Microsoft is approaching the termination of its support for Windows 10, with the final security updates scheduled for October 14, 2025. While users have the option to pay for continued secure use of Windows 10, those who wish to continue using Windows free of charge are advised to transition to Windows 11 if they haven’t done so already.
Windows 11, even for first-time users, offers a quick and easy setup process. It provides a user-friendly platform for web browsing, video streaming, and music playback. While basic navigation can be accomplished with just a mouse, mastering the array of keyboard shortcuts available can elevate you from a Windows novice to a power user.
This article will guide you through the most crucial keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11. Many of these shortcuts are carryovers from Windows 10 and earlier iterations of Microsoft’s operating system.
This includes fundamental commands such as copying highlighted items and undoing a previous action, as well as more obscure shortcuts like snapping an active window into place.
While it’s not necessary to memorize all of these shortcuts, incorporating a few into your Windows workflow can significantly enhance your productivity. For those interested in delving deeper into Windows 11, we also cover nine hidden features of Windows 11 and provide tips on how to make Windows 11 behave more like Windows 10.
While it’s not necessary to memorize all of these shortcuts, incorporating a few into your Windows workflow can significantly enhance your productivity. For those interested in delving deeper into Windows 11, we also cover nine hidden features of Windows 11 and provide tips on how to make Windows 11 behave more like Windows 10.
Here are some of the most frequently used Windows 11 shortcuts:
Ctrl + A: Select all items in a window.Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy 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: Open a new File Explorer window with the same folder path as the current window when File Explorer is your current window.
Windows key + F1: Open “how to get help in windows” Bing search in default browser.
Alt + F4: Close the current app or window.
Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps or windows.
Shift + Delete: Permanently delete selected item (bypass the Recycle Bin).
For the Start menu and taskbar, you can use these keyboard shortcuts:
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.
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).
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Windows 11 also offers several methods for taking screenshots, including three different keyboard shortcuts:
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 Snipping Tool menu to take a screenshot of only a section of your screen.
These shortcuts control how individual windows behave 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: Snap selected window to the left half of the screen.
Windows key + Right arrow: Snap selected window to the right half of the screen
Snap Window to Screen: Use Windows + Alt + Up to snap the selected window to the top half of the screen, and Windows + Alt + Down for the bottom half.
Move Window Between Monitors: Windows + Shift + Left/Right arrow will move the selected window to the left or right monitor.
Virtual Desktops: Windows + Tab opens Task view for virtual desktops. Create a new one with Windows + Ctrl + D, navigate with Windows + Ctrl + Right/Left arrow, and close the current one with Windows + Ctrl + F4.
File Explorer: F2 renames a selected item, F3 searches for files, F4 highlights the address bar, and F5 refreshes your active window.
Navigation: F6 cycles through elements in a window or your desktop, and Alt + F8 shows the login password on the start screen.
Menu Activation: F10 activates the menu bar in the active window.
Windows Command Prompt Shortcuts
Move Window Between Monitors: Windows + Shift + Left/Right arrow will move the selected window to the left or right monitor.
Virtual Desktops: Windows + Tab opens Task view for virtual desktops. Create a new one with Windows + Ctrl + D, navigate with Windows + Ctrl + Right/Left arrow, and close the current one with Windows + Ctrl + F4.
Function Keys (F keys)
The F keys at the top of your keyboard are versatile and useful:File Explorer: F2 renames a selected item, F3 searches for files, F4 highlights the address bar, and F5 refreshes your active window.
Navigation: F6 cycles through elements in a window or your desktop, and Alt + F8 shows the login password on the start screen.
Menu Activation: F10 activates the menu bar in the active window.
Windows Command Prompt Shortcuts
These keyboard shortcuts are useful inside the Windows Command Prompt:
Text Selection and Navigation:Ctrl + A selects all text on the current line or all text inside the Command Prompt if the current line has no text.
Ctrl + Up/Down moves the screen one line up or down.
Ctrl + M enters Mark mode for text selection with the mouse.
Shift + Up/Down and Shift + Left/Right move the cursor and select text.
Shift + Page Up/Page Down moves the cursor and selects text one screen up or down.
Shift + Home/End moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line and selects text.
Ctrl + Shift + Home/End moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer and selects text.
Copy and Paste:
Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert copies selected text to the clipboard.
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert pastes copied text inside the Command Prompt.
Search:
Ctrl + F opens the Find window to search the Command Prompt.
Remember, these shortcuts can significantly enhance your productivity and make navigating your computer much easier.
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