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Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11 on Windows. Covers Start menu, Snap Layouts, virtual desktops, and Task View on Windows.
Key label style

Windows Copilot keyboard shortcuts

Open Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 CopilotIf Copilot is not available, opens Settings so you can choose what the key does.
Copilot

Text editing keyboard shortcuts

Delete characters to the left of the cursor
Bksp
Select all text
Ctrl+A
Apply the bold format to the selected text
Ctrl+B
Delete words to the left of the cursor
Ctrl+Bksp
Copy the selected text
Ctrl+C
or
Ctrl+Insert
Delete words to the right of the cursor
Ctrl+Del
Move the cursor forward to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl+Down
Move the cursor forward to the end of the document
Ctrl+End
Find text
Ctrl+F
Find and replace text
Ctrl+H
Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the document
Ctrl+Home
Apply the italic format to the selected text
Ctrl+I
Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl+Left
Move the cursor forward to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl+Right
Paste as plain text
Ctrl+Shift+V
Apply the underline format to the selected text
Ctrl+U
Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl+Up
Paste the last item from the clipboard
Ctrl+V
or
Shift+Insert
Cut the selected text
Ctrl+X
Redo typing that was undone with Ctrl + Z
Ctrl+Y
Undo the last typing
Ctrl+Z
Delete characters to the right of the cursor
Del
Move the cursor forward to the next line
Down
Move the cursor forward to the end of the line
End
Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the line
Home
Move the cursor backward to the previous character
Left
Move the cursor forward by one page
Pg Dn
Move the cursor backward by one page
Pg Up
Move the cursor forward to the next character
Right
Select paragraphs forward from the current cursor position
Ctrl+Shift+Down
Select text between the current cursor position and the end of the document
Ctrl+Shift+End
Select text between the current cursor position and the beginning of the document
Ctrl+Shift+Home
Select words backward from the current cursor position
Ctrl+Shift+Left
Select words forward from the current cursor position
Ctrl+Shift+Right
Select paragraphs backward the current cursor position
Ctrl+Shift+Up
Select lines forward from the current cursor position
Shift+Down
Select text from the current cursor position to the end of the current line
Shift+End
Select text from the current cursor position to the beginning of the current line
Shift+Home
Select characters backward from the current cursor position
Shift+Left
Select one page of text forward from the current cursor position
Shift+Pg Dn
Select one page of text backward from the current cursor position
Shift+Pg Up
Select characters forward from the current cursor position
Shift+Right
Select lines backward from the current cursor position
Shift+Up
Indent the cursor one tab stop
Tab
Move the cursor backward to the previous line
Up

Desktop and other general Windows keyboard shortcuts

Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu
Alt+A
Cycle through windows in the order in which they were opened
Alt+Esc
Close the active windowIf no windows are open, prompt to shutdown.
Alt+F4
Show your password on the sign-in screen
Alt+F8
Go back
Alt+Left
Move down one screen
Alt+Pg Dn
Move up one screen
Alt+Pg Up
Capture a screenshot of the active window and copy it to the clipboard
Alt+PrtSc
Go forward
Alt+Right
When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction
Alt+Shift+Up
or
Alt+Shift+Down
or
Alt+Shift+Left
or
Alt+Shift+Right
Open the context menu for the active window
Alt+Space
Switch between open windowsKeep Alt held and press Tab again to cycle through more windows.
Alt+Tab
Do the action in menus, when keyboard shortcut is specified by highlighting a character in the action name
Alt+<letter>
Select all items in a window
Ctrl+A
Switch to the security screenLock the desktop, switch user, sign out, change a password, or open Task Manager.
Ctrl+Alt+Del
View a thumbnail of all open appsUse the arrow keys to switch between open apps.
Ctrl+Alt+Tab
Open the Start menu
Ctrl+Esc
Close the active document without closing the app
Ctrl+F4
in a full-screen app that can hold several documents
Refresh the current window
Ctrl+F5
or
Ctrl+R
When multiple keyboard layouts are available, switch the keyboard layout
Ctrl+Shift
When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder
Ctrl+Shift+Up
or
Ctrl+Shift+Down
or
Ctrl+Shift+Left
or
Ctrl+Shift+Right
Open Task Manager
Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Enable or disable the Chinese input method editor (IME)
Ctrl+Space
Redo an action that was previously undone with Ctrl + Z
Ctrl+Y
Undo the previous action
Ctrl+Z
Stop or leave the current task, or dismiss a dialog box
Esc
Refresh the active window
F5
Cycle through elements in a window or on the desktop
F6
Activate the menu bar in the active window
F10
Capture a region of the screen to the clipboardOpens in the Snipping Tool to share or mark up. Turn this off under Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
PrtSc

Windows key keyboard shortcuts

Open or close the Start menu
Win
Open the Windows 11 action center
Win+A
Set focus to a Windows tip when one is availablePress again to move focus to the element the tip is anchored to.
Win+Shift+A
Turn high dynamic range (HDR) on or offFor more information, see What is HDR in Windows?
Win+Alt+B
Open Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 CopilotCustomise what the shortcut does under Settings > Personalization > Text input > Customize Copilot key.
Win+C
Open or close Windows search (when Copilot is not available or disabled)
Win+C
Display and hide the date and time on the desktop
Win+Alt+D
Snap the active window to the bottom half of the screen
Win+Alt+Down
When voice typing is open, set the focus to the keyboard
Win+Alt+H
Mute or unmute the microphone in supported apps
Win+Alt+K
Snap the active window to the top half of the screen
Win+Alt+Up
Temporarily peek at the desktop
Win+,
If turned on in settings, enable or disable color filters
Win+Ctrl+C
Open Narrator
Win+Ctrl+Enter
Search for devices on a network
Win+Ctrl+F
Open Quick Assist
Win+Ctrl+Q
Wake up the device when the screen is blank or black
Win+Ctrl+Shift+B
Change to a previously selected input option
Win+Ctrl+Space
Open the sound output page of Quick SettingsHolds the output device, spatial sound and the volume mixer.
Win+Ctrl+V
Display and hide the desktop
Win+D
Minimize the active window
Win+Down
Open File Explorer
Win+E
Close Magnifier
Win+Esc
Open Feedback Hub
Win+F
Start input method editor (IME) reconversion
Win+/
Open the Game BarFor more information, see Keyboard shortcuts for Game Bar.
Win+G
Open voice dictation
Win+H
Minimize or restore all windows except the active window
Win+Home
Open Settings
Win+I
Open RecallAvailable on devices that meet the minimum system requirements.
Win+J
Open Cast from Quick Settings to connect to a display
Win+K
Lock the computer
Win+L
Snap the window to the left side of the screen
Win+Left
Minimize all windows
Win+M
Zoom out in Magnifier
Win+-
Open notification center and calendar
Win+N
Lock the device orientation
Win+O
Open project settings to choose a presentation display mode
Win+P
Opens the Settings app to the System > About page
Win+Pause
Open the emoji panel
Win+.
or
Win+;
Zoom in with the Magnifier
Win+=
Capture a full screen screenshot and save it to a file in the Screenshots subfolder of the Pictures folder
Win+PrtSc
Open search
Win+Q
Open the Run dialog box
Win+R
Snap the window to the right side of the screen
Win+Right
Open search
Win+S
If a window is snapped or maximized, restore it
Win+Shift+Down
If the active window is a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app, make it full screen
Win+Shift+Enter
Move the active window to the monitor on the left
Win+Shift+Left
Restore minimized windows
Win+Shift+M
Select a region of the screen to record a videoThe recording opens in the Snipping Tool and is saved as an MP4 in the Screen Recordings subfolder of your Videos folder.
Win+Shift+R
Move the active window to the monitor on the right
Win+Shift+Right
Select a region of the screen to capture a screenshot to the clipboardOpen it in the Snipping Tool to share or mark it up.
Win+Shift+S
Switch backward through input languages and keyboard layouts
Win+Shift+Space
Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Win+Shift+Up
Cycle through notifications
Win+Shift+V
Switch forward through input languages and keyboard layouts
Win+Space
Open Task View
Win+Tab
Open the Settings app to the Accessibility section
Win+U
Maximize the active window
Win+Up
Open the clipboard historyOff by default: press the shortcut and accept the prompt, or turn it on under Settings > System > Clipboard.
Win+V
Open Widgets
Win+W
Open the Quick Link menuThis shortcut is the same action as right-click on the Start menu.
Win+X
Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop
Win+Y
Open the snap layouts
Win+Z

Command prompt keyboard shortcuts

Copy the selected text
Ctrl+C
or
Ctrl+Insert
Paste the selected text
Ctrl+V
or
Shift+Insert
Enter Mark mode
Ctrl+M
Begin selection in block modeAlt held with an arrow, Home, End, PgUp or PgDn key selects a rectangular block instead of wrapping lines. Mark mode only.
Alt+<selection key>
Move the cursor in the direction specified
Up
or
Down
or
Left
or
Right
Move the cursor by one page up
Pg Up
Move the cursor by one page down
Pg Dn
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer (Mark mode)
Ctrl+Home
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer (Mark mode)
Ctrl+End
Move up one line in the output history
Ctrl+Up
Move down one line in the output history
Ctrl+Down
Move the viewport to the top of the buffer, or delete left of the cursorMoves the viewport when the command line is empty; otherwise deletes every character to the left of the cursor.
Ctrl+Home
Move the viewport to the command line, or delete right of the cursorMoves the viewport when the command line is empty; otherwise deletes every character to the right of the cursor.
Ctrl+End

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Display the items in the active list
F4
Move forward through tabs
Ctrl+Tab
Move back through tabs
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Move to that tab number
Ctrl+<1-9>
Move forward through options
Tab
Move back through options
Shift+Tab
Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter
Alt+<letter>
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Space
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
Bksp
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
Up
or
Down
or
Left
or
Right

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Select the address bar
Alt+D
Display properties for the selected item
Alt+Enter
Navigate to the previous folder
Alt+Left
or
Bksp
When you drop the file, create a shortcut to the original file in that location
Alt+Draga file
Show or hide the preview pane
Alt+P
View the next folder
Alt+Right
Show or hide the details pane
Alt+Shift+P
Move up a level in the folder path
Alt+Up
Select multiple individual items
Ctrl+Right+Space
or
Ctrl+Left+Space
or
Ctrl+Up+Space
or
Ctrl+Down+Space
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl+D
or
Del
Select the search box
Ctrl+E
or
Ctrl+F
Focus on the address bar
Ctrl+L
When you drop the file, create a copy in that location
Ctrl+Draga file
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
Ctrl+Scroll
Open a new window
Ctrl+N
Move to that tab number
Ctrl+<1-9>
Resize all columns to fit textThis shortcut requires using a numeric keypad.
Ctrl+=
Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane
Ctrl+Shift+E
Create a new folder
Ctrl+Shift+N
Change the view styleFor example, 2 is Large icons and 6 is Details.
Ctrl+Shift+<1-9>
Move to the previous tab
Ctrl+Shift+Tab
Open a new tab and switch to it
Ctrl+T
Closes the active tabCloses the window if there's only one tab open.
Ctrl+W
Move to the next tab
Ctrl+Tab
Scroll to the bottom of the active window
End
Rename the selected item
F2
Search for a file or folder
F3
Select the address bar to change the current path
F4
Refresh the window
F5
Cycle through elements in the window
F6
Maximize or minimize the active window
F11
Scroll to the top of the active window
Home
Collapse the current selection (if it's expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
Left
Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Right
Select multiple items
Shift+Up
or
Shift+Down
or
Shift+Left
or
Shift+Right
Permanently delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin
Shift+Del
Display the context menu for the selected item
Context Menu
or
Shift+F10
When you drop the file, move it to that location
Shift+Draga file
Display the Show more options context menu for the selected item
Shift+Right-click
Open File Explorer
Win+E

Multiple desktop keyboard shortcuts

Open Task view
Win+Tab
Create another desktop
Win+Ctrl+D
Switch between other desktops you've created on the right
Win+Ctrl+Right
Switch between other desktops you've created on the left
Win+Ctrl+Left
Close the desktop you're using
Win+Ctrl+F4

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

When an app icon is in focus, move it's position in the direction of the arrow
Alt+Shift+Up
or
Alt+Shift+Down
or
Alt+Shift+Left
or
Alt+Shift+Right
Shift focus through the windows of a grouped taskbar app
Ctrl+Clicka grouped taskbar button
with several windows of the same app grouped on the taskbar
Open the app as an administrator
Ctrl+Shift+Clicka taskbar button
Show the window menu for the app
Shift+Right-clickan app
Show the window menu for the group
Shift+Right-clicka grouped app
Open another instance of the app
Shift+Clicka taskbar button
Open taskbar settings (on taskbar item focus)
Win+Alt+Enter
Open the jump list for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win+Alt+<0-9>
Set the focus to the first icon in the notification area of the taskbar
Win+B
Switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win+Ctrl+<0-9>
Open as an administrator a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar
Win+Ctrl+Shift+<0-9>
Open the app pinned to the taskbar in that positionSwitches to the app instead if it is already running.
Win+<0-9>
Start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win+Shift+<0-9>
Cycle through apps in the taskbarKeep pressing to cycle through apps on every display when several monitors are connected.
Win+T
Move to the previous app in the taskbarKeep pressing to cycle through apps on every display when several monitors are connected.
Win+Shift+T

Settings keyboard shortcuts

Move focus through the currently selected regionScroll the page.
Up
or
Down
or
Left
or
Right
Navigate backwards
Bksp
Select the current item in focus
Enter
or
Space
Cycle backward through regions
Shift+Tab
Cycle forward through regions
Tab
Open the Settings app
Win+I

Intro

The table above lists the system keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11. Windows uses the Windows key (⊞) as a primary modifier for system actions, separate from Ctrl and Alt, which applications use. Win-key combinations control Start, window snapping, virtual desktops, search, screenshots, and many other features that work regardless of which app is open.

Windows key shortcuts

The Win-key shortcuts are the most Windows-specific part of the set and have no direct Mac or Linux equivalent. Win on its own toggles Start. Win+D shows or hides the desktop, Win+E opens File Explorer, Win+I opens Settings, and Win+L locks the screen. Win+A opens Quick Settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume, brightness), Win+S (or Win+Q) opens Search, Win+period opens the emoji and symbol panel, and Win+V opens Clipboard History, a searchable list of recent clips you can paste individually.

Window management and Snap

Win+Left and Win+Right snap the current window to the left or right half of the screen, after which Windows suggests apps for the other half. Win+Up maximizes the window and Win+Down restores or minimizes it. Win+Z opens Snap Layouts, an overlay of layout options you choose by click or arrow keys. Alt+Tab switches between open windows (add Shift to move backward), and Alt+F4 closes the active window, or opens the Shut Down dialog when no window is active.

Virtual desktops and Task View

Win+Tab opens Task View, showing all open windows and virtual desktops. Win+Ctrl+D creates a new desktop, Win+Ctrl+Left or Right switches between desktops, and Win+Ctrl+F4 closes the current desktop, moving its windows to the previous one.

Screenshots

Win+Shift+S opens the Snip & Sketch capture for a rectangular, freeform, window, or full-screen shot, copied to the clipboard. Win+PrtSc saves a full-screen shot directly to Pictures, Screenshots, and the screen briefly dims to confirm. PrtSc on its own copies the full screen to the clipboard without saving a file.

Core system shortcuts

Ctrl+Alt+Delete opens the security screen with Lock, Sign Out, and Task Manager options. Win+X opens the Power User menu for Device Manager, Terminal, Disk Management, and other administrative tools. Win+Pause opens the About page in Settings, showing the device name, RAM, processor, and Windows edition.

Customizing these shortcuts

Windows 11 does not provide a single panel for remapping its built-in shortcuts, and most Win-key combinations are fixed. A few behaviors are adjustable in Settings, such as setting Print Screen to open the capture tool under Accessibility, Keyboard, or enabling Clipboard History under System, Clipboard. To remap keys or create custom shortcuts beyond that, Microsoft PowerToys and its Keyboard Manager module are the standard tool. If a shortcut does nothing, the focused app has usually claimed the same combination.

Printable PDF

The Windows 11 system shortcut list is available as a printable PDF. The Win-key and Snap Layout sections are the most Windows-specific content, and a printed reference helps most while building new habits, especially for Mac-to-Windows switchers.

FAQ

Need more than shortcuts?
Visit the Windows 11 app page for an overview and helpful links.

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