150+ Most Useful Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know in 2024

In addition to its fresh features and updated user interface, Windows 11 has introduced a range of new keyboard shortcuts that can significantly enhance your workflow efficiency. This comprehensive guide will not only cover these recently added keyboard shortcuts but also touch upon the existing ones. While some shortcuts may be familiar to long-term Windows users, others might be less widely known. Without further ado, let’s delve into the most useful keyboard shortcuts you should leverage in Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11.

Let’s kick off by exploring the recently introduced keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 before delving into the existing ones. This compilation comprises shortcuts inherited from Windows 10, as well as some that have been part of the Windows ecosystem for an extended period. Regardless of their novelty or age, the consistent factor among all these keyboard shortcuts is their ability to enhance your workflow in Windows 11. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

Note: The provided keyboard shortcuts have been tested on Windows 11. If you are still using Windows 10, we recommend checking out our article on the best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts. Alternatively, for Linux users, explore the 12 must-use keyboard shortcuts in Ubuntu.

New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

In Windows 11, several new keyboard shortcuts have been introduced, enhancing functionality not present in earlier OS versions. Below, we will provide a comprehensive list of these shortcuts along with their respective functions. It’s important to note that throughout this article, the term “Win” refers to the Windows key on your keyboard.

1. Opening Action Center – Win + A Shortcut

While the Win + A shortcut technically exists in Windows 10, it operates differently in Windows 11. In Windows 10, this keyboard shortcut opens both the Control Center and the Notification Panel. However, in Windows 11, it exclusively launches the Action Center along with the Quick Settings panel. This distinction arises from Microsoft’s decision to separate the Action Center and Notifications Panel in its latest desktop operating system.

2. Opening Notifications Panel – Win + N Shortcut

Introduced in Windows 11, the Win + N keyboard shortcut is a new addition. It directly opens the Notification Panel, which is now discreetly placed under the clock icon in the System tray. Utilizing this keyboard shortcut provides instant access to view all your unread notifications.

3. Opening Widgets Panel – Win + W Shortcut

Windows 11 incorporates a dedicated widgets panel, offering quick access to weather updates, news, and your calendar. Although the Widgets panel has a dedicated button on the taskbar in Windows 11, you can also access it conveniently using the Win key + W keyboard shortcut.

4. Quick Access to The Snap Layout – Win + Z Shortcut

Snap Layouts, a new feature in Windows 11, enhances window management compared to the Snap feature in Windows 10. When you hover over the “Maximize” button on any active window, a pop-up appears, showcasing potential Snap window layouts. This feature, termed “Snap Assist” by Microsoft, is also accessible using the dedicated Win + Z keyboard shortcut.

Existing Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts

To facilitate easier recollection and access, we’ve categorized the list of existing keyboard shortcuts into 11 segments. Windows offers a plethora of keyboard shortcuts spanning various categories, each designed to streamline your experience.

• General Keyboard Shortcuts
• Screenshot Shortcuts
• Browser Shortcuts
• Dialog Box Shortcuts
• Accessibility Shortcuts
• Command Prompt Shortcuts
• File Explorer Shortcuts
• Taskbar Shortcuts
• Game Bar Shortcuts
• Desktop and Virtual Desktop Shortcuts, and more.

General Shortcuts

Here are essential Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts that everyone should incorporate into their workflow for increased efficiency and enhanced productivity. These shortcuts are versatile, working seamlessly with most apps, under various conditions, and across recent versions of Windows.

Note: Some shortcuts may be listed under multiple headers, reflecting their compatibility with different apps and scenarios. Additionally, some shortcuts may exhibit slight variations based on the app's scope or category.

• Alt + F4: Close active window. On the desktop with no active window selected, opens the shutdown dialog box with options to restart, sleep, hibernate, log out, or shut down your PC.
• Win + L: Lock your computer.
• Win + D: Minimizes all open windows and takes you to the Desktop.
• Alt + Tab: Switch between running applications (Task Switcher).
• Win + Tab: Open Task View.
• Ctrl + Z: Undo an action.
• Ctrl + Y: Redo an action.
• Ctrl + Delete: Move selected item to Recycle Bin.
• Shift + Delete: Permanently delete the selected item.
• Win + X: Open Start Button context menu.
• Esc: Stop or close the current task.
• F11: Enter/Exit full-screen mode.
• F2: Rename selected item.
• F5: Refresh the active window. Additionally, refreshes the Windows desktop when no active window is selected.
• F10: Open the Menu bar in the current app.
• Win + I: Open Windows 11 Settings.
• Win + R: Open Run command.
• Alt + Page Up: Move up one screen.
• Alt + Page Down: Move down one screen.
• Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Open Task Manager in Windows 11.
• Win + S or Win + Q: Open Windows Search.
• Ctrl + P: Prints the current page.
• Shift + Arrow keys: Select more than one item.
• Ctrl + S: Save the current file (applies to apps like Office 365, Notepad, Paint, etc.).
• Ctrl + Shift + S: Save As.
• Ctrl + O: Open a file in the current app.
• Alt + Esc: Cycle through the apps on the taskbar.
• Alt + F8: Display your password on the login screen.
• Alt + Spacebar: Open the shortcut menu for the current window.
• Alt + Enter: Open properties for the selected item.
• Alt + F10: Access the context menu (right-click menu) for the selected item.
• Ctrl + N: Open a new program window of the current app.
• Backspace: Navigate back to the Settings home page (while on any Windows Settings page).
• Win + period (.) or Win + semicolon (;): Windows 11 keyboard shortcut to access the Emoji keyboard.
• Win + P: Project a screen.
• Win + H: Launch Voice Typing.

Screenshot Shortcuts

While more detailed information on taking screenshots and capturing scrolling screenshots in Windows 11 can be found in our dedicated articles on the subject, here are some of the common native screenshot keyboard shortcuts:

• PrtScn/Print Screen: Capture a screenshot of the entire desktop.
• Alt + PrtScn: Capture a screenshot of the active window.
• Win + Shift + S: Use Snip & Sketch to capture any part of the screen.

Dialog Box and Text Editor Shortcuts

The majority of the following keyboard shortcuts are applicable to all dialog boxes and text fields, whether on the web or your PC. This includes various contexts such as website forms, CMS software like WordPress, as well as text-editing tools like Notepad, WordPad, and MS Word. However, it’s important to note that some shortcuts are exclusive to Rich Text Editors and may not function in simpler applications like Notepad.

• Ctrl + A: Select all content.
• Ctrl + C: Copy the selected items.
• Ctrl + X: Cut the selected items.
• Ctrl + V: Paste the clipboard items.
• Ctrl + B: Bolden selected text (Rich Text Editors only).
• Ctrl + I: Italicize selected text (Rich Text Editors only).
• Ctrl + U: Underline selected text (Rich Text Editors only).
• Home: Navigate the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
• End: Navigate the cursor to the end of the current line.

Browser Shortcuts

The subsequent shortcuts are universally applicable across major Windows browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. Changing your default browser in Windows 11 won’t affect the compatibility of these keyboard shortcuts. Generally, these are some of the most frequently used keyboard shortcuts in my routine.

• Alt + Left Arrow: Move back one page (back arrow).
• Alt + Right Arrow: Move forward one page.
• Ctrl + Numbers (1-9): Move between tabs.
• Ctrl + Tab: Move to the tab on the right.
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab: Move to the tab on the left.
• Ctrl + F: Open on-page search (works on text editors, word processors, Command Prompt, etc.).
• Shift + Home: Select text from the current cursor position to the start of the line.
• Shift + End: Select text from the current cursor position to the end of the line.
• Shift + Right/Left Arrow keys: Select/highlight one character at a time.
• Shift + Up/Down Arrow Keys: Select/highlight one line at a time.

All the dialog box shortcuts mentioned above are applicable to browsers, as are many of the general ones such as Alt+F4 to close windows. The tab shortcuts, on the other hand, also function in other tabbed applications, like Windows Terminal.

Desktop and Virtual Desktop Shortcuts

• Windows key: Open Start Menu.
• Ctrl + Shift: Switches the keyboard layout.
• Alt + Tab: View all open apps.
• Ctrl + Arrow keys + Spacebar: Select more than one item on the desktop.
• Win + M: Minimizes all the open windows.
• Win + Shift + M: Maximize all minimized windows.
• Win + Home: Minimize or maximize all but the active window.
• Win + Left Arrow Key: Snap the current app or window to the left.
• Win + Right Arrow Key: Snap the current app or window to the right.
• Win + Shift + Up Arrow Key: Stretch the active window to the top and bottom of the screen.
• Win + Shift + Down Arrow Key: Restores or minimizes active desktop windows vertically, maintaining the width.
• Win + Tab: Open Desktop view.
• Win + Ctrl + D: Add a new virtual desktop.
• Win + Ctrl + F4: Closes the active virtual desktop.
• Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow: Switch to the virtual desktops on the right.
• Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow: Switch to the virtual desktops on the left.
• Ctrl + Shift: Create a shortcut (while dragging file or folder icon).
• Win + Comma (,): Windows Peek (Take a peek at the desktop).
• Win + Ctrl + Shift + B: Restart your graphics driver instantly in Windows 11.

Command Prompt Shortcuts

Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, and Terminal support standard text editing shortcuts for copying, pasting, and editing commands. Furthermore, they also accommodate the following dedicated keyboard shortcuts:

• Ctrl + Home: Scroll to the top of the Command Prompt window.
• Ctrl + End: Scroll to the bottom of the Command Prompt window.
• Ctrl + A: Select everything on the current line.
• Page Up: Move the cursor up a page.
• Page Down: Moves the cursor down a page.
• Ctrl + M: Enter “Mark” mode.
• Ctrl + Home: Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer in Mark mode.
• Ctrl + End: Move the cursor to the end of the buffer in Mark mode.
• Up/Down Arrow keys: Cycle through command history of active session.
• Left/Right arrow keys: Scroll cursor left or right in the current command line.
• Shift + Home: Move the cursor to the start of the current line.
• Shift + End: Move the cursor to the end of the current line.
• Shift + Page Up: Move the cursor up one screen and select text.
• Shift + Page Down: Move the cursor down one screen and select text.
• Ctrl + Up arrow: Move the screen up one line.
• Ctrl + Down arrow: Move the screen down one line.
• Shift + Up arrow: Move cursor up one line and select the text.
• Shift + Down arrow: Move cursor down one line and select the text.
• Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys: Move the cursor one word at a time.

File Explorer Shortcuts

File Explorer in Windows offers a set of keyboard shortcuts that streamline navigation through the Windows file system. Here are nearly two dozen shortcuts that are compatible with the Windows File Explorer:

• Win + E: Open the File Explorer.
• Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F: Select Search in File Explorer.
• Ctrl + N: Open the current page in a new window.
• Ctrl + W: Close the active window.
• Ctrl + Mouse Scroll: Change the file and folder view (switch between large icons, small icons, list, detailed view, etc.).
• Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8): Changes folder view.
• F6: Switches between left and right panes.
• Ctrl + Shift + N: Create a new folder.
• Ctrl + Shift + E: Expand all subfolders in the navigation pane on the left.
• Alt + D: Select the address bar of the File Explorer.
• Alt + P: Display the preview panel.
• Alt + Enter: Open the Properties settings for the selected item.
• Alt + Right arrow: Go to the next folder.
• Alt + Left arrow (or Backspace): Go to the previous folder.
• Alt + Up arrow: Go to the parent folder for the current file/folder.
• F4: Switch focus to the address bar.
• Right Arrow: Expands the current folder tree in the left pane. If the parent folder is already expanded, this shortcut selects the first subfolder within it.
• Left Arrow: Collapse the current folder tree. If the parent folder is already collapsed, this shortcut selects the parent folder.
• Home: Navigate to the top of the active window.
• End: Scroll to the bottom of the active window.

Taskbar Shortcuts

The following shortcuts enable you to effortlessly launch apps in specific ways or under specific conditions using the Windows taskbar icons:

• Ctrl + Shift + Left-click on app icon: Open an app as an administrator from the taskbar.
• Win + Ctrl + Shift + Number key (0-9): Open a second instance of an app with administrator privileges.
• Win + Number key: Open apps from their pinned taskbar icons. For instance, Win + 1 will open the first app whose icon is pinned on the taskbar, while Win + 2 will open the second app, etc., depending on their position on the taskbar.
• Win + T: Cycle through apps in the taskbar.
• Win + Alt + D: View Date and Time from the taskbar.
• Shift + Left Click app icon: Open another instance of an app from the taskbar.
• Shift + Right-click grouped app icon: Show the window menu for the grouped apps from the taskbar.
• Win + B: Highlight the Overflow key (upwards arrow) in the Notification Area. After highlighting, press Enter, and then utilize arrow keys to navigate between each icon under the overflow menu.
• Alt + Windows key + Number Key (0-9): Open a Taskbar icon’s Jump List.
• Win + Shift + Number Keys (0-9): Open another instance of an open app.
• Win + Ctrl + Number key (0-9): Switch to the last active window of a pinned app.

Accessibility Shortcuts

Activate and utilize accessibility features in Windows 11 with the following keyboard shortcuts:

• Win + U: Open “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows Settings.
• Win + plus (+): Turn on Magnifier and Zoom.
• Win + minus (-): Zoom out using Magnifier.
• Win + Esc: Exit Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + D: Switch to the docked mode in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + F: Switch to full-screen mode in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + L: Switch to lens mode in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + I: Invert colors in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + M: Cycle through views in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + R: Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier.
• Alt + Ctrl + Arrow keys: Pan in Magnifier.
• Ctrl + Alt + mouse scroll: Zoom in or out.
• Win + Enter: Open Narrator.
• Win + Ctrl + O: Open on-screen keyboard with this shortcut in Windows 11.
• Hold down Right Shift for eight seconds: Turn the Filter Keys on and off.
• Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtSc: Turn High Contrast on or off.
• Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock: Turn Mouse Keys on or off.
• Press Shift five times: Turn the Sticky Keys on or off.
• Press Num Lock for five seconds: Turn the Toggle Keys on or off.

Windows Game Bar Shortcuts

Introduced in Windows 10, the Windows Game Bar provides dedicated keyboard shortcuts for convenience and ease of use. Here are some of them:

• Win + G: Open Game Bar.
• Win + Alt + G: Record the last 30 seconds of the active game.
• Win + Alt + R: Start or stop recording the active game.
• Win + Alt + PrtSc: Take a screenshot of the active game.
• Win + Alt + T: Show/hide the recording timer of the active game.

Miscellaneous Shortcuts

In addition to the previously mentioned shortcuts, Windows 11 provides various other keyboard shortcuts, spanning different functionalities. Here they are:

• Win + forward slash (/): Start IME reconversion.
• Win + F: Open Feedback Hub.
• Win + K: Open the “Connect” quick setting.
• Win + O: Lock your device orientation.
• Win + Pause: Display System Properties (About page) in Windows Settings.
• Win + Ctrl + F: Search for PCs (if you are on a network).
• Win + Shift + Left/Right arrow key: Move an app or window from one monitor to another.
• Win + Spacebar: Switch input language and keyboard layout.
• Win + V: Open Clipboard History.
• Win + Y: Switch input between desktop and Windows Mixed Reality.
• Win + C: Launch Cortana (has to be installed separately).

Now that you’re familiar with some of the best keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11, make the most of them to enhance your experience with Microsoft’s latest operating system. These shortcuts are not exclusive to Windows 11; they work on Windows 10 and older versions as well, providing utility across different platforms.

If you’ve recently switched to Windows 11 and find the changes less appealing, you can refer to a guide on rolling back to Windows 10 from Windows 11 on your PC. On the other hand, if you’re still using Windows 10 and want to enjoy some Windows 11 features, check out how to implement them in your current version. Lastly, for those interested in keyboard shortcuts for improved productivity, learn how to clear browsing history using shortcuts in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.