============================= Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts ============================= First published at 6/30/2021 on https://defkey.com/windows-11-shortcuts Windows 11 is a major release of Microsoft's desktop operating system. It mainly emphasizes the revamped user interface. Windows 11 is expected to be fully released in late 2021. The new OS will be a free upgrade for existing Windows 10 devices, though it has a few new hardware requirements such as TPM 2.0 (trusted platform module). Windows 11 has 170 shortcuts and we have listed all of them below. New in Windows 11 ----------------- These shortcuts are new in Windows 11. They're complementary for the new features of the operating system, such as split notification center. Win + A Open Quick Settings Win + N Open Notification Center Win + W Open Windows Widgets Win + Z Launch Snap Assist Snap Assist is a new feature aims to enhance multitasking and window management. It improves the existing windows snapping feature. Win + C Open Chat in Microsoft Teams / Open Copilot (after Windows 11 23H2 update) Win + Ctrl + C Toggle color filter (only works if shortcut is enabled in Color Filter settings) PowerToys --------- Win + Ctrl + T Toggle always on top (for any window) General ------- Ctrl + X Cut the selected item Ctrl + C Copy the selected item Ctrl + Insert Paste the selected item Ctrl + V Paste the selected item 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 Win + L Lock your PC Win + D Display and hide the desktop 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 + F8 Show your password on the sign-in screen Alt + Esc Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened Shift + Alt + Esc Cycle backward through items in the order in which they were opened Alt + [A - Z] (underlined letter) Perform the command for that letter Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected item Alt + Space 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 Ctrl + F4 Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time) Ctrl + A Select all items in a document or window Ctrl + D Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin Del Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin Ctrl + R Refresh the active window Ctrl + F5 Refresh the active window Ctrl + Y Redo 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 Alt + Shift + Arrow keys When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder Ctrl + Arrow keys Resize the Start menu when it's open Ctrl + Arrow keys then Space Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys 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 + Space Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off Shift + F10 Display the shortcut menu for the selected item Shift + Arrow keys Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document Shift + Del 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 Print Screen Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard Note: You can change this shortcut so it also opens  screen snipping, which lets you edit your screenshot. Select Start  > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, and turn on the toggle under Print Screen shortcut. With Windows key ---------------- Win Open or close Start Win + A Open Quick Settings Win + N Open Notification Center Win + B Set focus in the notification area Win + C Open Cortana in listening mode Win + W Open Windows Widgets Win + Z Launch Snap Assist Notes This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, select Start  > Settings  > Cortana, and turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key + C. Cortana is available only 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. Win + Shift + C Open the charms menu Win + D Display and hide the desktop Win + Alt + D Display and hide the date and time on the desktop Win + E Open File Explorer Win + F Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot Win + G Open Game bar when a game is open Win + H Start dictation Win + I Open Settings Win + J Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip.  Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored. Win + K Open the Connect quick action Win + L Lock your PC or switch accounts Win + M Minimize all windows Win + O Lock device orientation Win + P Choose a presentation display mode Win + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist Win + R Open the Run dialog box Win + S Open search Win + Shift + S Take a screenshot of part of  your screen Win + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar Win + U Open Ease of Access Center Win + V Open the clipboard Note: To activate this shortcut, select Start  > Settings  > System  > Clipboard, and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history. Win + Shift + V Cycle through notifications Win + X Open the Quick Link menu Win + Y Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop Win + Z Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode Win + . Open emoji panel Win + ; Open emoji panel Win + , Temporarily peek at the desktop Win + Pause Display the System Properties dialog box Win + Ctrl + F Search for PCs (if you're on a network) Win + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop Win + [1 - 9] 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 Win + Shift + [1 - 9] Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number Win + Ctrl + [1 - 9] Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number Win + Alt + [1 - 9] Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number Win + Ctrl + Shift + [1 - 9] Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator Win + Tab Open Task view Win + Up arrow Maximize the window Win + Down arrow Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window Win + Left arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen Win + Right arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen Win + Home Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke) Win + Shift + Up arrow Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen Win + Shift + Down arrow Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width Win + Shift + Left arrow / Right arrow Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another Win + Space Switch input language and keyboard layout Win + Ctrl + Space Change to a previously selected input Win + Ctrl + Enter Turn on Narrator Win + + Open Magnifier Win + / Begin IME reconversion Win + Ctrl + V Open shoulder taps Win + Ctrl + Shift + B Wake PC from blank or black screen Dialog boxes ------------ F4 Display the items in the active list Ctrl + Tab Move forward through tabs Ctrl + Shift + Tab Move back through tabs Ctrl + [1 - 9] Move to nth tab Tab Move forward through options Shift + Tab Move back through options Alt + [A - Z] (underlined letter) Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter Space 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 the Save As or Open dialog box Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons File Explorer ------------- 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 active window Ctrl + Wheel up and wheel down 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 + Num * Display all subfolders under the selected folder Num Lock + Num + Display the contents of the selected folder Num Lock + Num - Collapse the selected folder Alt + P Display the preview panel 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 ---------------- Win + Tab Open Task view Win + Ctrl + D Add a virtual desktop Win + Ctrl + Right arrow Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right Win + Ctrl + Left arrow Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left Win + Ctrl + F4 Close the virtual desktop you're using Taskbar ------- Shift + Left click (click a taskbar button) Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app Ctrl + Shift + Left click (click a taskbar button) Open an app as an administrator Shift + Right click (right click a taskbar button) Show the window menu for the app Shift + Right click (right-click a grouped taskbar button) Show the window menu for the group. Ctrl + Left click (click a grouped taskbar button) Cycle through the windows of the group Settings -------- Win + I Open settings Backspace Go back to the settings home page Type on any page with search box: Search settings Less known shortcuts -------------------- Ctrl + Win + Alt + Shift + L Open LinkedIn in web browser Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Win + W Open Word 365 in web browser Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Win + T Open Teams in web browser Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Win + X Open Excel in web browser Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Win + P Open Word in web browser Ctrl + Shift + Alt + Win + O Open Outlook/Mail application More Windows keyboard shortcuts ------------------------------- Command Prompt shortcuts Continuum shortcuts Taking screenshots Last modified on (UTC): Thursday, January 4, 2024 Defkey © All rights reserved.