The Ultimate Guide to Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

A keyboard shortcut is a combination of keys that helps you do certain tasks more easily. It allows you to do things faster and more efficiently, while also reducing dependency on the mouse. Overall, it enhances Windows functionality and improves your user experience.

This article lays out the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts in the Windows operating system.

General shortcuts in Windows

Here are some general shortcuts that people normally use in Windows, including shortcuts for tab / window management.

Alt + F4	To close windows
Alt + Space	To open the shortcut menu in the active window
Alt + Tab	To switch between apps
Ctrl + Esc or Windows key 🪟	To open the Start Menu
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	To open Task Manager
Shift + F10	To display the shortcut menu for the selected item
Windows key 🪟 + A	To open action center
Windows key 🪟 + I	To open Settings app
Windows key 🪟 + L	To lock the screen
Windows key 🪟 + Shift + S	To create a screenshot using Snipping Tool/Snip & Sketch menu
Windows key 🪟 + left or right arrow	To snap windows
Windows key 🪟 + up or down arrow	To snap windows in half or undo snap
Windows key 🪟 + Tab	To open task view
Windows key 🪟 + X	To open the quick link menu / power user menu

Windows key-related shortcuts

Here are the most common keyboard shortcuts that involve the Windows key.

Windows key 🪟	To open or close the start menu
Windows key 🪟 + Alt + (key 0-9)	To jump list in between opened apps
Windows key 🪟 + A	To open the action center in Windows 11
Windows key 🪟 + B	To set the focus to the first icon in the notification area of Windows taskbar
Windows key 🪟 + C	To open or close Microsoft Copilot; If Copilot is disabled, this will open or close Windows search
Windows key 🪟 + D	To show and close desktop
Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + Q	To open Quick Assist feature
Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + Spacebar	To change the input language and keyboard layout
Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + V	To open the sound output page of quick settings
Windows key 🪟 + Down arrow	To minimize the active window
Windows key 🪟 + E	To open File Explorer/Windows Explorer
Windows key 🪟 + F	To open Feedback Hub menu
Windows key 🪟 + G	To open Xbox Game Bar
Windows key 🪟 + H	To open voice dictation using Microsoft Speech Services
Windows key 🪟 + I	To open Windows Settings app
Windows key 🪟 + K	To cast your computer from Quick Settings to a display
Windows key 🪟 + M	To minimize all windows
Windows key 🪟 + N	To open notification area and calendar
Windows key 🪟 + Shift + Spacebar	To switch backward through input languages and keyboard layouts
Windows key 🪟 + Spacebar	To switch forward through input languages and keyboard layouts
Windows key 🪟 + Period (.) or Windows key 🪟 + Semicolon (;)	To open the emoji panel
Windows key 🪟 + Q or Windows key 🪟 + S	To open the Start menu
Windows key 🪟 + R	To open the Run menu
Windows key 🪟 + Shift + S	To open Snipping Tool / Snip & Sketch menu
Windows key 🪟 + Tab	To open the Task View
Windows key 🪟 + U	To open the Settings app to the accessibility section (accessibility / ease of access settings)
Windows key 🪟 + V	To open the clipboard history
Windows key 🪟 + X	To open the quick link menu / power user menu
Windows key 🪟 + Z	To open the snap layouts

Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows for Specific Applications

Here are some useful keyboard shortcuts you can use on specific computer software programs on Windows, such as in Command Prompt, File Explorer, text editing apps, virtual desktops, and web browsers.

Command Prompt

Here are some commonly used keyboard shortcuts to use on the Command Prompt.

Ctrl + C	To copy selected text
Ctrl + V	To paste selected text
Ctrl + A	To select all texts
F7	To view command history

File Explorer

Here are the most common keyboard shortcuts that you can use specifically in File Explorer.

Windows key 🪟 + E	To open File Explorer/Windows Explorer
CtrL + A	To select all files
Alt + D	To select the address bar
Alt + Enter	To display the properties of selected item
Alt + Left arrow	To navigate to the previous folder
Alt + P	To show or hide the preview pane
Alt + Right arrow	To navigate to the next folder
Ctrl + C	To copy files
Ctrl + D	To delete files
Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F or F3	To select the search box
Ctrl + N	To open a new File Explorer window
Ctrl + Shift + N	To create a new folder
Ctrl + V	To paste files
Ctrl + W	To close the active tab or to close the window if there’s only one tab open
Ctrl + X	To cut files
Ctrl + Y	To redo the action
Ctrl + Z	To undo the action
End	To scroll to the bottom of the active window
F2	To rename files
Delete	To delete files
Shift + Arrow keys	To select multiple files or folder
Shift + Delete	To permanently delete files or folders

Text Editing apps

Here are some commonly used keyboard shortcuts for text editing apps in Windows, like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They’re particularly useful for some actions, such as text selection and text formatting.

Ctrl + A	To select all of the text
Ctrl + B	To apply the bold format on the text
Ctrl + C	To copy the selected text
Ctrl + F	To find text
Ctrl + H	To find and replace text
Ctrl + I	To apply the italic format to the text
Ctrl + P	To open the print dialog box
Ctrl + S	To save the document
Ctrl + Shift + V	To paste as plain text
Ctrl + U	To apply the underline format
Ctrl + V	To paste the copied/cut text on the clipboard
Ctrl + X	To cut selected text
Ctrl + Y	To redo the typing that was undone with Ctrl + Z
Ctrl + Z	To undo the typing
F12	To perform Save As

Virtual Desktop

Here are the most commonly used shortcuts for when you work with multiple desktops or Virtual Desktops.

Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + D	To create a new virtual desktop
Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + left or right arrow	To switch between multiple desktops/virtual desktops
Windows key 🪟 + Ctrl + F4	To close current virtual desktop

Web browsers

Here are the most common keyboard shortcuts to use on your web browsers. These shortcuts can be used in popular browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox.

Ctrl + D	To bookmark the active tab
Ctrl + T	To open a new tab
Ctrl + W	To close the active tab
Ctrl + Shift + B	To show or hide the favorites bar/bookmarks
Ctrl + Shift + T	To reopen closed tabs or windows
Ctrl + Tab	Switch to the next tab
Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Switch to the previous tab
Ctrl + L	To select the address bar
Ctrl + R	To refresh the browser page
F11	To enter the full screen window

Conclusion

Keyboard shortcuts enable you to save time in performing different tasks and overall improve Windows functionality and user experience. Though it’s impossible to memorize the entire shortcut list in this article, you can start with the select few that you’ll most likely use on a daily basis. It’d also help to print a list of keyboard shortcuts and put it somewhere accessible close to your computer.

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