[TIP] Try These Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11

Personally, I prefer to use the keyboard whenever I can, instead of reaching for the mouse and clicking. For me, it's just faster and more natural. But keyboard shortcuts can also be important if you're prone to repetitive stress syndrome or have tendonitis (like me). Visually impaired users may find keyboard shortcuts easier than tracking the position of a mouse cursor and reading tiny print on submenus or tabs. And more than once, I've found myself trying to navigate Windows on a computer where the mouse was missing, broken or wouldn't work due to a software driver problem.

There are 100 or more Windows keyboard shortcuts built into the operating system, and some are new with Windows 11. They’re also available in Windows accessory programs such as Paint, Notes, Wordpad, and third party web browsers and office software. Below are some of the most useful Windows keyboard shortcuts. If you try each one, I'm sure you'll find a few that you'll want to commit to memory as time-savers! If you print them and keep a list near your computer, you can train yourself to use them. Let's dig in...

Shortcuts for Select, Copy & Paste

• Ctrl+A: selects all items in a document or window
• Ctrl+C: or Ctrl+Insert copies the selected item(s) to the Clipboard while leaving them in place
• Ctrl+X: cuts the selected items and copies them to the Clipboard
• Ctrl+V: or Shift-Insert pastes the contents of the Clipboard into the current document at the cursor's current location

Shortcuts for Cursor Positioning

Press the Ctrl key all by itself (once or several times) and a circular indicator will appear on the screen where the mouse cursor is positioned. I use this ALL THE TIME, because I'm always losing track of the mouse curcor. If this doesn't work, see this page to enable this feature.

• Ctrl+right-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the next word in a document
• Ctrl+left-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word in a document
• Ctrl+down-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
• Ctrl+up-arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
• Ctrl+Home moves the cursor to the top of a document or web page.
• Ctrl+End moves the cursor to the bottom of a document or web page.
• Ctrl+F moves the cursor to the Find input box
• Ctrl+H opens the Find/Replace dialog box (word processors only)
• Alt+D moves the cursor to the address bar (web browsers only)
• TAB key moves the cursor to the next field in a web form

Shortcuts for Manipulating Text

When compiling this list, I was surprised at how many I use. I try to use the keyboard instead of the mouse whenever possible. When you develop the "muscle memory" associated with these keyboard shortcuts, you can save a lot of time when editing text in a word processor or text editor.

• Ctrl + A: Select all text.
• Ctrl + B: Apply the bold format to the selected text.
• Ctrl + Backspace: Delete words to the left of the cursor.
• Ctrl + C: Copy the selected text.
• Ctrl + Del: Delete words to the right of the cursor.
• Ctrl + End: Move the cursor forward to the end of the document.
• Ctrl + F: Find text.
• Ctrl + H: Find and replace text.
• Ctrl + Home: Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the document.
• Ctrl + I: Apply the italic format to the selected text.
• Ctrl + Left arrow: Move the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous word.
• Ctrl + Right arrow: Move the cursor forward to the beginning of the next word.
• Ctrl + Shift + V: Paste as plain text.
• Ctrl + U: Apply the underline format to the selected text.
• Ctrl + V: Paste the last item from the clipboard.
• Ctrl + X: Cut the selected text.
• Ctrl + Y: Redo typing that was undone with Ctrl + Z.
• Ctrl + Z: Undo the last typing.
• Shift + End: Select text from the current cursor position to the end of the current line.


• Shift + Home: Select text from the current cursor position to the beginning of the current line.


• Shift + Left arrow: Select characters backward from the current cursor position.


• Shift + Right arrow: Select characters forward from the current cursor position.


• Shift + Up arrow: Select lines backward from the current cursor position.


• Shift + Down arrow: Select lines forward from the current cursor position.
• Shift + Ctrl + End: Select text between the current cursor position and the end of the document.


• Shift + Ctrl + Home: Select text between the current cursor position and the beginning of the document.


• Shift + Ctrl + Left: Select words backward from the current cursor position.


• Shift + Ctrl + Right: Select words forward from the current cursor position.


• Shift + Ctrl + Up: Select paragraphs backward the current cursor position.


• Shift + Ctrl + Down arrow: Select paragraphs forward from the current cursor position.

Shortcuts for Selecting Items from a List (for example, in File Explorer)

• Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key selects a block of text one word at a time
• Shift with an arrow key lets you select individual items at random
• Delete key or Ctrl+D deletes the selected item(s) to the Recycle Bin
• Shift+Delete deletes the selected item(s) without moving them to the Recycle Bin

Shortcuts for Undo and Redo

• Ctrl+Z: undoes the last action
• Ctrl+Y: redoes the last undone action

Shortcuts for Function Keys

• F1: displays context-sensitive Help files and opens the Search Help dialogue box.
• F2: renames the current item
• F3: opens the Search dialogue to find a file or folder
• Shift+F3: will toggle selected text between all capitals or first letter capitals (word processor)
• Ctrl+F4: will close current tab
• Alt+F4: will close current program
• F5: will refresh the page (browser only)
• Ctrl+F5: force refresh the page (browser only)
• F11: Enter/exit full-screen mode in most browsers.

Miscellaneous Useful Shortcuts

• Alt+Tab: cycles through the open applications
• Alt+Enter: displays the Properties of a selected item
• Alt+F4: closes the current application or window
• Alt+Spacebar: opens the shortcut menu for the active window, i. e., Restore, Minimize, Close...
• Ctrl+Shift+Esc: opens the Windows Task Manager
• Ctrl+Mouse Wheel: changes the zoom level

Windows Logo Key Shortcuts

Few users know the function of the Windows Logo key (also called the Start button), which bears the four-part Windows logo. It actually activates a whole new set of keyboard shortcuts:

• Windows key opens the Start menu
• Windows key + A: open the Quick Settings panel
• Windows key + C: open Microsoft Teams Chat. (new in Windows 11)
• Windows key + D: hides or displays the desktop
• Windows key + Ctrl + D: create a virtual
• Windows key + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow : switch between virtual desktops
• Windows key + E: opens File Explorer
• Windows key + F: open Feedback Hub (send a screenshot and feedback to Microsoft)
• Windows key + G: open Xbox Game Bar (record videos or screenshots in game)
• Windows key + H: turn on voice typing (speech to text)
• Windows key + I: open the Settings menu
• Windows key + L: locks your computer or lets you switch users
• Windows key + M: minimizes all open windows
• Windows key + N: show notification center and calendar (new in Windows 11)
• Windows key + Shift + M: restores all minimized windows
• Windows key + Ctrl + M: open the Magnifier app
• Windows key + Crtl + Q: open Quick Assist (get/give help remotely)
• Windows key + R: open the Run dialogue box
• Windows key + S: open Windows Search (search for files, apps or websites
• Windows key + Shift + S: open the Snip & Sketch Tool (capture all or part of the screen)
• Windows key + U: open the Ease Of Access Center
• Windows key + V: open the Clipboard app (see text/images you've copied)
• Windows key + W: open the Widgets panel (new in Windows 11)
• Windows key + X: open the secret Start menu. (Try it!)
• Windows key + Z: open the snap layouts panel (new in Windows 11)
• Windows key + .: open the Emojis window
• Windows key + Up Arrow: maximize selected window.
• Windows key + Down Arrow: minimize selected window.
• Windows key + Pause key: display the System Properties dialogue box
• Windows key + PrtScn: take a screenshot (see Windows key + Shift + S)
• Windows Key + Tab: open Task View (see open applications, virtual desktops and Timeline
• Windows key + Down arrow: Minimize the active window.
• Windows key + Up arrow: Maximize the active window.
• Windows key + Alt + D: Display or hide the date/time/calendar on the desktop.

There are also keyboard shortcuts that are specific to use within certain apps. See the Microsoft Keyboard shortcuts in apps page for shortcuts that can be used in Microsoft Edge, Calculator, Paint, Photos, WordPad and other apps.

And if these keyboard shortcuts are not enough for you, I recommend the free AutoHotkey software, which lets you redefine keys, and automate repetitive tasks with a simple scripting language. For example, I've used AutoHotkey to define shortcuts to quickly enter my email address or phone number.

Did you learn something new? Do you have a keyboard shortcut to share? Share this article with a friend or post your own comment or question below...