Most users are familiar with using their computers with a keyboard and mouse. The mouse makes it easy to know what you’re pointing at, selecting, and clicking, so even first-timers don’t take too long to get the hang of it. But for those users who are proficient, the keyboard can be a much more powerful tool, and it allows you to get things completed faster.
That’s why there are a ton of keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 that help with exactly that, and we’ve compiled a list of them to help you out. Keyboard shortcuts can do all kinds of things, whether that’s something as simple as copying text taking a screenshot, opening your notifications, and more. Here are the ones you need to know.
Basic shortcut keys for Window11
To start, here are the ones you’ll use most often.
- Ctrl + A: Go to window Select all items(for selection)
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy choose or marked item or content (text, images and so on).
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Paste choose or mark item.
- Ctrl + X: Cut selected or highlighted item (for cut selected content).
- Ctrl + Z: Undo the previous action(to reverse your last action).
- Ctrl + Y: Redo action(to reverse your last undo).
- Ctrl + N: When File Explorer is your current window, open a new File Explorer window with the same folder path as the current window.
- Windows key + F1: Bing search in the default browser opens “how to get help in windows”.
- Alt + F4: Close the window or current app.
- Alt + Tab: Switch between open apps or windows.
- Shift + Delete: Delete the selected items on a permanent basis (skip the Recycle Bin).
For start menu and taskbar
To open and close you can use these keyboard shortcuts, and otherwise control the Start menu and the taskbar.
- Windows key or Ctrl + Esc: Open the Start menu.
- Windows key + X: Open the secret Start menu.
- Windows key + T: On the taskbar, cycle using the apps (including pinned apps).
- Windows key + [Number]: Open the pinned app in the [number] position on the taskbar. For example, if you have pinned Edge 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]: For the app pinned tap on the right-click menu in the [number] position on the taskbar.
- Windows key + D: Show or hide desktop (Windows key +, will display the desktop compactly).
If you want to take a screenshot then you can use this method
including three different keyboard shortcuts Windows 11 also has several ways to take a screenshot.
- PrtScn: Take a screenshot of your entire screen and save it to your clipboard(it’s used for to PrintScreen).
- Windows key + PrtScn: Take a screenshot of your entire desktop and save it to a folder on your computer.
- Windows key + Shift + S: Go to the menu to take a screenshot of only a section of your screen and Open the Snipping Tool.
The desktop: Windows, Snap Assist, and virtual desktops
These shortcuts control how individual windows act on your desktop, including virtual desktops.
- Windows key + M: If you want to minimize all open windows then use this shortcut.
- Windows key + Shift + M: If you want to restore minimized windows use this shortcut.
- Windows key + Home: this shortcut will help you if you want to minimize all Windows except for the selected or currently active window.
- Windows key + Up arrow: selected window for Maximize.
- Windows key + Shift + Up arrow: Maximizes the active window vertically while maintaining its width.
- Windows key + Down arrow: If you want to Minimize the selected window.
- Windows key + Left arrow: To the left half of the screen snap the selected window.
- Windows key + Right arrow: To the right half of the screen snap the selected window.
- Windows key + Alt + Up: To the top half of the screen Snap the selected window.
- Windows key + Alt + Down: To the bottom half of the screen snap the selected window.
- Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow: If you want to 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: switch to the next virtual desktop (to the right).
If we get back to the Windows key
Use the Windows logo key to perform various tasks for These keyboard shortcuts, such as introducing and launching both Windows and third-party apps.
- Windows key + A: Open the Action Center.
- Windows key + S: If you would like to open Cortana in text mode, so you can go to the search bar type. (Windows key + Q does the same thing.)
- Windows key + C: If you wish to open Cortana in listening mode (similar to saying “Hey, Cortana“).
- Windows key + E: For Open File Explorer.
- Windows key + F: For Windows 10 Feedback Hub press these keys.
- Windows key + Ctrl + F: For search PCs on a network using this key.
- Windows key + G: For open the Game bar.
- Windows key + H: For the Share sidebar.
- Windows key + I: For the Settings menu.
- Windows key + K: Tap to open the Connect sidebar (for connecting to new Bluetooth devices or Miracast).
- Windows key + L: To lock your computer.
- Windows key + O: To Lock screen orientation.
- Windows key + P: Tap and Open the presentation or projection sidebar.
- Windows key + R: For Open the Run window.
- Windows key + U: For Ease of Access center.
- Windows key + W: Open the Windows Ink Workspace for scribbling on tablets or touchscreen laptops.
- Windows key + (+) or (-): For zoom in and zoom out with a magnifier.
- Windows key + Esc: close or exit magnifier.
Switch to know about the F keys
At the top of your keyboard, the F key can perform a number of actions that are used by other keys, but they’re also useful on their own.
- F2: if you want to use rename option then tap on this key.
- F3: In File Explorer, if you want to Quickly search for files click on this key.
- F4: Would you like to Highlight the address bar in File Explorer press this key.
- F5: Tap on Refresh your active window.
- F6: Cycle using elements (tab, buttons, search bar, etc.) in a window or on your desktop.
- Alt + F8: If you would like to show the login password on the start screen.
- F10: Go to the active window and activate the menu bar.
Let’s move to Command Prompt
inside the Windows Command Prompt You can use these keyboard shortcuts.
- Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert: Copy selected text or content to the clipboard.
- Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert: Move inside the Command Prompt and then Paste your copied text.
- Ctrl + A: Select all text on the current line. (If the current line has no text, all text inside the Command Prompt will be selected.)
- Ctrl + Up or Down: Switch the screen one line up or down.
- Ctrl + F: Find Command Prompt using the search window.
- Ctrl + M: Enter Mark mode (allows you to select text with a mouse). Once Mark mode is enabled, you can use the arrow keys to move the cursor around.
- Shift + Up or Down: Relocate the cursor up or down one line and select text.
- Shift + Left or Right: Move the cursor left or right to one character and choose text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Left or Right: Move the cursor left or right to one word and select text.
- Shift + Page Up or Page Down: Move the cursor up or down one screen and pick text.
- Shift + Home or End: Move the cursor to begin or end of the current line and select text.
- Ctrl + Shift + Home/End: Move the cursor to begin or end of the screen buffer and select the text and starting or end of the Command Prompt’s results.