Shortcut Keys for Windows 11

 

What Are Shortcuts?

Shortcuts, also known as hotkeys or keyboard shortcuts, are combinations of keys that perform a specific action within an application or operating system. Instead of navigating through menus or using a mouse, shortcuts allow you to accomplish tasks with a simple key press or combination of keys.

Some Windows Shortcut Keys

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 Windows Copilot. 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 : Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open.

Windows logo key + Alt + B : Turn HDR on or off.

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.

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 : Open notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11.

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 : Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).

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 clipboard history. 

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 (;) : Open emoji panel.

Windows logo key + comma (,) : Temporarily peek at the desktop.

Windows logo key + Pause : Opens Start > Settings > System > About .

Windows logo key + Ctrl + F : Search for PCs (if you're on a network).

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 + Up 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 + Down 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 + Up arrow : Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.

Windows logo key + Shift + Down arrow : Restores the window if it is snapped or maximized.

Windows logo key + Shift + Left 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 + PrtScn : 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.

Windows logo key + L : Lock your PC.

Windows logo key + D : Display and hide the desktop

CTRL Key Shortcuts

Ctrl + X :Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) : Copy the selected item.

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) : Paste the selected item.

Ctrl + Shift + V : Paste as plain text

Ctrl + Z : Undo an action.

Ctrl+T : New Tab in Chrome

Ctrl + Shift + T : Restore Deleted Tab

Ctrl + Alt + Del : Task Manager

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 : Open Search (in most apps).

Ctrl + R (or F5) : Refresh the active window.

Ctrl + Y : Redo an action.

Ctrl + Right arrow : Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.

Ctrl + Left arrow : Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.

Ctrl + Down arrow : Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.

Ctrl + Up arrow : Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab : Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.

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.

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 + Shift + Left Arrow : Decrease column width. 

Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow : Increase column width. 

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.

Shift + F10 : Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

Shift with any arrow key : Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.

Shift + Delete : Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.

Right arrow : Open the next menu to the right, or open 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. 

Function Fee Shortcut 

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 Key Shortcuts 

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

Alt + Shift + arrow keys : When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified. 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 + Left arrow : Go back.

Alt + Right arrow : Go forward.

Alt + Page Up : Move up one screen.

Alt + Page Down : Move down one screen.

Alt + F4 : Close the active item, or exit the active app.

Alt + = : Open Equation Editor in Word

Alt + Tab : Switch between open apps.

File Explorer Shortcut Keys 

Alt + D : Select the address bar.

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 + Right arrow : View the next folder.

Alt + Up arrow : View the folder that the folder was in.

Alt + Left arrow : View the previous folder.

Backspace : View the previous folder.

Right arrow : Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder.

Left arrow : Collapse the current selection (if it's expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.

End : Display the bottom of the active window.

Home : Display the top of the active window.

F11 : Maximize or minimize the active window.

Shortcut Keys for Youtube 

Spacebar : Play/Pause the video

K : Pause/Play in player.

M : Mute/unmute the video.

Left/Right arrow : Seek backward/forward 5 seconds.

J : Seek backward 10 seconds in player.

I : Seek forward 10 seconds in player.

Ctrl + → Go to the next chapter.

Ctrl + ←Go back to the previous chapter.

. (Period): While the video is paused, skip to the next frame.

, (Comma) : While the video is paused, go back to the previous frame.

> : Speed up the video playback rate.

< : Slow down the video playback rate.

Home/End : Seek to the beginning/last seconds of the video.

Up/Down arrow : Increase/Decrease volume 5%.

Numbers 1 to 9 : Seek to the 10% to 90% of the video.

Number 0 : Seek to the beginning of the video.

/ (Slash) : Go to search box.

F : Enable/Disable full screen. 

Escape : To exit full screen mode.

C : Enable/Disable captions and subtitles if available.

Shift+N : Move to the next video (If you're using a playlist, will go to the next video of the playlist. If not using a playlist, it will move to the next YouTube suggested video).

Shift+P : Move to the previous video inside a playlist.

I : Open the Miniplayer.