Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Copy the selected item.

Insert)

Ctrl + V (or Shift Paste the selected item.

+ Insert)

Ctrl + Z Undo an action.

Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.

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

Windows logo Lock your PC.

key + L

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

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.

Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

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 they were opened.

Alt + underlined Perform the command for that letter.

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.

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 the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Delete)

Ctrl + E Open Search (in most apps).

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

Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

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 Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
arrow

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.

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

Ctrl + Shift + When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to
arrow keys create a folder.

Ctrl + arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it's open.

Ctrl + arrow key Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
(to move to an
item) + Spacebar

Ctrl + Shift with Select a block of text.

an arrow key

Ctrl + Esc Open Start.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.

Ctrl + Shift Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

available.

Ctrl + Spacebar Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.

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

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

Note: You can change this shortcut so it also opens screen snipping,
which lets you edit your screenshot.
Select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard , and set Use the
Print Screen button to open screen snipping to On.

Use PrtScn key to open screen snipping

Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open or close Start.

key

Windows logo Open Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.

key + A

Windows logo Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner.
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

key + B

Windows logo Open Windows Copilot. Updated in Windows 11.

key + C

Windows logo Open the charms menu.

key + Shift + C

Windows logo Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in Color Filter settings).
key + Ctrl + C

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

Windows Open File Explorer.

logo key +
E

Windows logo Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.

key + F

Windows logo Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open.

key + G

Windows logo Turn HDR on or off.

key + Alt + B
Note: Applies to the Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer.
To update your Xbox Game Bar, go to the Microsoft Store app and check
for updates.

Windows logo Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.

key + H

Windows logo Open Settings.

key + I
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.

key + J
When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip. Pressing the
keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to
which the Windows tip is anchored.

Windows logo Open Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.
key + K

Windows logo Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute. Available
key + Alt + K starting in Windows 11, version 22H2.

Windows logo Lock your PC or switch accounts.

key + L

Windows logo Minimize all windows.

key + M

Windows logo Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

key + Shift + M

Windows logo Open notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11.
key + N

Windows logo Lock device orientation.

key + O

Windows logo Choose a presentation display mode.

key + P

Windows Open Quick Assist.

logo key + Ctrl +
Q
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open the Run dialog box.

key + R

Windows logo Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).
key + Alt + R

Windows logo Open search.

key + S

Windows logo Take a screenshot of part of your screen.

key + Shift + S

Windows logo Cycle through apps on the taskbar.

key + T

Windows logo Open Accessibility Settings.

key + U

Windows logo Open the clipboard history.

key + V
Note: Clipboard history isn't turned on by default. If you'd like to turn it
on, use this keyboard shortcut and then select the prompt to turn on
history. Or you can select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard

Press this key To do this

F4 Display the items in the active list.

Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs.

Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,... Move to that tab number.

Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Tab Move forward through options.

Shift + Tab Move back through options.

Alt + underlined Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that
letter letter.

Spacebar Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.

Backspace Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or

Open dialog box.

Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Copy the selected text.

Insert)

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Paste the selected text.

Insert)

Ctrl + M Enter Mark mode.

Alt + selection key Begin selection in block mode.

Arrow keys Move the cursor in the direction specified.

Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Page up Move the cursor by one page up.

Page down Move the cursor by one page down.

Ctrl + Home (Mark Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
mode)

Ctrl + End (Mark Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
mode)

Ctrl + Up arrow Move up one line in the output history.

Ctrl + Down arrow Move down one line in the output history.

Ctrl + Home (History If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the
navigation) buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor
in the command line.

Ctrl + End (History If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command
navigation) line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in
the command line.

Press this key To do this

Alt + D Select the address bar.

Ctrl + E Select the search box.

Ctrl + F Select the search box.

Ctrl + N Open a new window.

Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

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 + 1, 2, 3,... Move to that tab number.

Ctrl + mouse scroll Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
wheel

Ctrl + Shift + E Display all folders above the selected folder.

Ctrl + Shift + N Create 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 + 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.
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

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.

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + Open Task view.

Tab

Windows logo key + Add a virtual desktop.

Ctrl + D

Windows logo key + Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Ctrl + Right arrow

Windows logo key + Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
Ctrl + Left arrow

Windows logo key + Close the virtual desktop you're using.

Ctrl + F4
Windows logo keys keyboard short cuts

Press this key To do this

Press this key To do this

Shift + click a taskbar Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app.
button

Ctrl + Shift + click a Open an app as an administrator.

taskbar button

Shift + right-click a Show the window menu for the app.

taskbar button

Shift + right-click a Show the window menu for the group.

grouped taskbar
button

Ctrl + click a grouped Cycle through the windows of the group.

taskbar button

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + I Open settings.

Backspace Go back to the settings home page.

Type on any page with Search settings.

search box