Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + C (or Copy the selected item.

Ctrl + Insert)

Ctrl + V (or Paste the selected item.

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 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.

Press this key To do this

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
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 + Right Go forward.

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 this key To do this

Ctrl + D (or Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Delete)

Ctrl + E Open Search (in most apps).

Ctrl + R (or Refresh the active window.

F5)

Ctrl + Y Redo an action.

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

Ctrl + Left Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
arrow

Ctrl + Down Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
arrow

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

arrow

Ctrl + Alt + Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Tab

Alt + Shift + When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the
arrow keys direction specified.

Ctrl + Shift When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another
+ arrow tile to create a folder.
keys

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

keys
Press this key To do this

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

key (to move
to an item)
+ Spacebar

Ctrl + Shift Select a block of text.

with an
arrow key

Ctrl + Esc Open Start.

Ctrl + Shift Open Task Manager.

+ Esc

Ctrl + Shift Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are
available.

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

Spacebar

Shift + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.

Shift with Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or
any arrow select text in a document.
key

Shift + Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin
Delete 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.

Press this key To do this

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 Windows 11.
key + C

Windows logo Open the charms menu.

key + Shift + C

Windows logo Turn on color filters (enable this shortcut first in Color Filter
key + Ctrl + C settings).

Windows logo Display and hide the desktop.

key + 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 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.

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 Windows 11.
key + K

Windows logo Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call

key + Alt + K 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 in Windows

key + N 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 Xbox Game
key + Alt + R Bar).

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 Accessibility Settings.

key + U

Windows logo Open the clipboard history.

Press this key To do this

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

Windows logo Open the Quick Link menu.

key + X

Windows logo Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your
key + Y 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
Press this key To do this

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

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

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

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

Windows logo Open Task view.

key + Tab

Windows logo Maximize the window.

key + Up arrow

Windows logo Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New with
key + Alt + Up Windows 11.
arrow

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

Windows logo Snap window in focus to bottom half of screen. New with
key + Alt + Windows 11.
Down arrow

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

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

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

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

Windows logo Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically,

key + Shift + maintaining width.
Down arrow

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

Windows logo Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout.

key + Shift +
Spacebar

Windows logo Switch input language and keyboard layout.

key + Spacebar

Windows logo Change to a previously selected input.

key + Ctrl +
Press this key To do this

Spacebar

Windows logo Turn on Narrator.

key + Ctrl +
Enter

Windows logo Open Magnifier and zoom in.

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 (using Xbox
key + Alt + Game Bar).
PrtScn

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.

Ctrl + Home Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.

(Mark 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 Move down one line in the output history.

arrow

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

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

navigation) 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 + 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) that is used
letter 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 + Tab Move to the previous tab.

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

Ctrl + mouse Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
scroll 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.

(+)
Press this key To do this

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 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 desktops keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + Tab Open Task view.

Press this key To do this

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

Windows logo key + Ctrl + Switch between virtual desktops you’ve

Right arrow created on the right.

Windows logo key + Ctrl + Switch between virtual desktops you’ve

Left arrow created on the left.

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

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

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 Open an app as an administrator.

button

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

Shift + right-click a grouped Show the window menu for the group.
taskbar button

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

Settings keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this

Windows logo key + I Open settings.

Backspace Go back to the settings home page.

Press this key To do this

Type on any page with search box Search settings.