Windows keyboard shortcuts
Here's a handy list of the most useful keyboard shortcuts for navigating Windows 10. All the given Shortcuts below will work perfectly on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10.
Never use your mouse again.
The basics shortcuts:
- F1 [Display Help]
- F2 [Rename the selected item]
- F3 [Search for a file or folder]
- 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]
- ALT + F4 [Close the active item, or exit the active app]
- ALT + ESC [Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened]
- ALT + Underlined Letter in menus and dialog box options [Perform the command for that letter]
- ALT + ENTER [Display properties for the selected item]
- ALT + SPACEBAR [Open the shortcut menu for the active window]
- ALT + LEFT ARROW [Back]
- ALT + RIGHT ARROW [Forward]
- ALT + PAGE UP [Move up one screen]
- ALT + PAGE DOWN [Move down one screen]
- ALT + TAB [Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)]
- CTRL + F4 [Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)]
- CTRL + A [Select all items in a document or window]
- CTRL + C or CTRL + INSERT [Copy the selected item]
- CTRL + D / DELETE [DELETE the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin]
- CTRL + R or F5 [Refresh the active window]
- CTRL + V or SHIFT + INSERT [Paste the selected item]
- CTRL + X [Cut the selected item]
- CTRL + Y [Redo an action]
- CTRL + Z [Undo an action]
- CTRL + + or CTRL + – [Zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen]
- CTRL + Mouse Scroll Wheel [Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen]
- 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 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]
- CTRL + ARROW + SPACEBAR [Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop]
- CTRL + SHIFT + ARROW [Select a block of text]
- CTRL + ESC [Open the Start screen]
- CTRL + SHIFT + ESC [Open Task Manager]
- CTRL + SHIFT [Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available]
- CTRL + SPACEBAR [Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off]
- SHIFT + F10 [Display the shortcut menu for the selected item]
- SHIFT + ARROW [Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within 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]
The Windows key Shortcuts:
These keyboard shortcuts use the Windows logo key to perform various tasks, such as launching both Windows and third-party apps.- Win + F1 [Open Windows Help and support]
- Win [Display or hide the Start screen]
- Win + B [Set focus in the notification area]
- Win + C [Open Charms]
- Win + D [Display and hide the desktop]
- Win + E [Open File Explorer]
- Win + F [Open the Search charm and search for files]
- Win + H [Open the Share charm]
- Win + I [Open the Settings charm]
- Win + K [Open the Devices charm]
- Win + L [Lock your PC or switch people]
- Win + M [Minimize all windows]
- Win + O [Lock device orientation]
- Win + P [Choose a presentation display mode]
- Win + Q [Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)]
- Win + R [Open the Run dialog box]
- Win + S [Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web]
- Win + T [Cycle through apps on the taskbar]
- Win + U [Open Ease of Access Center]
- Win + V [Cycle through notifications]
- Win + SHIFT + V [Cycle through notifications in reverse order]
- Win + W [Open the Search charm and search for settings]
- Win + X [Open the Quick Link menu]
- Win + Z [Show the commands available in the app]
- Win +, [Temporarily peek at the desktop]
- Win + PAUSE [Display the System Properties dialog box]
- Win + CTRL + F [Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)]
- Win + SHIFT + M [Restore minimized windows on the desktop]
- Win + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, it switches to that app.]
- Win + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + ALT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + CTRL + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9) [Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator]
- Win + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)]
- Win + CTRL + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)]
- Win + SHIFT + TAB [Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order]
- Win + CTRL + B [Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area]
- Win + UP ARROW [Maximize the window]
- Win + DOWN ARROW [Remove the current app from the screen or minimize the desktop window]
- Win + LEFT ARROW [Maximize the app or desktop window to the LEFT side of the screen]
- Win + RIGHT ARROW [Maximize the app or desktop window to the RIGHT side of the screen]
- Win + HOME [Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on the second stroke)]
- Win + SHIFT + UP ARROW [Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen]
- Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW [Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width]
- Win + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW [Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another]
- Win + SPACEBAR [Switch input language and keyboard layout]
- Win + CTRL + SPACEBAR [Change to a previously selected input]
- Win + ENTER [Open Narrator]
- Win + SHIFT + . [Cycle through open apps]
- Win +. [Cycle through open apps]
- Win + / [Initiate IME reconversion]
- Win + ALT + ENTER [Open WindowsMedia Center]
- Win + +/- [Zoom in or out using Magnifier]
- Win + ESC [Exit Magnifier]
Command Prompt Shortcuts:
You can use these keyboard shortcuts inside the Windows 10 Command Prompt.
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl+ Insert [Copy selected text to the clipboard]
- Ctrl + V or Shift+ Insert [Paste copied text inside the Command Prompt]
- Ctrl + A [Select all text on the current line] (If the current line has no text, all text inside the Command Prompt will be selected.)
- Ctrl + Up or Down [Move screen one line up or down]
- Ctrl + F [Search Command Prompt via Find window]
- Ctrl + M [Enter Mark mode (allows you to select text with a mouse). Once Mark mode is enabled, you can use the arrow keys to move the cursor around]
- Shift + Up or Down [Move to cursor up or down one line and select text]
- Shift + Left or Right [Move cursor left or right one character and select text]
- Ctrl + Shift + Left or Right [Move cursor left or right one word and select text]
- Shift + Page Up or Page Down [Move cursor up or down one screen and select text]
- Shift + Home or End [Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line and select text]
- Ctrl + Shift + Home/End [Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer and select text and beginning or end of Command Prompt's output]
File Explorer Shortcuts:
- ALT + D [Select the address bar]
- CTRL + E [Select the search box]
- CTRL + F [Select the search box]
- CTRL + N [Open a new window]
- CTRL + W [Close the current window]
- CTRL + mouse scroll wheel [Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons]
- CTRL + SHIFT + E [Display all folders above the selected folder]
- CTRL + SHIFT + N [Create a new folder]
- NUM LOCK + * [Display all subfolders under the selected folder]
- NUM LOCK + + [Display the contents of the selected folder]
- NUM LOCK + – [Collapse the selected folder]
- ALT + P [Display the preview pane]
- 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]
- 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]
Taskbar Shortcuts:
Here are the keyboard shortcuts to work with items on the Desktop’s taskbar.
- 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 [Show the window menu for the app]
- SHIFT + Right-click a Grouped Taskbar Button [Show the window menu for the groUP]
- CTRL + Click a Grouped Taskbar Button [Cycle through the windows of the groUP]
App Rearranging Shortcuts:
Here are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used to rearrange apps on the Metro screen. You should keep the Windows key pressed down continuously once you enter in the rearrange mode, then use the various commands. When you’re done rearranging apps, then release the Windows key.
- Win +. [Enter Rearrange mode and select apps or dividers across monitors]
- Win + LEFT ARROW [Move app divider left]
- Win + RIGHT ARROW [Move app divider right]
- Win + UP ARROW [Maximize app]
- Win + DOWN ARROW [Close app]
- Win + ESC [Exit Rearrange mode]
Magnifier Shortcuts:
Here are the keyboard shortcuts to help you use Magnifier.
- Win + + [Zoom in]
- Win + – [Zoom out]
- CTRL + ALT + SPACEBAR [Preview the desktop in full-screen mode]
- CTRL + ALT + D [Switch to docked mode]
- CTRL + ALT + F [Switch to full-screen mode]
- CTRL + ALT + I [Invert colors]
- CTRL + ALT + L [Switch to lens mode]
- CTRL + ALT + R [Resize the lens]
- CTRL + ALT + ARROW keys [Pan in the direction of the ARROW keys]
- Win + ESC [Exit Magnifier]
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