Be More Professional And Speed Up Your Work With The Help Of Keyboard Shortcuts In Microsoft’s Latest Operating System, Windows 11.
A mouse is a device that makes it easy to recognize and select and click on the screen and items; Therefore, learning to use it does not take long, even for people who are learning to work with computers for the first time.
On the other hand, for skilled users, the keyboard is a much more powerful tool whose uses go far beyond typing. Shortcuts are one of the factors that make things faster and use the keyboard professionally.
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something usually done with the mouse and help users perform many actions without having to move the mouse and go through lengthy steps to perform some specific and frequently used actions.
Give Shortcuts are so helpful that the manufacturer defines them in every operating system and software. Still, many users are usually unaware of their existence or are only familiar with a limited number of them.
In Windows, many shortcuts have been defined by default for various applications and functions. Many of us are familiar with some of their standard and well-known examples, such as copying and pasting. Still, there is a long list of other shortcuts you may not know exist. In this article, we have provided a list of the most commonly used shortcuts.
Since many of the features and settings of Windows 11 are the same as Windows 10, many of these shortcuts work in older versions of Windows as well; However, several new shortcuts have been added to the latest version of Windows, including some unique keyboard shortcuts to get things done faster and improve overall productivity. Below is a comprehensive guide to valuable Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts.
Standard and frequently used Windows 11 shortcuts.
Many shortcuts for actions can be helpful in different parts of Windows 11 or other programs. In this table, frequently used shortcuts such as copy and paste file shortcut and page refresh are mentioned, which may be helpful for most users.
| Windows shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Select all text or items in a document or page, or window. |
| Ctrl + D | Delete the selected text or item. |
| Ctrl + X | Cut the selected item or text. |
| Ctrl + C | Copy the selected item or text. |
| Ctrl + V | Paste the copied or cut content from the clipboard. |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo the last action is taken (rename, move file, etc.). |
| F2 | Rename the selected file or folder. |
| F4 | Show the address bar list in File Explorer. |
| Esc | Stop or quit an ongoing task (usage varies by application). |
| F5 یا Ctrl + R | Refresh the active window or page (works in various applications, including web browsers). |
| Ctrl + F5 | In some web browsers, this shortcut refreshes the active window by forcing the browser to reload files, even if they are already in the cache. If changes have been made to a page, But you can’t see them in your browser, refreshing the page can help you. |
| F6 | Switch between active screen or desktop elements. |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar in the active window or program. |
| Alt + F8 | Show your password on the Windows logon screen. |
| Alt + (letter) | Run the command or select an option to use with that letter. |
| Alt + Space | Open the shortcut menu of the active window. |
| Shift + F10 | Open the right-click menu of the selected item or where the cursor is located. |
| Left Arrow (in menus) | Move left in the menu or close an open submenu. |
| Right Arrow (in menus) | Scroll right in the menu or open a selected submenu. |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the open document or tab in programs that allow you to open multiple records or accounts simultaneously (such as web browsers). |
| Ctrl + E | Open Search (some apps). |
| Ctrl + right arrow | Move the text cursor to the beginning of the next word. |
| Ctrl + Left Arrow | Move the text cursor to the beginning of the previous word. |
| Ctrl + Up Arrow | Move the text cursor up one paragraph. |
| Ctrl + Down Arrow | Move the text cursor down one paragraph. |
| Alt + Shift + (arrow key) | When the focus is set to a pinned app in the Start menu, move the pinned app in the direction of the Arrow. |
| Shift + (arrow key) | In a document, using this shortcut, the text from where the cursor is located is selected, and the next character or line is chosen by repeating it.
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| Ctrl + Shift + (arrow key) | In a document, using this shortcut, the text from where the cursor is located is selected, and the next word or paragraph is chosen by repeating it.
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Windows 11 shortcuts to access features and programs
You probably know that by using the Windows key on the keyboard, you can open the Start menu, But did you know that you can use the Windows key combination with other types of keys to open specific programs and features of Windows 11? Next, we bring a table of essential tasks that can be done with the Windows shortcut.
| Windows shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| Windows + A | Open the Quick Settings panel to turn on or off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and other features. |
| Windows + C | Open a chat in Microsoft Teams: This new feature in Windows 11 gives you a quick panel to view recent messages and contacts in Microsoft Teams. You can start meetings and calls directly from here. |
| Windows + D | Show or hide the desktop: Show the desktop means that the active and open program windows are no longer visible, and the desktop screen is displayed directly. |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer. |
| Windows + F | Instantly take a screenshot and open the Feedback Hub to more easily send feedback to Microsoft about an issue you’ve encountered. |
| Windows + G | Open the Xbox Game Bar to record screenshots while you play and access various features. |
| Windows + Alt + B | Turn HDR on or off. This requires an HDR-compatible monitor and a new Xbox Game Bar app version. |
| Windows + Alt + R | Start recording videos of the app or game using the Xbox Game Bar. |
| Windows + H | Start voice typing. |
| Windows + I | Open the Settings app. |
| Windows + Pause | Open the About page in Settings to see information about your computer’s hardware and Windows. |
| Windows + K | Open the Cast panel to connect to wireless displays that support Miracast. |
| Windows + L | Lock your computer. This will keep all your apps open, But you must unlock the computer before using it again. |
| Windows + M | Minimize all windows. |
| Windows + N | Show the notification panel (notification center) and calendar |
| Windows + O | Lock the direction of the device. On tablets, this prevents the screen from rotating when you rotate the device. |
| Windows + P | Change display mode for multiple monitors. If you have multiple displays connected, you can choose to have only one screen active, repeat the show on all screens, or use screens to expand your display area. |
| Windows + Q | Open Quick Assist to get or help another user by connecting remotely. |
| Windows + R | Open the Run program window. |
| Windows + S | Open the Windows search bar. |
| Windows + Shift + S | Take a screenshot using Snipping Tool. After pressing the key, you can still select your preferred shooting mode. |
| Windows + U | Open the Accessibility settings page. |
| Windows + Ctrl + C | Turn color filters on or off. This feature must first be enabled in the Accessibility settings. |
| Windows + V | Open the clipboard to see your copy, including text, links, and images. |
| Windows + W | Open the widgets panel. This new Windows 11 feature includes widgets for weather, OneDrive photos, and the calendar. |
| Windows + X | Open the Quick Link menu (equivalent to right-clicking on the Start icon in the taskbar). |
| Windows + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and desktop (only on Windows Mixed Reality devices). |
| Windows + Z | Open the snap layouts panel. This feature, which was added in Windows 11, makes it easier to put multiple programs together on the screen. |
| Windows+. Or ; | Open the emoji panel. |
| Windows + , | View your desktop temporarily without minimizing windows. |
| Windows + Ctrl + F | Search for PCs on your network. They are intended for Azure Active Directory domains. |
| Windows + Spacebar | Switch between languages and input methods. |
| Windows + Shift + Space | Scroll back through the list of input methods or typing languages. |
| Windows + Ctrl + Space | Switch to the last used typing language or input method. |
| Ctrl + Shift | Switch to a different keyboard layout if multiple keyboards are available for the same language. |
| Windows + Ctrl+ Enter | Turn on the Narrator. This feature reads the accessibility of elements on the screen to make navigation easier for people with visual impairments. |
| Windows ++ (Plus) | Turn on the magnifying glass and zoom in on the screen. |
| Windows + – (of them) | Zoom out. |
| Windows + Esc | Close the magnifying glass. |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B | Exit your computer from a blank or black screen (graphics card reset). |
| Windows + PrtScn | Take a full-screen screenshot and automatically save it to a file. The file is held in the Pictures library in a folder called Screenshots.
(The Print Screen button may appear differently on different keyboards). |
| Windows + Alt+ PrtScn | Take a screenshot of the game or the active window and save it to a file. This feature uses the Xbox Game Bar, files are held in the Videos library, and a folder called Captures. |
| PrtScn | Copy a full-screen screenshot to the clipboard, so you can paste it as a file elsewhere without saving it. Alternatively, you can go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard to set the PrtScn key to open the Snipping Tool; That is, make it work like Windows + Shift + S. |
| Ctrl + Esc | Open the start menu. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager. |
Keyboard shortcuts for multitasking and window management in Windows
If you have multiple programs open, keyboard shortcuts can be a more efficient way to manage them.
| Windows shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| Alt + F4 | Close the active window or program. If used on the desktop, it will open the Power menu. |
| Windows + Tab | Open Task View to see all your available programs and virtual desktops and select one. |
| Alt + Tab | Go to your last active window. At the same time, holding Alt, press Tab several times to select the desired window. |
| Alt + Esc | Switch between windows as they are opened. |
| Ctrl + Alt + Tab | See all your open apps to select one with the keyboard arrows. It is similar to Task View, But it does not display your virtual desktop and is only visible on your activity monitor. |
| Windows + Up Arrow | Increase the size of the active window to occupy the entire desktop. |
| Windows + Alt + Up Arrow | Snap the active window to the top half of your monitor. This shortcut is new in Windows 11. |
| Windows + Down Arrow | If the active window is at maximum size, set it to smaller. If the window is not maximized, hide it on the taskbar. |
| Windows + Alt + Down Arrow | Snap the active window to the bottom half of the screen. If the active window currently occupies the entire screen, it will shrink first. Press the keys again to close the window. If there is no active program yet, this shortcut can be used to select a program for the upper half of the screen. |
| Windows + Left Arrow | Snap the active window to the left half of the screen. |
| Windows + Right Arrow | Snap the active window to the right half of the screen. If you hold down the Windows key after pinning the app to half the screen, you can use one of the other arrows to pin the app to a quarter of the screen. Also, you can press the same Arrow repeatedly to move windows to different monitors. |
| Windows + Home | Minimize the size of all windows except the active window. Press the shortcut again to restore minimized windows. |
| Windows + Shift + Up Arrow | Drag the active window to occupy the entire vertical space while maintaining the width. This shortcut does this with the down Arrow on the photo. |
| Windows + Shift + Right or Left Arrow | Move the active window to another monitor. |
| Windows + Ctrl + D | Create a new virtual desktop |
| Windows + Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow | Switch between virtual desktops left or right. |
| Windows + Ctrl + F4 | Close the current virtual desktop. Opened applications are moved to the next virtual desktop in order. |
Windows 11 shortcut keys for File Explorer
File Explorer is one of the essential features of Windows 11; it allows you to view and manage all your files. You can use several keyboard shortcuts to make your File Explorer experience easier and faster.
| Windows shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| Home | Go to the top of the current page. |
| End | Scroll to the bottom of the current page. |
| F11 | Maximize or minimize the currently active window. |
| Ctrl + N | Open a new window (which also works in some web browsers). |
| Ctrl + W | Close the active window (it can also close the active tab in web browsers). |
| Alt + D | Select the address bar. |
| Ctrl + E یا Ctrl + F یا F3 | Focus on the search bar. |
| Ctrl + mouse scroll | Change the size of the folder and file icons. Scrolling up makes the icons more significant, and scrolling down makes them smaller. |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder. |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | The folders in the current path are displayed in the Navigation Pane. |
| Num lock + * (star) | Display all folders and all subfolders of the current path in the Navigation Pane. |
| Num Lock + + (plus) | Display the contents of the selected folder. |
| Num lock + – (of them) | Collapse the expanded folder. |
| Alt + Enter | Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item and view its properties. |
| Alt + P | Show the preview panel. |
| Alt + Left Arrow or Backspace | View the previous folder or go back one page (it also works in some apps like web browsers). |
| Alt + right arrow | View the following folder or go forward one page. (It also works in some applications like web browsers) |
| Alt + Up Arrow | Go to the root folder of the current path. |
| Ctrl + (Arrow) | Please scroll through the items on the current page without selecting them. |
| Ctrl + comma | Select individual items while scrolling. |
| Shift + (Arrow) | In grid layouts, the up and down arrows select all rows of items. Select consecutive items are starting with the currently selected item. If you move in the opposite direction, the last selected item(s) will be deselected. |
| Right Arrow (in the navigation sidebar) | Open a collapsed folder or navigate to the first subfolder of the expanded folder. |
| left Arrow | Collapse the expanded folder or select the root of the currently selected folder. |
Keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes
Dialogue boxes form another part of the Windows graphical interface, including menus, feature pages, etc. Depending on the complexity of the dialog boxes, you may be able to use several keyboard shortcuts to navigate them.
| shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| F4 or Spacebar | Display the items in the active list. |
| Arrow keys | Select a button from a group of buttons or an option in a list. |
| Space | Select or deselect an active item if it is a checkbox. |
| Backspace | If a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box, go back to one folder level. |
| Ctrl + Tab | Switch forward between different tabs (which also works in web browsers). |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Switch back and forth between tabs. |
| Ctrl + number (number 1-9) | Please move to the desired tab based on its number. |
| Tab | Move through the options on the current page. |
| Shift + Tab | Scroll back and forth between options on the current page. |
| Alt + letter | Run a command or select an option to use with that letter. |
Windows 11 shortcuts for taskbar
Using the taskbar in Windows 11 can also be made easier with the help of keyboard shortcuts. Here are some key combinations that can help you select tasks related to the taskbar more quickly.
| Windows shortcut key | Function |
|---|---|
| Shift + click on the pinned program on the taskbar | Quickly open an app or another instance of an app. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Click on the pinned app on the taskbar | Open a program as admin. |
| Shift + right-click on a button on the taskbar | Display the window management menu. |
| Shift + right-click on the grouped taskbar button. | Show the window management menu for all open windows from that program. |
| Ctrl+click grouped taskbar button | Switch between all open windows from that app. |
| Windows + T | Switch between apps on the taskbar (open or pinned). |
| Windows + (number) | Launch the program pinned to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program (go to the specified number tab). |
| Windows + Shift + (number) | Start a new program instance pinned to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number, Even if one of them is already open. |
| Windows + Ctrl + (number) | Go to the last active window of the program that is pinned to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number. |
| Windows + Alt + (number) | Open the jump list for the program pinned to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number. |
| Windows + Ctrl + Shift + (عدد) | Open a new program instance in the taskbar’s specified position as admin. |
| Windows + B | Set focus to the first icon in the corner of the taskbar. If no app shows a hero, the focus is set to the Arrow showing the icons of open apps in the background. |
***
This article mentioned most of the good Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts. All these shortcuts allow you to navigate certain parts of the operating system or different programs without the need to use the mouse so that you don’t get distracted while doing things and don’t slow down. If you’re having a hard time remembering these shortcuts, Microsoft’s PowerToys app has a tool called Shortcut Guide that lets you see shortcuts that work with the Windows key. Unfortunately, this tool does not display other shortcuts.
We hope this article was helpful to you. If you don’t find the shortcut you want in these tables or if you know other shortcuts in addition to the ones mentioned, introduce them to other users and us. You can also read the Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts guide on Zoomit.
Common Questions
What are the most critical Windows shortcut keys?
Standard Windows hotkeys include copy, paste, undo, and hotkeys for accessing Windows features such as turning on Wi-Fi, multitasking shortcuts, and managing multiple windows.
How many computer shortcuts are there?
There are so many computer shortcuts that we have provided you with a list of 133 in this comprehensive article.