Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11
Written by
Richard
Updated
12 min read
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 are key combinations that let you open apps, switch windows, and edit text much faster than using a mouse. Pressing two or more keys together saves time on everyday tasks. For example, Ctrl+C copies selected text in almost any app.
A few notes on how to read the lists below:
- A plus sign (+) means you hold the first key and tap the next one. You do not type the plus sign.
- The Win is the one between Ctrl and Alt on most keyboards. On some laptops a function (Fn) key changes what the top row does, so a shortcut that uses an F key may need Fn held down as well.
- Some shortcuts work only in certain apps or in certain places, such as File Explorer or the Command Prompt window. If a shortcut does nothing, check that the right window is active and that the app supports it.
The lists cover general shortcuts for tasks like copy, paste and undo, shortcuts that use the Win, and shortcuts for the Command Prompt, dialog boxes, File Explorer, virtual desktops, the taskbar and Settings. You do not need to learn them all at once. Pick two or three that match what you do most, use them for a week, and then add more.
⚡ Quick Answer
Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that open apps, switch windows and edit text faster than a mouse. The most common ones are Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, Ctrl+Z to undo, Alt+Tab to switch between open apps, and Win+L to lock your PC.
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). |
| Win + L | Lock your PC. |
| Win + 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 |
|---|---|
| Win | Open or close Start. |
| Win + A | Open Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Windows logo key + B | Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner. |
| Win + C | Open Chat from Microsoft Teams. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + Shift+C | Open the charms menu. |
| Win + Ctrl+C | Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in Color Filter settings). |
| Win + D | Display and hide the desktop. |
| Win + E | Open File Explorer. |
| Win + F | Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + Alt+B | Open the notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + H | Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + I | Open Settings. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + K | Open Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + Alt+K | Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute. Available starting in Windows 11, version 22H2. |
| Win + L | Lock your PC or switch accounts. |
| Win + M | Minimize all windows. |
| Win + Shift+M | Restore minimized windows on the desktop. |
| Win + N | Record video of the game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar). |
| Win + O | Lock device orientation. |
| Win + P | Choose a presentation display mode. |
| Windows logo key + Ctrl+Q | Open Quick Assist. |
| Win + R | Open the Run dialog box. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + S | Open search. |
| Win + Shift+S | Take a screenshot of part of your screen. |
| Win + T | Cycle through apps on the taskbar. |
| Win + U | Open Accessibility Settings. |
| Win + V | Open the emoji panel. |
| Win + Shift+V | Set focus to a notification. |
| Win + W | Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + X | Open the Quick Link menu. |
| Win + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop. |
| Win + Z | Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11. |
| Win + period (.) or semicolon (;) | Opens Start > Settings > System > About. |
| Win + comma (,) | Temporarily peek at the desktop. |
| Win + Pause | Open the desktop and open a new app instance located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + Shift + number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + Alt + number | Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. |
| Win + 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. |
| Win + Tab | Open Task view. |
| Win + Up arrow | Maximize the window. |
| Win + Alt+↑ arrow | Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New with Windows 11. |
| Win + Down arrow | Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window. |
| Win + Alt+↓ arrow | Snap window in focus to bottom half of screen. New with Windows 11. |
| Win + Left arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen. |
| Win + Right arrow | Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen. |
| Win + Home | Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke). |
| Win + Shift+↑ arrow | Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen. |
| Win + Shift+↓ arrow | Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width. |
| Win + Shift+← arrow or Right arrow | Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another. |
| Win + Shift + Spacebar | Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout. |
| Win + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout. |
| Win + Ctrl + Spacebar | Change to a previously selected input. |
| Win + Ctrl+Enter | Turn on Narrator. |
| Win + Plus (+) | Open Magnifier and zoom in. |
| Win + Minus (-) | Zoom out in Magnifier. |
| Win + Esc | Close Magnifier. |
| Win + forward slash (/) | Begin IME reconversion. |
| Win + Ctrl+Shift+B | Wake PC from blank or black screen. |
| Win + PrtScn | Save full screen screenshot to file. |
| Win + Alt+PrtSc | Save screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game Bar). |
| Win + 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 |
|---|---|
| Win + Tab | Open Task view. |
| Win + Ctrl+D | Add a virtual desktop. |
| Win + Ctrl+→ arrow | Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right. |
| Win + Ctrl+← arrow | Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right. |
| Win + 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 |
|---|---|
| Win + I | Open settings. |
| Backspace | Go back to the settings home page. |
| Type on any page with search box | Search settings. |
These shortcuts are the ones I find most useful in daily work with Windows 11. This is not a complete list, but it is a solid starting point for getting around the system. If you use one shortcut often and it is missing here, you can add it to your own notes. Windows and its apps get new shortcuts over time, and some apps let you change theirs.
Reference:
These keyboard shortcuts help you navigate Windows 11 quickly without relying on a mouse.
- The list covers a range of useful shortcuts for working in Windows 11 without reaching for the mouse.
- The post outlines general shortcuts for tasks like copy, paste and undo, plus Win shortcuts for working with the operating system itself.
- It also includes shortcuts for the Command Prompt, dialog boxes, File Explorer, virtual desktops, the taskbar and Settings, so you can find the right one for the window you are in.
- Try a few of them each day until they become habit. If you spot a mistake or know a shortcut worth adding, leave a note in the comments so other readers can benefit.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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