Windows 11 has several keyboard shortcuts that allow you to perform tasks more easily and help you save time, increasing productivity when using the system. As the software has brought a number of new features, the list of Windows commands has also gained new shortcuts. The combination Windows + C, for example, opens Microsoft Teams, while the command Windows + C triggers the widgets panel.
The list also includes well-known sequences such as the traditional Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, and less famous shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager and Alt +F4 to close windows and software. Below, Techidence lists all shortcuts on the Microsoft system separated by type of use.
New shortcuts added to Windows 11
With the addition of new features, Windows 11 also gained new shortcuts. The commands allow you to open Microsoft Teams, the notifications panel, and also the widgets menu, among other things.
New Shortcuts for Windows 11
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Windows + A | Open Action Center |
| Windows + N | Open Notifications Panel |
| Windows + W | Open widgets panel |
| Windows + Z | Quick access to “Snap Layout” |
| Windows + C | Open Microsoft Teams |
Essential and Text Editing Shortcuts
The most popular Windows shortcuts are still present in version 11. The list of commands includes the traditional Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, and Ctrl + X, widely used for text editing, and F5, employed to refresh web pages.
Essential and Text Editing Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item |
| Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) | Copy the selected item |
| Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) | Paste the selected item |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo an action |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open apps |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active item or exit the active application |
| Windows + L | Lock your computer |
| Windows + D | Show and hide the desktop |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer |
| F4 | Show address bar list in File Explorer |
| F5 | Update active window |
| F6 | Cycle through screen elements of a window or desktop |
| F10 | Activate the Menu Bar in the active application |
| Alt + F8 | Display your password on the credentials screen |
| Alt + Esc | Scroll through the items in the order they were opened |
| Alt + underlined letter | Run the command for that letter |
| Alt + Enter | Show selected item properties |
| Alt + Spacebar | Open the shortcut menu of the active window |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Come back |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Advance |
| Alt + Page Up | Move one screen up |
| Alt + Page Down | Move one screen down |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document (in applications that are full-screen and allow multiple documents to open at the same time) |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items in a document or window |
| Ctrl + D (or Delete) | Delete selected item and move it to Trash |
| Ctrl + E | Open Search (in most apps) |
| Ctrl + R (or F5) | Update active window |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo an action |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the start of the next word |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
| Ctrl + Down arrow | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
| 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 + arrow keys | When a group or block has focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction. |
| Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys | When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it to another tile to create a folder |
| Ctrl + arrow keys | Resize the Start menu when it’s open |
| Ctrl + arrow key (to go to an item) + Spacebar | Select multiple items separately in a window or on the desktop |
| Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key | Select a text block |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open Start |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager. |
| Ctrl + Shift | Change keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available. |
| Shift + F10 | Show the selected item’s shortcut menu |
| Shift with any arrow key | Selecting more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or selecting text in a document |
| Shift + Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to Trash first |
| Right arrow | Open the next menu on the right or open a submenu |
| Left arrow | Open the next menu on the left or close a submenu. |
| Esc | Stop or end current task |
| PrtSc | Take a screenshot of the entire screen and copy it to your clipboard. |
Windows Key Shortcuts
Windows key shortcuts are complementary. They make it easier to open and close apps and make it easier to activate some features. For this list Windows 11 has brought, among others, the shortcut Windows + C, which lets you quickly start Microsoft Teams.
Windows Key Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Windows | open or close start |
| Windows + A | Open Quick Settings |
| Windows + B | Set focus to the drop-down menu to show hidden icons |
| Windows + C | Open Microsoft Teams |
| Windows + Shift + C | Open button menu |
| Windows + Ctrl + C | Turn on color filters (activate this shortcut first in the color filters settings) |
| Windows + D | Show and hide the desktop |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows + F | Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot |
| Windows + G | Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open |
| Windows + H | Start voice typing |
| Windows + I | Open Settings |
| Windows + J | Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available |
| Windows + L | Lock your computer or change accounts |
| Windows + M | Minimize all windows |
| Windows + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows to desktop |
| Windows + N | Open notification center and calendar |
| Windows + O | Lock device orientation |
| Windows + P | Choose a presentation view |
| Windows + Ctrl + Q | Open Quick Assistance |
| Windows + R | Open the Run dialog |
| Windows + Alt + R | Record video of hover game window (using Xbox Game Bar) |
| Windows + S | open search |
| Windows + Shift + S | Take a screenshot of part of your screen |
| Windows + T | Browse apps on the taskbar |
| Windows + U | Open Accessibility Settings |
| Windows + V | Open clipboard history |
| Windows + Shift + V | Focus a notification |
| Windows‌ + W | Open Widgets |
| Windows + X | Open the Quick Link menu |
| Windows + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and desktop |
| Windows + Z | Open the layout adjustment. |
| Windows + semicolon (.) or semicolon (;) | Open the emoji panel |
| Windows + comma (,) | Temporarily spying on the desktop |
| Windows + Pause | Open the System Properties dialog |
| Windows + Ctrl + F | Search for computers (if you are on a network) |
| Windows + Number | Open the desktop and start the application pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app |
| Windows + Shift + Number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar, at the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Ctrl + Number | Open the desktop and switch to the last active application window pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Alt + Number | Open the desktop and open the application’s Jump List pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + Number | Open the desktop and open a new instance of the application located in the specified position on the taskbar as an administrator |
| Windows + Tab | Open Task View |
| Windows + Up arrow | maximize window |
| Windows + Alt + Up arrow | Fit window into focus on the top half of screen (new in Windows 11). |
| Windows + Down arrow | Remove the current application from the screen or minimize the desktop window |
| Windows + Alt + Down arrow | Fit docker in focus to the bottom half of the screen (new in Windows 11) |
| Windows + Left Arrow | Maximize the application or desktop window on the left side of the screen. |
| Windows + Right Arrow | Maximize the application or desktop window on the right side of the screen |
| Windows + Home | Minimize all desktop windows except the active one (restore all windows with a second press) |
| Windows + Shift + Up Arrow | Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
| Windows + Shift + Down Arrow | Restore/minimize desktop active windows vertically while maintaining width |
| Windows + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow | Moving an application or a window on the desktop from one monitor to another |
| Windows + Shift + Spacebar | Scroll through elements by language and keyboard layout |
| Windows + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
| Windows + Ctrl + Spacebar | Change to a previously selected entry |
| Windows + Ctrl + Enter | turn on the narrator |
| Windows + Plus Sign (+) | open magnifying glass and enlarge |
| Windows + Subtraction (-) | Zoom in on the magnifying glass |
| Windows‌ + Esc | Close Magnifying Glass |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B | Activate the PC from a blank or black screen. |
| Windows + PrtScn | Save full-screen capture to archive |
| Windows + Alt + PrtScn | Save a screenshot of the hover game window to archive (using Xbox Game Bar) |
Command Prompt Shortcuts
The command prompt is an advanced Windows feature that allows you to access system functionality using a programming language. It is typically used by advanced users or IT professionals. The shortcut to open the command prompt is Windows + X, and the commands listed below are applicable within the tool.
Command Prompt Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) | Paste selected text |
| Ctrl + M | Enter Brand Mode |
| Alt + selection key | Start selection in lock mode |
| Direction keys | Move cursor in a specified direction |
| Page Up | Move cursor up one page |
| Page Down | Move cursor down one page |
| Ctrl + Home (brand mode) | Move the cursor to the start of the next buffer |
| Ctrl + End (mark mode) | Move the cursor to the end of the next buffer |
| Ctrl + Up arrow | Move up one line in the output history |
| Ctrl + Down arrow | Move one line down in output history |
| Ctrl + Home (History browsing) | If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the beginning of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all characters to the left of the cursor on the command line. |
| Ctrl + End (History browsing) | If the command line is empty, move the display to the command line. Otherwise, delete all characters to the right of the cursor on the command line. |
Taskbar Shortcuts
Present in all editions of Windows, the taskbar allows you to start and monitor programs. Users can also pin their favorite applications to the space, located at the bottom of the screen. Using shortcuts makes the taskbar experience more fluid and productive.
Taskbar Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Shift + click a taskbar button | Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app |
| Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar button | Open an app as an administrator |
| Shift + right-click a taskbar button | Display application window menu |
| Shift + right-click on a grouped taskbar button | Display group window menu |
| Ctrl + click on a grouped taskbar button | Switch group windows |
Dialog Box Shortcuts
A dialog box is a secondary window that provides supplementary information about applications or allows users to execute a command. For example, when emptying the Recycle Bin, Windows displays a dialog box with the options “yes” or “no” and asks the user to confirm the action. The shortcuts below are applicable within any dialog box on the system.
Dialog Box Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| F4 | Show items in active list |
| Ctrl + Tab | Advance between tabs |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Back in the tabs |
| Ctrl + number (number from 1 to 9) | Move to the nth tab |
| Tab | Advance between options |
| Shift + Tab | Back to options |
| Alt + underlined letter | Run the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter |
| Spacebar | Check or uncheck the checkbox if the active option is a checkbox. |
| Backspace | Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box |
| Direction keys | Select a button if the active option is a radio button group |
Windows Explorer Shortcuts
Windows Explorer is the Windows file manager. With the shortcuts below you can select the address bar (to add folder paths), select the search box to find specific files, open a new window, create a new folder, and more.
Windows Explorer Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + D | Select address bar |
| Ctrl + E | Select search box |
| Ctrl + F | Select search box |
| Ctrl + N | open a new window |
| Ctrl + W | close active window |
| Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel | Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Show all folders above the selected folder |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder |
| Num Lock + asterisk (*) | Show all subfolders of the selected folder |
| Num Lock + plus (+) key | Show the contents of the selected folder |
| Num Lock + subtraction key (-) | Collapse the selected folder |
| Alt + P | Show the preview pane |
| Alt + Enter | Open Selected Item Properties dialog box |
| Alt + Right Arrow | show next folder |
| Alt + Up arrow | Show the folder the folder was in |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Show the previous folder |
| Backspace | Show the previous folder |
| Right arrow | Show current selection (if collapsed) or select the first subfolder |
| Left arrow | Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded) or select the folder in which the current folder was |
| End | Show the bottom of the active window |
| Home | Show the top of the active window |
| F11 | Maximize or minimize the active window |
Desktop Shortcuts
Since its version 10, Windows offers the possibility to create virtual desktops. With them, the user can better organize everyday demands on the same computer, separating personal applications from work programs, for example. The following commands help you access desktop features faster, switch between virtual desktops, close or open desktops, and more.
Virtual Desktop Shortcut
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Windows + Tab | Open task view |
| Windows + Ctrl + D | Add a virtual desktop |
| Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the right |
| Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the left |
| Windows + Ctrl + F4 | Close the virtual desktop you are using |
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