The Ultimate Guide to Windows 11's Keyboard Shortcuts | Harper29
Call Us Free 773-759-7945
user heart cart0
order Free Shipping on Orders Over $100

The Ultimate Guide to Windows 11's Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Boost productivity with Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts like Win + N for notifications and Win + R for Run dialog.
  • Efficiently manage files in File Explorer with shortcuts like Win + E to open and Ctrl + N to create new windows.
  • Use Xbox Game Bar shortcuts like Win + G to open it and Win + Alt + R to start/stop recording games.

If you spend a lot of time typing, knowing good keyboard shortcuts can help boost your productivity. Whether you want to resize an app window or move it across multiple displays, you can do so without lifting your hands from your keyboard.

While almost all the shortcuts supported in Windows 10 remain the same in Windows 11, the new iteration of Microsoft’s venerable OS comes with a bunch of new ones as well. Here is a list of Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts to help you swiftly navigate Desktop, Command Prompt, File Explorer, Accessibility features and more.

New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

Shortcut Key

Action

Win + N

Access the notifications panel.

Win + A

Open Quick Settings (Earlier Action Center).

Win + C

Open Windows Copilot.

Win + H

Launch voice typing.

Win + K

Open Cast from Quick Settings.

Win + N

Open notification center and calender.

Win + W

Open Widgets.

Win + Z

Open Snap layout/templates. Use the arrow key to select a snap template.

Win + Alt + K

Toggle microphone mute on supported apps.

Win + Up Arrow

Snap active window to the top half of your display.

Win + Down Arrow

Snap active window to the bottom half.

Win + Left/Right Arrow

Snap active window to left/right half.

Win + Alt + Up Arrow

Snap the active window to top half of screen.

Win + Alt + Down Arrow

Snap the active window to bottom half of screen.

Win/Windows Logo Key Shortcuts in Windows 11

Press the Win key and it brings up the Start menu. However, there are many things you can do with the Windows logo key shortcuts. For example, Win + R opens the Run dialog, Win + S open the Windows search bar, and Win + L locks your computer.

Here is a full list of Windows key-enabled shortcuts.

Shortcut Key

Action

Win

Open the Start menu.

Win+ A

Open the Quick Settings panel.

Win + B

Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner (system tray).

Win + Alt + B

Turn HDR On or Off in Xbox Game Bar.

Win + B and hit Enter

Show hidden icons.

Win + C

Open Windows Copilot.

Win + Shift + C

Open the charms menu.

Win + Ctrl + C

Turn on color filters. First you need to enable the shortcut in the Color Filter settings for it to work.

Win + D

Display/hide the desktop.

Win + E

Open File Explorer.

Win + F

Open Feedback Hub.

Win + Ctrl + F

Search for PCs on a network.

Win + G

Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open.

Win + H

Opens voice typing.

Win + I

Open Windows 11 Settings.

Win + J

Set focus to an active Windows tip.

Win + K

Open Quick Cast settings.

Win + Alt + K

Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute.

Win + L

Lock your screen.

Win + M

Minimize all windows.

Win + Shift + M

Maximize all minimized windows.

Win + N

Open notification center and calendar.

Win + O

Activate device orientation lock.

Win + Ctrl + O

Open the on-screen keyboard.

Win + P

Open the Project screen.

Win + R

Open the Run dialog.

Win + S

Open the Windows search bar.

Win + Shift + S

Open the Snip tool to capture a screenshot.

Win + T

Cycle through applications on the Taskbar.

Win + U

Open the Accessibility center.

Win + V

Open Windows Clipboard History.

Win + X

Open the WinX Menu.

Win + Y

Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.

Win + Z

Open the snap layouts for the active app window.

Win + Tab

Open the Task View.

Win + Ctrl + D

Create a new virtual desktop.

Win + Ctrl + F4

Close the active virtual desktop.

Win + Alt + Enter

Open taskbar settings.

Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow

Switch between previous and next virtual desktops in order of time created.

Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow

Move the active app window from one monitor to another.

Win + F4

Close the active window.

Win + PrtScn

Capture and save a full screen screenshot.

Win + Comma (,)

Show desktop temporarily. Release the Win key to restore active windows.

Win + (.) or Semicolon (;)

Open the Windows emoji picker.

Win + Home

Minimize all windows except the active one.

Win + 0 - 9

Open pinned apps in the taskbar according to the number position.

Win + Shift + 0-9

Open new instance of a pinned app in the taskbar according to the number position.

Win + Ctrl + 0-9

Open the last active window of the pinned app in taskbar according to the number position.

Win + Alt + 0-9

Open the Recent jump list of the app pinned to the taskbar according to the number position.

Win + Ctrl + Shift + 0-9

Open the new instance of a pinned app in taskbar as administrator according to the number position.

Win + Space bar

Change the input language and keyboard layout.

Win + Ctrl + Spacebar

Select the previously selected input.

Win + Shift Left/Right Arrow

Move an open window in the desktop from one monitor to another.

Win + Ctrl + Shift + B

Restart the graphics driver. Recover PC from a black or blank screen.

File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11

File Explorer helps you find files you need quickly. These keyboard shortcuts can help you access and manage your files and folders efficiently.

Shortcut key

Action

Win + E

Open File Explorer.

Ctrl + N

Opens a new File Explorer window when in File Explorer.

Ctrl + E (or Ctrl + F)

Access the File Explorer search bar.

Ctrl + W

Close the active window.

Ctrl + T

Open a new tab in File Explorer.

Ctrl + Tab

Move to the next tab.

Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Open the previous tab

Ctrl + 1, 2, 3, 4...

Move to the tab number

Ctrl + Mouse Scroll

Change the file and folder view.

F4

Switch to address/location bar.

F5

Refresh File Explorer.

F6

Switch between the right/left pane.

F11

Maximize or minimize the active window.

Alt + D

Select address bar for the File Explorer.

Ctrl + Shift + N

Create a new folder.

Ctrl + Shift + E

Display all folder above the selected folder

Alt + P

Show/Hide preview panel in File Explorer.

Alt + Enter

Open the Properties' menu for the selected item.

Shift + F10

Show the classic context menu for the selected item.

Alt + Left/Right Arrow

Go to the next or previous folder.

Alt + Up arrow

Go to the parent folder/directory.

Number Lock + Asterisk (*)

View all subfolders under the selected folder

Num Lock + Plus (+)

View the contents of the selected folder.

Num Lock + Minus (-)

Hide the contents of the selected folder.

Backspace

View the previous folder.

End

Go to the bottom of the active window.

Home

Go to the top of the active window.

Keyboard Shortcuts for the Xbox Game Bar

You can use Xbox Game Bar for more than just capturing screenshots on Windows. Here are a few Gamebar-specific shortcuts to launch, and quickly perform other in-game tasks.

Shortcut key

Action

Win + G

Open the Xbox Game Bar.

Win + Alt + G

Record the last 30 seconds of the active game.

Win + Alt + R

Start/Stop recording

Win + Alt + B

Turn HDR On or Off

Win + Alt + T

Show/hide recording timer overlay.

Win + Alt + PrtScn

Take an in-game screenshot.

General Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

Here are a few general keyboard shortcuts to perform the basic cut, copy, paste, access Clipboard history, and other tasks.

Shortcut key

Action

Ctrl + A

Select all items.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)

Copy the selected item.

Ctrl + X

Cut the selected item.

Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)

Paste the copied item.

Ctrl + Z

Undo changes.

Ctrl + Y

Redo changes.

Ctrl + Esc

Open the Start menu.

Ctrl + Shift + Drag the icon

Create a shortcut.

Shift + Select with mouse

Select multiple items.

Ctrl + O

Open a file in the current app.

Ctrl + S

Save the file or folder.

Ctrl + Shift + S

Open the Save As prompt.

Ctrl + N

Open the new window for the active app.

Ctrl + R

Refresh the active window.

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 + Shift + Arrow

Select a block of text.

Ctrl + Backspace

Delete an entire word.

Ctrl + Alt + Tab

View all the open app and use the arrow keys to switch between them.

Alt + Tab

Switch between running apps.

Alt + A

Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu.

Alt + F4

Close the active window.

Ctrl + F4

Close the active document on a document editor and viewer.

Alt + F8

Display your password on the login screen.

Alt + Esc

Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.

Shift + Delete

Delete the selected item permanently.

Ctrl + Delete

Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.

Alt + Left/Right Arrow

Go back and forward

Alt + Page Up

Move one screen/page up.

Alt + Page Down

Move one screen/page down.

F2

Rename the selected item.

F5

Refresh the active window.

F10

Open the Menu bar for the active app.

Ctrl + P

Print the current screen.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Open Task Manager.

F11

Enter/Exit full-screen mode.

PrtScn

Launch the Snipping Tool / Capture a screenshot.

Command Prompt Shortcuts for Windows 11

These Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts can help you quickly navigate the terminal window.

Shortcut key

Action

Ctrl + A

Select All.

Ctrl + Insert (or Ctrl + C)

Copy the selected text item

Shift + Insert (or Ctrl + V)

Paste the selected text item

Ctrl + M

Enter Mark Mode.

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 + F

Open the Find dialog in Command Prompt.

Esc

Clear everything you have typed at once.

Up/Down Arrow key

Cycle through command history for the active session.

Page Up/Down

Move the cursor up a page/down.

Ctrl + Up/Down Arrow key

Move the screen up/down one line at a time.

Shift + Home

Move the cursor to the start of the current line.

Ctrl + Home (History navigation)

If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. If not, delete all the text to the left of the cursor.

Ctrl + End (History navigation)

If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. If not, delete all the text to the right of the cursor.

Alt + Arrow Keys

Activate block mode selection

Accessibility Shortcuts for Windows 11

If you use the Accessibility feature, these shortcuts can make it easier to find and use the Accessibility features Windows offers.

Shortcut key

Action

Win + U

Open Accessibility center

Win + Plus (+)

Turn Magnifier on

Win + Minus (-)

Turn Magnifier off

Win + Minus/Plus (-/+)

Zoom In/Out Magnifier when on

Win + Ctrl + M

Open Magnifier settings

Win + Ctrl + Enter

Turn On/Off Narrator

Win + Ctrl + O

Open On-screen keyboard

Win + A

Open

Win + Ctrl + C

To enable/disable color filters

Win + H

Open voice typing

Win + Alt + H

Change keyboard focus to the voice typing dialog

Win + Ctrl + S

Turn Windows Speech Recognition on

Win + Ctrl + N

Open Narrator settings

Ctrl + Alt + Mouse scroll

Zoon in/out in Magnifier

Ctrl + Alt + Arrow keys

Pan in Magnifier in the direction of arrow keys

Win + Esc

Exit Magnifier

Ctrl + Alt + D

Switch Magnifier to docked mode

Ctrl + Alt + F

Restore Magnifier full screen mode

Ctrl + Alt + L

Access lens mode in Magnifier

Ctrl + Alt + I

Invert colors

Ctrl + Alt + M

Cycle through views

Ctrl + Alt + R

Resize the lens using the mouse

Shift + Alt + Arrow Keys

Resize the lens using the keyboard

Ctrl + Alt + Spacebar

Shows entire desktop when in full screen view

Press Shift 5 times

Turn Sticky Keys On/Off

Press Num Lock 5 times

Turn Toggle Keys On/Off

Hold Right Shift for 8 seconds

Turn on Filter keys On/Off

Left Alt + Shift + Prntsc

Turn High Contrast On/Off.

Left Alt + Shift + Num Lock

Turn Mouse Keys On/Off

Magnifier Reading Comments

If you need help reading text on the screen, here are some handy Magnifier shortcuts:

Shortcut

Action

Win + Plus (+)

Turn Magnifier on

Ctrl + Enter

To start, pause, and resume reading

Press any key

To stop reading

Ctrl + Left Mouse Click

Start reading from mouse pointer

Ctrl + H

To read the previous sentence

Ctrl + K

Read next sentence

Expedite Common Tasks With These Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts

These are some of the most common keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 that you can use to perform day-to-day operations. Needless to say, most of these keyboard shortcuts also work on Windows 10 and earlier versions. For application-specific shortcuts, look for them next to the menu items or hover over a button to display its keyboard shortcut.

If you have a hard time memorizing these keyboard shortcuts (we all do), take a printout and paste it on your wall. You can also use flashcard tools like Anki that uses the Spaced Repetition method to help you remember things easily.

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published