How to Use Access Keys in Windows 11 File Explorer

This guide explains how to use Access Keys to navigate menus in Windows 11 File Explorer.

Why use Access Keys?

Using a mouse for everything can be slow. Access Keys let you use your keyboard to pick menu options instantly. This saves time and keeps your hands on the keys.

What happens when done?

Once you finish these steps, you will see small letters appear next to menu items. Typing those letters will trigger the command without needing to click.

In the development version of Windows 11, Microsoft is testing a new feature that adds Access Keys shortcuts to the XAML context menu in File Explorer. This feature is currently only available for computers enrolled in the Microsoft Insider Preview program.

An access key is a single-letter shortcut. It lets you run a command in the right-click menu very quickly. Each key matches a letter shown in the menu item’s name.

While this is still a test, it might become a permanent part of Windows 11. Here is how to use it.

How to use Access Keys in File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Select the file or folder you want to work with.
3. Press the Menu key on your keyboard. This is usually located to the right of the Spacebar, next to the CTRL key.

After pressing the key, you will see Access Keys appear on the menu. You can now press the corresponding letter on your keyboard to choose an action.

That is all there is to it!

Reference

Microsoft.com

Summary

• Access Keys allow you to use your keyboard to navigate menus faster.
• This feature is currently being tested for the Windows 11 XAML context menu.
• You must be in the Microsoft Insider Preview program to use this feature.
• To use it, select a file or folder and press the Menu key to see the shortcuts.
• Note: This feature is experimental and could be changed or removed by Microsoft in the future.