The most important keyboard shortcut combinations for Windows

100 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

With these 100 Windows keyboard shortcuts, you can control text fields, windows, files, screen captures, and platform functions directly from your keyboard. This list focuses on Windows 11; many combinations also work in Windows 10. Each combination includes a description of what it does and when to use it.

How to Use This Reference Guide

Find the category below that matches your task. You don’t need to memorize the combinations one by one—just use the overview when you need a specific task.

• Win refers to the key with the Windows logo.
• A plus sign between key names means you should combine the keys. Hold down the supporting keys and briefly press the last key.
• The left arrow, right arrow, up arrow, and down arrow refer to the arrow keys on your keyboard.
• PrtScn is the Print Screen key. It may also be labeled PrtSc or Print Scrn.

Functionality sometimes depends on the active component. For example, text selection works in an editable text box; a file command works in File Explorer. For recent Windows features, your Windows version must support the specified functionality.

On a laptop, you may also need to press the Fn key in combination with a function key like F4 or Print Screen. This depends on the keyboard.

1–10. Copy, Paste, Undo, and Search

You’ll find these combinations in many places within Windows . First, select the correct text box, document, or file list. For commands that edit content, you’ll usually need to make a selection as well.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
1	Ctrl + C	Copies selected text, files, or other supported content to the clipboard. The genuine remains in place, so you can paste the content elsewhere.
2	Ctrl + V	Pastes the current clipboard contents into the active location. First, click in the desired text box or open the destination folder before pasting.
3	Ctrl + X	Cut the selection to move it. In File Explorer, files are prepared for moving; the move is completed when you paste them elsewhere.
4	Ctrl + Z	Undoes a previous action when supported. Check the result: not every command or file operation can be undone.
5	Ctrl + Y	In many applications, this function re-executes an undone operation. The function may vary by program and can sometimes also repeat a previous action.
6	Ctrl + A	Selects all content within the active section. In a text box, this refers to the text; in a file list, it refers to the displayed files and folders.
7	Ctrl + Shift + V	Pastes text into supporting applications without the genuine formatting. Useful for copied text with different colors or fonts; not available everywhere.
8	Win + V	Opens the clipboard history with available previous items. You may need to enable this additional feature the first time you use it; regular paste commands do not require it.
9	Ctrl + F	Opens a search function in many applications. In File Explorer, this combination activates the search box for the current location; in text-based environments, you typically search for text.
10	Ctrl + H	Opens the "Find and Replace" feature in supported text editors, such as Notepad. Use this to edit recurring words; this combination is not a general Windows platform command.

11–30. Editing and Selecting Text

Use these key combinations while the cursor is in editable text. They are particularly suitable for standard text fields and text editors. In spreadsheets, terminals, or other specialized applications, the same keys may have different functions.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
11	Ctrl + Left Arrow	Moves the text cursor to the previous word boundary. This is useful when you want to go back a few words without having to press an arrow key for each letter individually.
12	Ctrl + Right Arrow	Moves the cursor to the next word boundary. This allows you to move forward through a sentence without selecting text or modifying existing content.
13	Ctrl + Home	Goes to the beginning of the text or document. In a separate input field, the command is usually limited to the contents of that field.
14	Ctrl + End	Goes to the end of the text or document. Use this when you want to continue writing at the bottom without scrolling through the entire content.
15	Ctrl + Backspace	Deletes text back to the previous word boundary. Check the cursor position before you start, especially if you’re in the middle of a word.
16	Ctrl + Delete	Deletes text forward to the next word boundary. This command therefore deletes content to the right of the cursor, unlike Ctrl + Backspace.
17	Shift + Left Arrow	Extends the text selection by one character to the left. Continue using the shortcut to precisely select a short segment.
18	Shift + Right Arrow	Expands the selection one character to the right. This is useful, for example, for replacing just a wrong punctuation mark or part of a word.
19	Shift + Up Arrow	Expands the text selection upward. The exact length of the selection depends on the cursor position, line breaks, and the text editor being used.
20	Shift + down arrow	Extend the text selection downward. Use this for a section that spans multiple visible lines without selecting the entire document.
21	Shift + Home	Selects from the cursor to the beginning of the current line. Useful when you want to delete or replace the first part of a line.
22	Shift + End	Selects from the cursor to the end of the current line. The beginning of the line before the cursor remains outside the selection.
23	Ctrl + Shift + Left Arrow	Expands the selection backward by word boundaries. This allows you to quickly select a few words without losing the precision of a single-text selection.
24	Ctrl + Shift + Right Arrow	Expands the selection forward by word boundaries. Handy for copying, formatting, or replacing a group of words.
25	Ctrl + Shift + Home	Selects all text between the cursor and the beginning of the document or active text field. Use this with caution: the selection may be large.
26	Ctrl + Shift + End	Selects from the cursor to the end of the document or text field. Useful for copying the remaining text in one go.
27	Ctrl + Up Arrow	Moves the cursor backward to a paragraph boundary in supported text editors. This allows you to navigate through a multi-paragraph text in larger increments.
28	Ctrl + Down Arrow	Moves the cursor forward to the end of a paragraph. This is useful when you want to navigate through the structure of a longer text.
29	Ctrl + Shift + Up Arrow	Extends the selection backward to a paragraph boundary. The current cursor position determines which part of the paragraph is selected first.
30	Ctrl + Shift + Down Arrow	Extend the selection forward to a paragraph boundary. Repeat the combination to include subsequent paragraphs, as long as the editor supports this.

31–45. Switching, Closing, and Organizing Windows

These commands control your windows. Minimizing hides a window without closing the program. Closing is a different action: when you close an application, it may ask if you want to save your changes.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
31	Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows. Hold down Alt and press Tab repeatedly; release Alt when the desired window is selected.
32	Alt + Shift + Tab	Scroll through the window overview in the opposite direction. This is handy if you’ve just skipped past the window you’re looking for.
33	Ctrl + Alt + Tab	Opens a persistent window overview. Release the keys, use the arrow keys to select, and confirm with Enter; Esc cancels the selection.
34	Alt + Esc	Cycle through windows in the order they were opened. The selection list that appears is different from the one shown when you press Alt + Tab.
35	Alt + F4	Close the active window or program. If the desktop is active, the Windows close window may appear instead.
36	Alt + Spacebar	Opens the window menu with available commands such as move, resize, minimize, and close. The options depend on the active window.
37	Win + D	Shows the desktop and temporarily hides the windows. Press again to return; this does not close the open programs.
38	Win + M	Minimizes the windows that support this command. Use this when you want to free up workspace without having to click the minimize buttons individually.
39	Win + Shift + M	Restores minimized windows. This is a handy alternative to Win + M when you want to continue working in your workspace.
40	Win + Home	Minimizes the other windows and leaves the active window open. Pressing the key again restores the other windows, provided this feature is supported.
41	Win + Left Arrow	Docks the active window to the left side of the screen. Use this, for example, to view two sources of information side by side.
42	Win + Right Arrow	Docks the active window to the right. Together with the left layout, you can create a workspace with two windows side by side.
43	Win + Up Arrow	Maximizes the window or moves it to a larger docked position, depending on its current condition. The window’s previous position affects the result.
44	Win + Down Arrow	Restores or minimizes the window, depending on its current condition. From a maximized window, you can first restore it to a smaller size.
45	Win + Z	Opens in Windows 11 the layout options. Choose an available position; the layouts you see depend, among other things, on your screen space.

46–55. Virtual desktops and multiple monitors

Virtual desktops are separate workspaces on the same computer. Additional monitors are physical screens. The following combinations clearly distinguish between the two.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
46	Win + Tab	Opens Task View with open windows and virtual desktops. There, you can select a workspace and view your available windows.
47	Win + Ctrl + D	Creates a brand new virtual desktop and switches to it. This is useful, for example, for keeping administrative tasks and other work in separate workspaces.
48	Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow	Switches to the previous virtual desktop. This does not move a window to another physical monitor.
49	Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow	Switches to the next virtual desktop, if one exists. This lets you navigate through your workspaces without first opening Task View.
50	Win + Ctrl + F4	Close the current virtual desktop. The open windows will be moved to a remaining desktop; not all programs will be closed.
51	Win + Shift + Left Arrow	Moves the active window to the leftmost monitor in your display layout. This requires a setup with multiple connected monitors.
52	Win + Shift + Right Arrow	Moves the active window to the screen on the right in the configured display layout. Useful when an application is on the wrong screen.
53	Win + P	Opens the projection options, such as duplicating or extending the display. Use this with an additional monitor or projector to choose the desired screen layout.
54	Win + K	Opens Cast to connect to a supported wireless display. Both your computer and the receiving device must support the required connection.
55	Win + comma	Temporarily show the desktop while you hold down the key combination. Release the keys to return to the windows without closing them.

56–75. File Explorer, Files, and the Taskbar

Use file commands in the active File Explorer window. Check your selection before moving or deleting anything. The tab combinations are intended for Windows 11 versions with tabs in File Explorer.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
56	Win + E	Opens File Explorer. From this window, you can access documents, downloads, storage drives, and other available file locations.
57	Ctrl + N	Opens a brand new File Explorer window from File Explorer. Handy for displaying the source folder and destination folder separately.
58	Ctrl + Shift + N	Creates a brand new folder in the current file location, provided you have write permissions there. Then enter the desired folder name and confirm.
59	Ctrl + T	Opens a brand new tab in File Explorer. This allows you to keep multiple folders open in a single window.
60	Ctrl + W	Close the active File Explorer tab. If only one tab is open, the File Explorer window will close.
61	Ctrl + Tab	Switches to the next tab in File Explorer. This allows you to switch between folder views without opening another program window.
62	Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Switches to the previous Explorer tab. Use this to navigate through the tabs in the opposite direction.
63	Ctrl + L	Select the address bar in File Explorer. Type or paste a folder path and press Enter to go directly to that location.
64	Ctrl + E	Activates the Explorer search box. Search from the current location; the scope and results depend on the folder and search settings.
65	Alt + Up Arrow	Opens the parent folder. This follows the folder structure and is different from going back to the previously visited location.
66	Alt + Left Arrow	Goes back to the previous location in Explorer’s navigation history. That location does not have to be the parent folder.
67	Alt + Right Arrow	Moves forward in the navigation history after you’ve gone back. Without an available next location, the command has no usable continuation.
68	Alt + Enter	Opens the properties of the selected file or folder. There you’ll find available information such as size, location, and file attributes.
69	Alt + P	Shows or hides the preview pane. A preview appears only for files for which a suitable preview function is available.
70	Alt + Shift + P	Shows or hides the details pane in File Explorer. The properties displayed vary depending on the selected file type.
71	Shift + Delete	Deletes selected items without first moving them to the Recycle Bin. Please check carefully: it will not be possible to recover them from the Recycle Bin.
72	Ctrl + D	Deletes selected items in File Explorer, typically to the Recycle Bin. For some locations, such as network storage, deletion may work differently.
73	Shift + F10	Opens the context menu for the selected item. You can view available commands without right-clicking.
74	Win + T	Move the focus to the taskbar and cycle through the app buttons. Confirm your selection with Enter to launch the desired app.
75	Win + 1	Opens or activates the app in the first position on the taskbar. The position is counted starting from the app buttons, not from Start or Search.

76–85. Screenshots and Windows Panels

Windows s uses built-in features for screen captures. A copy to the clipboard is not the same as a saved file: check the relevant shortcut to see where the result is saved.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
76	Win + Shift + S	Opens the screenshot selection in the Snipping Tool. Capture an area, a window, or the entire screen; the image is copied to the clipboard.
77	Win + PrtScn	Captures the entire screen and typically saves the image under Pictures → Screenshots. If you have multiple monitors, the screenshot may include multiple screens.
78	Alt + PrtScn	Copies an image of the active window to the clipboard. Then paste it into an application that supports images.
79	Win + Shift + R	In recent versions of the Snipping Tool, this opens the screen recording selection. Choose the recording area and start recording; the shortcut key alone does not start recording immediately.
80	Win + A	Opens Quick Settings in Windows 11. There, you’ll find available controls for sound and connections, among other things; the options displayed depend on your device.
81	Win + N	Opens the notification centre with the calendar at Windows 11. Use this to view received notifications or the calendar.
82	Win + I	Opens the Settings app. You can then select a category or search within Settings for the desired platform option.
83	Win + S	Open Windows Search. Type an app name, setting, or file name, and review the results before opening the option you found.
84	Win + R	Opens the "Run" dialog box for a program name, path, or command. For example, use a known folder path; only enter commands whose meaning you understand.
85	Win + X	Opens the platform menu under Start, displaying available management tools. From this menu, you can access platform information and various Windows utilities, among other things.

86–90. Security, Task Management, and Input

These combinations are useful when you need to step away for a moment, troubleshoot a frozen application, or adjust your input. Each serves a different purpose; for example, locking a computer is not the same as shutting it down.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
86	Win + L	Locks your Windows session. Your programs remain open; after unlocking, you can continue with the work that was still in progress.
87	Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Opens Task Manager directly. View active processes and platform load; force-closing a task may cause unsaved changes to be lost.
88	Ctrl + Alt + Delete	Opens the Windows security screen with available options such as lock, sign out, and Task Manager. Restarting the computer immediately is not a standard command.
89	Win + Spacebar	Switch between installed input languages and keyboard layouts. Check this when characters seem to appear in unexpected places, for example, after a layout change.
90	Win + period	Opens the input panel for emojis and available symbols. First, select an appropriate text field if you want to insert a character.

91–100. Accessibility, magnification, and dictation

These combinations provide tools for vision, reading, and text input. Some features require initial setup or permission. You can then turn them off again using the same controls or their settings.

No.	Shortcut	What does this combination offer?
91	Win + U	Open Accessibility in Settings. Here you’ll find tools and adjustments for display, sound, keyboard controls, and other input methods.
92	Win + plus sign	Launch Magnifier or zoom in further if it’s already active. This feature provides screen magnification, not just text enlargement within a single document.
93	Win + minus sign	Zooms out within the Magnifying Glass. Use this to view a larger area of the screen after zooming in significantly.
94	Win + Esc	Close the Magnifying Glass during normal use. This is handy if you’ve accidentally zoomed in and want to return to the normal screen view.
95	Win + Ctrl + M	Opens the Magnifier settings. There, you can customize how the tool works instead of just changing the current zoom level.
96	Win + Ctrl + Enter	Turns Narrator on or off when this keyboard shortcut is enabled. Narrator is the built-in screen reader that can read out elements and text.
97	Win + Ctrl + O	Opens or closes the on-screen keyboard. This allows you to use keys on the screen when a physical keyboard is unavailable or impractical.
98	Win + Ctrl + C	Turns colour filters on or off if the corresponding keyboard shortcut has been enabled beforehand. This changes the screen’s colour display, not your files.
99	Win + H	Opens voice-activated typing in a text field. This requires a working microphone and an internet connection; speak after the listening function is active.
100	Win + Ctrl + N	Opens the Narrator settings. Use this to view the available voice, reading, and control options for the screen reader.

Why does a combination sometimes behave differently?

First, check which window is active. A command may behave differently in File Explorer than in a text field. Personalized shortcuts or keyboard accessibility features can also alter a key combination.

If a specific Windows 11 feature isn’t working, check to see if your version of Windows and the relevant built-in app are up to date. Some features also require compatible hardware, such as an additional monitor, microphone, or wireless display.

Key points to remember

• Use the correct context: text, files, and platform functions each have their own controls.
• Check your selection before replacing, moving, or deleting content.
• Minimize, lock, and close are different commands.
• Please note the version and hardware requirements for tabs, screen captures, and multiple monitors.
• Start with the most common offers and use the rest of this overview as a reference guide.