Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11 — Here's A Guide

Lists of Keyboard Shortcuts You Can Press to Perform Specific Actions

KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS – Here are the shortcut keys you can use to perform certain actions while using Windows 11.

Are you one of the people who use a computer whether it is a laptop or a desktop on a daily basis? A huge part of the global populace are computer users for work or school. Many have enormous skills when it comes to speed-typing.

Typing on a computer — Photo Credit: Campaign Asia

However, it is not only familiarity with the keyboard that increases one’s speed in writing. Knowing the different keyboard shortcuts can be a big help as they can make your work easier and faster.

Knowing the shortcuts to perform specific tasks when typing is also a preparation in possible situations of your mouse or your laptop’s touchpad malfuncting. By knowing these shortcut keys, you can go on with your work or, at least, save it before the battery drains.

When it comes to keyboard shortcuts, there might be differences on what works in your computer depending on which operating system it has. One of the latest major release of Microsoft’s Windows NT operating system is the Windows 11.

Is your computer one of those that is operating in Windows 11? The shortcuts for this operating system might differ with the keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10, another major release of Window’s which took place in 2015.

To perform your computer work in a faster pacing, it is best to know the different keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 which include shortcuts for copy-pasting, performing functions on the taskbar and dialog box, doing tasks using the Windows key, and a lot more. Here’s a guide:

Windows Logo Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
Windows logo key	Open or close Start.
Windows logo key + A	Open Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + B	Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner.
Windows logo key + C	Open Windows Copilot. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + Shift + C	Open the charms menu.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + C	Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in Color Filter settings).
Windows logo key + D	Display and hide the desktop.
Windows logo key + E	Open File Explorer.
Windows logo key + F	Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
Windows logo key + G	Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open.
Windows logo key + Alt + B	Turn HDR on or off.
Windows logo key + H	Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + I	Open Settings.
Windows logo key + J	Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available. When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip. Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored.
Windows logo key + K	Open Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + Alt + K	Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute. Available starting in Windows 11, version 22H2.
Windows logo key + L	Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows logo key + M	Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key + Shift + M	Restore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows logo key + N	Open notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + O	Lock device orientation.
Windows logo key + P	Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Q	Open Quick Assist.
Windows logo key + R	Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key + Alt + R	Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).
Windows logo key + S	Open search.
Windows logo key + Shift + S	Take a screenshot of part of your screen.
Windows logo key + T	Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
Windows logo key + U	Open Accessibility Settings.
Windows logo key + V	Open the clipboard history.
Windows logo key + Shift + V	Set focus to a notification.
Windows logo key + W	Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + X	Open the Quick Link menu.
Windows logo key + Y	Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.
Windows logo key + Z	Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11.
Windows logo key + period (.) or semicolon (;)	Open emoji panel.
Windows logo key + comma (,)	Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows logo key + Pause	Opens Start > Settings > System > About .
Windows logo key + Ctrl + F	Search for PCs (if you’re on a network).
Windows logo key + number	Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated 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 in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + number	Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key + Alt + number	Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + number	Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator.
Windows logo key + Tab	Open Task view.
Windows logo key + Up arrow	Maximize the window.
Windows logo key + Alt + Up arrow	Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New with Windows 11.
Windows logo key + Down arrow	Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window.
Windows logo key + Alt + Down arrow	Snap window in focus to bottom half of screen. New with Windows 11.
Windows logo key + Left arrow	Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Right arrow	Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Home	Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke).
Windows logo key + Shift + Up arrow	Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key + Shift + Down arrow	Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.
Windows logo key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow	Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.
Windows logo key + Shift + Spacebar	Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout.
Windows logo key + Spacebar	Switch input language and keyboard layout.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Spacebar	Change to a previously selected input.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter	Turn on Narrator.
Windows logo key + Plus (+)	Open Magnifier and zoom in.
Windows logo key + Minus (-)	Zoom out in Magnifier.
Windows logo key + Esc	Close Magnifier.
Windows logo key + forward slash (/)	Begin IME reconversion.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B	Wake PC from blank or black screen.
Windows logo key + PrtScn	Save full screen screenshot to file.
Windows logo key + Alt + PrtScn	Save screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game Bar).
Windows logo key + Alt + Enter (on taskbar item focus)	Open taskbar settings.

Copy, Paste and General Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
Ctrl + X	Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)	Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)	Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Shift + V	Paste as plain text
Ctrl + Z	Undo an action.
Alt + Tab	Switch between open apps.
Alt + F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Windows logo key + L	Lock your PC.
Windows logo key + D	Display and hide the desktop.
F2	Rename the 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.
F10	Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
Alt + A	Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu.
Alt + F8	Show your password on the sign-in screen.
Alt + Esc	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter	Perform the command for that letter.
Alt + Enter	Display properties for the selected item.
Alt + Spacebar	Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Left arrow	Go back.
Alt + Right arrow	Go forward.
Alt + Page Up	Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down	Move down one screen.
Ctrl + F4	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
Ctrl + A	Select all items in a document or window.
Ctrl + D (or Delete)	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + E	Open Search (in most apps).
Ctrl + R (or F5)	Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y	Redo 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	Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys	When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys	When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys	Resize the Start menu when it’s open.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Spacebar	Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key	Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc	Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Ctrl + Spacebar	Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.
Shift + F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Shift with any arrow key	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Delete	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Right arrow	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
Left arrow	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
Esc	Stop or leave the current task.
PrtScn	Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard.

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
F4	Display the items in the active list.
Ctrl + Tab	Move forward through tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Move back through tabs.
Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,…	Move to that tab number.
Tab	Move forward through options.
Shift + Tab	Move back through options.
Alt + underlined letter	Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter.
Spacebar	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Backspace	Open a folder one level up if 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 option buttons.

Taskbar Keyboard Shortcut

Press these keys	To perform this
Shift + click a taskbar button	Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app.
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button	Open an app as an administrator.
Shift + right-click a taskbar button	Show the window menu for the app.
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar button	Show the window menu for the group.
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button	Cycle through the windows of the group.

File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
Alt + D	Select the address bar.
Ctrl + E	Select the search box.
Ctrl + F	Select the search box.
Ctrl + N	Open a new window.
Ctrl + T	Open a new tab and switch to it.
Ctrl + W	Closes the active tab. Closes the window if there’s only one tab open.
Ctrl + Tab	Move to the next tab.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Move to the previous tab.
Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,…	Move to that tab number.
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Ctrl + Shift + E	Display all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N	Create a new folder.
Num Lock + asterisk (*)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
Num Lock + plus (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + minus (-)	Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P	Display the preview panel.
Alt + Enter	Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item.
Alt + Right arrow	View the next folder.
Alt + Up arrow	View the folder that the folder was in.
Alt + Left arrow	View the previous folder.
Backspace	View the previous folder.
Right arrow	Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
Left arrow	Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.
End	Display the bottom of the active window.
Home	Display the top of the active window.
F11	Maximize or minimize the active window.

Virtual Desktop Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
Windows logo key + Tab	Open Task view.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + D	Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Right arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Left arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + F4	Close the virtual desktop you’re using.

Command and Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts

Press these keys	To perform this
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)	Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)	Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + M	Enter Mark mode.
Alt + selection key	Begin selection in block mode.
Arrow keys	Move the cursor in the direction specified.
Page up	Move the cursor by one page up.
Page down	Move the cursor by one page down.
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)	Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (Mark 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 + Home (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation)	If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.