Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

The Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts most worth learning are Windows key + E (File Explorer), Windows key + I (Settings), Alt + Tab (switch apps), Windows key + Z (snap layouts), Windows key + V (clipboard history), Windows key + Shift + S (screenshot), Windows key + period (.) (emoji panel) and Windows key + L (lock your PC). Start with those eight, then add the task-based tables below as you need them.

Applies to: Windows 11, versions 24H2 and 25H2. Most shortcuts also work in earlier Windows 11 versions, and many work in Windows 10. Every shortcut below matches Microsoft Support’s list of keyboard shortcuts in Windows.

How to read the shortcuts in this guide

A plus sign means “hold these keys together.” For Windows key + Shift + S, press and hold the Windows key (the key with the Windows logo, usually between Ctrl and Alt), hold Shift, tap S, then let go of everything. The order you press the held keys in doesn’t matter, but the last key should be the letter or symbol.

• Windows key is the logo key. Some keyboards label it Win or show only the logo.
• PrtScn is the Print Screen key. It may be labeled PrtSc, Prt Scr or Print.
• On a laptop, the top-row keys F1 to F12 often control brightness or volume first. If an F-key shortcut does nothing, hold the Fn key while you press it.
• Some apps change or ignore certain shortcuts. For example, Ctrl + Shift + V (paste as plain text) doesn’t work in every app.

The 15 shortcuts to learn first

If you only learn one table, make it this one. These cover the things most people do with a mouse dozens of times a day.

Shortcut	What it does
Ctrl + C, Ctrl + X, Ctrl + V	Copy, cut and paste the selected text or files
Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y	Undo the last action / redo it
Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows. Keep holding Alt and tap Tab to move through them
Windows key	Open or close the Start menu
Windows key + E	Open File Explorer
Windows key + I	Open Settings
Windows key + S	Open search
Windows key + D	Show the desktop; press it again to bring your windows back
Windows key + L	Lock your PC
Windows key + Z	Open snap layouts for the active window
Windows key + V	Open clipboard history
Windows key + Shift + S	Capture part of the screen to the clipboard with Snipping Tool
Windows key + period (.)	Open the emoji panel
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Open Task Manager
Alt + F4	Close the active window. On the desktop, it opens the shut down prompt

A good way to make them stick: pick three you’ll use today, such as Windows key + E, Alt + Tab and Windows key + V, and use the keyboard every time you would have reached for the mouse. Add three more next week.

New and changed shortcuts, including the Copilot key

Windows 11 has added and reassigned several shortcuts since it launched, which is why lists written in 2021 or 2022 often disagree with what your PC does. Here is what each one does on an up-to-date Windows 11 PC.

Shortcut	What it does now	What changed
Copilot key	Opens Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot	A newer key found on many recent laptops and keyboards, usually to the right of the spacebar. If Copilot isn’t available, it opens Settings so you can choose what the key does
Windows key + C	Opens Microsoft Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot. If Copilot isn’t available or is turned off, it opens or closes Windows search	In the first releases of Windows 11 it opened Teams Chat. It does not open Cortana or Teams Chat anymore
Windows key + A	Opens Quick Settings (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume, brightness and other toggles)	The official list still calls this the action center. In Windows 11, notifications moved to their own panel
Windows key + N	Opens the notification center and calendar	New in Windows 11
Windows key + Z	Opens snap layouts	New in Windows 11
Windows key + W	Opens Widgets	New in Windows 11
PrtScn	Opens Snipping Tool’s screen capture so you can select a region	It used to copy the whole screen straight to the clipboard. You can switch back in Settings (see Screenshots)
Windows key + Shift + R	Selects a region of the screen to record as a video in Snipping Tool	Newer shortcut; recordings save as MP4 files in Videos > Screen Recordings
Windows key + J	Opens Recall	Only on PCs that meet Recall’s hardware requirements (Copilot+ PCs)
Windows key + Alt + K	Mutes or unmutes your microphone in supported apps	Works in calling apps that support it
Windows key + Ctrl + V	Opens the sound output page of Quick Settings, with output device, spatial sound and volume mixer	Newer shortcut
Windows key + Pause	Opens Settings > System > About	It used to open the old Control Panel System window

Change what the Copilot key does

If your keyboard has a Copilot key and you’d rather it open a different app, you can change it. This also changes Windows key + C.

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Personalization in the left pane, then select Text input.
3. Find Customize Copilot key on keyboard and open the list next to it.
4. Choose what the key should open, such as Windows search or another app you pick from the list. Then press the Copilot key to test it.

If you don’t see this setting, your PC may not have a Copilot key or may not have the latest updates. Select Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, install what’s offered, and look again. If you’d rather not have Copilot at all, you can turn off Copilot in Windows 11.

Manage windows and snap layouts

These shortcuts move, resize and switch windows without dragging anything.

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + Left arrow / Right arrow	Snap the active window to the left or right half of the screen
Windows key + Up arrow	Maximize the active window
Windows key + Down arrow	Minimize the active window. If the window is maximized or snapped, the first press restores it to its normal size
Windows key + Alt + Up arrow / Down arrow	Snap the active window to the top or bottom half of the screen
Windows key + Z	Open snap layouts
Windows key + Shift + Up arrow	Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen, keeping its width
Windows key + Shift + Down arrow	Restore a snapped or maximized window
Windows key + Shift + Left arrow / Right arrow	Move the active window to the monitor on the left or right
Windows key + M	Minimize all windows
Windows key + Shift + M	Restore the windows you minimized
Windows key + Home	Minimize or restore every window except the active one
Windows key + comma (,)	Peek at the desktop while you hold the keys
Alt + Tab	Switch between open windows
Ctrl + Alt + Tab	Show thumbnails of open apps that stay on screen; use the arrow keys and Enter to pick one
Alt + Esc	Cycle through windows in the order they were opened
Alt + Spacebar	Open the window menu (Restore, Move, Size, Minimize, Maximize, Close) for the active window

Use snap layouts from the keyboard

Snap layouts arrange two, three or four windows in a grid. Here’s how to set one up without the mouse, using a browser and a document as an example.

1. Click the first window you want in the layout, such as your browser, so it’s the active window.
2. Press Windows key + Z. A small panel of layouts opens near the window’s Maximize button. It’s the same panel you see when you hover over Maximize with the mouse.
3. Use the arrow keys or Tab to move to the zone you want inside a layout, such as the left half of the two-column layout, and press Enter. Each layout is split into zones, and the zone you pick is where this window goes.
   

   

4. The window snaps into place, and Snap Assist shows thumbnails of your other open windows in the empty zones. Use the arrow keys to highlight the document and press Enter to fill the next zone.
5. Repeat for any remaining zones, or press Esc to leave them empty.

Windows remembers windows you snap together as a snap group. Hover over one of those apps on the taskbar to bring back the whole group at once. The layouts you see depend on your screen size and scale, so a small laptop screen may show fewer choices than a large monitor. If snapping doesn’t work, check that Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows is turned on. Mouse methods and more layouts are in splitting the screen in Windows 11.

Virtual desktop shortcuts

Virtual desktops give you separate sets of open windows, for example one desktop for work and one for personal browsing.

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + Tab	Open Task View, which shows your open windows and desktops
Windows key + Ctrl + D	Create a new desktop and switch to it
Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow	Switch to the desktop on the right
Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow	Switch to the desktop on the left
Windows key + Ctrl + F4	Close the desktop you’re using. Its open windows move to another desktop rather than closing

Some lists include Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + arrow to move a window to another desktop. That isn’t on the official list; to move a window, open Task View, right-click the window’s thumbnail and choose Move to. Mouse and touchpad ways to change desktops are in switching desktops in Windows 11.

Copy, paste and clipboard history

Shortcut	What it does
Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert	Copy
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert	Paste the last item you copied
Ctrl + Shift + V	Paste as plain text, without fonts or colors (in apps that support it)
Windows key + V	Open clipboard history to paste something you copied earlier
Ctrl + A	Select all text in a document or all items in a window

Turn on and use clipboard history

Clipboard history keeps up to 25 recent items so you can paste something you copied a few minutes ago. It’s off until you turn it on.

1. Press Windows key + V. The first time, you’ll see a Turn on button. Select it. You can also turn it on at Settings > System > Clipboard by setting Clipboard history to On.
2. Copy a few things as usual with Ctrl + C, such as a sentence from an email and a web address.
3. Click where you want to paste, then press Windows key + V. The panel opens on the clipboard tab and lists your copied items, newest first.
4. Use the arrow keys to highlight an item and press Enter, or click it, to paste it.
   

   

Good to know before you rely on it:

• History is cleared each time you restart your PC, except for items you’ve pinned.
• Each item can be up to 4 MB, and text, HTML and images are supported.
• Avoid copying passwords while history is on, or delete them from the panel afterward with See more (…) > Delete.
• To share history with another PC, turn on Clipboard history across your devices on the same Settings page and sign in with the same account on both.

Syncing is covered in more detail on the clipboard help page, and pinning in using the clipboard in Windows 11.

Text editing shortcuts

These work in most places you type, including Notepad, Word, email and web forms. Bold, italic and underline only work in apps that support formatted text.

Shortcut	What it does
Ctrl + Left arrow / Right arrow	Move the cursor one word left or right
Ctrl + Up arrow / Down arrow	Move to the start of the previous or next paragraph
Home / End	Move to the start or end of the line
Ctrl + Home / Ctrl + End	Move to the start or end of the document
Shift + arrow keys	Select one character or one line at a time
Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow / Right arrow	Select one word at a time
Shift + Home / Shift + End	Select to the start or end of the line
Ctrl + Backspace	Delete the word to the left of the cursor
Ctrl + Delete	Delete the word to the right of the cursor
Ctrl + B, Ctrl + I, Ctrl + U	Bold, italic, underline
Ctrl + F	Find text
Ctrl + H	Find and replace text

Example: you typed “Meet Jordan Lee at 3pm Tuesday” and want to change “Tuesday.” Press End, then Ctrl + Shift + Left arrow to select the last word, and type the new day. No mouse needed.

Screenshot and screen recording shortcuts

Shortcut	What it does	Where the result goes
Windows key + Shift + S	Select a region, window or the full screen to capture	Clipboard; a notification lets you open it in Snipping Tool to mark up or save
PrtScn	Opens the same screen capture as Windows key + Shift + S (default setting)	Clipboard
Windows key + PrtScn	Capture the full screen	Saved as a file in Pictures > Screenshots
Alt + PrtScn	Capture only the active window	Clipboard
Windows key + Shift + R	Select a region to record as video	MP4 file in Videos > Screen Recordings

If you prefer the old Print Screen behavior, where one press copies the whole screen, select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn off Use the Print screen key to open screen capture (called Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping in older versions). Before your first video capture, read the tips on recording your screen with Snipping Tool.

Emoji, voice typing and keyboard languages

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + period (.) or Windows key + semicolon (;)	Open the emoji panel
Windows key + H	Start voice typing (dictation) in the active text box
Windows key + Spacebar	Switch to the next input language or keyboard layout
Windows key + Shift + Spacebar	Switch back to the previous input language or layout
Windows key + Ctrl + Spacebar	Change to the previously selected input option
Ctrl + Shift	Switch keyboard layout when more than one is installed

Insert an emoji or symbol

1. Click in any text box where you’re typing, such as a chat message or an email.
2. Press Windows key + period (.). The emoji panel opens near your cursor.
3. Start typing a word, such as thumbs or pizza. The panel filters the emoji as you type. You can also select the search box at the top.
   

   

4. Use the arrow keys and Enter, or click, to insert the emoji. If the panel is still open when you’re done, press Esc to close it.

The icons along the top of the panel switch between emoji, GIFs, kaomoji (text faces like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯), symbols such as © and €, and clipboard history. Skin tones and search tricks are covered in using emojis in Windows 11.

File Explorer shortcuts

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + E	Open File Explorer
Ctrl + T / Ctrl + W	Open a new tab / close the current tab (closes the window if it’s the only tab)
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Go to the next / previous tab
Ctrl + N	Open a new window
Ctrl + Shift + N	Create a new folder
F2	Rename the selected item
Alt + D, Ctrl + L or F4	Jump to the address bar
Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F	Jump to the search box
Alt + Left arrow or Backspace	Go back to the previous folder
Alt + Right arrow	Go forward
Alt + Up arrow	Go up one folder level
Alt + P	Show or hide the preview pane
Alt + Shift + P	Show or hide the details pane
Alt + Enter	Open Properties for the selected item
Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 9	Change the view; for example 2 is Large icons and 6 is Details
Ctrl + D or Delete	Move the selected item to the Recycle Bin
Shift + F10	Open the right-click menu for the selected item

Warning: Shift + Delete permanently deletes the selected files without sending them to the Recycle Bin. Windows asks you to confirm, but once you select Yes you can’t restore them from the Recycle Bin. Use plain Delete unless you’re sure.

Taskbar and Start shortcuts

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key or Ctrl + Esc	Open the Start menu
Windows key + 1 to 9	Open the app pinned in that position on the taskbar, or switch to it if it’s already open
Windows key + Shift + 1 to 9	Open a new window of that pinned app
Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 9	Open that pinned app as an administrator
Windows key + Alt + 1 to 9	Open the jump list (recent files) for that pinned app
Windows key + T	Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows key + B	Put focus on the first icon in the notification area (system tray)
Ctrl + Shift + click an app icon	Open the app as an administrator
Shift + click an app icon	Open another instance of the app

The number shortcuts count app icons on the taskbar from left to right, skipping buttons such as Start, Search and Task View. If File Explorer is the first app icon, Windows key + 1 opens it.

System, Settings and security shortcuts

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + X	Open the Quick Link menu (the same menu as right-clicking Start), with Device Manager, Terminal, Disk Management and more
Windows key + R	Open the Run box
Windows key + I	Open Settings
Windows key + A	Open Quick Settings
Windows key + N	Open notifications and the calendar
Windows key + W	Open Widgets
Windows key + K	Open Cast in Quick Settings to connect to a wireless display
Windows key + P	Choose a display mode: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend or Second screen only
Windows key + Alt + B	Turn HDR on or off (on HDR-capable displays)
Windows key + G	Open Xbox Game Bar
Windows key + Ctrl + Q	Open Quick Assist for remote help
Ctrl + Shift + Esc	Open Task Manager directly
Ctrl + Alt + Delete	Open the security screen to lock, switch user, sign out, change your password or open Task Manager
Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B	Wake the device when the screen is blank or black
Alt + F8	Show your password on the sign-in screen

Inside the Settings app, press Tab to move between areas, the arrow keys to move within one, Enter or Spacebar to select, and Backspace to go back a page. If an app stops responding, Ctrl + Shift + Esc is the fastest route to end it, though there are other ways to open Task Manager.

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B is worth remembering for one situation: if your screen suddenly goes black but the PC is clearly still running, press it once before you force a restart.

Accessibility shortcuts

Shortcut	What it does
Windows key + U	Open Settings > Accessibility
Windows key + Plus (+)	Turn on Magnifier and zoom in
Windows key + Minus (-)	Zoom out in Magnifier
Windows key + Esc	Close Magnifier
Windows key + Ctrl + Enter	Turn Narrator, the built-in screen reader, on or off
Windows key + Ctrl + C	Turn color filters on or off, if the shortcut is turned on in Settings > Accessibility > Color filters

Pressing Shift five times in a row opens the Sticky Keys prompt. If that keeps happening by accident, turn off Sticky Keys so the prompt stops appearing.

Dialog box and Command Prompt shortcuts

In dialog boxes, such as Save As or a Properties window:

Shortcut	What it does
Tab / Shift + Tab	Move forward / back through options
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab	Move forward / back through tabs
Spacebar	Check or clear the selected check box
Alt + underlined letter	Select the option with that underlined letter
F4	Open the active drop-down list
Esc	Cancel and close the dialog box

In Command Prompt, Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V copy and paste selected text, and Ctrl + M enters Mark mode so you can select text with the arrow keys. With no text selected, Ctrl + C stops the command that’s running. Press Up arrow to bring back the previous command so you don’t have to retype it.

Shortcuts that older lists get wrong

Many popular shortcut lists were written when Windows 11 first came out and haven’t been updated. If a shortcut from another list does something different on your PC, this is usually why.

What older lists claim	What actually happens now
Windows key + C opens Teams Chat or Cortana	It opens Copilot, or Windows search if Copilot isn’t available
Windows key + Shift + S opens Snip & Sketch	It opens the capture bar in Snipping Tool, which replaced Snip & Sketch
PrtScn copies the whole screen	It opens screen snipping by default; you can turn that off in Settings
Windows key + Pause opens System Properties	It opens Settings > System > About
Windows key + A opens the Action Center with notifications	It opens Quick Settings; notifications are on Windows key + N
Ctrl + E in File Explorer selects the address bar	It selects the search box; use Alt + D or Ctrl + L for the address bar

How to see more shortcuts on screen

Windows doesn’t have a built-in screen that lists every shortcut, but two tools help:

• Underlined letters and KeyTips. In many apps, pressing Alt shows letters on menus or ribbon buttons. Press a letter to choose that command.
• PowerToys Shortcut Guide. Microsoft’s free PowerToys app includes a searchable shortcut reference. After you install PowerToys and turn on Shortcut Guide, press Windows key + Shift + ? (Windows key + Shift + forward slash on a US keyboard) to open it. It shows shortcuts for Windows and for the app you’re using, and you can pin the ones you use most. Details are on Microsoft Learn.

Troubleshooting

A Windows key shortcut does nothing

• Gaming keyboards often have a “game mode” or Windows-key lock that disables the Windows key. Look for a lock icon on a key such as F12 or Scroll Lock, or check the keyboard maker’s app.
• Remote desktop and virtual machines may capture the Windows key. Try the shortcut outside that window.
• Your organization may turn off some shortcuts on work PCs. Ask your IT department.
• Restart the PC. If the shortcut still doesn’t work, try a different keyboard to rule out a hardware problem.

Windows key + V doesn’t show things you copied earlier

Clipboard history is probably off. Select Turn on in the panel, or go to Settings > System > Clipboard. On a work PC, your organization may block it.

The Copilot key or Windows key + C opens search instead of Copilot

This happens when Copilot isn’t available or is turned off on your PC. Install or turn on Copilot, or set the key to the app you want in Settings > Personalization > Text input.

Function key shortcuts change the volume or brightness

Hold Fn while you press the F-key. Many laptops also have an Fn Lock key, often marked with a padlock, that makes F1 to F12 act as function keys by default. Which key it is varies by laptop maker, so check your laptop’s manual or support site.

Windows key + Z doesn’t show layouts

Check that Settings > System > Multitasking > Snap windows is on. Some apps with fixed-size windows can’t be snapped, and full-screen apps or games may ignore the shortcut.

A shortcut does something different in one app

Apps can override Windows shortcuts. A common example is Ctrl + Shift + V, which pastes as plain text in some apps but not in others. Check the app’s own help or keyboard settings for its version of the shortcut.

FAQ

What is the most useful Windows 11 shortcut?

For most people it’s Alt + Tab to switch windows, followed by Windows key + V once clipboard history is on. If you take a lot of screenshots, Windows key + Shift + S saves the most time.

Do Windows 10 shortcuts work in Windows 11?

Most do. Copy, paste, Alt + Tab, virtual desktops, File Explorer and taskbar shortcuts are the same. Windows 11 adds Windows key + Z (snap layouts), Windows key + N (notifications) and Windows key + W (Widgets), and changes what Windows key + A and Windows key + C open.

Can I create my own keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11?

Windows lets you change what the Copilot key opens. For other custom shortcuts, PowerToys includes a Keyboard Manager that can remap keys and shortcuts, and you can assign a shortcut key to a desktop shortcut in its Properties window.

What does the Copilot key do if I don’t use Copilot?

If Copilot isn’t available, the key opens Settings so you can choose what it does. You can set it to open Windows search or another app in Settings > Personalization > Text input > Customize Copilot key on keyboard.

How do I lock my PC quickly?

Press Windows key + L. Your apps stay open, and you sign back in with your PIN, password or Windows Hello.

How do I close a frozen app with the keyboard?

Try Alt + F4 first. If nothing happens, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, select the app, and select End task.

Next step

Pick three shortcuts from the first table and use them for a week. Then turn on clipboard history and try Windows key + Z the next time you need two windows side by side. Those two habits alone save most people a lot of clicking.