Keyboard shortcuts in

Windows
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.

Press this key To do this

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 + 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.
Press this key To do this

Delete)

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

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 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 When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the
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.

Press this key To do this

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 with any Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select
arrow key text 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 > Ease of
Access > Keyboard, and turn on the toggle under Print Screen
shortcut.

Use PrtScn key to open screen snipping

Windows logo key Keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open or close Start.

key

Windows logo Open Action center.

key + A

Windows logo Set focus in the notification area.

key + B

Windows logo Open Cortana in listening mode.

key + C
Notes:

 This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on,

select Start > Settings > Cortana, and turn on the
toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands
when I press the Windows logo key + C.

 Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions,

and some Cortana features might not be available
everywhere. If Cortana isn't available or is turned off,
you can still use search.

Windows logo Open the charms menu.

key + Shift +
C

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

Windows logo Display and hide the date and time on the desktop.
key + Alt + D

Windows logo Open File Explorer.

key + E
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.

key + F

Windows logo Open 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 Start dictation.

key + H

Windows logo Open Settings.

key + I

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 the Connect quick action.

key + K

Windows logo Lock your PC or switch accounts.

key + L

Windows logo Minimize all windows.

key + M

Windows logo Lock device orientation.

key + O
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Choose a presentation display mode.

key + P

Windows Open Quick Assist.

logo key + Ctrl
+Q

Windows logo Open the Run dialog box.

key + 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 Ease of Access Center.

key + U

Windows logo Open the clipboard.

key + V
Note

 To activate this shortcut,

select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard,
and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history.

Windows logo Cycle through notifications.

key + Shift +
V

Windows logo Open the Quick Link menu.

key + X
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.
key + Y

Windows logo Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode.

key + Z

Windows logo Open emoji panel.

key + period
(.) or semicolon
(;)

Windows logo Temporarily peek at the desktop.

key + comma
(,)

Windows logo Display the System Properties dialog box.

key + Pause

Windows logo Search for PCs (if you're on a network).

key + Ctrl + F

Windows logo Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

key + Shift +
M

Windows logo Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position
key + number indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.

Windows logo Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the
key + Shift + taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number

Windows logo Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned
key + Ctrl + to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the
key + Alt + taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
number

Windows logo Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the
key + Ctrl + given position on the taskbar as an administrator.
Shift + number

Windows logo Open Task view.

key + Tab

Windows logo Maximize the window.

key + Up
arrow

Windows logo Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window.
key + Down
arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.
key + Left
arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.
key + Right
arrow

Windows logo Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on
key + Home second stroke).

Windows logo Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
key + Shift +
Up arrow

Windows logo Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.

key + Shift +
Press this key To do this

Down arrow

Windows logo Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.
key + Shift +
Left arrow or
Right arrow

Windows logo Switch input language and keyboard layout.

key +
Spacebar

Windows logo Change to a previously selected input.

key + Ctrl +
Spacebar

Windows logo Turn on Narrator.

key + Ctrl +
Enter

Windows logo Open Magnifier.

key + Plus (+)

Windows logo Begin IME reconversion.

key + forward
slash (/)

Windows logo Open shoulder taps.

key + Ctrl + V

Windows logo Wake PC from blank or black screen.

key + Ctrl +
Shift + B

Windows logo Open taskbar settings.

key + Alt +
Enter (on
taskbar item
Press this key To do this

focus)
Command Prompt Keyboard shortcuts

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.

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

Ctrl + End (History If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command
Press this key To do this

navigation) line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in
the command line.
Dialog Box Keyboard shortcuts
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 + number Move to nth tab.

(number 1–9)

Tab Move forward through options.

Shift + Tab Move back through options.

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

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.

Ctrl + W Close the active window.

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 + Display all subfolders under the selected folder.

asterisk (*)

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.
Press this key To do this

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.

Virtual desktop Keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + Tab Open Task view.

Windows logo key + Ctrl + D Add a virtual desktop.

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

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

Windows logo key + Ctrl + F4 Close the virtual desktop you're using.
Taskbar Keyboard shortcut

Press this key To do this

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 Show the window menu for the group.
button

Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button Cycle through the windows of the group.
Settings Keyboard shortcuts

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 box Search settings.