Windows key Shortcuts
Lets check the keyboard shortcuts involving the Windows logo key. Most of them are
introduced in Windows 8s Metro UI, and can be used in Windows 8 and above.
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 youre 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 current app from 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
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]
