Windows Shortcuts Tips

Here is a complete list of all the Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts:

Press this key	To do this
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)	Copy the selected item
Ctrl+X	Cut 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 or switch accounts
Windows logo key +D	Display and hide the desktop

New keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows.

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key +A	Open Action center
Windows logo key‌ +S	Open search
Windows logo key‌ +C	Open Cortana in listening mode Note Cortana is only available 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 +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 virtual desktops you’ve created on the left
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F4	Close the virtual desktop you’re using

General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

Press this key	To do this
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+F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app
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
Alt+Tab	Switch between open apps
Ctrl+F4	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
Ctrl+A	Select all items in a document or window
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert)	Copy the selected item
Ctrl+D (or Delete)	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl+R (or F5)	Refresh the active window
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert)	Paste the selected item
Ctrl+X	Cut the selected item
Ctrl+Y	Redo an action
Ctrl+Z	Undo 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
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+arrow keys	When a group or tile is in focus in the Start menu, move it in the direction specified
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 within 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

Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key .

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key	Open or close Start
Windows logo key +A	Open Action center
Windows logo key +B	Set focus in the notification area
Windows logo key‌ +C	Open Cortana in listening mode Note Cortana is only available 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 +D	Display and hide the desktop
Windows logo key +E	Open File Explorer
Windows logo key +G	Open Game bar when a game is open
Windows logo key +H	Open the Share charm
Windows logo key +I	Open Settings
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 +R	Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key +S	Open search
Windows logo key +T	Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key +U	Open Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key +V	Cycle through notifications
Windows logo key +Shift+V	Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key +X	Open the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key +Z	Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode
Windows logo key +comma (,)	Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key +Pause	Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F	Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Windows logo key +Shift+M	Restore minimized windows on the desktop
Windows logo key +number	Open 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+number	Open 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+number	Open 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+number	Open 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+number	Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator
Windows logo key +Tab	Open Task view
Windows logo key +Up arrow	Maximize the window
Windows logo key +Down arrow	Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window
Windows logo key +Left arrow	Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen
Windows logo key +Right arrow	Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen
Windows logo key +Home	Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Windows logo key +Shift+Up arrow	Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Windows logo key +Shift+Down arrow	Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Windows logo key +Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow	Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Windows logo key +Spacebar	Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Spacebar	Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key +Enter	Open Narrator
Windows logo key +forward slash (/)	Initiate IME reconversion
Windows logo key +plus (+) or minus (-)	Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Windows logo key +Esc	Exit Magnifier

Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Command Prompt.

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 by one page up
Page down	Move the cursor by 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

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.

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 nth tab
Tab	Move forward through options
Shift+Tab	Move back through options
Alt+underlined letter	Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
Spacebar	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Backspace	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in theSave As or Open dialog 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 current 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 pane
Alt+Enter	Open the Properties dialog 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 virtual desktops you’ve created on the left
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F4	Close the virtual desktop you’re using

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.

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 search box	Search settings

Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your PC easier to use.

Press this key	To do this
Right Shift for eight seconds	Turn Filter Keys on and off
Left Alt+left Shift+Print Screen	Turn High Contrast on or off
Left Alt+left Shift+Num Lock	Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Shift five times	Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Num Lock for five seconds	Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Windows logo key +U	Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key +plus (+) or minus (-)	Zoom in or out
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar	Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+D	Switch to docked mode
Ctrl+Alt+F	Switch to full-screen mode
Ctrl+Alt+I	Invert colors
Ctrl+Alt+L	Switch to lens mode
Ctrl+Alt+R	Resize the lens
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys	Pan in the direction of the arrow keys
Windows logo key +Esc	Exit Magnifier

Narrator keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator.

Press this key	To do this
Windows logo key +Enter	Start or exit Narrator
Caps Lock+ESC	Exit Narrator
Caps Lock+M	Start reading
Ctrl	Stop reading
Caps Lock+Spacebar	Do default action
Caps Lock+Right arrow	Move to next item
Caps Lock+Left arrow	Move to previous item
Caps Lock+Up or Down arrow	Change view
Caps Lock+F2	Show commands for current item
Caps Lock+Enter	Change search mode
Caps Lock+A	Change verbosity mode
Caps Lock+Z	Lock Narrator key (Caps Lock) so you don’t have to press it for every keyboard shortcut
Caps Lock+X	Have Narrator ignore the next keyboard shortcut you use
Caps Lock+F12	Turn keystroke reading off or on
Caps Lock+V	Repeat phrase
Caps Lock+Page Up or Page Down	Increase or decrease voice volume
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-)	Increase or decrease voice speed
Caps Lock+D	Read item
Caps Lock+F	Read advanced info about item
Caps Lock+S	Read item spelled out
Caps Lock+W	Read window
Caps Lock+R	Read all items in the containing area
Caps Lock+Num Lock	Turn mouse mode on or off
Caps Lock+Q	Move to last item in the containing area
Caps Lock+G	Move Narrator cursor to system cursor
Caps Lock+T	Move Narrator cursor to pointer
Caps Lock+tilde (~)	Set focus to item
Caps Lock+Backspace	Go back one item
Caps Lock+Insert	Jump to linked item
Caps Lock+F10	Read current row header
Caps Lock+F9	Read current column header
Caps Lock+F8	Read current row
Caps Lock+F7	Read current column
Caps Lock+F5	Read current row and column location
Caps Lock+F6	Jump to table cell
Shift+Caps Lock+F6	Jump to cell contents
Caps Lock+F3	Jump to next cell in current row
Shift+Caps Lock+F3	Jump to previous cell in current row
Caps Lock+F4	Jump to next cell in current column
Shift+Caps Lock+F4	Jump to previous cell in current column
Caps Lock+Close square bracket (])	Read text from start to cursor
Caps Lock+zero (0)	Read text attributes
Caps Lock+H	Read document
Ctrl+Caps Lock+U	Read current page
Caps Lock+U	Read next page
Shift+Caps Lock+U	Read previous page
Ctrl+Caps Lock+I	Read current paragraph
Caps Lock+I	Read next paragraph
Shift+Caps Lock+I	Read previous paragraph
Ctrl+Caps Lock+O	Read current line
Caps Lock+O	Read next line
Shift+Caps Lock+0	Read previous line
Ctrl+Caps Lock+P	Read current word
Caps Lock+P	Read next word
Shift+Caps Lock+P	Read previous word
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([)	Read current character
Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([)	Read next character
Shift+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([)	Read previous character
Caps Lock+Y	Move to beginning of text
Caps Lock+B	Move to end of text
Caps Lock+J	Jump to next heading
Shift+Caps Lock+J	Jump to previous heading
Caps Lock+K	Jump to next table
Shift+Caps Lock+K	Jump to previous table
Caps Lock+L	Jump to next link
Shift+Caps Lock+L	Jump to previous link
Caps Lock+C	Read current date and time
Press Caps Lock twice in quick succession	Turn Caps Lock on or off
Caps Lock+E	Give negative feedback
Shift+Caps Lock+E	Give positive feedback
Caps Lock+E tapped twice in quick succession	Open the feedback dialog
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Up arrow	Go to parent
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Right arrow	Go to next sibling
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Left arrow	Go to previous sibling
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Down arrow	Go to first child
Caps Lock+N	Move to main landmark

Narrator touch keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator on a four-point tablet.

Press this key	To do this
Tap once with two fingers	Stop Narrator from reading
Tap three times with four fingers	Show all Narrator commands (including the ones not in this list)
Double-tap	Activate primary action
Triple-tap	Activate secondary action
Touch or drag a single finger	Read what’s under your fingers
Flick left/right with one finger	Move to next or previous item
Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers	Scroll
Swipe down with three fingers	Start reading on explorable text