Microsoft documents over a hundred Windows keyboard shortcuts, and most people know three of them. This guide is the complete list, organised so you can actually find what you need — copy and paste, window management, virtual desktops, File Explorer, the taskbar, dialog boxes and Task Manager.
Every combination here was read from Microsoft’s official Windows keyboard shortcuts reference, which applies to both Windows 11 and Windows 10. If you have been unsure whether Windows keyboard shortcuts you read about apply to your version, they do. Where Windows behaves in a way that surprises people — clipboard history being switched off, or paste-as-plain-text failing in some apps — we say so plainly rather than leaving you to wonder what you did wrong.
The Windows Shortcut Keys List to Learn First
Do not start with the tables. Learn these twelve. They cover the overwhelming majority of everyday Windows work, and once they are automatic you can add more.
| # | Keys | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ctrl + C | Copy the selected text or item |
| 2 | Ctrl + V | Paste what you copied |
| 3 | Ctrl + X | Cut — move instead of copy |
| 4 | Ctrl + Z | Undo your last action |
| 5 | Ctrl + Y | Redo what you just undid |
| 6 | Ctrl + A | Select everything |
| 7 | Ctrl + F | Find text |
| 8 | Ctrl + S | Save |
| 9 | Alt + Tab | Switch between open windows |
| 10 | Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| 11 | Windows + L | Lock the computer |
| 12 | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager directly |
Number twelve is the one that rescues you when a program freezes. If you have been pressing Ctrl + Alt + Del for years, read the next section — you have been taking a detour.
Windows Key Shortcuts: The Most Underused Key on Your Keyboard
Most people use the Windows key for one thing: opening the Start menu. Combined with a single letter, it opens almost anything on the system. These are the Windows key shortcuts worth memorising first.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows | Open or close the Start menu |
Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
Windows + I | Open Settings |
Windows + S or Windows + Q | Open search |
Windows + R | Open the Run dialog box |
Windows + L | Lock the computer |
Windows + D | Show or hide the desktop |
Windows + M | Minimise all windows |
Windows + Home | Minimise or restore all windows except the active one |
Windows + X | Open the Quick Link menu (same as right-clicking Start) |
Windows + N | Open notification centre and calendar |
Windows + W | Open Widgets |
Windows + A | Open the action centre |
Windows + Pause | Open Settings to the About page |
Windows + Tab | Open Task View |
Windows + comma (,) | Temporarily peek at the desktop |
Windows + V | Open clipboard history (off by default) |
Windows + Period (.) | Open the emoji panel |
Windows + Ctrl + Q | Open Quick Assist |
Clipboard History Is Off by Default
Windows + V opens a history of everything you have recently copied, which is genuinely useful when you need to paste several different items in a row. But Microsoft does not switch it on for you. Press Windows + V once and accept the prompt, or enable it under Settings, System, Clipboard.
Managing Windows: Alt + Tab, Snapping and Multi-Monitor
This is where Windows keyboard shortcuts save the most time, because window juggling is what most people do all day with a mouse.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Alt + Tab | Switch between open windows — hold Alt and press Tab repeatedly to cycle |
Ctrl + Alt + Tab | View thumbnails of all open apps, then use the arrow keys |
Alt + Esc | Cycle through windows in the order they were opened |
Alt + F4 | Close the active window |
Ctrl + F4 | Close the document but keep the application open |
Windows + Left arrow | Snap the window to the left half of the screen |
Windows + Right arrow | Snap the window to the right half of the screen |
Windows + Up arrow | Maximise the active window |
Windows + Down arrow | Minimise the active window |
Windows + Alt + Up arrow | Snap the window to the top half of the screen |
Windows + Alt + Down arrow | Snap the window to the bottom half of the screen |
Windows + Shift + Down arrow | Restore a snapped or maximised window |
Windows + Z | Open the snap layouts |
Windows + Shift + Left arrow | Move the active window to the monitor on the left |
Windows + Shift + Right arrow | Move the active window to the monitor on the right |
Windows + Shift + Up arrow | Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen |
How to Switch Between Windows Without Losing Your Place
Two habits make a real difference. First, use Alt + Tab rather than clicking the taskbar — it keeps your hands on the keyboard and remembers the previous window, so tapping it twice bounces you back and forth between two apps. Second, use Windows + Left/Right arrow to put two windows side by side. Reading one document while typing into another is the single most common work pattern there is, and it takes two keystrokes.
Virtual Desktop Shortcuts
Windows can run several separate desktops at once, each with its own open windows. If you have ever wished you could keep your work away from your personal browsing without closing everything, this is the feature you were looking for. Microsoft documents five combinations for it, alongside its guide to Windows keyboard shortcuts.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + Tab | Open Task View to see all desktops and windows |
Windows + Ctrl + D | Create another desktop |
Windows + Ctrl + Right arrow | Switch to the desktop on the right |
Windows + Ctrl + Left arrow | Switch to the desktop on the left |
Windows + Ctrl + F4 | Close the desktop you are using |
A practical setup: desktop one for your main work, desktop two for email and messaging, desktop three for anything personal. Switching then becomes a single keystroke instead of a search through a crowded taskbar.
Text Editing Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
These work almost everywhere you can type — Word, browsers, email, chat boxes. They are the shortcuts you will use dozens of times a day. For the full treatment of the most common one, see our guide to the Ctrl + C copy shortcut, and for the one that saves you from mistakes, undo with Ctrl + Z has its own walkthrough.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Ctrl + A | Select all text |
Ctrl + B / Ctrl + I / Ctrl + U | Bold / italic / underline the selected text |
Ctrl + Backspace | Delete the whole word to the left of the cursor |
Ctrl + Del | Delete the whole word to the right of the cursor |
Ctrl + Left / Right arrow | Jump one word at a time |
Ctrl + Up / Down arrow | Jump to the beginning of the previous or next paragraph |
Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End | Jump to the beginning or end of the document |
Ctrl + F | Find text |
Ctrl + H | Find and replace text |
Ctrl + Shift + V | Paste as plain text (may not work in all apps) |
Shift + Home / Shift + End | Select from the cursor to the start or end of the line |
Shift + Ctrl + Home / Shift + Ctrl + End | Select from the cursor to the start or end of the document |
Shift + Page Up / Shift + Page Down | Select one page backward or forward |
One caution from Microsoft’s own notes: paste as plain text does not work everywhere. It is reliable in browsers and many editors, but some applications ignore it. If nothing happens, paste normally and remove the formatting afterwards.
File Explorer Shortcuts
File management is where mouse work slows people down most. These are the combinations for the daily jobs: renaming, creating folders, moving up a level, and deleting.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
F2 | Rename the selected file or folder |
Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder |
Ctrl + N | Open a new window |
Ctrl + T | Open a new tab and switch to it |
Ctrl + W | Close the active tab (or the window if only one tab) |
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move to the next / previous tab |
Ctrl + Number (1-9) | Move to that tab number |
Ctrl + L or Alt + D | Focus the address bar |
Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F | Select the search box |
Alt + Up arrow | Move up one folder level |
Alt + Left arrow or Backspace | Go to the previous folder |
Alt + Right arrow | View the next folder |
Alt + Enter | Show the properties of the selected item |
Alt + P | Show or hide the preview pane |
Alt + Shift + P | Show or hide the details pane |
Ctrl + Shift + E | Expand all folders in the navigation pane |
Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-9) | Change the view style (2 = large icons, 6 = details) |
Ctrl + D or Delete | Delete the item to the Recycle Bin |
Shift + Delete | Delete permanently, without using the Recycle Bin |
F3 | Search for a file or folder |
F5 | Refresh the window |
F11 | Maximise or minimise the window |
Shift + F10 | Open the context menu for the selected item |
Treat Shift + Delete with respect. It skips the Recycle Bin entirely, so there is no recovery. Use it only when you are certain. Also note that resizing all columns to fit text with Ctrl + Plus requires a numeric keypad, so it will not work on most laptops.
Taskbar Shortcuts and the Number Keys
If you pin your most-used apps to the taskbar, the number keys become a launcher. This is one of the least-known areas of Windows keyboard shortcuts and one of the most useful once it becomes habit.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + number (0-9) | Open, or switch to, the app pinned in that position |
Windows + Shift + number (0-9) | Start a new instance of that pinned app |
Windows + Ctrl + number (0-9) | Switch to the last active window of that pinned app |
Windows + Ctrl + Shift + number (0-9) | Open a new instance of that pinned app as administrator |
Windows + Alt + number (0-9) | Open the jump list for that pinned app |
Windows + T | Cycle through apps in the taskbar |
Windows + B | Set focus to the first icon in the notification area |
Ctrl + Shift + select an app icon | Open the app as an administrator |
Shift + select an app icon | Open another instance of the app |
Shift + right-click an app icon | Show the window menu for the app |
Windows + Alt + Enter | Open taskbar settings |
Dialog Box Shortcuts
Dialog boxes — those pop-up windows asking you to confirm, choose a file, or select an option — are fully keyboard-navigable. This matters most when you are filling in forms and would rather not keep reaching for the mouse.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Tab / Shift + Tab | Move forward / backward through options |
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move forward / back through tabs |
Ctrl + 1, 2, 3… | Move to that tab number |
Spacebar | Select or clear a check box |
Arrow keys | Select a button when the options are grouped |
Alt + underlined letter | Perform the command used with that letter |
F4 | Display the items in the active list |
Backspace | Go up one folder level in a Save As or Open dialog |
The Task Manager Shortcut, and the Mistake Almost Everyone Makes
When a program freezes, almost everyone presses Ctrl + Alt + Del. It works, but not the way they think. On Windows, Ctrl + Alt + Del opens the security screen, where you can lock the computer, switch user, sign out, change a password — and open Task Manager as one option among several.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager directly, with no intermediate screen. When something is frozen and you want it closed, that is the combination you want. Both are documented by Microsoft and they are not the same thing.
Command Prompt Shortcuts
If you ever use the Command Prompt, these make working in it considerably less painful — particularly copying error output to search for a solution.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Ctrl + C | Copy the selected text |
Ctrl + V | Paste the selected text |
Ctrl + M | Enter Mark mode for selecting text |
Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End | Move to the beginning or end of the buffer |
Ctrl + Up / Down arrow | Move up or down one line in the output history |
Page up / Page down | Move one page up or down |
Accessibility Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
These are useful to far more people than the name suggests. Magnifier helps when reading a dense document on a small screen, and the accessibility settings include the on-screen keyboard for when a physical key stops working. Microsoft lists the full set under Windows keyboard shortcuts for accessibility.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + U | Open the Accessibility settings |
Windows + Plus (+) | Zoom in with Magnifier |
Windows + Minus (-) | Zoom out with Magnifier |
Windows + Esc | Close Magnifier |
Windows + Ctrl + Enter | Open Narrator, the screen reader |
Windows + Ctrl + C | Turn colour filters on or off, if enabled in settings |
If you are running a business from a shared computer or a business centre, the wider workflow matters as much as the keys. Our guide to free productivity apps for small business covers the software side, and the general computer shortcuts hub covers the cross-platform equivalents if you also use a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ctrl + Alt + Del and Ctrl + Shift + Esc?
Ctrl + Alt + Del opens the Windows security screen, which offers several options including locking the computer, switching user and signing out. Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager directly, with no intermediate screen. If a program has frozen and you want to end it, Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the faster route.
How do I switch between windows without using the mouse?
Hold Alt and press Tab. Keep holding Alt and press Tab repeatedly to cycle through every open window, or tap it once to bounce between your two most recent windows. For a visual overview instead, use Ctrl + Alt + Tab and then select with the arrow keys.
How do I move a window to my second monitor with the keyboard?
Use Windows + Shift + Left arrow to move the active window to the monitor on the left, and Windows + Shift + Right arrow to move it to the monitor on the right. This is a Microsoft-documented shortcut and works without dragging the window with the mouse.
Do these Windows keyboard shortcuts work on Windows 10 as well as Windows 11?
Microsoft’s reference lists these combinations as applying to both Windows 11 and Windows 10, and describes them as the default Windows shortcuts. A small number of features named in the list, such as Recall, depend on specific hardware, and a few newer Windows 11 actions do not exist on Windows 10. The core shortcuts — copy, paste, undo, window switching, snapping, File Explorer and Task Manager — work on both.
Why is Windows + V not working on my computer?
Because clipboard history is switched off by default in Windows. Press Windows + V once and accept the prompt to turn it on, or enable it under Settings, System, Clipboard, and set Clipboard history to On. After that it will open every time.
What is the shortcut to take a screenshot in Windows?
Windows + Shift + S lets you select an area of the screen and copies it to the clipboard. Windows + PrtScn captures the whole screen and saves it as a file in the Screenshots subfolder of your Pictures folder. Alt + PrtScn captures only the active window to the clipboard. By default the Print Screen key also opens screen snipping, which you can change in Settings, Accessibility, Keyboard.
Conclusion: Learn Twelve, Then Add One a Week
Windows keyboard shortcuts are the cheapest speed upgrade available on any PC. They cost nothing, need no installation, and work on every Windows machine you will ever use — Windows 11 or Windows 10.
Start with the twelve in the first table, and use only the keyboard for them for a week even when the mouse would be quicker. Then add one a week. Within a couple of months you will have twenty or thirty Windows keyboard shortcuts in your fingers, and you will reach for the mouse only when there is genuinely no alternative.
Which Windows keyboard shortcut do you use most, and which one took you longest to learn? Tell us in the comments below.
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