Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts | General and Windows key you need to know

keyboard shortcuts


General Keyboard Shortcuts key



general keyboard shortcut key


  • F1: Display Help
  • F2: Rename the selected item
  • F3: Search for a file or folder
  • 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 + F4: Close the active item, or exit the active app
  • Alt + Esc: Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
  • Alt + Underlined Letter: Perform the command for that letter
  • Alt + Enter: Display properties for the selected item
  • Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps
  • Alt + Space Bar: Open the shortcut menu for the active window
  • Alt + Page Up: Move up one screen
  • Alt + Page Down: Move down one screen
  • Alt + Left Arrow: Back
  • Alt + Right Arrow: Forward
  • Ctrl + F4: Close the active document
  • Ctrl + A: Select all items in a document or window
  • Ctrl + C: Copy the selected item
  • Ctrl + D/Del: DELETE the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
  • Ctrl + V: Paste the selected item
  • Ctrl + R: Refresh the active window
  • Ctrl + X: Cut the selected item
  • Ctrl + R: Redo an action
  • Ctrl + Z: Undo an action
  • Ctrl + Shift: Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
  • Ctrl + Shift + Aroow: Select a block of text
  • Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start screen
  • Shift + F10: Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
  • Shift + Del: Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
  • Esc: Stop or leave the current task



Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Key



windows key



Start menu and taskbar

You can use these keyboard shortcuts to open, close and otherwise control the Start menu and the taskbar.

  • Windows key + F1: Open "how to get help in Windows 10" Bing search in default browser.
  • Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: Open Start menu.
  • Windows key + X: Open the secret Start menu.
  • Windows key + T: Cycle through the apps (including pinned apps) on the taskbar.
  • Windows key + [Number]: Open the app pinned in the [number] position on the taskbar. For example, if you have Edge pinned in the first position on the taskbar and you click Windows key + 1, Edge will open. If the app is already open, a new instance or window will open.
  • Windows key + Alt + [Number]: Open the right-click menu for the app pinned in the [number] position on the taskbar.
  • Windows key + D: Show or hide desktop (Windows key + , will display the desktop briefly).



The desktop: Windows, Snap Assist and virtual desktops

These shortcuts control how individual windows act on your desktop, including virtual desktops.

  • Windows key + M: Minimize all open windows.
  • Windows key + Shift + M: Restore minimized windows.
  • Windows key + Home: Minimize all windows except the selected or currently active window.
  • Windows key + Up arrow: Maximize selected window.
  • Windows key + Shift + Up arrow: Maximizes the active window vertically while maintaining its width.
  • Windows key + Down arrow: Minimize selected window.
  • Windows key + Left arrow or Right arrow: Snap selected window to the left or right half of the screen. (If the window is already there, Windows key + Up or Down will snap it into a quadrant.)
  • Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow: Move selected window to the left or right monitor.
  • Windows key + Tab: Open Task view (virtual desktops).
  • Windows key + Ctrl + D: Add new virtual desktop.
  • Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow: Move to the next virtual desktop (to the right).
  • Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow: Move to the previous virtual desktop (to the left).
  • Windows key + Ctrl + F4: Close current virtual desktop.



The Windows key

These keyboard shortcuts use the Windows logo key to perform various tasks, such as launching both Windows and third-party apps.

  • Windows key + A: Open the Action Center.
  • Windows key + S: Open Cortana in text mode, so you can type in the search bar. (Windows key + Q does the same thing.)
  • Windows key + C: Open Cortana in listening mode (similar to saying "Hey, Cortana").
  • Windows key + E: Open File Explorer.
  • Windows key + F: Open the Windows 10 Feedback Hub.
  • Windows key + Ctrl + F: Search for PCs on a network.
  • Windows key + G: Open the Game bar.
  • Windows key + H: Open the Share sidebar.
  • Windows key + I: Open the Settings menu.
  • Windows key + K: Open the Connect sidebar (for connecting to new Bluetooth devices or Miracast).
  • Windows key + L: Lock your computer.
  • Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation.
  • Windows key + P: Open presentation or projection sidebar.
  • Windows key + R: Open the Run window.
  • Windows key + U: Open Ease of Access center.
  • Windows key + W: open the Windows Ink Workspace for scribbling on tablets or touchscreen laptops.
  • Windows key + Print Screen: Take a screenshot of the entire desktop and save it to the Screenshots folder in the Pictures folder.
  • Windows key + (+) or (-): Zoom in and out with magnifier.
  • Windows key + Esc: Exit magnifier.

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