Here’s a list of essential Windows keyboard shortcuts that can boost your productivity and make navigation quicker:
Here’s a list of essential Windows keyboard shortcuts that can boost your productivity and make navigation quicker:
General Shortcuts
- Ctrl + C: Copy
- Ctrl + X: Cut
- Ctrl + V: Paste
- Ctrl + Z: Undo
- Ctrl + Y: Redo
- Ctrl + A: Select all
- Ctrl + S: Save
- Ctrl + P: Print
- Ctrl + F: Find
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps
- Alt + F4: Close the current window or app
- F2: Rename the selected item
- F5: Refresh the active window
- Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager
- Ctrl + Alt + Del: Open security options (lock screen, sign out, Task Manager, etc.)
Windows Key Shortcuts
- Windows Key + D: Show or hide the desktop
- Windows Key + E: Open File Explorer
- Windows Key + I: Open Settings
- Windows Key + L: Lock your computer
- Windows Key + A: Open Action Center (notification panel)
- Windows Key + S: Open Search
- Windows Key + X: Open the Quick Link menu (power user menu)
- Windows Key + R: Open the Run dialog box
- Windows Key + P: Project a screen (for multi-display setups)
- Windows Key + Tab: Open Task View (virtual desktops)
- Windows Key + Ctrl + D: Add a new virtual desktop
- Windows Key + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Switch between virtual desktops
- Windows Key + Up Arrow: Maximize the current window
- Windows Key + Down Arrow: Minimize or restore the current window
- Windows Key + Left/Right Arrow: Snap the current window to the left or right side of the screen
File Explorer Shortcuts
- Ctrl + N: Open a new window
- Alt + Up Arrow: Go up one folder level
- Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder
- Alt + Enter: Open the properties of the selected item
- F11: Toggle full-screen mode
Text Editing Shortcuts
- Ctrl + Right/Left Arrow: Move the cursor word by word
- Ctrl + Backspace: Delete the previous word
- Ctrl + Shift + Right/Left Arrow: Highlight text word by word
- Ctrl + Home: Move the cursor to the beginning of the document
- Ctrl + End: Move the cursor to the end of the document
Browser Shortcuts (Compatible with Edge, Chrome, Firefox)
- Ctrl + T: Open a new tab
- Ctrl + W: Close the current tab
- Ctrl + Shift + T: Reopen the last closed tab
- Ctrl + Tab: Switch to the next tab
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Switch to the previous tab
- Ctrl + L or Alt + D: Highlight the address bar
- Ctrl + D: Bookmark the current page
Magnifier Shortcuts
- Windows Key + Plus (+): Zoom in
- Windows Key + Minus (-): Zoom out
- Windows Key + Esc: Exit Magnifier
Command Prompt Shortcuts
- Ctrl + C: Stop the current command
- Ctrl + V: Paste in the command prompt (Windows 10 and later)
- Up/Down Arrow: Cycle through previous commands
- Tab: Auto-complete folder and file names
Accessibility Shortcuts
- Windows Key + U: Open Ease of Access Center
- Windows Key + Enter: Turn Narrator on or off
- Windows Key + Plus (+): Open Magnifier
- Windows Key + Ctrl + N: Open Narrator settings
Miscellaneous Shortcuts
- PrtScn: Take a screenshot (copies it to the clipboard)
- Windows Key + Shift + S: Open Snip & Sketch to capture part of the screen
- Windows Key + V: Open the clipboard history (requires enabling in settings)
- Windows Key + G: Open the Xbox Game Bar for screen recording and performance monitoring
These shortcuts can make using your Windows PC faster and more efficient!