The Ultimate Guide to the Windows Shortcut Keys

libreoffice keyboard shortcuts

Windows 10 comes with tons of keyboard shortcuts keys, and you don’t need to memorize them all. You just need to remember those that will help you save time and increase productivity.

Windows 10 has a lot of keyboard shortcuts built-in. These shortcuts help you navigate your PC faster and easier. Some of them are very useful, while others are just for fun. Here is a list of all the keyboard shortcuts available in Windows 10.

25 Basic Windows Shortcut Keys Everyone Should Know

Keyboard shortcutAction
Ctrl + ASelect all content.
Ctrl + C ( Ctrl + Insert)Copy selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + XCut selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + V ( Shift + Insert)Paste content from clipboard.
Ctrl + ZUndo an action, including undelete files (limited).
Ctrl + YRedo an action.
Ctrl + Shift + NCreate new folder on desktop or File Explorer.
Alt + F4Close active window. (If no active window is present, a shutdown box appears.)
Ctrl + D (Del)Delete selected item to the Recycle Bin.
Shift + DeleteDelete the selected item permanently, skipping Recycle Bin.
F2Rename selected item.
EscClose current task.
Alt + TabSwitch between open apps.
PrtScnTake a screenshot and stores it in the clipboard.
Windows key + IOpen Settings app.
Windows key + EOpen File Explorer.
Windows key + AOpen Action center.
Windows key + DDisplay and hide the desktop.
Windows key + LLock device.
Windows key + VOpen Clipboard bin.
Windows key + Period (.) or Semicolon (;)Open emoji panel.
Windows key + PrtScnCapture a full screenshot in the “Screenshots” folder.
Windows key + Shift + SCapture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.
Windows key + Left arrow keySnap app or window left.
Windows key + Right arrow keySnap app or window right.

Desktop shortcuts keys

Windows key (or Ctrl + Esc)Open Start menu.
Ctrl + Arrow keysChange Start menu size.
Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager.
Ctrl + ShiftSwitch keyboard layout.
Alt + F4Close active window. (If no active window is present, a shutdown box appears.)
Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + R)Refresh current window.
Ctrl + Alt + TabView open apps.
Ctrl + Arrow keys (to select) + SpacebarSelect multiple items on desktop or File Explorer.
Alt + Underlined letterRuns command for the underlined letter in apps.
Alt + TabSwitch between open apps while pressing Tab multiple times.
Alt + Left arrow keyGo back.
Alt + Right arrow keyGo forward.
Alt + Page UpMove up one screen.
Alt + Page DownMove down one screen.
Alt + EscCycle through open windows.
Alt + SpacebarOpen context menu for the active window.
Alt + F8Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen.
Shift + Click app buttonOpen another instance of an app from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Shift + Click app buttonRun app as administrator from the Taskbar.
Shift + Right-click app buttonShow window menu for the app from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Click a grouped app buttonCycle through windows in the group from the Taskbar.
Shift + Right-click grouped app buttonShow window menu for the group from the Taskbar.
Ctrl + Left arrow keyMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Right arrow keyMove the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Up arrow keyMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Down arrow keyMove the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keySelect block of text.
Ctrl + SpacebarEnable or disable Chinese IME.
Shift + F10Open context menu for selected item.
F10Enable app menu bar.
Shift + Arrow keysSelect multiple items.
Windows key + XOpen Quick Link menu.
Windows key + Number (0-9)Open the app in number position from the Taskbar.
Windows key + TCycle through apps in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Alt + Number (0-9)Open Jump List of the app in number position from the Taskbar.
Windows key + DDisplay and hide the desktop.
Windows key + MMinimize all windows.
Windows key + Shift + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows key + HomeMinimize or maximize all but the active desktop window.
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow keyStretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows key + Shift + Down arrow keyMaximize or minimize active desktop windows vertically while maintaining width.
Windows key + Shift + Left arrow keyMove active window to monitor on the left.
Windows key + Shift + Right arrow keyMove active window to monitor on the right.
Windows key + Left arrow keySnap app or window left.
Windows key + Right arrow keySnap app or window right.
Windows key + S (or Q)Open Search.
Windows key + Alt + DOpen date and time in the Taskbar.
Windows key + TabOpen Task View.
Windows key + Ctrl + DCreate new virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4Close active virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrowSwitch to the virtual desktop on the right.
Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrowSwitch to the virtual desktop on the left.
Windows key + POpen Project settings.
Windows key + AOpen Action center.
Windows key + IOpen Settings app.
BackspaceReturn to the Settings app home page.

File Explorer shortcuts keys

Keyboard shortcutAction
Windows key + EOpen File Explorer.
Alt + DSelect address bar.
Ctrl + E (or F)Select search box.
Ctrl + NOpen new window.
Ctrl + WClose active window.
Ctrl + F (or F3)Start search.
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheelChange view file and folder.
Ctrl + Shift + EExpands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane.
Ctrl + Shift + NCreates a new folder on desktop or File Explorer.
Ctrl + LFocus on the address bar.
Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8)Changes folder view.
Alt + PDisplay preview panel.
Alt + EnterOpen Properties settings for the selected item.
Alt + Right arrow keyView next folder.
Alt + Left arrow key (or Backspace)View previous folder.
Alt + Up arrowMove up a level in the folder path.
F11Switch active window full-screen mode.
F2Rename selected item.
F4Switch focus to address bar.
F5Refresh File Explorer’s current view.
F6Cycle through elements on the screen.
HomeScroll to the top of the window.
EndScroll to the bottom of the window.

Settings page shortcut keys

Keyboard shortcutAction
Ctrl + TabCycles forward through the tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + TabCycles back through the tabs.
Ctrl + number of tabJumps to tab position.
TabMoves forward through the settings.
Shift + TabMoves back through the settings.
Alt + underline letterActions the setting identified by the letter.
SpacebarChecks or clears the option in focus.
BackspaceOpens the folder one-level app in the Open or Save As dialog.
Arrow keysSelect a button of the active setting.

Most Important Windows Shortcut Keys You Need to Use Everyday

In this article, we have shown you the most important Windows shortcut keys to use every day. We hope that you found it useful and are able to improve your productivity by learning these shortcuts.

Keyboard shortcutAction
Ctrl + ASelect all
Ctrl + C ( Ctrl + Insert)Copy selected items to clipboard.
Ctrl + V ( Shift + Insert)Paste content from clipboard.
Ctrl + MStarts mark mode.
Ctrl + Up arrow keyMove the screen up one line.
Ctrl + Down arrow keyMove screen down one line.
Ctrl + FOpen search for Command Prompt.
Left or right arrow keysMove the cursor left or right in the current line.
Up or down arrow keysCycle through the command history of the current session.
Page UpMove cursor one page up.
Page DownMove cursor one page down.
Ctrl + HomeScroll to the top of the console.
Ctrl + EndScroll to the bottom of the console.

List of All the Essential Windows Shortcut Keys That Help You Do Things Much Faster on a PC

Windows keyOpen Start menu.
Windows key + AOpen Action center.
Windows key + S (or Q)Open Search.
Windows key + DDisplay and hide the desktop.
Windows key + LLocks computer.
Windows key + MMinimize all windows.
Windows key + BSet focus notification area in the Taskbar.
Windows key + CLaunch Cortana app.
Windows key + FLaunch Feedback Hub app.
Windows key + GLaunch Game bar app.
Windows key + YChange input between desktop and Mixed Reality.
Windows key + OLock device orientation.
Windows key + TCycle through apps in the Taskbar.
Windows key + ZSwitch input between the desktop experience and Windows Mixed Reality.
Windows key + JSet focus on a tip for Windows 10 when applicable.
Windows key + HOpen dictation feature.
Windows key + EOpen File Explorer.
Windows key + IOpen Settings.
Windows key + ROpen Run command.
Windows key + KOpen Connect settings.
Windows key + XOpen Quick Link menu.
Windows key + VOpen Clipboard bin.
Windows key + WOpen the Windows Ink Workspace.
Windows key + UOpen Ease of Access settings.
Windows key + POpen Project settings.
Windows key + Ctrl + EnterOpen Narrator.
Windows key + Plus (+)Zoom in using the magnifier.
Windows key + Minus (-)Zoom out using the magnifier.
Windows key + EscExit magnifier.
Windows key + Forward-slash (/)Start IME reconversion.
Windows key + Comma (,)Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Windows key + Up arrow keyMaximize app windows.
Windows key + Down arrow keyMinimize app windows.
Windows key + HomeMinimize or maximize all but the active desktop window.
Windows key + Shift + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow keyStretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows key + Shift + Down arrow keyMaximize or minimize active windows vertically while maintaining width.
Windows key + Shift + Left arrow keyMove active window to monitor on the left.
Windows key + Shift + Right arrow keyMove active window to monitor on the right.
Windows key + Left arrow keySnap app or window left.
Windows key + Right arrow keySnap app or window right.
Windows key + Number (0-9)Open the app in number position in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Shift + Number (0-9)Open another app instance in the number position in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Ctrl + Number (0-9)Switch to the last active window of the app in the number position in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Alt + Number (0-9)Open Jump List of the app in number position in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + Number (0-9)Open another instance as an administrator of the app in the number position in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Ctrl + SpacebarChange previous selected input option.
Windows key + SpacebarChange keyboard layout and input language.
Windows key + TabOpen Task View.
Windows key + Ctrl + DCreate a virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + F4Close active virtual desktop.
Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrowSwitch to the virtual desktop on the right.
Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrowSwitch to the virtual desktop on the left.
Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + BWake up the device when black or a blank screen.
Windows key + PrtScnCapture a full screenshot in the “Screenshots” folder.
Windows key + Shift + SCreate part of the screen screenshot.
Windows key + Shift + VCycle through notifications.
Windows key + Ctrl + FOpen search for the device on a domain network.
Windows key + Ctrl + QOpen Quick Assist.
Windows key + Alt + DOpen date and time in the Taskbar.
Windows key + Period (.) or Semicolon (;)Open emoji panel.
Windows key + PauseShow System Properties dialog box.

If you are a Windows user, then you will be glad to know that knowing your keyboard shortcuts can make your work much easier. These shortcuts are also great for increasing your efficiency while working on the computer. Knowing these shortcuts not only saves you time, but it also helps you to be more productive and efficient.

This is the end of the article. I hope that you have enjoyed reading it.

Windows 10-shortcuts.pdf Download link https://computing.cs.cmu.edu/desktop/resources/w10-shortcuts.pdf

The Ultimate List of A-Z Shortcuts for Windows

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