Shortcuts Microsoft Windows for Windows

We present to your attention the shortcuts for the Microsoft Windows for Windows which is used on the operating system Windows, in this hotkeys description 96 of the most popular and important shortcuts are offered. You can also add your changes on our portal if you consider the data insufficiently complete or add a new program from the very beginning.

Manage Start Button and Task Bar

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Win Activate Start Button. Then use Arrow Keys, Space and Enter to navigate within Start Menu
Esc Close Start Menu
Shift+click on a Taskbar item Opens new window/ instance of the same Application item
Win+1...9 Switch to application in position N on Taskbar (or launch pinned application)
Win+D Minimize all windows on all Monitors. Press again to restore previous state
Win+Home Set all windows to Minimized on current Monitor except active
Win+, Temporarily show the Desktop

Access Commonly Used Windows Features

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Win+E Start Windows Explorer
Win+R Open the Run window
Win+L Lock Windows
Win+P Choose Projection Mode (Switch between Screen and Projector, extend and duplicate displays)
Win+H Share Screenshot
Win+K Find Bluetooth
Win+I Windows Settings
Win+A Action Center
Win+X Start Windows 10 Context Menu (same as right-clicking start button)
Win+Q Open Cortana, ready for voice input
Win+S Open Cortana, ready for typed input
Ctrl+Shift+Esc Opens Windows Task Manager
Win+Pause/Break Display System Properties which holds system properties, computer name, device manager and so on

Manage Screen Recordings

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Requires to start Xbox App on Windows 10 and Screen Recording Utility, per first two keystrokes below. Press Win , then type 'xbox', then press Enter
Start Xbox for Screen Recording Utility Win+G
Start Screen Recording Utility via the Xbox Game Bar. Confirm with 'Yes this is a game' Win+Alt+R
Start and Stop Screen Recording. Recording is saved under This PC\Videos\Captures

Take and Share Screenshots

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Print Screen Take Screenshot
Alt+Print Screen Take Screenshot of the current active windows and place it on the Clipboard
Win+Print Screen Take Screenshot of the virtual desktop and save it in This PC\Pictures\Screenshots

Manage Keyboard Layout / Input Languages

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Manage Keyboard Layout / Input Languages
Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Arrow Keys Navigate between files and folders
Home/End Jump to first / jump to last item
F2 Change the file name of active item

File List Views

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Alt+P Display or hide Preview Pane
Alt+V then D View details. Check View menu for more options
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel Change size of icons

Select Items in File List and Navigation Pane

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Shift+Arrow Up/Arrow Down Select multiple adjacent items (directly above or below)
Ctrl with Arrow keys and Space Select multiple non-adjacent items. Hold ctrl, use arrow keys to move to next item, and press space to add/remove from selection
Ctrl+A Select all
A ...Z and 1..9 Press the initial letter any item to jump to it. Continue typing the full name if multiple items start with the same letter

Manage Items in Explorer

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V Copy, Cut, Paste
Ctrl+Z Undo an action
Ctrl+Y Redo an action
Delete Delete an item and place it into the Recycle Bin
Shift+Delete Delete an item permanently without placing it into the Recycle Bin
Ctrl+Shift+N Create new folder
Alt+Enter Open Properties dialog box

Windows Power User Menu

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Sorted by their subjective usefulness. Win+X, U
Shutdown Options. Prefer this over Alt+F4, as it is cumbersome cycling through closing Windows before hitting the Windows Shutdown Win+X, P
Control Panel (better: Win+R, then type 'control') Win+X, W
Network Settings Win+X, T
Task Manager Win+X, F
Programs and Features Win+X, A
Elevated Command Prompt (Admin cmd) Win+X, M
Device Manager Win+X, G
Computer Management Win+X, O
Power Options Win+X, K
Disk Management Win+X, B
Mobility Center Win+X, C
Command Prompt (better: Win+R, then 'cmd')

Windows Magnifier Shortcuts

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Win+[+] Start Magnifier
Win+Esc Exit Magnifier
Win+[+]/- With Magnifier activated, zoom in / zoom out
Ctrl+Alt+I Invert colors in Magnifier display

Windows Dialog Boxes

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Ctrl+Tab/Ctrl+Shift+Tab Move forward / move backwards through tabs
Tab/Shift+Tab Move forward / move backwards through options
Alt+underlined letter Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
Backspace Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box

Windows Virtual Desktop/ Window Control

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Win+Arrow Left Dock the active window to the left half of the monitor
Win+Arrow Right Dock the active window to the right half of the monitor
Win+Arrow Up Maximize the active window vertically and horizontally
Win+Arrow Down Restore of minimize the active window
Win+Shift+Arrow Up Maximize the active window vertically, maintaining the current width
Win+Shift+Arrow Down Restore or minimize the active window vertically, maintaining the current width
Win+Shift+Arrow Left With multiple monitors, move the active windows to the monitor on the Left
Win+Shift+Arrow Right With multiple monitors, move the active windows to the monitor on the Right
Win+Home Minimize all nonactive windows; restore on second keystroke (toggle)
Win+Tab Opens the Task View interface (Displays active Windows and Virtual Desktops available-See Settings>System>Multitasking>Virtual desktops)
Alt+Tab Switch between open Windows in Task View to make active selection
Win+Ctrl+Arrow Left Switch to the next virtual desktop to the Left
Win+Ctrl+Arrow Right Switch to the next virtual desktop to the Right
Win+Ctrl+D Create a new virtual desktop
Win+Ctrl+F4 Close the current virtual desktop
Alt+F4 Close the current window
F11 Turn full page view on or off (unless overwritten by Application Shortcut, such as Excel 2013)

The Rest

Windows Description Edit Cancel Save & submit
Win+? Launch the Windows Feedback App
Win+F1 Display Windows Help
Shift when inserting CD / DVD Prevent CD or DVD from automatically playing
Alt+Arrow Up Move up one directory level
Caps Lock switch capital and small text
F2 Rename file and folder
F3 Search file and folder
Alt Close dialog box for active window
Alt+Space Open dialog box on active window
Left Alt+left Shift+Print Screen High contrast
Left Alt+left Shift+Num Lock Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Hold right Shift for 8 seconds Turn Filter Keys On and Off (Ease of Access)
Hold Num Lock for 5 seconds Turn sound On or Off for Caps Lock (Ease of Access)
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Date of change: 24.01.2019
Page views: 950
*Some of the keys listed may not work in older versions of the program