Become a Windows 11 Master with These 73 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

When will the Windows 11 grasshopper become the Windows 11 master? A big part of leveling up in Windows is learning how to perform core PC tasks using only your keyboard.

Even if you’ve never used it before Windows 11 Previously, you could quickly boot up your computer and easily use it to surf the web, watch videos, and play music. All you really need is your mouse, but if you want to be a Windows power user, and not just a Windows novice, you need to know all the keyboard shortcuts Windows has to offer.

We’ll show you the essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11, many of which have been carried over from Windows 10 and earlier versions of Microsoft’s operating system. We’ve covered all the basics, like copying highlighted items and undoing a previous action, as well as lesser-known shortcuts, like snapping an active window.

For more information, check out the default Windows 11 settings you should probably change, and learn seven different ways to take a screenshot in Windows 11.

Basic Shortcuts for Windows 11

To get started, here are the Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts you’re likely to use most often.

• Ctrl + A: Select all items in a window.
  
• Ctrl+C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy the selected or highlighted item (text, images, etc.).
  
• Ctrl+V or Shift + Insert: Paste selected or highlighted item.
  
• Ctrl + X: Cut selected or highlighted item.
  
• Ctrl + Z: Undo previous action.
  
• Ctrl + Y: Redo action.
  
• Ctrl + N: When Explorer is your current window, open a new Explorer window with the same folder path as the current window.
  
• Windows key + F1: Open the Bing search ‘Get Help in Windows’ in your default browser.
  
• Alt + F4: Close the current app or window.
  
• Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps or windows.
  
• Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the selected item (skip the Recycle Bin).
  

Windows 11 Start Menu and Taskbar Shortcuts

These shortcuts let you open, close, and otherwise operate the Start menu and taskbar.

• Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: Open the 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 that is stuck in the [number] position on the taskbar. For example, if you have Edge pinned to the first position on the taskbar and you click Windows key + 1Edge 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 in the [number] position on the taskbar.
• Windows key + D: Show or hide desktop (Windows key + , (will briefly show the desktop).

Check this out: Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features

05:19

Shortcuts to screenshots in Windows 11

Windows 11 also has several ways to take a screenshotincluding three different shortcut keys.

• PrtScn: Take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it to your clipboard.
  
• Windows key + PrtScn: Take a screenshot of your entire desktop and save it to a folder on your computer.
  
• Windows key + Shift + S: Open the Snipping Tool menu to take a screenshot of just a portion of your screen.
  

Check this out: Windows 11: 4 Quick Ways to Take a Screenshot on Your PC

01:20

Windows 11 Desktop Shortcuts: Snap Assist and Virtual Desktops

These shortcuts control how individual windows on your desktop behave, 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 the selected window.
  
• Windows key + Shift + Up arrow: Maximizes the active window vertically, while preserving its width.
  
• Windows key + down arrow: Minimize the selected window.
  
• Windows key + left arrow: Snap the selected window to the left half of the screen.
• Windows key + Arrow right: The selected window will be docked to the right half of the screen.
  
• Windows key + Alt + Up: Select the selected window and place it on the top half of the screen.
• Windows key + Alt + Down: Pin the selected window to the bottom half of the screen.
• Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Arrow right: Move the 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: Go to the next virtual desktop (right).
  
• Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow: Go to the previous virtual desktop (on the left).
  
• Windows key + Ctrl + F4: Closes the current virtual desktop.
  

All Windows 11 Shortcuts Using Windows Key

These 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.)
  
• Windows key + C: Open Microsoft Copilot
  
• 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 (to connect to new Bluetooth devices or Miracast).
  
• Windows key + L: Lock your computer.
  
• Windows key + O: Lock screen orientation.
  
• Windows key + P: Open the presentation or projection sidebar.
  
• Windows key + R: Open the Run window.
  
• Windows key + U: Open Easy access center.
  
• Windows key + W: Open the Windows Ink Workspace for doodling on tablets or touchscreen laptops.
• Windows key + (+) or (-): Zoom in and out with the magnifying glass.
• Windows key + Esc: Close magnifying glass.

Windows 11 Shortcuts Using F Keys

The F keys at the top of your keyboard can be used in combination with other keys to perform a variety of functions, but they are also useful on their own.

• F2: Rename a selected item.
• F3: Quickly search for files in Explorer.
• F4: Highlight the address bar in File Explorer.
• F5: Refresh your active window.
• F6: Cycle through elements (tabs, buttons, search bar, etc.) in a window or on your desktop.
• Alt + F8: Show the login password on the home screen.
• F10: Activate the menu bar in the active window.

Windows 11 Shortcuts for Windows Command Prompt

You can use these shortcuts in the Windows Command Prompt.

• Ctrl+C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy selected text to the clipboard.
• Ctrl+V or Shift + Insert: Paste the copied text into the command prompt.
• Ctrl + A: Select all text on the current line. (If the current line contains no text, all text in the command prompt is selected.)
• Ctrl + Up or Down: Move the screen up or down one line.
• Ctrl + F: In the command prompt, search using the Search window.
• Ctrl + M: Enter Highlight Mode (allows you to select text with the mouse). Once Highlight Mode is enabled, you can use the arrow keys to move the cursor.
• Shift + Up or Down: Move the cursor up or down one line and select text.
• Shift + Left Side or Right: Move the cursor one character left or right and select text.
• Ctrl + Shift + Left Mouse Button or Right: Move the cursor one word to the left or right and select text.
• Shift + Page Up or Page down: Move the cursor up or down one screen and select text.
• Shift + Home or End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line and select text.
• Ctrl + Shift + Home/End: Move the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer and select text and the beginning or end of the command prompt output.