Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

Essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11 let you get things done faster by using your keyboard instead of your mouse. A keyboard shortcut is simply pressing one or more keys to perform an action. For example, pressing Ctrl+C copies selected text or files, a shortcut that works in most Windows 11 applications.

Learning these shortcuts can seriously speed up your workflow. Windows 11 includes many built-in shortcuts that help you open apps, manage windows, and switch between tasks with just a few keystrokes.

Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl+X	Cut the selected item.
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Ins)	Copy the selected item.
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Ins)	Paste the selected item.
Ctrl+Z	Undo an action.
Alt+Tab	Switch between open apps.
Alt+F4	Open Search (in most apps).
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+← arrow	Go back.
Alt+→ 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	When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction.
Ctrl+R (or F5)	Refresh the active window.
Ctrl+Y	Redo an action.
Ctrl+→ arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl+← arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl+↓ arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl+↑ arrow	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl+Alt+Tab	Shift with any arrow key.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys	Use the arrow keys to switch between all focuseds.
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.
Open the next menu to the right or open a submenu.	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift+Del	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Right arrow	Open the next menu to the left or close 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.

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do 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 Chat from Microsoft Teams. 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	Turn the HDR on or off.Note: Applies to the Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer. To update your Xbox Game Bar, go to the Microsoft Store app and check for updates.
Windows logo key  + Alt+B	Open the notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11.
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. Press the keyboard shortcuts again to focus on 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	Record video of the game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).
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	Open the clipboard history. Note: Clipboard history isn’t turned on by default. If you’d like to turn it on, use this keyboard shortcut and select the prompt to turn on history. Or you can select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard , and set Clipboard history to On.
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 emoji panel.
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 (;)	Opens Start  > Settings  > System  > About.
Windows logo key  + comma (,)	Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows logo key  + Pause	Open the desktop and open a new app instance located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl+F	Open the clipboard history. Note: Clipboard history isn’t turned on by default. If you’d like to turn it on, use this keyboard shortcut and select the prompt to turn on history. Or you can select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard , and set Clipboard history to On.
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+↑ 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+↓ 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+↑ arrow	Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key  + Shift+↓ arrow	Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.
Windows logo key  + Shift+← 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+PrtSc	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.

Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Ins)	Copy the selected text.
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Ins)	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+↑ arrow	Move up one line in the output history.
Ctrl+↓ 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.

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do 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.

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do 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+→ arrow	View the next folder.
Alt+↑ arrow	View the folder that the folder was in.
Alt+← arrow	View the previous folder.
Backspace	View the previous folder.
Right arrow	Closes the active tab. Closes the window if there’s only one tab open.
Left arrow	Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
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 this key	To do this
Windows logo key  + Tab	Open Task view.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl+D	Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl+→ arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl+← arrow	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl+F4	Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do 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+→-click a taskbar button	Show the window menu for the app.
Shift+→-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.

Settings keyboard shortcuts

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key  + I	Open settings.
Backspace	Go back to the settings home page.
Type on any page with search box	Search settings.

There are some useful keyboard shortcuts you might need in Windows 11. Although this is not a complete list, the above should be good enough to get you started.

Reference:

Microsoft.com

Conclusion:

• In conclusion, the provided list compiles a range of useful keyboard shortcuts for navigating Windows 11 without relying on a mouse.
• The post outlines general shortcuts for tasks like copy, paste, and undo and Windows logo key shortcuts for interacting with the operating system.
• Additionally, specific shortcuts for Command Prompt, dialog boxes, 📁 File Explorer, virtual desktops, taskbar, and settings are included, offering a comprehensive guide to enhancing efficiency within Windows 11.
• Readers are encouraged to utilize these keyboard shortcuts to streamline their Windows 11 experience and to contribute additional insights or corrections through the comment section for collective benefit.