Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts
Quick, practical shortcuts to fly around Windows 11. A mix of everyday and power-user tricks.
Essentials you might have missed
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Shift + Right-click |
Extended context menu in File Explorer/desktop (make default via reg) |
Windows + V |
Clipboard history (enable in Settings → System → Clipboard) |
Windows + . |
Emoji, GIFs, symbols, Kaomoji |
Windows + L |
Lock PC |
Windows + A |
Quick Settings (Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, brightness, volume) |
Windows + X |
Quick Link menu (power user menu) |
Windows + D |
Show desktop |
Windows + R |
Run dialog |
Windows + E |
File Explorer |
Windows + I |
Settings |
Windows + K |
Cast/Connect (wireless display/audio) |
Windows + P |
Change display output mode (duplicate/extend) |
Windows + H |
Voice typing |
Windows + Tab |
Task View (multi‑desktop overview) |
Alt + Tab |
Switch apps (hold Shift to go backward) |
Ctrl + Tab |
Switch tabs/documents |
Tab / Shift + Tab |
Move forward/backward through form fields |
Ctrl + Shift + Esc |
Open Task Manager |
Ctrl + F5 |
Hard refresh in browsers (ignores cache) |
Shift + Delete |
Permanently delete (bypass Recycle Bin) |
F2 |
Rename selected file/item |
Ctrl + C (on an error dialog) |
Copy error text |
Windows + Pause/Break |
Open System/About settings |
Taskbar and windowing (Windows 11)
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + [1–9, 0] |
Open/switch to the pinned app at that taskbar position |
Shift + click taskbar icon |
Open a new instance |
Middle-click taskbar icon |
Open a new instance |
Middle-click a taskbar thumbnail |
Close that window/tab (where supported) |
Windows + Arrow keys |
Snap left/right/top/bottom; maximize/restore/minimize |
Windows + Z |
Snap Layouts menu for current window |
Windows + Shift + Left/Right |
Move window to next monitor |
Windows + P |
Project to a display (duplicate/extend/second screen only) |
Windows + G |
Xbox Game Bar (record, performance widgets) |
Windows + Ctrl + D |
New virtual desktop |
Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right |
Switch virtual desktops |
Windows + Ctrl + F4 |
Close current virtual desktop |
Windows + Tab |
Task View (manage virtual desktops and timelines) |
Windows + Home |
Minimize all windows except the active one |
Ctrl + Shift + N |
New folder in File Explorer |
Windows + + / Windows + - |
Magnifier zoom in/out |
Context menu key (Menu key)
- The key to the right of the space bar (sometimes to the right of AltGr) opens the context menu for the current selection.
- Great for fixing typos via spellcheck menus, renaming files, and accessing Properties without the mouse.
- After opening the menu, use underlined letters to trigger commands: m = Rename, r = Properties, n = Send to, d = Delete.
Useful run commands (Windows + R)
| Command | Opens |
|---|---|
resmon |
Resource Monitor (CPU, disk, network) |
perfmon |
Performance Monitor |
cmd |
Command Prompt |
powershell |
Windows PowerShell |
wt |
Windows Terminal (if installed) |
control userpasswords2 |
Advanced user accounts dialog |
dxdiag |
DirectX diagnostics (hardware info) |
msinfo32 |
System Information |
regedit |
Registry Editor |
msconfig |
System Configuration |
services.msc |
Services management console |
compmgmt.msc |
Computer Management |
eventvwr |
Event Viewer |
appwiz.cpl |
Programs and Features |
charmap |
Character Map |
Text, navigation, and screen capture
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Drag with right-click |
Choose copy/move/create shortcut when dropping |
Esc |
Dismiss dialog or exit mode |
Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right |
Select a word at a time |
Ctrl + Backspace / Ctrl + Delete |
Delete previous/next word |
Double-click window title |
Maximize/restore |
Space |
Toggle checkbox, activate focused button, or scroll |
Ctrl + Left/Right |
Move caret by word (hold Shift to select) |
Ctrl + Up/Down |
Move caret by paragraph (hold Shift to select) |
Page Up/Down |
Scroll one page |
Home / End |
Jump to start/end of line or page (depends on app) |
F5 |
Refresh page/folder/dialog |
Alt + Left/Right |
Back/Forward in browsers and File Explorer |
Ctrl + Enter |
Insert a line break (app‑dependent) |
Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y |
Undo / Redo (use Ctrl + Shift + Z in Adobe apps) |
Ctrl + X / Ctrl + C / Ctrl + V |
Cut / Copy / Paste |
Ctrl + S / Ctrl + F / Ctrl + A |
Save / Find / Select all |
Shift + click in lists |
Select a range |
Ctrl + click in lists |
Select multiple individual items |
Ctrl + B / Ctrl + I / Ctrl + U |
Bold / Italic / Underline |
Windows + Shift + S |
Snipping Tool capture (region/screen/window) |
Alt + Print Screen |
Copy current window to clipboard |
Windows + Print Screen |
Save full screenshot to Pictures/Screenshots |
Bonus tips
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
Windows + U |
Open Accessibility settings |
Windows + Space |
Switch input language/keyboard (if multiple installed) |
Middle-click a favorites/bookmarks folder |
Open all links in new tabs (browser‑dependent) |
Ctrl + Alt + [1–6] |
Apply heading levels in many word processors (Ctrl + [1–9] in many web apps) |
Windows + C |
Copilot (if available in your build) |
Windows + Ctrl + Q |
Quick Assist |
Lost a window? Try Windows + Arrow keys to snap it back, or Windows + Home to minimize others.