Windows shortcut keys mostly start with the Windows logo key. Win + E opens File Explorer, Win + D shows the desktop, Win + L locks the computer and Win + I opens Settings. Pressing Win alone opens Start, and typing a few letters finds any installed app.
This page collects the most useful shortcut keys for Windows 10 and Windows 11 by task: windows and desktops, screenshots, system tools and power. Each row links to a detailed guide with steps and fixes. Differences between the two versions are marked.
Quick facts
Start
WinFile Explorer
Win + EDesktop
Win + DLock
Win + LSettings
Win + IRun
Win + RTask Manager
Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Windows shortcut keys with the Win key
| Keys | Opens or does |
|---|---|
| Win | Start menu and search |
| Win + E | File Explorer |
| Win + D | Show or hide the desktop |
| Win + L | Lock |
| Win + I | Settings |
| Win + R | Run box |
| Win + X | Power user menu |
| Win + V | Clipboard history |
| Win + . | Emoji and symbols |
| Win + S | Search |
| Win + A | Quick settings (11) or Action Center (10) |
| Win + N | Notifications and calendar (11) |
| Win + P | Projector and second screen |
| Win + K | Cast to a wireless display |
Windows 11 shortcut keys for windows and desktops
| Keys | Action |
|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Switch windows |
| Win + Tab | Task View |
| Win + Left / Win + Right | Snap to half the screen |
| Win + Up | Maximise |
| Win + Down | Restore or minimise |
| Win + Z | Snap layouts (11) |
| Win + M | Minimise all |
| Win + Home | Minimise all but the active window |
| Ctrl + Win + D | New virtual desktop |
| Ctrl + Win + Left / Ctrl + Win + Right | Switch desktops |
| Alt + F4 | Close the window |
Snapping two windows side by side is the most useful of these for office work, explained in split screen shortcut. Switching is covered in switch windows shortcut.
Windows 10 shortcut keys for screenshots and recording
| Keys | Captures |
|---|---|
| PrtSc | Whole screen to the clipboard, or opens Snipping Tool on newer setups |
| Win + PrtSc | Whole screen saved to Pictures, Screenshots |
| Alt + PrtSc | Active window to the clipboard |
| Win + Shift + S | Choose an area with Snipping Tool |
| Win + Alt + R | Record the active app with Game Bar |
| Win + G | Open Game Bar |
More options are in screenshot shortcut key, snipping tool shortcut and screen recording shortcut.
Shortcut keys for Windows system tools
Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager directly, the fastest way to close a frozen program. Win + R opens Run, where commands such as control, calc or cmd start tools instantly. Win + Pause shows your PC name and specifications, and Win + Ctrl + Shift + B resets the graphics driver when the screen freezes or goes black. Accessibility tools have keys too: Win + Ctrl + O for the on screen keyboard and Win + Plus for Magnifier. See Task Manager shortcut, Run command shortcut and graphics driver reset.
Shortcut keys in Windows for power and sign in
| Task | Keys |
|---|---|
| Shut down from the desktop | Win + D, then Alt + F4, then Enter |
| Shut down from the menu | Win + X, U, U |
| Restart | Win + X, U, R |
| Sleep | Win + X, U, S |
| Sign out | Win + X, U, I |
| Lock | Win + L |
| Security screen | Ctrl + Alt + Delete |
The Win + X sequences are pressed one key at a time. Details are in shutdown shortcut key, restart shortcut key and sleep shortcut key.
All Windows guides on this site
| Guide | Main shortcut | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot | Snip any area: Win + Shift + S | Win + Shift + S to snip, PrtSc for full screen, Cmd + Shift + 4 on Mac |
| Shut down | Fastest: Win + D, then Alt + F4, then Enter | Alt + F4 on the desktop, then Enter. Or Win + X, then U, then U |
| Refresh | Windows: F5 | F5 or Ctrl + R to refresh; Ctrl + F5 for a hard refresh |
| Screen recording | Start and stop app recording: Win + Alt + R | Win + Alt + R records an app; Win + Shift + R records any area |
| Restart | Fastest: Win + X, then U, then R | Win + X, then U, then R. Or Alt + F4 on the desktop and pick Restart |
| Lock screen | Lock now: Win + L | Win + L locks Windows at once; Control + Command + Q on a Mac |
| Snipping tool | Open the snip bar: Win + Shift + S | Win + Shift + S opens the snipping bar in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Sleep | Sleep: Win + X, then U, then S | Win + X, then U, then S puts Windows to sleep |
| Full screen | Browser and folders: F11 | F11 for full screen in browsers and File Explorer; Fn + F11 on laptops |
| Clipboard | Open history: Win + V | Win + V opens clipboard history in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Minimize | Minimize window: Win + Down | Win + Down minimizes a window; Win + M minimizes all |
| On screen keyboard | Open or close: Win + Ctrl + O | Win + Ctrl + O opens the on screen keyboard in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Task Manager | Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Ctrl + Shift + Esc opens Task Manager directly |
| Basic shortcuts | Most used: Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Z | Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + S, Alt + Tab, Win + D and more |
| Keyboard light | Most common: Fn + Space | Fn + Space or Fn + an F-key with a light symbol on most laptops |
| Brightness | Laptop: Fn with the sun keys | Fn with the sun keys on laptops; Win + A for the brightness slider |
| Close a window | Close program: Alt + F4 | Alt + F4 closes the program; Ctrl + W closes a tab or document |
| Maximize | Maximize: Win + Up | Win + Up maximizes the window; Alt + Space, then X also works |
| 100 shortcut keys | Windows key group: 20 keys | 100 shortcut keys for Windows, typing, files, browsers and Office |
| Calculator | Run box: Win + R, calc, Enter | Win + R, type calc, Enter opens Calculator; or press the Calculator key |
| Command Prompt | Open cmd: Win + R, cmd, Enter | Win + R, type cmd, Enter opens Command Prompt; add Ctrl + Shift for admin |
| Reset graphics driver | Reset graphics: Win + Ctrl + Shift + B | Win + Ctrl + Shift + B restarts the graphics driver in Windows |
| Run box | Open Run: Win + R | Win + R opens the Run box in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Control Panel | Control Panel: Win + R, control | Win + R, type control, Enter opens Control Panel; Win + X, M opens Device Manager |
| Split screen | Left half: Win + Left | Win + Left and Win + Right snap two windows side by side |
| Rotate screen | Normal (landscape): Ctrl + Alt + Up | Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys rotate the screen on many PCs; otherwise use Display settings |
| F1 to F12 keys | Help: F1 | F1 help, F2 rename, F5 refresh, F7 spelling, F11 full screen, F12 Save As |
| Unlock keyboard | Filter Keys: Hold right Shift about 8 seconds | Hold right Shift for 8 seconds to turn off Filter Keys; check Fn lock and Num Lock |
| Change password | Change password: Ctrl + Alt + Delete, Change a password | Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then Change a password, in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Duplicate screen | Projection options: Win + P | Win + P opens projection options; choose Duplicate to mirror your screen |
| Settings | Settings: Win + I | Win + I opens Windows Settings in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Switch windows | Switch windows: Alt + Tab | Alt + Tab switches windows; Win + Tab opens Task View and virtual desktops |
| Right click | Right click: Shift + F10 | Shift + F10 or the Menu key opens the right click menu from the keyboard |
| Sign out | Sign out: Ctrl + Alt + Delete, Sign out | Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then Sign out; or Win + X, U, I in Windows 10 and 11 |
| Taskbar | Focus taskbar: Win + T | Win + T moves focus to the taskbar; Win + 1 to 9 opens pinned apps |
| Volume | Volume up: Speaker plus key, with Fn on some laptops | Laptop volume keys sit on F1 to F12 with Fn; Win + Ctrl + V picks sound output |
Windows 10 and Windows 11 differences
Nearly every key above works in both versions. Windows 11 adds Win + Z for snap layouts, Win + N for the notification panel, and changes Win + A from the Action Center to quick settings. Windows 11 also shows tabs in File Explorer, opened with Ctrl + T. If a key from a tutorial does nothing, check which version the tutorial used. Mac equivalents for most of these are listed on MacBook shortcut keys.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful Windows shortcut keys?
Win + E, Win + D, Win + L, Win + I, Alt + Tab and Ctrl + Shift + Esc.
Are Windows 10 and Windows 11 shortcut keys the same?
Almost all are; Windows 11 adds a few such as Win + Z.