Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts

Everything the Windows key can do, plus the screenshot, File Explorer and text editing shortcuts that save the most clicks. Filter the sheet, then print it or download it.

97 shortcuts
Windows 11
Checked October 2026

Showing all 97 shortcuts.

Everyday 20 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Copy the selection	`Ctrl`+`C` or `Ctrl`+`Insert`
Cut the selection	`Ctrl`+`X`
Paste	`Ctrl`+`V` or `Shift`+`Insert`
Paste as plain text. In apps that support it.	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`V`
Undo	`Ctrl`+`Z`
Redo	`Ctrl`+`Y`
Select all	`Ctrl`+`A`
Find text	`Ctrl`+`F`
Find and replace. In most text editors.	`Ctrl`+`H`
Open the clipboard history	`Win`+`V`
Open the emoji panel (emoji, kaomoji and symbols)	`Win`+`.Period` or `Win`+`;Semicolon`
Open or close the Start menu	`Win` or `Ctrl`+`Esc`
Open search	`Win`+`S` or `Win`+`Q`
Open Settings	`Win`+`I`
Open File Explorer	`Win`+`E`
Open the Run dialog	`Win`+`R`
Open the Quick Link menu (the Start button's right-click menu)	`Win`+`X`
Open Task Manager	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`Esc`
Open the security screen (lock, sign out, Task Manager)	`Ctrl`+`Alt`+`Del`
Lock the computer	`Win`+`L`

Windows & desktops 24 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Switch between open windows	`Alt`+`Tab`
Open Task View	`Win`+`Tab`
Close the active window	`Alt`+`F4`
Show or hide the desktop	`Win`+`D`
Peek at the desktop	`Win`+`,Comma`
Minimize all windows	`Win`+`M`
Restore minimized windows	`Win`+`Shift`+`M`
Minimize or restore every window except the active one	`Win`+`Home`
Maximize the active window	`Win`+`↑Up arrow`
Minimize the active window	`Win`+`↓Down arrow`
Snap the window to the left side	`Win`+`←Left arrow`
Snap the window to the right side	`Win`+`→Right arrow`
Open snap layouts	`Win`+`Z`
Snap the window to the top half	`Win`+`Alt`+`↑Up arrow`
Snap the window to the bottom half	`Win`+`Alt`+`↓Down arrow`
Move the window to the monitor on the left	`Win`+`Shift`+`←Left arrow`
Move the window to the monitor on the right	`Win`+`Shift`+`→Right arrow`
Open the window menu (move, size, close)	`Alt`+`Space`
Create a new virtual desktop	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`D`
Switch to the desktop on the left	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`←Left arrow`
Switch to the desktop on the right	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`→Right arrow`
Close the current virtual desktop	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`F4`
Open the app pinned first on the taskbar. Win+2 to Win+9 open the apps in the next positions.	`Win`+`1`
Cycle through apps on the taskbar	`Win`+`T`

Screenshots & recording 6 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Screenshot of a region, copied to the clipboard	`Win`+`Shift`+`S`
Screenshot: select a region of the screen (Snipping Tool). Current Windows 11 default; it can be changed in Settings.	`PrtScn`
Screenshot of the whole screen, saved to Pictures\Screenshots	`Win`+`PrtScn`
Screenshot of the active window, copied to the clipboard	`Alt`+`PrtScn`
Record a region of the screen as a video. Opens the recording in the Snipping Tool.	`Win`+`Shift`+`R`
Open the Game Bar	`Win`+`G`

System panels 8 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Open Quick Settings (Wi-Fi, volume, brightness)	`Win`+`A`
Open the notification center and calendar	`Win`+`N`
Start voice typing	`Win`+`H`
Open Widgets	`Win`+`W`
Choose a display mode for a second screen	`Win`+`P`
Cast to a wireless display	`Win`+`K`
Open Accessibility settings	`Win`+`U`
Switch keyboard layout or input language	`Win`+`Space`

File Explorer 19 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Rename the selected item	`F2`
Show properties of the selected item	`Alt`+`Enter`
Create a new folder	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`N`
Move up a level	`Alt`+`↑Up arrow`
Go to the previous folder	`Alt`+`←Left arrow` or `Backspace`
Go to the next folder	`Alt`+`→Right arrow`
Select the address bar	`Alt`+`D` or `Ctrl`+`L`
Select the search box	`Ctrl`+`E` or `Ctrl`+`F`
Open a new tab	`Ctrl`+`T`
Close the active tab	`Ctrl`+`W`
Move to the next tab	`Ctrl`+`Tab`
Open a new window	`Ctrl`+`N`
Show or hide the preview pane	`Alt`+`P`
Show or hide the details pane	`Alt`+`Shift`+`P`
Switch to Details view	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`6`
Delete to the Recycle Bin	`Ctrl`+`D` or `Del`
Delete permanently, skipping the Recycle Bin	`Shift`+`Del`
Refresh the window	`F5`
Open the context menu for the selection	`Shift`+`F10`

Text editing 15 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Move to the start of the previous word	`Ctrl`+`←Left arrow`
Move to the start of the next word	`Ctrl`+`→Right arrow`
Delete the word to the left	`Ctrl`+`Backspace`
Delete the word to the right	`Ctrl`+`Del`
Move to the start of the line	`Home`
Move to the end of the line	`End`
Move to the start of the document	`Ctrl`+`Home`
Move to the end of the document	`Ctrl`+`End`
Select to the start of the line	`Shift`+`Home`
Select to the end of the line	`Shift`+`End`
Select words to the left or right	`Ctrl`+`Shift`+`←Left arrow` or `Ctrl`+`Shift`+`→Right arrow`
Move to the previous or next paragraph	`Ctrl`+`↑Up arrow` or `Ctrl`+`↓Down arrow`
Bold. In apps with text formatting.	`Ctrl`+`B`
Italic	`Ctrl`+`I`
Underline	`Ctrl`+`U`

Accessibility 5 shortcuts

Action	Windows 11
Zoom in with Magnifier	`Win`+`+Plus`
Zoom out with Magnifier	`Win`+`-Minus`
Close Magnifier	`Win`+`Esc`
Turn Narrator on or off	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`Enter`
Turn color filters on or off (if enabled in Settings)	`Win`+`Ctrl`+`C`

About the Windows key

Win on these keycaps means the Windows logo key, usually between Ctrl and Alt. Win shortcuts work from almost anywhere, even while an app has focus, which makes them the quickest way to reach Settings, File Explorer or the clipboard history.

Snap layouts (Win+Z), Quick Settings (Win+A) and the region recording in the Snipping Tool are Windows 11 features. On current Windows 11 the Print Screen key opens the Snipping Tool to select a region; a setting under Accessibility, Keyboard turns that off if you prefer the old full-screen copy.

Printing and saving

Print gives you a two-column sheet without the rest of the site; pick Save as PDF in the print dialog to keep a copy. Filter first to print only what you need, or download the sheet as a Markdown table for your notes.

Source: Microsoft's Keyboard shortcuts in Windows (Windows 11).

Questions

How do I take a screenshot on Windows 11?

Win+Shift+S lets you drag around any part of the screen and copies it to the clipboard. Win+PrtScn saves the whole screen to Pictures\Screenshots, and Alt+PrtScn copies just the active window.

How do I type emoji and symbols on Windows?

Press Win+. (period) or Win+; to open the emoji panel, which also has kaomoji and symbols. In apps that accept them, Alt codes still type accented letters and symbols from the numeric keypad.

What does Win+V do?

It opens the clipboard history: the last things you copied, which you can paste again or pin. The first time, Windows asks you to turn the history on.