply speeding up tasks; they fundamentally improve your interaction with the operating system, reducing reliance on the mouse and creating a smoother, more focused computing experience.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11, organized into categories for easy reference. This list focuses on the most useful and current shortcuts.
General Windows Shortcuts
These are the foundational shortcuts that work across most applications.
- F2: Rename selected item
- F3: Search for a file or folder in File Explorer
- F4: Display the address bar list in File Explorer
- F5: Refresh the active window
- F6: Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
- Alt + F4: Close the active app or window
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps
- Alt + Esc: Cycle through items in the order they were opened
- Alt + Enter: Display properties for the selected item
- Alt + Spacebar: Open the shortcut menu for the active window
- Ctrl + F4: Close the active document (in apps that allow multiple open documents)
- Ctrl + A: Select all items in a document or window
- Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item
- Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
- Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item
- Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
- Ctrl + Y: Redo an action
- Ctrl + D: Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
- Delete: Delete the selected item
- Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the selected item (bypassing the Recycle Bin)
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager directly
- Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Open the Windows security screen (Lock, Switch User, Sign Out, Task Manager)
- Shift + F10: Display the right-click context menu for the selected item
- Esc: Stop or leave the current task
Windows Logo Key Shortcuts
The Windows key is your gateway to powerful system-level commands.
- Win: Open or close the Start menu
- Win + A: Open the Action Center (Notifications & Quick Settings)
- Win + C: Open Microsoft Teams Chat (Windows 11) / Cortana (if active)
- Win + D: Display and hide the Desktop
- Win + E: Open File Explorer
- Win + G: Open the Xbox Game Bar
- Win + H: Open Voice Typing (Speech-to-text)
- Win + I: Open Windows Settings
- Win + K: Open the Cast menu to connect to wireless displays
- Win + L: Lock your PC
- Win + M: Minimize all windows
- Win + Shift + M: Restore minimized windows on the desktop
- Win + P: Choose a presentation display mode (Duplicate, Extend, etc.)
- Win + R: Open the Run dialog box
- Win + S: Open Search
- Win + V: Open the Clipboard history (must be enabled in Settings)
- Win + W: Open Widgets (Windows 11) / Windows Ink Workspace (Windows 10)
- Win + X: Open the Quick Link menu (Advanced user menu)
- Win + Z: Open the layout editor for Snap Layouts (Windows 11) or app commands
- Win + , (Comma): Peek at the desktop (temporarily)
- Win + + (Plus): Open Magnifier and zoom in
- Win + – (Minus): Zoom out with Magnifier
- Win + Esc: Exit Magnifier
- Win + Tab: Open Task View to see all virtual desktops and open windows
- Win + Ctrl + D: Add a new virtual desktop
- Win + Ctrl + F4: Close the current virtual desktop
- Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between virtual desktops
- Win + Number (1-9): Open the app pinned to the taskbar in that position, or switch to it if already open.
- Win + Shift + Number (1-9): Open a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in that position.
- Win + Alt + Number (1-9): Open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in that position.
- Win + ← / →: Snap the active window to the left or right half of the screen.
- Win + ↑ / ↓: Maximize or minimize the active window. If snapped, will resize to quarter-screen.
File Explorer Shortcuts
Navigate and manage your files with ease.
- Alt + D: Select the address bar
- Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F: Select the search box
- Ctrl + N: Open a new File Explorer window
- Ctrl + W: Close the current window
- Ctrl + Mouse Scroll Wheel: Change the file/folder view (icons, list, details, etc.)
- Alt + P: Show/hide the Preview pane
- Alt + Enter: Open the Properties dialog for the selected item
- Alt + →: View the next folder
- Alt + ←: View the previous folder
- Alt + ↑: View the parent folder
- Backspace: View the previous folder
- F11: Toggle full-screen mode
Accessibility Shortcuts
Quickly access Windows’ ease-of-access features.
- Win + U: Open the Ease of Access Center in Settings
- Win + Ctrl + O: Turn the On-Screen Keyboard on or off
- Press Shift 5 times: Turn Sticky Keys on or off
- Hold Right Shift for 8 seconds: Turn Filter Keys on or off
- Win + Ctrl + C: Turn color filters on or off (requires enabling in Ease of Access settings)
Dialog Box Shortcuts
- Tab: Move forward through options
- Shift + Tab: Move back through options
- Ctrl + Tab: Move forward through tabs
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move back through tabs
- Spacebar: Select or clear a check box if active
- Enter: equivalent to clicking the selected button (usually “OK”)
- Alt + underlined letter: Perform the command for that letter
