Windows Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Reference: Keyboard Shortcuts




Article Goal - Illustrate the Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
Article Audience - Public

Essential Shortcuts

*Tap   to open 'Find...' and search on page*

Action

Keyboard Shortcut

Select all content

Ctrl + A

Copy selected items to clipboard

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)

Cut selected items to clipboard

Ctrl + X

Paste content from clipboard

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)

Undo an action, including undelete files (limited)

Ctrl + Z

Redo an action

Ctrl + Y

Create new folder on desktop or File Explorer

Ctrl + Shift + N

Close active window (If no active window present, then shutdown box appears)

Alt + F4

Delete selected item to the Recycle Bin

Ctrl + D (Del)

Delete selected item permanently skipping Recycle Bin

Shift + Delete

Rename selected item

F2

Close current task

ESC

Switch between open apps

Alt + Tab

Take screenshot and stores it in clipboard

PrtScn

Open Settings app

Windows key + I

Open File Explorer

Windows key + E

Open Action center

Windows key + A

Display and hide the desktop

Windows key + D

Lock device

Windows key + L

Open Clipboard bin

Windows key + V

Open emoji panel

Windows key + Period () or semicolon (;)

Capture full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder

Windows key + PrtScn

Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch

Windows key + Shift + S

Snap app or window left

Windows key + Left arrow key

Snap app or window right

Windows key + Right arrow key


Desktop Shortcuts

*Tap   to open 'Find...' and search on page*

Action

Keyboard Shortcut

Open Start menu

Windows key (or Ctrl + Esc)

Change Start menu size

Ctrl + Arrow keys

Open Task Manager

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Switch keyboard layout

Ctrl + Shift

Close active window (If no active window present, then shutdown box appears)

Alt + F4

Refresh current window

Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + R)

View open apps

Ctrl + Alt + Tab

Select multiple items on desktop or File Explorer

Ctrl + Arrow keys (to select) + Spacebar

Runs command for the underlined letter in apps

Alt + Underlined letter

Switch between open apps while pressing Tab multiple times

Alt + Tab

Go back

Alt + Left arrow key

Go forward

Alt + Right arrow key

Move up one screen

Alt + Page Up

Move down one screen

Alt + Page down

Cycle through open windows

Alt + Esc

Open context menu for the active window

Alt + Spacebar

Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen

Alt + F8

Open another instance of an app from the taskbar

Shift + Click app button

Run app as administrator from the taskbar

Ctrl + Shift + Click app button

Show window menu for the app from the taskbar

Shift + Right-click app button

Cycle through windows in the group from the taskbar

Ctrl + Click a grouped app button

Show window menu for the group from the taskbar

Shift + Right-click grouped app button

Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word

Ctrl + Left arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word

Ctrl + Right arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph

Ctrl + Up arrow key

Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph

Ctrl + Down arrow key

Select block of text

Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key

Enable or disable Chinese IME

Ctrl + Spacebar

Open context menu for selected item

Shift + F10

Enable app menu bar

F10

Select multiple items

Shift + Arrow keys

Open Quick Link menu

Windows key + X

Open app in number position from the taskbar

Windows key + Number (0-9)

Cycle through apps in the taskbar

Windows key + T

Open Jump List of the app in number position from the taskbar

Windows key + Alt + Number (0-9)

Display and hide the desktop

Windows key + D

Minimize all windows

Windows key + M

Restore minimized windows on the desktop

Windows key + Shift + M

Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window

Windows key + Home

Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen

Windows key + Shift + Up arrow key

Maximize or minimize active desktop windows vertically while maintaining width

Windows key + Shift + Down arrow key

Move active window to monitor on the left

Windows key + Shift + Left arrow key

Move active window to monitor on the right

Windows key + Shift + Right arrow key

Snap app or window left

Windows key + Left arrow key

Snap app or window right

Windows key + Right arrow key

Open Search

Windows key + S ( or Q)

Open date and time in the taskbar

Windows key + Alt + D

Open Task View

Windows key + Tab

Create new virtual desktop

Windows key + Ctrl + D

Close active virtual desktop

Windows key + Ctrl + F4

Switch to the virtual desktop on the right

Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow

Switch to the virtual desktop on the left

Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow

Open Project settings

Windows key + P

Open Action center

Windows key + A

Open Settings app

Windows key + I


File Explorer Shortcuts

*Tap   to open 'Find...' and search on page*

Action

Keyboard Shortcut

Open File Explorer

Windows key + E

Select address bar

Alt + D

Select search box

Ctrl + E (or F)

Open new window

Ctrl + N

Close active window

Ctrl + W

Start search

Ctrl + F (or F3)

Change view file and folder

Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel

Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane

Ctrl + Shift + E

Create new folder on desktop or File Explorer

Ctrl + Shift + N

Focus on the address bar

Ctrl + L

Changes folder view

Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8)

Display preview panel

Alt + P

Open Properties settings for the selected item

Alt + Enter

View next folder

Alt + Right arrow key

View previous folder

Alt + Left arrow key (or Backspace)

Move up a level in the folder path

Alt + Up arrow

Switch active window full-screen mode

F11

Refresh the instance of File Explorer

F5

Rename selected item

F2

Switch focus to address bar

F4

Refresh File Explorer's current view

F5

Cycle through elements on the screen

F6

Scroll to top of the window

Home


Windows-Key Shortcuts

​ *Tap   to open 'Find...' and search on page*

Action

Keyboard Shortcut

Open Start menu

Windows key

Open Action center

Windows key + A

Open Search

Windows key + S ( or Q)

Display and hide the desktop

Windows key + D

Locks computer

Windows key + L

Minimize all windows

Windows key + M

Set focus notification area in the taskbar

Windows key + B

Launch Cortana app

Windows key + C

Launch Feedback Hub app

Windows key + F

Launch Game bar app

Windows key + G

Change input between desktop and Mixed Reality

Windows key + Y

Lock device orientation

Windows key + O

Cycle through apps in the taskbar

Windows key + T

Switch input between the desktop experience and Windows Mixed Reality

Windows key + Z

Set focus on a tip for Windows 10 when applicable

Windows key + J

Open dictation feature

Windows key + H

Open File Explorer

Windows key + E

Open Settings

Windows key + I

Open Run command

Windows key + R

Open Connect settings

Windows key + K

Open Quick Link menu

Windows key + X

Open Clipboard bin

Windows key + V

Open the Windows Ink Workspace

Windows key + W

Open Ease of Access settings

Windows key + U

Open Project settings

Windows key + P

Open Narrator

Windows key + Ctrl + Enter

Zoom in using the magnifier

Windows key + Plus (+)

Zoom out using the magnifier

Windows key + Minus (-)

Exit magnifier

Windows key + Esc

Start IME reconversion

Windows key + Forward-slash (/)

Temporarily peek at the desktop

Windows key + Comma (,)

Maximize app windows

Windows key + Up arrow key

Minimize app windows

Windows key + Down arrow key

Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window

Windows key + Home

Restore minimized windows on the desktop

Windows key + Shift + M

Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen

Windows key + Shift + Up arrow key

Maximize or minimize active windows vertically while maintaining width

Windows key + Shift + Down arrow key

Move active window to monitor on the left

Windows key + Shift + Left arrow key

Move active window to monitor on the right

Windows key + Shift + Right arrow key

Snap app or window left

Windows key + Left arrow key

Snap app or window right

Windows key + Right arrow key

Open app in number position in the taskbar

Windows key + Number (0-9)

Open another instance of the app in number position in the taskbar

Windows key + Shift + Number (0-9)

Switch to last active window of the app in number position in the taskbar

Windows key + Ctrl + Number (0-9)

Open Jump List of the app in number position in the taskbar

Windows key + Alt + Number (0-9)

Open another instance as an administrator of the app in number position in the taskbar

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + Number (0-9)

Change previous selected input option

Windows key + Ctrl + Spacebar

Change keyboard layout and input language

Windows key + Spacebar

Open Task View

Windows key + Tab

Create a virtual desktop

Windows key + Ctrl + D

Close active virtual desktop

Windows key + Ctrl + F4

Switch to the virtual desktop on the right

Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow

Switch to the virtual desktop on the left

Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow

Wake up the device when black or a blank screen

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B

Capture full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder

Windows key + PrtScn

Create part of the screen screenshot

Windows key + Shift + S

Cycle through notifications

Windows key + Shift + V

Open search for device on domain network

Windows key + Ctrl + F

Open Quick Assist

Windows key + Ctrl + Q

Open date and time in the taskbar

Windows key + Alt + D

Open emoji panel

Windows key + Period (.) or semicolon (;)






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