Windows Keyboard Shortcuts: A Practical Windows 11 and 10 Cheat Sheet

Windows keyboard shortcuts can open tools, arrange windows, capture the screen, and switch tasks without reaching for the mouse. The tables below focus on current Windows 11 and Windows 10 behavior. Some shortcuts depend on the active app, keyboard layout, or enabled Windows feature.

Key notation: Win means the Windows logo key, and a plus sign means press the listed keys together.

Essential editing and app shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl + C`	Copy the selected item or text
`Ctrl + X`	Cut the selected item or text
`Ctrl + V`	Paste
`Ctrl + Shift + V`	Paste as plain text in supported apps
`Ctrl + A`	Select all in the current context
`Ctrl + Z`	Undo the last action
`Ctrl + Y`	Redo in many Windows apps
`Ctrl + S`	Save the current document
`Ctrl + P`	Open the print dialog in supported apps
`Ctrl + F`	Find text or an item
`Alt + F4`	Close the active window; on the desktop, open the shutdown dialog
`Alt + Enter`	Show properties for a selected item in many Windows contexts

Application behavior can differ. For example, plain-text paste is not implemented by every editor, and Ctrl + Y may perform a different command in specialized software.

Open common Windows tools

Shortcut	Action
`Win`	Open or close Start
`Win + S`	Open Search
`Win + E`	Open File Explorer
`Win + I`	Open Settings
`Win + R`	Open the Run dialog
`Win + X`	Open the Quick Link menu for administrative tools
`Win + A`	Open Quick Settings in Windows 11
`Win + N`	Open notifications and the calendar in Windows 11
`Win + V`	Open Clipboard history after it has been enabled
`Win + .`	Open the emoji, symbols, and GIF panel
`Win + H`	Start voice typing
`Ctrl + Shift + Esc`	Open Task Manager
`Win + L`	Lock the PC

Older lists often say Win + S opens Cortana. On current Windows, it opens Windows Search. Win + A also changed from the Windows 10 Action Center to Windows 11 Quick Settings.

Switch and arrange windows

Shortcut	Action
`Alt + Tab`	Switch among open apps
`Win + Tab`	Open Task View
`Win + D`	Show or restore the desktop
`Win + M`	Minimize all windows
`Win + Shift + M`	Restore windows minimized with `Win + M`
`Win + Up Arrow`	Maximize the active window or move it upward in a snap layout
`Win + Down Arrow`	Restore or minimize the active window
`Win + Left/Right Arrow`	Snap the active window to a side of the screen
`Win + Z`	Open Snap Layouts in Windows 11
`Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow`	Move the active window to another monitor
`Win + P`	Choose how Windows uses a second display
`Win + 1` through `Win + 9`	Open or switch to the corresponding pinned taskbar app

Win + D is a toggle, while Win + M minimizes windows and uses a separate restore shortcut. TipsMake's Show Desktop and Minimize All guide illustrates the difference.

Virtual desktop shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Win + Ctrl + D`	Create and switch to a new virtual desktop
`Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow`	Switch to the previous or next virtual desktop
`Win + Ctrl + F4`	Close the current virtual desktop and move its windows to another desktop
`Win + Tab`	View open windows and desktops in Task View

Correction to a common shortcut-list error: Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow switches virtual desktops; it does not rotate the display. For the visual workflow, see TipsMake's guide to Task View in Windows 11.

Screenshot and recording shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`PrtScn`	Copy a full-screen image to the clipboard, or open screen snipping if that option is enabled
`Alt + PrtScn`	Copy the active window to the clipboard
`Win + PrtScn`	Save a full-screen capture in the Screenshots folder
`Win + Shift + S`	Open the Snipping Tool capture overlay
`Win + G`	Open Xbox Game Bar
`Win + Alt + R`	Start or stop recording the current app with Game Bar

Game Bar recording availability depends on the app and Windows settings; it is not a general desktop recorder for every protected or system surface. TipsMake's Windows 11 screenshot guide compares the capture methods.

File Explorer shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl + N`	Open a new File Explorer window
`Ctrl + Shift + N`	Create a new folder
`F2`	Rename the selected item
`F3` or `Ctrl + F`	Move focus to search
`F4`	Select the address bar list
`F5`	Refresh the current window
`Alt + Left/Right Arrow`	Go back or forward
`Alt + Up Arrow`	Go to the parent folder
`Shift + Delete`	Delete without moving the item to Recycle Bin

Use Shift + Delete carefully: recovery is less straightforward than restoring from Recycle Bin.

Command Prompt and Windows Terminal shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl + C`	Copy selected text, or send an interrupt when no text is selected, depending on the shell and terminal
`Ctrl + V`	Paste
`Ctrl + A`	Select command text or all output, depending on focus and repetition
`Up/Down Arrow`	Move through command history
`Tab`	Complete a file or folder name in many shells
`Ctrl + Shift + T`	Open a new tab in Windows Terminal's default profile
`Ctrl + Shift + W`	Close the current Windows Terminal tab or pane

Windows Terminal key bindings can be customized, and a shell may interpret a shortcut differently. Check the active terminal's settings if a combination does not match this table.

Browser shortcuts that work in most browsers

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl + T`	Open a new tab
`Ctrl + W`	Close the current tab
`Ctrl + Shift + T`	Reopen the most recently closed tab
`Ctrl + L`	Focus the address bar
`Ctrl + D`	Bookmark the current page
`Ctrl + Tab`	Move to the next tab
`Ctrl + Shift + Tab`	Move to the previous tab
`Ctrl + R` or `F5`	Reload the page

Accessibility shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Win + U`	Open Accessibility settings
`Win + Plus (+)`	Turn on Magnifier and zoom in
`Win + Minus (-)`	Zoom out while Magnifier is active
`Win + Esc`	Exit Magnifier
`Win + Ctrl + Enter`	Start or stop Narrator
`Win + Ctrl + O`	Open the on-screen keyboard

How to remember shortcuts

Start with one workflow, not the entire list. For example, learn Win + E, F2, and Ctrl + Shift + N for file management, then add window snapping and virtual desktops. Microsoft's official Windows shortcut reference has the full current list.

Microsoft PowerToys also includes a Shortcut Guide that displays Windows-key combinations as an overlay. TipsMake's PowerToys Shortcut Guide tutorial explains how to enable it.

Windows 7 reached end of support years ago, so this guide does not recommend continuing to use it online. Many basic editing shortcuts still work there, but current Windows 11 behavior should not be assumed on an unsupported system.