Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Copy the selected item.

Insert)

Ctrl + V (or Shift Paste the selected item.

+ Insert)

Ctrl + Z Undo an action.

Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.

Alt + F4 Close the active item, or exit the active app.

Windows logo Lock your PC.

key + L

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

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 + F8 Show your password on the sign-in screen.

Alt + Esc Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined Perform the command for that letter.
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 the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Delete)

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 + When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the
arrow keys direction specified.

Ctrl + Shift + When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to
arrow keys create a folder.

Ctrl + arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it's open.

Ctrl + arrow key Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
(to move to an
item) + Spacebar

Ctrl + Shift with Select a block of text.

an arrow key

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 Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select
arrow key 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.

Note

Windows logo Open or close Start.

key

Windows logo Open Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.

key + A

Windows logo Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner.
key + B

Windows logo Open Chat from Microsoft Teams. Updated in Windows 11.
key + C

Windows logo Open the charms menu.

key + Shift + C

Windows logo Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in Color Filter settings).
key + Ctrl + C

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

Windows logo Open File Explorer.

key + E

Windows logo Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.

key + F

Windows logo Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open.

key + G
Windows logo Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.
key + H

Windows logo Open Settings.

key + I

Windows logo Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.

key + J
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 Open Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.
key + K

Windows logo Lock your PC or switch accounts.

key + L

Windows logo Minimize all windows.

key + M

Windows logo Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

key + Shift + M

Windows logo Open notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11.
key + N

Windows logo Lock device orientation.

key + O

Windows logo Choose a presentation display mode.

key + P

Windows Open Quick Assist.

logo key + Ctrl +
Q

Windows logo Open the Run dialog box.

key + R

Windows logo Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).
key + Alt + R

Windows logo Open search.

key + S

Windows logo Take a screenshot of part of your screen.

key + Shift + S

Windows logo Cycle through apps on the taskbar.

key + T

Windows logo Open Accessibility Settings.

key + U

Windows logo Open the clipboard history.

key + V
Note

Clipboard history isn't turned on by default. If you'd like to turn it on,

use this keyboard shortcut and then select the prompt to turn on
history. Or you can select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard,
and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history.

Windows logo Set focus to a notification.

key + Shift + V

Windows logo Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11.

key + W

Windows logo Open the Quick Link menu.

key + X

Windows logo Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.
key + Y

Windows logo Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11.

key + Z

Windows logo Open emoji panel.

key + period (.)
or semicolon (;)
Windows logo Temporarily peek at the desktop.
key + comma (,)

Windows logo Opens Settings > System > About.

key + Pause

Windows logo Search for PCs (if you're on a network).

key + Ctrl + F

Windows logo Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the
key + number position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch
to that app.

Windows logo Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the
key + Shift + taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number

Windows logo Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app
key + Ctrl + pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number

Windows logo Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the
key + Alt + taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number

Windows logo Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the
key + Ctrl + Shift given position on the taskbar as an administrator.
+ number

Windows logo Open Task view.

key + Tab

Windows logo Maximize the window.

key + Up arrow

Windows logo Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New with Windows 11.
key + Alt + Up
arrow

Windows logo Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window.
key + Down
arrow

Windows logo Snap window in focus to bottom half of screen. New with Windows 11.
key + Alt + Down
arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.
key + Left arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.
key + Right
arrow

Windows logo Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on
key + Home second stroke).

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

Windows logo Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining

key + Shift + width.
Down arrow

Windows logo Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.
key + Shift + Left
arrow or Right
arrow

Windows logo Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout.

key + Shift +
Spacebar

Windows logo Switch input language and keyboard layout.

key + Spacebar

Windows logo Change to a previously selected input.

key + Ctrl +
Spacebar

Windows logo Turn on Narrator.

key + Ctrl +
Enter

Windows logo Open Magnifier and zoom in.

key + Plus (+)

Windows logo Zoom out in Magnifier.

key + Minus (-)

Windows logo Close Magnifier.

key + Esc

Windows logo Begin IME reconversion.

key + forward
slash (/)

Windows logo Wake PC from blank or black screen.

key + Ctrl + Shift
+B

Windows logo Save full screen screenshot to file.

key + PrtScn

Windows logo Save screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game
key + Alt + Bar).
PrtScn

F4 Display the items in the active list.

Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs.

Ctrl + number Move to nth tab.

(number 1–9)

Tab Move forward through options.

Shift + Tab Move back through options.

Alt + underlined Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that
letter 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.

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 + W Close the active window.

Ctrl + mouse Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
scroll wheel

Ctrl + Shift + E Display all folders above the selected folder.

Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder.

Num Lock + Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

asterisk (*)

Num Lock + plus Display the contents of the selected folder.

(+)

Num Lock + Collapse the selected folder.

minus (-)
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.

Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open Task view.

key + Tab

Windows logo Add a virtual desktop.

key + Ctrl + D

Windows logo Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
key + Ctrl +
Right arrow
 Windows logo Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
key + Ctrl + Left
arrow

Windows logo Close the virtual desktop you're using.

key + Ctrl + F4

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.

Windows logo key + I

Open settings.

Backspace

Go back to the settings home page.

Type on any page with search box

Search settings.