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The Best Guide to Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Keys

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Since a few years, GUI is getting popularity on Linux systems. Earlier, Linux guys have to learn the keyboard shortcut keys by heart. Well, they still do because this is the faster interacting way than using mouse. It is not that Windows users do not like or use keyboard shortcut keys, most of them are just lazy.

Though, we use mouse or keyboard, Microsoft has published Windows 10 keyboard shortcut keys map a long time ago. I have copied those keys here which you can read below.

Otherwise, you can go to Microsoft website and read these shortcut keys there.

The guide to Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts has general keyboard shortcuts, Windows logo (Windows key) keyboard shortcuts, Command prompt keyboard shortcuts, Dialogue box keyboard shortcuts, File Explorer keyboard shortcuts, Virtual desktop keyboard shortcuts, Taskbar keyboard shortcuts, and Settings keyboard shortcuts. Also, if you think, some shortcut key is missing, update us.

Copy, paste and other general keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Ctrl + XCut the selected item
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)Copy the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)Paste the selected item
Ctrl + ZUndo an action
Alt + TabSwitch between open apps
Alt + F4Close the active item, or exit the active app
Windows logo key  + LLock your PC
Windows logo key  + DDisplay and hide the desktop
F2Rename the selected item
F3Search for a file or folder in File Explorer
F4Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5Refresh the active window
F6Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10Activate the Menu bar in the active app
Alt + F8Show your password on the sign-in screen
Alt + EscCycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Alt + underlined letterPerform the command for that letter
Alt + EnterDisplay properties for the selected item
Alt + SpacebarOpen the shortcut menu for the active window
Alt + Left arrowGo back
Alt + Right arrowGo forward
Alt + Page UpMove up one screen
Alt + Page DownMove down one screen
Ctrl + F4Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time)
Ctrl + ASelect all items in a document or window
Ctrl + D (or Delete)Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Ctrl + R (or F5)Refresh the active window
Ctrl + YRedo an action
Ctrl + Right arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Ctrl + Left arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Ctrl + Down arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Ctrl + Up arrowMove the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Alt + TabUse the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
Ctrl + Alt + Shift + arrow keysWhen a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + SpacebarSelect multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow keySelect a block of text
Ctrl + EscOpen Start
Ctrl + Shift + EscOpen Task Manager
Ctrl + ShiftSwitch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
Ctrl + SpacebarTurn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
Shift + F10Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
Shift with any arrow keySelect more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document
Shift + DeleteDelete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Right arrowOpen the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Left arrowOpen the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
EscStop or leave the current task

Windows logo keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Windows logo key Open or close Start
Windows logo key  + AOpen Action center
Windows logo key  + BSet focus in the notification area
Windows logo key  + C

Open Cortana in listening mode

Notes

  • This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, open Cortana from the search box on the taskbar, then select Settings  . Turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key  + C.
  • Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.
Windows logo key  + Shift + COpen the charms menu
Windows logo key  + DDisplay and hide the desktop
Windows logo key  + Alt + DDisplay and hide the date and time on the desktop
Windows logo key  + EOpen File Explorer
Windows logo key  + FOpen Feedback Hub
Windows logo key  + GOpen Game bar when a game is open
Windows logo key  + IOpen Settings
Windows logo key  + J

 Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.

When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip.  Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored.

Windows logo key  + KOpen the Connect quick action
Windows logo key  + LLock your PC or switch accounts
Windows logo key  + MMinimize all windows
Windows logo key  + OLock device orientation
Windows logo key  + PChoose a presentation display mode
Windows logo key  + ROpen the Run dialog box
Windows logo key  + SOpen search
Windows logo key  + TCycle through apps on the taskbar
Windows logo key  + UOpen Ease of Access Center
Windows logo key  + VCycle through notifications
Windows logo key  + Shift + VCycle through notifications in reverse order
Windows logo key  + XOpen the Quick Link menu
Windows logo key  + ZShow the commands available in an app in full-screen mode
Windows logo key  + comma (,)Temporarily peek at the desktop
Windows logo key  + PauseDisplay the System Properties dialog box
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + FSearch for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Windows logo key  + Shift + MRestore minimized windows on the desktop
Windows logo key  + numberOpen the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.
Windows logo key  + Shift + numberOpen the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + numberOpen the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key  + Alt + numberOpen the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Shift + numberOpen the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator
Windows logo key  + TabOpen Task view
Windows logo key  + Up arrowMaximize the window
Windows logo key  + Down arrowRemove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window
Windows logo key  + Left arrowMaximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen
Windows logo key  + Right arrowMaximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen
Windows logo key  + HomeMinimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Windows logo key  + Shift + Up arrowStretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Windows logo key  + Shift + Down arrowRestore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Windows logo key  + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrowMove an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Windows logo key  + SpacebarSwitch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + SpacebarChange to a previously selected input
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + EnterOpen Narrator
Windows logo key  + forward slash (/)Begin IME reconversion
Windows logo key  + plus (+) or minus (-)Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Windows logo key  + EscExit Magnifier

Command prompt keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)Copy the selected text
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)Paste the selected text
Ctrl + MEnter Mark mode
Alt + selection keyBegin selection in block mode
Arrow keysMove the cursor in the direction specified
Page upMove the cursor by one page up
Page downMove the cursor by one page down
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)Move the cursor to the end of the buffer
Ctrl + Up arrowMove up one line in the output history
Ctrl + Down arrowMove down one line in the output history
Ctrl + Home (History navigation)If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation)If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.

Dialogue box keyboard shortcut

Press this keyTo do this
F4Display the items in the active list
Ctrl + TabMove forward through tabs
Ctrl + Shift + TabMove back through tabs
Ctrl + number (number 1–9)Move to nth tab
TabMove forward through options
Shift + TabMove back through options
Alt + underlined letterPerform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter
SpacebarSelect or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
BackspaceOpen a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
Arrow keysSelect a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Alt + DSelect the address bar
Ctrl + ESelect the search box
Ctrl + FSelect the search box
Ctrl + NOpen a new window
Ctrl + WClose the active window
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheelChange the size and appearance of file and folder icons
Ctrl + Shift + EDisplay all folders above the selected folder
Ctrl + Shift + NCreate a new folder
Num Lock + asterisk (*)Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Num Lock + plus (+)Display the contents of the selected folder
Num Lock + minus (-)Collapse the selected folder
Alt + PDisplay the preview panel
Alt + EnterOpen the Properties dialog box for the selected item
Alt + Right arrowView the next folder
Alt + Up arrowView the folder that the folder was in
Alt + Left arrowView the previous folder
BackspaceView the previous folder
Right arrowDisplay the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Left arrowCollapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
EndDisplay the bottom of the active window
HomeDisplay the top of the active window
F11Maximize or minimize the active window

Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Windows logo key  + TabOpen Task view
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + DAdd a virtual desktop
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Right arrowSwitch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Left arrowSwitch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + F4Close the virtual desktop you’re using

 

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Shift + click a taskbar buttonOpen an app or quickly open another instance of an app
Ctrl + Shift + click a taskbar buttonOpen an app as an administrator
Shift + right-click a taskbar buttonShow the window menu for the app
Shift + right-click a grouped taskbar buttonShow the window menu for the group
Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar buttonCycle through the windows of the group

Settings keyboard shortcuts

Press this keyTo do this
Windows logo key  + IOpen settings
BackspaceGo back to the settings home page
Type on any page with search boxSearch settings

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