All of these means of interacting with Windows 11, including the keyboard, mouse, touch, and even your voice, have advantages, and when used together, they allow you to do difficult tasks considerably faster. The keyboard shortcuts, on the other hand, are unmatched. We can do what would normally need clicking by tapping one or more keys in a fraction of a second.
Many users make their life easier by employing simple key combinations like Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Z, Alt + F4, Alt + Tab, Ctrl + Alt + Delete, F2, and a few others that have been around for years. However, there are a lot more keyboard shortcuts that can be used. Many of these can significantly boost our productivity.
Most of them have been present in the system for many years, and some of them will be tested only in Windows 11. Here is a list of them.
Basic keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11
- Ctrl + A: Select all items in the window (or on the desktop or other current area).
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy the selected items.
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste selected items.
- Ctrl + X: Cut selected items.
- Ctrl + Z: Undo last action.
- Ctrl + Y: Redo last action.
- Ctrl + N: Open a new Explorer window with the same folder path as the current window.
- Windows Key + F1: Search for Windows Help in Bing in your default browser.
- Alt + F4: Close the current window or application.
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open windows or applications.
- Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the selected item (bypassing the Recycle Bin).
Start menu and taskbar
- Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start menu.
- Windows Key + X: Open the “secret” Start menu.
- Windows Key + T: Switch between applications on the taskbar.
- Windows key + [Number]: Open the application pinned at the [Number] position on the taskbar.
- Windows key + Alt + [Number]: Open the context menu (right-click) for the app pinned to the [Number] spot on the taskbar.
- Windows Key + D: Show or hide the desktop ( Windows Key + (,) will show the desktop until you release the buttons).
Screen shots
- PrtScn (Print Screen): Take a screenshot of the entire screen and copy it to the clipboard.
- Windows key + PrtScn: Take a screenshot of the entire desktop and immediately save it to the folder (Pictures> Screenshots).
- Windows key + Shift + S: Open Snipping Tool to take a screenshot of the entire screen or just a snippet.
Windows, Snap Assistant, and Virtual Desktops
- Windows key + M: Minimize all open windows.
- Windows key + Shift + M: Restore minimized windows.
- Windows Key + Home: Minimize all windows except the currently selected / active one.
- Windows Key + Up Arrow: Maximize the selected window.
- Windows key + Shift + Up Arrow: Maximize the active window vertically while maintaining its width.
- Windows Key + Down Arrow: Minimize the selected window.
- Windows Key + Left Arrow: Snap the selected window to the left half of the screen.
- Windows Key + Right Arrow: Snap the selected window to the right half of the screen.
- Windows key + Alt + Up: Snap the selected window to the top half of the screen.
- Windows key + Alt + Down: Snap the selected window to the bottom half of the screen.
- Windows key + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow: Move the selected window to the left or right monitor.
- Windows Key + Tab: Open Task View (virtual desktops).
- Windows key + Ctrl + D: Add a new virtual desktop.
- Windows Key + Ctrl + Right Arrow: Go to the next virtual desktop (right).
- Windows Key + Ctrl + Left Arrow: Go to the next virtual desktop (left).
- Windows key + Ctrl + F4: Close the current virtual desktop.
Windows key shortcuts
- Windows Key + A: Open Action Center.
- Windows Key + S: Open Cortana in text mode ( Windows Key + Q does the same.)
- Windows Key + C: Open Cortana in listening mode (like saying “Hey Cortana”).
- Windows Key + E: Open File Explorer.
- Windows Key + F: Open Feedback Hub.
- Windows Key + Ctrl + F: Search for computers on the network.
- Windows Key + G: Open the Game bar.
- Windows key + H: Open the Share bar.
- Windows Key + I: Open Settings.
- Windows Key + K: Open the Connect bar (for Bluetooth or Miracast devices).
- Windows Key + L: Lock the computer.
- Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation.
- Windows key + P: Open the present or broadcast bar.
- Windows Key + R: Open the Run command window.
- Windows Key + U: Open the Accessibility (Accessibility) Center.
- Windows Key + W: Open Windows Ink Workspace.
- Windows key + (+) or (-): Zoom in and out with the Magnifier.
- Windows Key + Esc: Close the Magnifier tool.
Function keys
- F2: Rename the selected item.
- F3: Quickly search for files in File Explorer.
- F4: Select the address bar in File Explorer.
- F5: Refresh the current window.
- F6: Cycle through items (tabs, buttons, search) in a window or on the desktop.
- Alt + F8: Show the login password on the startup screen.
- F10: Activate the menu bar of the current window.
Command line
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy the selected text to the clipboard.
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste the copied text into the Command Prompt.
- Ctrl + A: Select all text on the current line. If the current line has no text, all text on the Command Line is selected.
- Ctrl + Up or Down Arrow: Scroll the screen up / down one line.
- Ctrl + F: Search Command Prompt in the “Find” pane.
- Ctrl + M: Enter markup mode (allows you to select text with the mouse).
- Shift + Up or Down Arrow : Move the cursor up or down and select text.
- Shift + Left or Right Arrow: Move the cursor left or right (one character) and select text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Left or Right Arrow: Move the cursor left or right (one word) and select text.
- Shift + Page Up or Page Down: Move the cursor up or down (one screen) and select text.
- Shift + Home or End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line and select text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Home / End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer and select text.
If you’re still using the Windows 10, you can also check out our older guide:
Considering that this system will stay on our computers for longer, it is already worth getting acquainted with some Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. This will allow us to get into the habit of using them earlier, thus simplifying the system’s operation. Some shortcuts are analogous to previous versions of Windows, but there are also completely new key combinations related to modern solutions implemented in this system. Here is a list of the most useful shortcuts that we should familiarize ourselves with:
- Windows – displays the Start menu.
- Windows + Tab – displays the Task View.
- Windows + Q – Search the web and your PC using Cortana (by voice)
- Windows + S – Search the web and your PC using Cortana (keyboard)
- Windows + I – launch Settings in Windows 10
- Windows + A – displays the Notification Center.
- Windows + L – blocking access to the system
- Windows + Ctrl + D – creating a new virtual desktop
- Windows + Ctrl + F4 – closes the current virtual desktop
- Windows + Ctrl + cursor left/right – switch between virtual desktops
- Windows + Cursor Left/Right/Up/Down – assistant for pinning active application windows on the desktop
- Windows + H – Share content (if the app supports this feature)
- Windows + K – connecting a wireless display or audio devices
- Windows + X – displays the context menu in the Start menu
- Windows + G – launches game bar (creating screenshots, recording gameplay videos, etc.)
- Windows + D – shows the Desktop
- Windows + E – starts File Explorer
- Windows + Spacebar – switch between the input language (if an additional language is installed)
- Windows + Shift + cursor left/right – moves the current application window to another monitor
- Windows + 1, 2, 3, … – launches applications pinned to the taskbar in order
- Windows + R – Run command
- Windows + P – display the screen on another display/screen duplication/screen extension (only in configurations with more monitors)
- Alt + Tab – switching between application windows
- Alt + Space – restore/minimize/maximize/move the application window.
- Alt + F4 – closes the active application or displays the Power dialog box if only the Windows 10 desktop is displayed
