keyboard shortcuts:

Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press To do this
this key

Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + C Copy the selected item.

(or Ctrl +
Insert)

Ctrl + V Paste the selected item.

(or Shift +
Insert)

Ctrl + Z Undo an action.

Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.

Alt + F4 Close the active item, or exit the active app.

Windows Lock your PC.

logo
key + L

Windows Display and hide the desktop.

logo
Press To do this
this key

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.

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 + A Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions

menu.

Alt + F8 Show your password on the sign-in screen.

Alt + Esc Cycle through items in the order in which they were
opened.

Alt + Perform the command for that letter.

underlined
Press To do this
this key

letter

Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected item.

Alt + Open the shortcut menu for the active window.

Spacebar

Alt + Left Go back.

arrow

Alt + Go forward.
Right
arrow

Alt + Page Move up one screen.

Up

Alt + Page Move down one screen.

Down

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.

Press To do this
this key

Ctrl + D Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle

(or Delete) Bin.

Ctrl + E Open Search (in most apps).

Ctrl + R Refresh the active window.

(or F5)

Ctrl + Y Redo an action.

Ctrl + Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.

Right
arrow

Ctrl + Left Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous

arrow word.

Ctrl + Move the cursor to the beginning of the next

Down paragraph.
arrow

Ctrl + Up Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous

arrow paragraph.

Ctrl + Alt Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Press To do this
this key

+ Tab

Alt + Shift When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu,

+ arrow move it in the direction specified.
keys

Ctrl + When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into

Shift + another tile to create a folder.
arrow keys

Ctrl + Resize the Start menu when it's open.

arrow keys

Ctrl + Select multiple individual items in a window or on the

arrow key desktop.
(to move
to an
item) +
Spacebar

Ctrl + Select a block of text.

Shift with
an arrow
key

Ctrl + Esc Open Start.

Press To do this
this key

Ctrl + Open Task Manager.

Shift + Esc

Ctrl + Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard

Shift layouts are available.

Ctrl + Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.

Spacebar

Shift + Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

F10

Shift with Select more than one item in a window or on the

any arrow desktop, or select text in a document.
key

Shift + Delete the selected item without moving it to the

Delete Recycle Bin first.

Right Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.

arrow

Left arrow Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.

Esc Stop or leave the current task.

Press To do this
this key

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 > Accessibility > Keyboard ,
and set Use the Print Screen button to open screen
snipping to On.
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 Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11.

key + A

Windows logo Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner.
key + B

Windows logo Open Chat from Microsoft Teams. Updated in

Press this key To do this

key + C Windows 11.

Windows logo Open the charms menu.

key + Shift +
C

Windows logo Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in

key + Ctrl + Color Filter settings).
C

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + D

Windows logo Open File Explorer.

key + E

Windows logo Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.

key + F

Windows logo Open Xbox 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.
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Launch voice typing. Updated in Windows 11.

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 Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in

key + K Windows 11.

Windows logo Toggle microphone mute in apps that support

key + Alt + K Call Mute. Available starting in Windows 11,
version 22H2.

Windows logo Lock your PC or switch accounts.

key + L

Windows logo Minimize all windows.

key + M
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Restore minimized windows on the desktop.

key + Shift +
M

Windows logo Open notification center and calendar. Updated

key + N in Windows 11.

Windows logo Lock device orientation.

key + O

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 Record video of game window in focus (using

key + Alt + R Xbox Game Bar).

Windows logo Open search.

key + S
Press this key To do this

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 Accessibility Settings.

key + U

Windows logo Open the clipboard history.

key + V
Note: Clipboard history isn't turned on by
default. If you'd like to turn it on, use this
keyboard shortcut and then select the prompt to
turn on history. Or you can
select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard ,
and set Clipboard history to On.

Windows logo Set focus to a notification.

key + Shift +
V

Windows logo Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11.

key + W
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open the Quick Link menu.

key + X

Windows logo Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality

key + Y and your desktop.

Windows logo Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11.

key + Z

Windows logo Open emoji panel.

key + period
(.) or
semicolon (;)

Windows logo Temporarily peek at the desktop.

key + comma
(,)

Windows logo Opens Start > Settings > System > About .
key + Pause

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

key + Ctrl + F

Windows logo Open the desktop and start the app pinned to
key + the taskbar in the position indicated by the
Press this key To do this

number number. If the app is already running, switch to

that app.

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

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

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

Windows logo Open the desktop and open a new instance of

key + Ctrl + the app located at the given position on the
Shift + taskbar as an administrator.
number

Windows logo Open Task view.

key + Tab

Windows logo Maximize the window.

key + Up
arrow
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New

key + Alt + with Windows 11.
Up arrow

Windows logo Remove current app from screen or minimize the

key + Down desktop window.
arrow

Windows logo Snap window in focus to bottom half of

key + Alt + screen. New with Windows 11.
Down arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the left

key + Left side of the screen.
arrow

Windows logo Maximize the app or desktop window to the right

key + Right side of the screen.
arrow

Windows logo Minimize all except the active desktop window

key + Home (restores all windows on second stroke).

Windows logo Stretch the desktop window to the top and

key + Shift + bottom of the screen.
Up arrow
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Restore/minimize active desktop windows

key + Shift + vertically, maintaining width.
Down arrow

Windows logo Move an app or window in the desktop from one

key + Shift + monitor to another.
Left arrow or
Right arrow

Windows logo Cycle backwards through language and keyboard

key + Shift + layout.
Spacebar

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 and zoom in.

Press this key To do this

key + Plus
(+)

Windows logo Zoom out in Magnifier.

key + Minus
(-)

Windows logo Close Magnifier.

key + Esc

Windows logo Begin IME reconversion.

key +
forward slash
(/)

Windows logo Wake PC from blank or black screen.

key + Ctrl +
Shift + B

Windows logo Save full screen screenshot to file.

key + PrtScn

Windows logo Save screenshot of game window in focus to file

key + Alt + (using Xbox Game Bar).
PrtScn
Press this key To do this

Windows logo Open taskbar settings.

key + Alt +
Enter (on
taskbar item
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 Begin selection in block mode.

key

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.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + Home Move the cursor to the beginning of the

(Mark mode) buffer.

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 Move down one line in the output history.

arrow

Ctrl + Home If the command line is empty, move the

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

Ctrl + End If the command line is empty, move the

(History viewport to the command line. Otherwise,
navigation) delete all the characters to the right of the
cursor in the command line.

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Press this key To do this

F4 Display the items in the active list.

Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs.

Ctrl + Shift + Move back through tabs.

Tab

Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,... Move to that tab number.

Tab Move forward through options.

Shift + Tab Move back through options.

Alt + underlined Perform the command (or select the option)

letter 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 + T Open a new tab and switch to it.

Ctrl + W Closes the active tab. Closes the window if

there's only one tab open.

Ctrl + Tab Move to the next tab.

Ctrl + Shift + Move to the previous tab.

Tab

Ctrl + 1, 2, 3,... Move to that tab number.

Ctrl + mouse Change the size and appearance of file and

scroll wheel folder icons.

Ctrl + Shift + E Display all folders above the selected folder.

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder.

Num Lock + Display all subfolders under the selected

asterisk (*) folder.

Num Lock + plus Display the contents of the selected folder.

(+)

Num Lock + Collapse the selected folder.

minus (-)

Alt + P Display the preview panel.

Alt + Enter Open the Properties dialog box for the

selected item.

Alt + Right View the next folder.

arrow

Alt + Up arrow View the folder that the folder was in.

Alt + Left arrow View the previous folder.

Backspace View the previous folder.

Press this key To do this

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 desktops keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + Tab Open Task view.

Windows logo key + Ctrl Add a virtual desktop.

+D

Windows logo key + Ctrl Switch between virtual desktops

+ Right arrow you’ve created on the right.
Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + Ctrl Switch between virtual desktops

+ Left arrow you’ve created on the left.

Windows logo key + Ctrl Close the virtual desktop you're

+ F4 using.

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Shift + click a taskbar Open an app or quickly open

button another instance of an app.

Ctrl + Shift + click a Open an app as an administrator.

taskbar button

Shift + right-click a Show the window menu for the app.

taskbar button

Shift + right-click a Show the window menu for the

grouped taskbar button group.

Ctrl + click a grouped Cycle through the windows of the

taskbar button 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 Search settings.

box

N key+right click next desktop background