Ultimate Keyboard Shortcut Guide for Windows 10 Users

List of Keyboard Shortcuts of Windows 10

 

Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this
Ctrl + X Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Z Undo an action.
Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.
Alt + F4 Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC.
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
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 + F8 Show your password on the sign-in screen.
Alt + Esc Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter Perform the command for that letter.
Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected item.
Alt + Spacebar Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Left arrow Go back.
Alt + Right arrow Go forward.
Alt + Page Up Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down Move down one screen.
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.
Ctrl + D (or Delete) Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5) Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y Redo an action.
Ctrl + Right arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Left arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up arrow Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys When a group of tiles is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it’s open.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Spacebar Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key Select a block of text.
Ctrl + Esc Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Ctrl + Spacebar Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.
Shift + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
Shift with any arrow key Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Delete Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin 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.
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 Ease of Access Keyboard, and turn on the toggle under the Print Screen shortcut.

Use the PrtScn key to open the screen snipping

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this
Windows logo key  Open or close Start.
Windows logo key  + A Open Action centre.
Windows logo key  + B Set focus in the notification area.
Windows logo key  + C

Open Cortana in listening mode.Notes

  • This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, select Start  > Settings  > Cortana, and turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key + C.
  • Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.
Windows logo key  + Shift + C Open the charms menu.
Windows logo key  + D Display and hide the desktop.
Windows logo key  + Alt + D Display and hide the date and time on the desktop.
Windows logo key  + E Open File Explorer.
Windows logo key  + F Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
Windows logo key  + G Open the Game bar when a game is open.
Windows logo key  + H Start dictation.
Windows logo key  + I Open Settings.
Windows logo key  + J Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.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 key  + K Open the Connect quick action.
Windows logo key  + L Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Windows logo key  + M Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key  + O Lock device orientation.
Windows logo key  + P Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist.
Windows logo key  + R Open the Run dialogue box.
Windows logo key  + S Open search.
Windows logo key  + Shift + S Take a screenshot of part of your screen.
Windows logo key  + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
Windows logo key  + U Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key  + V Open the clipboard.Note
  • To activate this shortcut, select Start  > Settings  > System  Clipboard, and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history.

Windows logo key  + Shift + VCycle through notifications.Windows logo key  + XOpen the Quick Link menu.Windows logo key  + YSwitch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.Windows logo key  + ZShow the commands available in an app in full-screen mode.Windows logo key  + period (.) or semicolon (;)Open emoji panel.Windows logo key  + comma (,)Temporarily peek at the desktop.Windows logo key  + PauseDisplay the System Properties dialogue box.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + FSearch for PCs (if you’re on a network).Windows logo key  + Shift + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop.Windows logo key  + numberOpen the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.Windows logo key  + Shift + numberOpen the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + numberOpen the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.Windows logo key  + Alt + numberOpen the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + numberOpen the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator.Windows logo key  + TabOpen Task view.Windows logo key  + Up arrowMaximize the window.Windows logo key  + Down arrowRemove the current app from the screen or minimize the desktop window.Windows logo key  + Left arrowMaximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.Windows logo key  + Right arrowMaximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.Windows logo key  + HomeMinimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on the second stroke).Windows logo key  + Shift + Up arrowStretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.Windows logo key  + Shift + Down arrowRestore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.Windows logo key  + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrowMove an app or window on the desktop from one monitor to another.Windows logo key  + SpacebarSwitch input language and keyboard layout.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + SpacebarChange to a previously selected input.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + EnterTurn on the Narrator.Windows logo key  + Plus (+)Open Magnifier.Windows logo key  + forward-slash (/)Begin IME reconversion.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + VOpen shoulder taps.Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + BWake PC from blank or black screen

Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts

Press this key To do this
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + M Enter Mark mode.
Alt + selection key Begin selection in block mode.
Arrow keys Move the cursor in the direction specified.
Page up Move the cursor one page up.
Page down Move the cursor one page down.
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode) Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (Mark mode) Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
Ctrl + Up arrow Move up one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Down arrow Move down one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Home (History navigation) If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation) If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the 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 + Tab Move back through tabs.
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) Move to the nth tab.
Tab Move forward through options.
Shift + Tab Move back through options.
Alt + underlined letter Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter.
Spacebar Select or clear the checkbox if the active option is a checkbox.
Backspace Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialogue 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 + W Close the active window.
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Ctrl + Shift + E Display all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N Create a new folder.
Num Lock + asterisk (*) Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
Num Lock + plus (+) Display the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + minus (-) Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P Display the preview panel.
Alt + Enter Open the Properties dialogue 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.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + D Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Right arrow Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left arrow Switch between the virtual desktops you’ve 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 button Open an app as an administrator.
Shift + right-click a taskbar button Show the window menu for the app.
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar button Show the window menu for the group.
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button Cycle through the windows of the 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 a search box Search settings.
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