How to turn Underline Access Keys on or off in Windows 11

Have you ever seen a little line under a letter in a menu or on a button? Those aren’t there by accident! They are called “access keys.” Think of them as secret keyboard shortcuts for things you see on your screen. If you want to quickly open a menu or click a button using your keyboard instead of your mouse, learning about access keys is the way to go. Windows 11 has a setting that makes these underlines easier to see. Turning it on is very simple.

Why do this?

You might be wondering why you would want to see these underlines. Well, access keys are a way to use your computer with just your keyboard. They can make you faster at navigating programs and Windows itself. By seeing the underlines, you know exactly which key to press along with the Windows key to activate a specific item without needing to use your mouse.

What happens when you do this?

Once you turn on this setting, you will start to see underlines appear under certain letters in menus and buttons across Windows and many applications. For example, if you open a File menu and see an underline under the ‘F’, pressing the Windows key + F might open that menu. This makes it much easier to know which keyboard shortcuts are available for the items you are looking at.

How to Turn on Underlined Access Keys in 🪟 Windows 11

Turning on this setting is fast. You just need to go through the Windows 11 Settings app. Follow these easy steps, and you’ll see the helpful underlines in no time.

1. Open Windows Settings ⚙️: The fastest way is to press two keys together: the Windows logo key (the one with the Windows flag) and the R key. This opens a small window. Type ms-settings: and press Enter. This will open the main Settings window. Or, you can click the Start button ⊞ on your taskbar 🖥️ and then click the ‘Settings’ gear icon.
2. Go to Accessibility: When the Settings ⚙️ window opens, look for ‘Accessibility’ in the list on the left side. Click on it. This is where Windows keeps all the options to make your computer easier to use.
3. Find the Keyboard Section: Scroll down in the Accessibility settings. Look for a section called ‘Interaction’. Under this section, you will see an option named ‘Keyboard’. Click on it. This opens settings just for your keyboard.
4. Find the Access Keys Setting: Now, in the Keyboard settings, you will see a list of options. Look for the one that says ‘Underline access keys when they are available’. There might be a switch next to it.
5. Turn the Switch On: Click the switch next to ‘Underline access keys when they are available’. Move it to the ‘On’ position. When it’s on, the switch usually changes color (like blue or green, depending on your Windows theme) and moves to the right.

That’s it! You have now turned on this feature. Now, when you press the Windows key, you should see underlines appear under the letters for menus, buttons, and other things that use access keys.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows/make-your-mouse-keyboard-and-other-input-devices-easier-to-use

Summary

Turning on the underline access keys setting in Windows 11 is a simple tweak that can significantly improve your keyboard navigation speed. By following the steps to enable it in the Accessibility › Keyboard settings, you’ll make it easier to spot and use keyboard shortcuts for menus and buttons, allowing for a more efficient workflow.