Windows Keyboard Shortcuts – Microsoft‑Style Cheat Sheet

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1) Copy, Paste & General Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl + XCut the selected item.
Ctrl + C / Ctrl + InsertCopy the selected item.
Ctrl + V / Shift + InsertPaste the selected item.
Ctrl + ZUndo an action.
Alt + TabSwitch between open apps.
Alt + F4Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Win + LLock your PC.
Win + DDisplay and hide the desktop.
F2Rename the selected item.
F3Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.
F4Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
F5Refresh the active window.
F6Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F10Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
Alt + F8Show your password on the sign‑in screen.
Alt + EscCycle through items in the order opened.
Alt + underlined letterPerform the command for that letter.
Alt + EnterDisplay properties for the selected item.
Alt + SpacebarOpen the shortcut menu for the active window.
Alt + Go back.
Alt + Go forward.
Alt + PgUpMove up one screen.
Alt + PgDnMove down one screen.
Ctrl + F4Close the active document (in supported apps).
Ctrl + ASelect all items.
Ctrl + D / DeleteDelete the selected item to Recycle Bin.
Ctrl + R / F5Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + YRedo an action.
Ctrl + Move cursor to beginning of next word.
Ctrl + Move cursor to beginning of previous word.
Ctrl + Move cursor to beginning of next paragraph.
Ctrl + Move cursor to beginning of previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + TabUse arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + ArrowsMove a group/tile in Start menu.
Ctrl + Shift + ArrowsMove tile into another to create a folder (Start).
Ctrl + ArrowsResize Start menu when open.
Ctrl + Arrow + SpaceSelect multiple individual items.
Ctrl + Shift + ArrowSelect a block of text.
Ctrl + EscOpen Start.
Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager.
Ctrl + ShiftSwitch keyboard layout (if multiple layouts are available).
Ctrl + SpacebarTurn Chinese IME on or off.
Shift + F10Display shortcut menu for selected item.
Shift + ArrowsSelect more than one item / select text.
Shift + DeleteDelete selected item without moving to Recycle Bin.
Open next menu / open submenu.
Open previous menu / close submenu.
EscStop or leave current task.
PrtScnScreenshot entire screen to clipboard.
Tip: Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard → enable Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping.

2) Windows Key Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
WinOpen or close Start.
Win + AOpen Action center.
Win + BSet focus in the notification area.
Win + COpen Cortana in listening mode.
Turn on in Settings → Cortana.
Win + Shift + COpen the charms menu.
Win + DDisplay and hide the desktop.
Win + EOpen File Explorer.
Win + FOpen Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
Win + GOpen Game bar when a game is open.
Win + Alt + BTurn HDR on or off (Game Bar 5.721.7292.0+).
Win + HStart dictation.
Win + IOpen Settings.
Win + JFocus a Windows tip; press again to focus the anchored element.
Win + KOpen the Connect quick action.
Win + LLock your PC or switch accounts.
Win + MMinimize all windows.
Win + OLock device orientation.
Win + PChoose a presentation display mode.
Win + Ctrl + QOpen Quick Assist.
Win + ROpen the Run dialog box.
Win + SOpen search.
Win + Shift + STake a screenshot of part of your screen.
Win + TCycle through apps on the taskbar.
Win + UOpen Ease of Access Center.
Win + VOpen the clipboard (enable Clipboard history in Settings).
Win + Shift + VCycle through notifications.
Win + XOpen the Quick Link menu.
Win + YSwitch input between Mixed Reality and desktop.
Win + ZShow commands in a full‑screen app.
Win + . / ;Open emoji panel.
Win + ,Temporarily peek at the desktop.
Win + PauseOpen System Properties.
Win + Ctrl + FSearch for PCs (network).
Win + Shift + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop.
Win + 1…0Open/switch to app pinned to taskbar position number.
Win + Shift + 1…0Open a new instance of the pinned app.
Win + Ctrl + 1…0Switch to the last active window of the pinned app.
Win + Alt + 1…0Open the Jump List for the pinned app.
Win + Ctrl + Shift + 1…0Open a new instance of the pinned app as administrator.
Win + TabOpen Task view.
Win + Maximize window.
Win + Remove app from screen or minimize desktop window.
Win + Snap window to left.
Win + Snap window to right.
Win + HomeMinimize all except the active window (restore on second press).
Win + Shift + Stretch window to top and bottom of screen.
Win + Shift + Restore/minimize windows vertically, keep width.
Win + Shift + /Move window between monitors.
Win + SpaceSwitch input language and keyboard layout.
Win + Ctrl + SpaceChange to a previously selected input.
Win + Ctrl + EnterTurn on Narrator.
Win + +Open Magnifier.
Win + /Begin IME reconversion.
Win + Ctrl + VOpen shoulder taps.
Win + Ctrl + Shift + BWake PC from blank or black screen.
Win + Alt + Enter (taskbar focus)Open taskbar settings.

3) Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Ctrl + C / Ctrl + InsertCopy the selected text.
Ctrl + V / Shift + InsertPaste the selected text.
Ctrl + MEnter Mark mode.
Alt + selection keyBegin selection in block mode.
Arrow keysMove the cursor in the direction specified.
PgUp / PgDnMove the cursor by one page up/down.
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)Move cursor to beginning of buffer.
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)Move cursor to end of buffer.
Ctrl + Move up one line in output history.
Ctrl + Move down one line in output history.
Ctrl + Home (History navigation)If command line is empty: move viewport to top of buffer; otherwise: delete all characters to the left of the cursor.
Ctrl + End (History navigation)If command line is empty: move viewport to command line; otherwise: delete all characters to the right of the cursor.

4) Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
F4Display the items in the active list.
Ctrl + TabMove forward through tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + TabMove back through tabs.
Ctrl + 1–9Move to nth tab.
Tab / Shift + TabMove forward / back through options.
Alt + underlined letterPerform the command or select the option for that letter.
SpacebarSelect or clear a check box (if focused).
BackspaceOpen a folder one level up (Save As / Open).
Arrow keysSelect a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.

5) File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Alt + DSelect the address bar.
Ctrl + E / Ctrl + FSelect the search box.
Ctrl + NOpen a new window.
Ctrl + WClose the active window.
Mouse scroll + CtrlChange size and appearance of icons.
Ctrl + Shift + EDisplay all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + NCreate a new folder.
Num Lock + *Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
Num Lock + +Display the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + -Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + PDisplay the preview panel.
Alt + EnterOpen Properties for the selected item.
Alt + View the next folder.
Alt + View the parent folder.
Alt + / BackspaceView the previous folder.
Expand current selection / select first subfolder.
Collapse current selection / select parent folder.
EndGo to bottom of active window.
HomeGo to top of active window.
F11Maximize or minimize the active window.

6) Virtual Desktops Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Win + TabOpen Task view.
Win + Ctrl + DAdd a virtual desktop.
Win + Ctrl + Switch to the next virtual desktop.
Win + Ctrl + Switch to the previous virtual desktop.
Win + Ctrl + F4Close the current virtual desktop.

7) Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Shift + click taskbar buttonOpen an app or quickly open another instance.
Ctrl + Shift + click taskbar buttonOpen an app as an administrator.
Shift + right‑click taskbar buttonShow the window menu for the app.
Shift + right‑click grouped buttonShow the window menu for the group.
Ctrl + click grouped buttonCycle through the windows of the group.

8) Settings Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Win + IOpen Settings.
BackspaceGo back to the Settings home page.
Type in any page with a search boxSearch settings.
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