20 essential Windows keyboard shortcuts that will make you forget your mouse

Let your fingertips fly.

By David Nield March 24, 2021

This post has been updated. It was originally published on 09/26/19.

Compared to reaching for the mouse or navigating a menu, a single Windows keyboard shortcut shaves a moment off your task. This might not seem like much, but add up all those saved moments over a week or a month, and you’re gaining a substantial chunk of time.

That’s why it’s important to know as many shortcuts as possible for your operating system. Try a keyboard command a few times, and you’ll find out just how useful it can be. Here are 20 of the most indispensable keyboard shortcuts for a Microsoft Windows computer.

Basic Windows keyboard shortcuts

Ctrl+Z: Undo

No matter what program you’re running, Ctrl+Z will roll back your last action. Whether you’ve just overwritten an entire paragraph in Microsoft Word or deleted a file you didn’t mean to, this one is an absolute lifesaver.

Ctrl+W: Close

Another shortcut that works just about everywhere, Ctrl+W will close down whatever you’re viewing. Shut that File Explorer window, browser tab, or open image file without bothering to hone in on the close button.

Ctrl+A: Select all

This command lets you highlight all the text in a document or select all the files in a folder. Hitting Ctrl+A can save you time you’d otherwise spend clicking and dragging your mouse.

Alt+Tab: Switch apps

This baby is one of the classic Windows shortcuts, and it can be hugely useful when you’re running multiple applications. Just press Alt+Tab and you’ll be able to quickly flick through all your open windows.

Alt+F4: Close apps

Another old-school shortcut, Alt+F4 shuts down active apps so you can skip the process of hunting down their on-screen menus. Don’t worry about losing unsaved work with this command—it will prompt you to save your documents before closing them.

Windows shortcuts for navigation

Win+D: Show or hide the desktop

This keyboard combo minimizes all your open windows, bringing your home screen into view. If you store rows and rows of files and shortcuts on your desktop, Win+D will let you access them in moments.

Win+left arrow or Win+right arrow: Snap windows

Snapping a window simply opens it on one side of the screen (left or right, depending on which arrow you hit). This allows you to compare two windows side-by-side and keeps your workspace organized.

Win+Tab: Open the Task view

Like Alt+Tab, this shortcut lets you switch apps, but it does so by opening an updated Windows application switcher. The latest version shows thumbnails of all your open programs on the screen.

Tab and Shift+Tab: Move backward and forward through options

When you open a dialog box, these commands move you forward (Tab) or backward (Shift+Tab) through the available options, saving you a click. If you’re dealing with a dialog box with multiple tabs, or a very busy browsing session, hit Ctrl+Tab or Ctrl+Shift+Tab to navigate through them.

Ctrl+Esc: Open the Start menu

If you’re using a keyboard that doesn’t have a Windows key, this shortcut will open the Start menu. Otherwise, a quick tap of the Windows key will do the same thing. From there, you can stay on the keyboard and navigate the Start menu with the cursor keys, Tab, and Shift+Tab.

Advanced Windows hotkeys

F2: Rename

Simply highlight a file and hit F2 to give it a new name. This command also lets you edit text in other programs—tap F2 in Microsoft Excel, for example, and you’ll be able to edit the contents of the cell you’re in.

F5: Refresh

While you’re exploring the function key row, take a look at F5. This key will refresh a page—a good trick when you’re using File Explorer or your web browser. After the refresh, you’ll see the latest version of the page you’re viewing.

Win+L: Lock your computer

Keep your computer safe from any prying eyes by using this keyboard combo right before you step away. Win+L locks the machine and returns you to the login screen, so any snoops will need your user account password to regain access.

Win+I: Open Settings

Any time you want to configure the way Windows works, hit this keyboard shortcut to bring up the Settings dialog. Alternatively, use Win+A to open up the Action Center panel, which shows notifications and provides quick access to certain settings.

Win+S: Search Windows

The Windows taskbar has a handy search box that lets you quiz Cortana or sift through your applications and saved files. Jump straight to it with this keyboard shortcut, then type in your search terms.

Win+PrtScn: Save a screenshot

No need to open a dedicated screenshot tool: Win+PrtScn grabs the whole screen and saves it as a PNG file in a Screenshots folder inside your Pictures folder. At the same time, Windows will also copy the image to the clipboard. If you don’t want to snap the whole screen, the Alt+PrtScn combination will take a screenshot of just the active window, but it will only copy this image to the clipboard, so you won’t get a saved file.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc: Open the Task Manager

The Task Manager is your window into everything running on your Windows system, from the open programs to the background processes. This shortcut will call up the Task Manager, no matter what application you’re using.

Win+C: Start talking to Cortana

This shortcut puts Cortana in listening mode, but you must activate it before you can give it a whirl. To do so, open Cortana from the taskbar search box, click the cog icon, and turn on the keyboard shortcut. Once you’ve enabled the shortcut, hit the Win+C whenever you want to talk to the digital assistant. You can do this instead of, or in addition to, saying, “Hey Cortana.”

Win+Ctrl+D: Add a new virtual desktop

Virtual desktops create secondary screens where you can stash some of your open applications and windows, giving you extra workspace. This shortcut lets you create one. Once you have, click the Task View button to the right of the taskbar search box to switch from one desktop to another. Or stick with shortcuts: Win+Ctrl+arrow will cycle through your open desktops, and Win+Ctrl+F4 will close whichever one you’re currently viewing and shift your open windows and apps to the next available virtual desktop.

Win+X: Open the hidden menu

Windows has a hidden Start menu, called the Quick Link menu, that allows you to access all the key areas of the system. From here, you can jump straight to Device Manager to review and configure any hardware, such as printers or keyboards, that are currently attached to the system. Or you can quickly bring up the PowerShell command prompt window to access advanced Windows commands.

How-to: Windows Keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts for the Windows CMD shell and PowerShell.

Switch to/from full screen mode.	Alt ENTER
Cancel the current command (if nothing is selected).	Ctrl C
Enter Mark mode.	Ctrl M
Select text in mark mode.	Shift ←/→
Copy the selected text.	Ctrl C (or Ctrl Insert)
Paste the selected text.	Ctrl V (or Shift Insert)
Move the cursor in the direction specified.	Arrow keys
Move the cursor by one page up.	Page up
Move the cursor by one page down.	Page down
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.	Ctrl Home (Mark mode)
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.	Ctrl End (Mark mode)
Autocomplete folder/file name.	[Tab]
Scroll through history of typed commands.	↓ / ↑
Toggle full screen.	Alt Enter or F11
Clear command line.	ESC
Toggle Insert/Overwrite.	INSERT
Erase line to the left.	Ctrl Home
Erase line to the right.	Ctrl End
Move one word to the left (backward).	Ctrl ←
Move one word to the right (forward).	Ctrl →
Erase character to the left.	⌫
Move to beginning of line.	[Home]
Move to end of line.	[End]
Scroll window up.	⇧ PgUp
Scroll window Down.	⇧ PgDn

New Windows Terminal Keyboard shortcuts

Application-level shortcuts:
Find.	Ctrl ⇧ F
Open the dropdown.	Ctrl ⇧ Space
Open settings files.	Ctrl ,
Open settings files.	Ctrl Alt ,
Tab management shortcuts:
New tab.	Ctrl ⇧ T
New tab.	Ctrl ⇧ 1 thru 9
Duplicate tab.	Ctrl ⇧ D
Open next tab.	Ctrl Tab
Open previous tab.	Ctrl ⇧ tab
Open a specific tab.	Ctrl Alt 1 thru 9
Pane management shortcuts:
Move pane focus.	Alt Up/Down/Left/Right
Resize a pane.	Alt ⇧ Up/Down/Left/Right
Split a pane.	Alt ⇧ D or Alt ⇧ — or Alt ⇧ +
Close pane.	Ctrl ⇧ W
Clipboard integration:
Copy the selected text.	Ctrl C or Ctrl ⇧ C or Ctrl-Insert
Paste the selected text.	Ctrl V or Ctrl ⇧ V or Shift-Insert
Scrollback:
Scroll up/Down.	Ctrl ⇧ Up/Down
Scroll up one page.	Ctrl ⇧ pgup
Scroll down one page.	Ctrl ⇧ pgdn
Visual adjustment:
Adjust font size.	Ctrl =
Adjust font size.	Ctrl —
Reset font size.	Ctrl 0
Toggle High Visibility screen mode.	Left Alt + Left ⇧ + PrtScn

⊞ Windows Key shortcuts — Explorer / General.

Open or Close the Start Menu.	⊞
Launch a Start Menu app ‘As Admin’	⇧ Ctrl+click app
Open the Action Center.	⊞ A
Activate Cortana listening mode.	⊞ C
Show Desktop / Minimize all. Press a second time to restore.	⊞ D
Open Windows File Explorer.	⊞ E
Open the Feedback Hub.	⊞ F
Open Find computers.	⊞ Ctrl F
Open Settings.	⊞ I
Open Connect.	⊞ K
Lock the PC.	⊞ L
Minimize all windows.	⊞ M
Restore windows that were minimized with ⊞ +M.	⊞ ⇧ M
Presentation display mode.	⊞ P
Open the «Run Program Or File» Window.	⊞ R
Search.	⊞ S
Open the Ease of Access center. Reverse with ⊞+⇧ Shift+V (Win 1810+)	⊞ U
Cycle through notifications.	⊞ V
Quick link menu (like right clicking on START).	⊞ X
Open an app that is pinned to taskbar position #	⊞ #
Open the Emoji panel.	⊞ . (or ⊞ ; )
Open the task view.	⊞ Tab ↹
Minimize all but the active desktop window.	⊞ Home
Snap the active window to the right or left of the screen.	⊞ → or ←
Maximize or Minimize the active window.	⊞ ↑ or ↓
Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.	⊞ ⇧ ↑ or ↓
Auto-correct a display issue/lockup.	⊞ Ctrl ⇧ B
Opens properties of My Computer	⊞ Pause or ⊞+Break
Open Windows Help.	⊞ F1
Zoom in.	⊞ + Magnifier
Zoom out.	⊞ — Magnifier
Open a quick look at the desktop.	⊞ ,
Screenshot region of screen.	⊞ ⇧ S
Save a fullscreen screenshot.	PrtScn
Save a screenshot of the active window.	Alt PrtScn
Close window.	Alt F4

CMD shell Command History shortcuts:

Print characters of the previous command one by one.	F1
Repeat part of the previous command; up to character Z	F2 Z
Repeat the previous command.	F3
Beginning from the current cursor position, delete up to character Z.	F4 Z
Scroll through history of typed commands (↑).	F5
Scroll the screen up or down one line.	Ctrl ↑ / ↓
Show history of previous commands.	F7
Clear command history.	ALT F7
Move backwards through the command history, but only display commands matching the current text at the command prompt.	F8
Run a specific command from the command history.	F9
Signal end-of-file.	Ctrl Z

Virtual Desktops

Create a new virtual desktop. .	⊞ Ctrl D
Switch between virtual desktops.	⊞ Ctrl ← / →
Switch Monitors.	⊞ Shift ← / →
Close the active virtual desktop.	⊞ Ctrl F4
Task View/Timeline, press ⊞ Tab then Right-click an app to show across all desktops. With multiple monitors, ⊞ +Tab shows which apps are open on each monitor	⊞ Tab

Group Policy GPO

Mark all settings on the page as «green» (apply all).	F5
Mark current settings on the page as «green» (apply this setting).	F6
Mark current settings as «red» (don’t apply this setting).	F7
Mark all settings on the page as «red» (don’t apply).	F8
Display a list of available variables.	F3

⇧ is the Shift key
⌫ is the Backspace key
⊞ is the Windows Key

Add Custom shortcut keys

If you have a shortcut anywhere on the Start Menu or Desktop you can create a keyboard shortcut for it.

For example if you have a shortcut to the traditional Control Panel in the Start Menu, right click it and choose More > Open file location. Right click on the shortcut file and select Properties. Under Shortcut>Shortcut Key you can assign a hotkey,
pressing Ctrl+C will assign the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C.

How to disable one or more ⊞ (Windows Key) Keyboard Shortcuts:

In the Windows registry add a new String Value called “ DisabledHotkeys » under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

Set the value data for this key to the hotkey characters you want to disable.
For example: to disable the hotkeys Win + X and Win + R, set the value to RX
(n.b. This will also affect other modifier key combinations like Win + Shift + X)

Restart Explorer or Logoff/reboot and the new settings will apply to this user account.

The hotkeys specified will be disabled and unassigned and thus available to any third party app which allows you to assign global hotkeys.

«If NumLock is on, pressing a key on the numeric keypad while holding SHIFT overrides NumLock and instead generates an arrow key»