These keyboard shortcuts can be used daily, to perform even the basic tasks, like remaining an item, selecting all items inside a folder, etc. Of course, there are so many shortcuts, we do not expect you to remember all of them by heart. However, once you start using the ones you need, they will just be another muscle memory. Below you will find different keyboard shortcuts and details on where they can be used and for what purpose. Note: Some of these keyboard shortcuts are only specific to Windows 11 and may not work on Windows 10.
Most Useful Keyboard Shortcuts
This section lists the most useful keyboard shortcuts one should know to make their life easier and perform tasks that otherwise would take several mouse clicks to achieve. Note: Some of these shortcuts may be repeated in other categories listed below since this section is written for users who only want to know the keyboard shortcuts that are commonly used. These shortcuts can be used to perform your daily tasks, minimizing the use of the mouse and saving time.
General Keyboard Shortcuts
The table below lists all of the general keyboard shortcuts that can be used around the Windows operating system.General Keyboard ShortcutsKeyboard shortcutActionCtrl + XCut the selected item.Ctrl + C/Ctrl + InsertCopy the selected item.Ctrl + V/Shift + InsertPaste the selected item.Ctrl + ZUndo an action.Alt + TabSwitch between open apps.Alt + F4Close the active window or open the shutdown window if there is no active window present.Windows key + LLock your PC.Windows key + DDisplay and hide the desktop.F1Display helpF2Rename the selected item.F3/ Ctrl + FSearch for a file or folder in File Explorer.F4Display the address bar list in File Explorer.F5/Ctrl + RRefresh the active window.F6Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.F10Activate the Menu bar in the active app.Alt + ASet focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu.Alt + F8Show your password on the sign-in screen.Alt + EscCycle through items in the order in which they were opened.Alt + EnterDisplay properties for the selected item.Alt + SpacebarOpen the shortcut menu for the active window.Alt + Left arrowGo back.Alt + Right arrowGo forward.Alt + Page UpMove up one screen.Alt + Page DownMove down one screen.Ctrl + F4Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).Ctrl + ASelect all items in a document or window.Ctrl + D/DeleteDelete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.Ctrl + EOpen Search (in most apps).Ctrl + YRedo an action.Ctrl + Right arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the next word.Ctrl + Left arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.Ctrl + Down arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.Ctrl + Up arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.Ctrl + Alt + TabUse the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.Alt + Shift + arrow keysWhen a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.Ctrl + Shift + arrow keysWhen a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.Ctrl + arrow keysResize the Start menu when it’s open.Ctrl + arrow key + SpacebarSelect multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.Ctrl + Shift + arrow keySelect a block of text.Ctrl + Esc/Windows keyOpen Start.Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager.Ctrl + ShiftSwitch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.Ctrl + SpacebarTurn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.Shift + F10Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.Shift + arrow keySelect more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.Shift + DeleteDelete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.Right arrowOpen the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.Left arrowOpen the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.EscStop or leave the current task.PrtScnTake a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard.General Windows keyboard shortcuts
Windows Key Keyboard Shortcuts
The table below lists all of the shortcut key combinations that are possible with the use of the Windows key. These shortcuts mostly perform tasks associated with the Windows operating system.
File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
File Explorer, also known as Windows Explorer, is a file browser in every Windows version. It is the user interface through which a user connects to all the applications and the services Windows is hosting. If you are performing your routine tasks or using the computer only once a week, you’ll likely be using File Explorer. Below you’ll find some very useful keyboard shortcuts for File Explorer, especially since Microsoft introduced tabs in File Explorer.File Explorer Keyboard ShortcutsKeyboard shortcutActionAlt + DSelect the address bar.Ctrl + E/ Ctrl + FSelect the search box.Ctrl + NOpen a new window.Ctrl + TOpen a new tab and switch to it. Ctrl + WCloses the active tab. Closes the window if there’s only one tab open.Ctrl + TabMove to the next tab.Ctrl + Shift + TabMove to the previous tab. Ctrl + numberMove to that tab number. Ctrl + mouse scrollChange the size and appearance of file and folder icons.Ctrl + Shift + EDisplay all folders above the selected folder.Ctrl + Shift + NCreate 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 + PDisplay the preview panel.Alt + EnterOpen the Properties dialog box for the selected item.Alt + Right arrowView the next folder.Alt + Up arrowView the folder that the folder was in.Alt + Left arrow/BackspaceView the previous folder.Right arrowDisplay the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.Left arrowCollapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.EndDisplay the bottom of the active window.HomeDisplay the top of the active window.F11Maximize or minimize the active window.Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts
If you use the Command Prompt often, then you would advantage from the following list of keyboard shortcuts.
Microsoft Edge (Web Browser) Shortcuts
The table below lists the keyboard shortcuts that can be used in Microsoft Edge for the Windows operating system. Most of these shortcuts can also be used on most other browsers, like Chrome and Firefox.Web Browser Keyboard ShortcutsKeyboard shortcutActionCtrl + Shift + BShow or hide the favorites bar.Alt + Shift + BSet focus on the first item in the favorites bar.Ctrl + DSave the current tab as a favorite.Ctrl + Shift + DSave all open tabs as favorites in a new folder.Ctrl + Shift + EOpen search in the sidebar.Alt + DSelect the URL in the address bar to edit.Ctrl + EOpen a search query in the address bar.Alt + E/Alt + FOpen Settings and more menu.Ctrl + FOpen “find on page.”Ctrl + GJump to the next result for “find on page.”Ctrl + Shift + GJump to the previous result for “find on page.”Ctrl + HOpen browsing history.Ctrl + Shift + I/F12Open Developer Tools.Alt + Shift + IOpen the Send feedback dialog.Ctrl + JOpen Downloads.Ctrl + KOpen a search query in the address bar.Ctrl + Shift + KDuplicate the current tab.Ctrl + LSelect the URL in the address bar to edit.Ctrl + Shift + LPaste and search or Paste and go (if it’s a URL).Ctrl + MMute the current tab (toggle).Ctrl + Shift + MSign in as a different user or browse as a Guest.Ctrl + NOpen a new window.Ctrl + Shift + NOpen a new InPrivate window.Ctrl + OOpen a file from your computer in Edge.Ctrl + Shift + OOpen Favorites.Ctrl + PPrint the current page.Ctrl + Shift + PPrint using the system dialog.Ctrl + R/F5Reload the current page.Ctrl + Shift + R/Shift + F5Reload the current page, ignoring cached content.Ctrl + SSave the current page.Ctrl + TOpen a new tab and switch to it.Ctrl + Shift + TReopen the last closed tab, and switch to it.Alt + Shift + TSet focus on the first item in the app bar toolbar.Ctrl + UView source.Ctrl + Shift + UStart or stop Read Aloud.Ctrl + Shift + VPaste without formatting.Ctrl + WClose the current tab.Ctrl + Shift + WClose the current window.Ctrl + Shift + YOpen Collections.Ctrl + 0Reset page zoom level.Ctrl + number (1 -8)Switch to a specific tab.Ctrl + 9Switch to the last tab.Ctrl + EnterAdd www. to the beginning and .com to the end of the text typed in the address bar.Ctrl + TabSwitch to the next tab.Ctrl + Shift + TabSwitch to the previous tab.Ctrl + Plus (+)Zoom in.Ctrl + Minus (-)Zoom outCtrl + \ (in a PDF)Toggle PDF between fit to page / fit to width.Ctrl + [ (in a PDF)Rotate PDF counter-clockwise 90 degrees.Ctrl + ] (in a PDF)Rotate PDF clockwise 90 degrees.Ctrl + Shift + DeleteOpen clear browsing data options.AltSet focus on the “Settings and more” button.Alt + Left arrowGo back.Alt + Right arrowGo forward.Alt + HomeOpen your home page in the current tab.Alt + F4Close the current window.F1Open Help.F3Find in the current tab.F4Select the URL in the address bar.Ctrl + F4Close the current tab.F6Move focus to the next pane.Shift + F6Move focus to the previous pane.Ctrl + F6Move focus to the web content pane.F7Turn caret browsing on or off.F9Enter or exit Immersive Reader.F10Set focus on the “Settings and more” button.F10 + EnterOpen the “Setting and more” menu.Shift + F10Open the context menu.F11Enter full screen (toggle).EscStop loading the page or close the dialog or pop-up.Spacebar/PgDnScroll down the webpage, one screen at a time.Shift + Spacebar/PgUpScroll up the webpage, one screen at a time.Ctrl + PgDnSwitch to the next tab.Ctrl + PgUpSwitch to the previous tab.HomeGo to the top of the page or move the keyboard focus to the first item of the pane.EndGo to the bottom of the page or move the keyboard focus to the last item of the pane.Web browser keyboard shortcuts
Xbox Game Bar Keyboard Shortcuts
This section is for gamers. The table below lists the useful keyboard shortcuts that you can use in-game to manage the Game Bar.Xbox Game Bar Keyboard ShortcutsKeyboard shortcutActionWindows key + GOpen the Game bar when a game is open.Windows key + Alt + GRecord the last 30 seconds.Windows key + Alt + RStart or stop recording.Windows key + Alt + PrtScnTake a screenshot of your game.Windows key + Alt + TShow or hide the recording timer.Windows key + Alt + MTurn the microphone on or off.Windows key + Alt + BStart or stop broadcasting.Windows key + Alt + WShow the camera during a broadcast.Xbox Game Bar keyboard shortcuts
Windows Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows comes with so many accessibility options for the differently-abled. The different settings also have associated keyboard shortcuts that you can use to make the Windows OS more accessible to you quickly.
Closing Words
The shortcut keys and hotkeys given above are surely a lot to remember. However, if you are looking for something specific, you just use the Ctrl + F or the F3 function key to search for a keyword in this post, and you’ll surely find a shortcut for it if it exists. Also see:
Ultimate Guide To Creating Windows Preinstallation Environment (WinPE)How To Move And Rearrange Window With Keyboard (Windows 7, 10, 11)Windows 11 Hardening GuideWindows Environment Variables – The Ultimate Guide For All Windows VersionsWhat Are Windows 11 Administrative Tools/Windows Tools
