Keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11. The Windows 11 operating system has several keyboard shortcuts that make tasks easier and helps save time by increasing productivity in the use of the system. As the software has developed over the years, the Windows command list has also brought new shortcuts.
The list also includes well-known sequences, such as the traditional Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, and less famous shortcuts, such as Ctrl + Shift + Esc, to open the Task Manager, and Alt + F4, to close windows and software. Next, we are going to list all keyboard shortcuts, ranked by usability. Shall we start ?.
New keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11
With the addition of new features, Windows 11 also got new shortcuts. Commands allow you open Microsoft Teams, the notification panel and also the widget menuInter alia.
| Shortcut | Action |
| Windows+A | Open Action Center |
| Windows+N | Open notification panel |
| Windows+W | Open widget panel |
| Windows+Z | Quick access to "Adjust layout" |
| Windows + C | Open Microsoft Teams |
Most popular Windows shortcuts
The most popular Windows shortcuts are still present in version 11. The list of commands includes the traditional Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, and Ctrl + X, which are often used for text editing, and F5, which is used to update web pages.
| Shortcut | Action |
| Ctrl + X | Cut selected item |
| Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) | Copy selected item |
| Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) | Paste the selected item |
| Ctrl + Z | undo an action |
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open applications |
| Alt + F4 | Close the active item or exit the active application |
| Windows + L | lock your computer |
| Windows + D | Show and hide the desktop |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| F3 | Browse for a file or folder in File Explorer |
| F4 | Show address bar list in File Explorer |
| F5 | Update active window |
| F6 | Navigate screen items in a window or desktop |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active application |
| Alt + F8 | Show your password on the credentials screen |
| Alt + Esc | Scroll through items in the order they were opened |
| Alt + underlined letter | Run the command for that letter |
| Alt + Enter | Show the properties of the selected item |
| Alt + space bar | Open the context menu of the active window. |
| Alt + Left Arrow | Back |
| Alt + Right Arrow | Preview |
| Alt + Page Up | Move one screen up |
| Alt + Page Down | Move one screen down |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document (in applications that are full screen and allow multiple documents to be opened 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 Trash |
| Ctrl + E | Open search (in most applications) |
| Ctrl + R (or F5) | Update active window |
| Ctrl + Y | redo an action |
| Ctrl + Right Arrow | Move the cursor to the start 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 applications |
| Alt + Shift + arrow keys | When a group or block has focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction. |
| Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys | When a tile is focused on the Start menu, move it to another tile to create a folder |
| Ctrl + arrow keys | Resize the Start menu when it's open |
| Ctrl + arrow key (to go to an item) + space bar | Select multiple items separately in a window or on the desktop |
| Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key | Select a text block |
| Ctrl + Esc | open start |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager. |
| Ctrl + Shift | Change the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available. |
| Shift + F10 | Show the shortcut menu of 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 first moving it to the Trash |
| right arrow | Open the next menu on the right or open a submenu |
| left arrow | Open the next menu on the left or close a submenu. |
| I | Stop or end the current task |
| PrtSc | Take a screenshot of the entire screen and copy it to your clipboard. |
Complementary Shortcuts
The windows key shortcuts they are complementary. They make it easy to open and close apps and make it easy to activate some functions. For this list, Windows 11 brought, among others, the Windows + C shortcut, which allows you to quickly start Microsoft Teams.
| Shortcut | Action |
| Windows | open or close home |
| Windows+A | Open quick settings |
| Windows+B | Set focus from drop down menu to show hidden icons |
| Windows + C | Open Microsoft Teams |
| Windows + Shift + C | open button menu |
| Windows + Ctrl + C | Turn on color filters (turn on this shortcut first in the color filters settings) |
| Windows + D | Show and hide the desktop |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows + F | Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot |
| Windows + G | Open the Xbox game bar when a game is open |
| Windows+H | Start writing by voice |
| Windows + I | Open configuration |
| Windows + J | Focus on a Windows suggestion when one is available |
| Windows + L | Lock your computer or switch accounts |
| Windows + CODE | Minimize all windows |
| Windows + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows to desktop |
| Windows+N | Open the notification center and calendar |
| Windows + O | Lock device orientation |
| Windows + P | Choose a presentation view |
| Windows + Ctrl + Q | Open Quick Assistance |
| Windows + R | Open the Run dialog |
| Windows+Alt+R | Record video from floating game window (using Xbox Game Bar) |
| Windows + S | open search |
| Windows + Shift + S | Take a screenshot of part of your screen |
| Windows + BILLION | Browse apps on the taskbar |
| Windows + U | Open accessibility settings |
| Windows + V | Open clipboard history |
| Windows + Shift + V | Center a notification |
| Windows + W | Open widgets |
| Windows + X | Open the quick link menu |
| Windows + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and desktop |
| Windows+Z | Open layout setting. |
| Windows + semicolon (.) Or semicolon (;) | Open the emoji panel |
| Windows + comma (,) | Temporarily spy on the desktop |
| Windows + Pause | Open the System Properties dialog |
| Windows + Ctrl + F | Search for computers (if on a network) |
| Windows + number | Open the desktop and launch the application pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number. If the application is already running, switch to that application |
| Windows + Shift + Number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the application pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Ctrl + number | Open the desktop and switch to the last active application window pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Alt + number | Open the desktop and open the Jump List of the application pinned to the taskbar, in the position indicated by the number |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + number | Open the desktop and open a new instance of the application located at the specified position on the taskbar as administrator |
| Windows + Tab | Open task view |
| Windows + up arrow | maximize window |
| Windows + Alt + up arrow | Set the window in focus to the upper half of the screen (new in Windows 11). |
| Windows + down arrow | Remove the current application from the screen or minimize the desktop window |
| Windows + Alt + down arrow | Place the docker focused on the bottom half of the screen (new in Windows 11) |
| Windows + Left Arrow | Maximize the desktop or application window on the left side of the screen. |
| Windows + right arrow | Maximize the desktop or application window on the right side of the screen |
| Windows + Start | Minimize all desktop windows except the active one (restore all windows with a second click) |
| Windows + Shift + up arrow | Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
| Windows + Shift + Down Arrow | Restore / minimize active desktop windows vertically while maintaining width |
| Windows + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow | Move an application or window on the desktop from one monitor to another |
| Windows + Shift + space bar | Cycle through items by language and keyboard layout |
| Windows + space bar | Change input language and keyboard layout |
| Windows + Ctrl + space bar | Switch to a previously selected entry |
| Windows + Ctrl + Enter | turn on the narrator |
| Windows + Plus sign (+) | open the magnifying glass and enlarge |
| Windows + subtraction (-) | Zoom in on the magnifying glass |
| Windows + Esc | close magnifying glass |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B | Wake up the PC from a blank or black screen. |
| Windows + PrtScn | Save full screen shot for archiving |
| Windows + Alt + PrtScn | Save floating game window screenshot to archive (using Xbox Game Bar) |
Command prompt shortcuts
The command prompt is an advanced feature of Windows that allows you to access the functionality of the system through a programming language. Typically used by advanced users or IT professionals. The shortcut to open the command prompt is Windows + X, and the commands listed below are applicable within the tool.
| Shortcut | Action |
| Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) | Copy selected text |
| Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) | Paste the selected text |
| CTRL+M | Enter brand mode |
| Alt + select key | Start selection in lock mode |
| arrow keys | Move the cursor in the specified direction |
| Page up | Move the cursor up one page |
| Page down | Move the cursor down one page |
| Ctrl + Home (brand mode) | Move the cursor to the beginning of the next buffer |
| Ctrl + End (mark mode) | Move the cursor to the end of the next buffer |
| Ctrl + up arrow | Move one line up in the output history |
| Ctrl + down arrow | Move one line down in the exit history |
| Ctrl + Home (browsing history) | If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the beginning of the buffer. Otherwise, remove all characters to the left of the cursor on the command line. |
| Ctrl + End (history browsing) | If the command line is empty, move the screen to the command line. Otherwise, delete all characters to the right of the cursor on the command line. |
Taskbar shortcuts
Present in all editions of Windows, the taskbar lets you allows you to start and monitor programs. Users can also pin their favorite apps to the space, located at the bottom of the screen. Using shortcuts makes the taskbar experience smoother and more productive.
| Shortcut | What are you doing |
| Shift + click a taskbar button | Open an application or quickly open another instance of an application |
| Ctrl + Shift + click a button on the taskbar | Open an application as administrator |
| Shift + right-click a taskbar button | Show the application window menu |
| Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar button | Display group window menu |
| Ctrl + click a button on the grouped taskbar | Change group windows |
Dialog shortcuts
Dialogue is a secondary window that provides additional information about applications or allows users to run a command. For example: when emptying the trash, Windows displays a dialog box with the options "yes" or "no", asking the user to confirm the action. The shortcuts below are applicable within any dialog of the system.
| Shortcut | What are you doing |
| F4 | Show items in the active list |
| Ctrl + Tab | Move between tabs |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Back on the tabs |
| Ctrl + number (number from 1 to 9) | Move to the nth tab |
| Eyelash | Move between options |
| Shift + Tab | Back to options |
| Alt + underlined letter | Run the command (or select the option) used with that letter |
| space bar | Check or uncheck the check box if the active option is a check box. |
| recoil | Open a folder one level higher 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 |
Windows Explorer shortcuts
El Windows Explorer It is the Windows file manager. With the shortcuts below, you can Select the url bar (to add folder paths), select the search box to find specific files, open a new window, create a new folder, and much more.
| Shortcut | What are you doing |
| Alt + D | Select address bar |
| Ctrl + E | Select search box |
| Ctrl + F | Select search box |
| Ctrl + N | open a new window |
| Ctrl + W | close active window |
| Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel | Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Show all folders above the selected folder |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder |
| Num Lock + asterisk (*) | Show all subfolders of the selected folder |
| Num lock + plus key (+) | Show the contents of the selected folder |
| Num lock + minus key (-) | Collapse the selected folder |
| Alt + P | Show the preview pane |
| Alt + Enter | Open the Properties dialog for the selected item |
| Alt + Right Arrow | show the following folder |
| Alt + up arrow | Shows the folder the folder was in |
| Alt + Left Arrow | show previous folder |
| recoil | show previous folder |
| right arrow | Show current selection (if collapsed) or select first subfolder |
| left arrow | Collapse the current selection (if it is expanded) or select the folder where the current folder was located. |
| End | Show bottom of active window |
| Home | Show top of active window |
| F11 | Maximize or minimize the active window |
Desktop shortcuts
Since its version 10, Windows offers the possibility of can bring to life virtual desktops. With them, the user can better organize the demands of daily life on the same computer, separating personal applications from work programs, for example. The following commands help you access desktop resources faster, to switch between virtual desktops, close or open desktops, and more.
| Shortcut | What are you doing |
| Windows + Tab | Open task view |
| Windows+Ctrl+D | Add a virtual desktop |
| Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the right |
| Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops created on the left |
| Windows+Ctrl+F4 | Close the virtual desktop you are using |
