Not only for power users, keyboard shortcuts are also great for regular users to save time and quickly finish tasks without navigating the GUI menus. There are more than 150+ shortcuts available for the latest Windows 11. However, not all of them can be remembered or used by everyone, so I have included the most commonly used shortcuts at the top and divided the shortcuts into different categories.

windows 11 shortcuts

Whether you are looking for a specific Windows shortcut or category of shortcuts, or want to learn the most commonly used Windows shortcuts to speed up everyday work, I have covered it for you. Plus, I have also prepared a mind map (download as a PDF at the end of the article) to help you remember the most commonly used shortcuts on Windows.

Before we get to that, here is the image of the most common keys used for shortcuts on the Windows keyboard. The keyboard layout might be slightly different on your laptop, but the functions are the same for all laptop keyboards.

windows keyboard layout keys position
Image: Windows keyboard layout with most used shortcut keys highlighted. Microsoft Copilot is the recent addition to the list found on the latest laptops. And also the keyboard layout might be slightly different on your keyboard.

General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

This table summarizes all common and frequently used Windows 11 shortcut keys to help you interact with the UI.

Action Shortcut
Open Quick Settings Win + A
Open Search Win + S
Open File Explorer Win + E
Open Run dialog box Win + R
Minimize all windows Win + M
Open clipboard history Win + V
Open emoji panel Win +. (period)
Peek at the desktop Win +, (comma)
Undo Ctrl + Z
Delete selected item Del
Open Windows + X Menu Win + X
Open Magnifier Settings Win + Ctrl + M
Open Snip & Sketch Win + Shift + S
Open Game Bar Win + G
Switch between open apps Alt + Tab
Close the active item, or exit the active app Alt + F4
Lock your PC Win + L
Display and hide the desktop Win + D
Perform the command for that letter Alt + underlined letter
Display properties for the selected item Alt + Enter
Open the shortcut menu for the active window Alt + Spacebar
Go back Alt + Left arrow
Go forward Alt + Right arrow
Move up one screen Alt + Page Up
Move down one screen Alt + Page Down
Close the active document Ctrl + F4
Select all items in a document or window Ctrl + A
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin Ctrl + D
Refresh the active window Ctrl + R
Redo an action Ctrl + Y
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word Ctrl + Right arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word Ctrl + Left arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph Ctrl + Down arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph Ctrl + Up arrow
Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps Ctrl + Alt + Tab
When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified Alt + Shift + arrow keys
When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys
Resize the Start menu when it’s open Ctrl + arrow keys
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop Ctrl + arrow key + Spacebar
Select a block of text Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key
Open Start Ctrl + Esc
Open Task Manager Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available Ctrl + Shift
Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off Ctrl + Spacebar
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item Shift + F10
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first Shift + Delete
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu Right arrow
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu Left arrow
Stop or leave the current task Esc
Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard PrtScn

If Win+V feels limiting, a third-party clipboard manager for Windows lets you store hundreds of items and search through them instantly.

New Shortcuts added in Windows 11

Microsoft has added some new features in Windows 11. For example, Snap Layouts. You’ll see several grids if you hover over the maximize button (the square in the upper right corner of each window next to the close cross sign). You can use these grids to arrange your windows the way you want. And there’s a keyboard shortcut to access Snap Layouts.

Action Shortcut
Open or close Copilot in Windows (on AI laptops) Copilot key
Open Copilot Quick View above the taskbar (New) Alt + Space
Snap window to the top half of the screen (New) Win + Alt + ↑
Snap window to the bottom half of the screen (New) Win + Alt + ↓
Launch Voice Typing tool (New) Win + H
Open Cast menu for wireless displays (New) Win + K
Toggle Magnifier zoom between current level and 1× (New) Ctrl + Alt + Space
Use Backspace in Gamepad Keyboard (Xbox controller) (New) X
Use Spacebar in Gamepad Keyboard (Xbox controller) (New) Y
Use Enter in Gamepad Keyboard (Xbox controller) (New) Menu button`
Open Action Center Win + A
Open Notifications Panel (Notification Center) Win + N
Open Widgets Panel Win + W
Quick Access to Snap Layout Win + Z
Open Microsoft Teams Win + C

Windows 11 Text-Editing Keyboard Shortcuts

Text editing plays an important role for many people when editing documents, presentations, and much more. In the following table, you can find all the valuable Windows 11 shortcuts for quick test editing.

Action Shortcut
Cut the selected item Ctrl + X
Copy the selected item Ctrl + C
Paste the selected item Ctrl + V
Bolden selected text Ctrl + B
Italicize selected text Ctrl + I
Underline selected text Ctrl + U
Move the cursor to the start of the current line Home
Move the cursor to the end of the current line End

Windows 11 Function Key Keyboard Shortcuts

Function keys add a significant amount of flexibility to our work. These keyboard shortcuts help you use a variety of function keys on your keyboard.

Action Shortcut
Rename the selected item. F2
Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. F3
Display the address bar list in File Explorer. F4
Refresh the active window. F5
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F6
Activate the Menu bar in the active app F10
Maximize or minimize the active window F11

Windows 11 File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

Many people’s daily work requires interaction with several working files, which increases the use of the file manager. The following table allows you to manage files using shortcuts quickly.

Action Shortcut
Select the address bar. Alt + D
Select the search box Ctrl + E
Open a new window Ctrl + N
Close the active window Ctrl + W
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
Display all folders above the selected folder Ctrl + Shift + E
Create a new folder Ctrl + Shift + N
Display all subfolders under the selected folder Num Lock + asterisk (*)
Display the contents of the selected folder Num Lock + plus (+)
Collapse the selected folder Num Lock + minus (-)
Display the preview panel Alt + P
Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item Alt + Enter
View the next folder Alt + Right arrow
View the folder that the folder was in Alt + Up arrow
View the previous folder Alt + Left arrow or Backspace
Display the current selection Right arrow
Collapse the current selection Left arrow
Display the bottom of the active window End
Display the top of the active window Home

Windows 11 taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts

These keyboard shortcuts will help you get the most out of your Windows 11 taskbar.

Action Shortcut
Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app. Shift + left-click an app icon
Open an app as an administrator Ctrl + Shift + left click an app icon
Show the window menu for the app Shift + right-click an app icon
Cycle through apps in the taskbar Win + T
Open apps in the taskbar based on their pinned number Win + Number key
Cycle through the windows of the group Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button

Windows 11 settings Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts will help you navigate the Settings app in Windows 11 with ease.

Action Shortcut
Open settings Win + I
Go back to the settings home page Backspace
Search settings Type on any page with a search box

Windows 11 Virtual Desktops Keyboard Shortcuts

Do you have multiple virtual desktops? These shortcuts will help you switch between them quickly.

Action Shortcut
Open Task view Win + Tab
Add a virtual desktop
Win + Ctrl + D
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right Win + Ctrl + Right arrow
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left Win + Ctrl + Left arrow
Close the virtual desktop you’re using Win + Ctrl + F4

Windows 11 Dialog box Shortcut Keys

Action Shortcut
Display the items in the active list F4
Move back through the tabs Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Move back through the tabs Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Move to the nth tab Ctrl + number (number 1–9)
Move forward through options Tab
Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter Alt + underlined letter
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box Spacebar
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box Backspace
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons Arrow keys

Windows 11 Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts

This list will allow you to work more efficiently in the command prompt.

Action Shortcut
Copy the selected text Ctrl + C
Paste the selected text Ctrl + V
Enter Mark mode. Ctrl + M
Begin selection in block mode Alt + selection key
Move the cursor in the direction specified Arrow keys
Move the cursor by one page up Page up
Move the cursor by one page down Page down
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer Ctrl + Home
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer Ctrl + End
Move up one line in the output history Ctrl + Up arrow
Move down one line in the output history Ctrl + Down arrow

Windows 11 Game Bar Keyboard Shortcuts

Are you in a game and want to access game features? These shortcuts will help you without exiting the game.

Action Shortcut
Open Game Bar Win + G
Take a screenshot of the active game Win + Alt + PrtSc
Record the last 30 seconds of the active game Win + Alt + G
Start or stop recording active game Win + Alt + R
Show/ hide recording timer of active game Win + Alt + T

Windows 11 Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

The following keyboard shortcuts help access various accessibility features in Windows 11.

Action Shortcut
Turn on the Magnifier and Zoom Win + plus (+)
 Zoom out using Magnifier Win + minus (-)
Open the “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows Settings Win + U
Exit Magnifier Win + Esc
Switch to the docked mode in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + D
Switch to full-screen mode in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + F
Turn Sticky Keys on or off Press Shift five times
Switch to lens mode in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + L
Invert colors in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + I
Cycle through views in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + M
Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + R
Pan in Magnifier Alt + Ctrl + Arrow keys
Zoom in or out Ctrl + Alt + mouse scroll
Open Narrator Win + Enter
Turn the Toggle Keys on or off Press Num Lock for five seconds
Open the on-screen keyboard with this shortcut in Windows 11 Win + Ctrl + O
Turn Filter Keys on and off Hold down the Right Shift for eight seconds
Turn High Contrast on or off Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtSc
Turn the Mouse Keys on or off Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock

Windows 11 Browser Shortcuts

These shortcuts will make using browsers ever so easy. That said, all listed shortcuts will work fine on most browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and more.

Action Shortcut
Find on page Ctrl + F
Select the URL in the address bar to edit Alt + D
Open the “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows Settings Win + U
Open History Ctrl + H
Open Downloads in a new tab Ctrl + J
Open a new window Ctrl + N
Print the current page Ctrl + P
Reload the current page Ctrl + R
Open a new tab and switch to it Ctrl + T

Download Windows 11 Shortcuts PDF

Shortcuts can be helpful to speed up your work and reduce the time spent navigating menus. However, if you are a beginner or have never used shortcuts before, it can be overwhelming to remember and use them.

To make things easier for you, I have created a shortcut mindmap that is easy to remember and includes the most common everyday shortcuts to speed up your work. You can download the PDF below, save it offline, and start using them. The only way to get better at shortcuts is by using them. I hope you find this ultimate shortcuts guide helpful. If you have feedback or suggestions, let us know in the comments. We are happy to hear from you.

Download Shortcuts Mindmap (PDF)

FAQs about Windows 11 Shortcuts

You can open the task manager quickly by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Escape keys together. Yes, it's not Ctrl + Alt + Del anymore. Get used to the new shortcut.

Yes, absolutely. All the listed shortcuts in our article will work across all Windows 11 devices across different manufacturers and device form factors.

Remembering shortcuts can be difficult if you are new. The only way to get better is to start using them. To help you I have created a mind-map which includes all the essential screenshots for daily work. You can download the Mind-map PDF form here.

You can customize keyboard shortcuts using the Microsoft Power Toys application. Install the Microsoft Power Toys application, Open PowerToys, go to Keyboard Manager and toggle it on. After, Click on the Remap a key Remap a shortcut and then add your new key combinations(shortcuts) and save them.

The article was first written by Shreyas Ochani in August 2021, and was completely rewritten by Ramesh Reddy in June 2024.
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