Windows Keyboard Shortcuts: The Basics, Hidden Gems, and Everything Between
Most people know a few keyboard shortcuts, like Copy/Paste and Select All. But Windows has far more hiding in plain sight, many of which save a few seconds here and there, which add up when you repeat the same tasks every day.
Windows keyboard shortcuts give you quick ways to move around documents and even your whole computer so that you can open things faster or handle basic actions without always reaching for the mouse.
This guide walks through the shortcuts people use the most, along with some that are easy to forget about. It covers Windows 10 and Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts in the same place so that you don’t have to bounce around looking for version-specific details.
Essential Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
These are the basics most people want to use, so you’re probably familiar with some of them.
- Ctrl+C: Copy the selected item
- Ctrl+X: Cut the selected item
- Ctrl+V: Paste whatever you copied or cut
- Ctrl+Z: Undo the last action
- Win+L: Lock your computer
- Win+D: Show or hide the desktop
- Alt+F4: Close the current window or app
- Win+E: Open File Explorer
- Win+S: Open Search
- Win+i: Open Settings
- Win: Open the Start menu
Navigation & Window Management Shortcuts
These Windows keyboard shortcuts are a bit more advanced and harder to remember, but still super useful. They come in handy when you’re dealing with multiple windows or trying to keep things organized without dragging anything around.
- Alt+Tab: Switch between open windows
- Win+Tab: Open Task View
- Win+Arrow Keys: Snap windows to the side or corner
- Win+M: Minimize all windows
- Win+Shift+M: Restore minimized windows
- Win+Up Arrow: Maximize the current window
- Win+Down Arrow: Minimize or restore the current window
- Ctrl+Tab: Switch tabs in browsers and apps that support tabbed views
Text Editing and File Management Shortcuts
Did you know there were this many Windows keyboard shortcuts?? The following ones help with the small things you repeat all the time while working with text or files, making it easier to do everything from selecting stuff and renaming files to cleaning up folders.
- Ctrl+A: Select everything in the current window or field
- Ctrl+C: Copy the highlighted text or file
- Ctrl+V: Paste the contents of the clipboard
- Ctrl+X: Cut the selected text or file
- Shift+Delete: Permanently delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin
- F2: Rename a selected file or folder
- Ctrl+Shift+N: Create a new folder
- Ctrl+Right Arrow: Jump one word to the right while editing text
- Ctrl+Left Arrow: Jump one word to the left while editing text
Accessibility and Special Function Shortcuts
These Windows keyboard shortcuts can be used when you need quick access to tools that help you read the screen, move around without the mouse, or take a screenshot in Windows.
- Win+U: Open Accessibility settings
- Win+Plus/+: Turn on Magnifier
- Win+Esc: Close Magnifier
- Win+Ctrl+Enter: Turn Narrator on or off
- Win+PrtScn: Take a screenshot and save it automatically
- Win+Period (.): Open the emoji panel
- Win+A: Open Quick Settings in Windows 11
Windows 10 vs. Windows 11 Shortcuts: What’s New or Different?
Windows 10 and Windows 11 share most of the same shortcuts, but a few behave a little differently because of how each version handles layout and menus.
Windows 11 adds a couple of shortcuts tied to newer panels and layout tools. For example, Quick Settings uses its shortcut, and window snapping is a bit more flexible because Snap Layouts show up when you hover over the maximize button. The shortcuts for snapping still work the same in both versions, but Windows 11 gives you a few more ways to arrange things once the window is in place.
Here’s a comparison of the differences:
- Win+A: Opens Action Center (W10) / Opens Quick Settings (W11)
- Win+N: Nothing (W10) / Opens Notification Center (W11)
- Win+Z: Nothing (W10) / Opens Snap Layouts (W11)
- Win+C: Opens Cortana (W10) / Opens Copilot (W11)
Full Windows Keyboard Shortcuts List (A to Z)
If you enjoy playing around with keyboard shortcuts, press and hold something like Alt or Win, and then make your own combinations to see what happens! If you’re not feeling so adventurous, here’s the Windows keyboard shortcut cheat sheet (feel free to print it off):
- Alt+F4: Close the current window or app
- Alt+Tab: Switch between open windows
- Ctrl+A: Select everything
- Ctrl+C: Copy the selection
- Ctrl+V: Paste what’s been copied
- Ctrl+X: Cut the selected item
- Ctrl+Z: Undo the last action
- Ctrl+Right Arrow: Jump one word to the right while editing text
- Ctrl+Left Arrow: Jump one word to the left while editing text
- Ctrl+Tab: Switch tabs in browsers and supported apps
- Ctrl+Shift+N: Create a new folder
- F2: Rename a selected file or folder
- Shift+Delete: Permanently delete a file without sending it to the Recycle Bin
- Win: Open the Start menu
- Win+A: Open Quick Settings in Windows 11
- Win+C: Open Copilot in Windows 11 or Cortana in Windows 10 (if enabled; here’s how to activate Cortana)
- Win+D: Show or hide the desktop
- Win+E: Open File Explorer
- Win+Esc: Close Magnifier
- Win+i: Open Settings
- Win+L: Lock your computer
- Win+M: Minimize all windows
- Win+N: Open Notification Center in Windows 11
- Win+PrtScn: Take a screenshot
- Win+S: Open Search
- Win+Tab: Open Task View
- Win+Up Arrow: Maximize the current window
- Win+Down Arrow: Minimize or restore the current window
- Win+Left Arrow: Snap the current window to the left
- Win+Right Arrow: Snap the current window to the right
- Win+Plus (+): Turn on Magnifier
- Win+Period (.): Open the emoji panel
- Win+Ctrl+Enter: Turn Narrator on or off
- Win+Ctrl+C: Turn color filters on or off
- Win+Shift+M: Restore minimized windows
- Win+Z: Open Snap Layouts in Windows 11
- Win+K: Open the Cast panel
- Win+V: Open the clipboard history panel
- Win+R: Open the Run dialog
- Win+Pause: Open the About page in Settings
- Win+Ctrl+Shift+B: Restart your graphics driver
Tips for Mastering and Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts
Like most things, keyboard shortcuts tend to stick once you start to use them repeatedly. Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V are great examples of this. They are “obvious” Windows keyboard shortcuts because people use those more than any of the other ones.
So, instead of trying to memorize that whole list, try the following:
- Start with the things you already do over and over, like opening File Explorer. Instead of clicking the folder icon on the taskbar or desktop, use the Win+E shortcut. Do it enough times in place of clicking, and you’ll remember it in no time.
- Keep a short list of Windows keyboard shortcuts somewhere near your keyboard so that you see them while you use your computer. Maybe pick the ones you find most useful for your work. Glancing at them will be simple and serve as a great way to sear them into your memory.
- When you notice yourself moving the mouse to do something simple, try the keyboard shortcut instead. While it might slow you down the first few times, it will teach your hands what to do next time.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is subjective, but any easy-to-remember keyboard shortcut that covers everyday actions could be considered the most useful. These might include copy, paste, undo, switching windows, and showing the desktop.
Microsoft’s support site has an official list, and this guide brings the common ones together in one place.
Yes. Right-click a program shortcut and open its Properties to assign a key combo. Some third-party tools can add more flexibility if you want it.
Most of them work the same, but Windows 11 did add a few that are tied to newer panels and the Copilot assistant.
Feel free to print this page or Microsoft’s reference as a PDF.
These Windows keyboard shortcuts handle things like Magnifier, Narrator, color filters, and more.
Alt+Tab is the quickest way to move through everything you have open.
Function keys are actions that are triggered by the F-keys at the top of the keyboard. F2, for example, lets you rename a selected file.