200 Keyboard Shortcuts (Windows) to Boost Your Productivity

Keyboard shortcuts can boost your productivity if your daily job relies heavily on using Windows. They just don’t get the work done quickly, but also improves the efficiency. Give them a try and you just might find yourself getting addicted to keyboard shortcuts.

We’ve compiled a list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 200+ shortcuts grouped into categories for easy access. If we missed some shortcut in this list, kindly let us know through the comments section.

Table of content:

• General Shortcuts
• Windows Keys Shortcuts
• Dialog Box Shortcuts
• File Explorer Shortcuts
• Taskbar Shortcuts
• Ease of Access Shortcuts
• Magnifier Shortcuts
• Narrator Shortcuts
• Remote Desktop Connection Shortcuts
• Help Viewer Shortcuts
• App Rearrangement Shortcuts (Metro)

Note: Some of the shortcuts given below may not work for versions below Windows 8.

General Shortcuts

Let’s kickstart the list with the most common shortcuts that you’ll often use.

F1	Display Help
F2	Rename the selected item
F3	Search for a file or folder
F4	Display the address bar list in File Explorer
F5	Refresh the active window
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10	Activate the Menu bar in the active app
ALT + F4	Close the active item, or exit the active app
ALT + ESC	Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
ALT + underlined letter in menus and dialog box options	Perform the command for that letter
ALT + ENTER	Display properties for the selected item
ALT + SPACEBAR	Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT + LEFT ARROW	Back
ALT + RIGHT ARROW	Forward
ALT + PAGE UP	Move up one screen
ALT + PAGE DOWN	Move down one screen
ALT + TAB	Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)
CTRL + F4	Close the active document (in apps that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
CTRL + A	Select all items in a document or window
CTRL + C or CTRL + INSERT	Copy the selected item
CTRL + D / DELETE	DELETE the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
CTRL + R or F5	Refresh the active window
CTRL + V or SHIFT + INSERT	Paste the selected item
CTRL + X	Cut the selected item
CTRL + Y	Redo an action
CTRL + Z	Undo an action
CTRL + + or CTRL + –	Zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
CTRL + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large NUMBER of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
CTRL + RIGHT ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
CTRL + LEFT ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
CTRL + DOWN ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
CTRL + UP ARROW	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
CTRL + ALT + TAB	Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps
CTRL + ARROW + SPACEBAR	Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
CTRL + SHIFT + ARROW	Select a block of text
CTRL + ESC	Open the Start screen
CTRL + SHIFT + ESC	Open Task Manager
CTRL + SHIFT	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
CTRL + SPACEBAR	Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
SHIFT + F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
SHIFT + ARROW	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
SHIFT + DELETE	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
RIGHT ARROW	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
LEFT ARROW	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
ESC	Stop or leave the current task

Windows key Shortcuts

Let’s check the keyboard shortcuts involving the Windows logo key. Most of them are introduced in Windows 8’s Metro UI, and can be used in Windows 8 and above.

Win + F1	Open Windows Help and support
Win	Display or hide the Start screen
Win + B	Set focus in the notification area
Win + C	Open Charms
Win + D	Display and hide the desktop
Win + E	Open File Explorer
Win + F	Open the Search charm and search for files
Win + H	Open the Share charm
Win + I	Open the Settings charm
Win + K	Open the Devices charm
Win + L	Lock your PC or switch people
Win + M	Minimize all windows
Win + O	Lock device orientation
Win + P	Choose a presentation display mode
Win + Q	Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)
Win + R	Open the Run dialog box
Win + S	Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web
Win + T	Cycle through apps on the taskbar
Win + U	Open Ease of Access Center
Win + V	Cycle through notifications
Win + SHIFT + V	Cycle through notifications in reverse order
Win + W	Open the Search charm and search for settings
Win + X	Open the Quick Link menu
Win + Z	Show the commands available in the app
Win + ,	Temporarily peek at the desktop
Win + PAUSE	Display the System Properties dialog box
Win + CTRL + F	Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)
Win + SHIFT + M	Restore minimized windows on the desktop
Win + (NUMBER 1-9)	Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, it switches to that app.
Win + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)	Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)	Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + ALT + (NUMBER 1-9)	Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number
Win + CTRL + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)	Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator
Win + TAB	Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + CTRL + TAB	Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Win + SHIFT + TAB	Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Win + CTRL + B	Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
Win + UP ARROW	Maximize the window
Win + DOWN ARROW	Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window
Win + LEFT ARROW	Maximize the app or desktop window to the LEFT side of the screen
Win + RIGHT ARROW	Maximize the app or desktop window to the RIGHT side of the screen
Win + HOME	Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke)
Win + SHIFT + UP ARROW	Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW	Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width
Win + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW	Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another
Win + SPACEBAR	Switch input language and keyboard layout
Win + CTRL + SPACEBAR	Change to a previously selected input
Win + ENTER	Open Narrator
Win + SHIFT + .	Cycle through open apps
Win + .	Cycle through open apps
Win + /	Initiate IME reconversion
Win + ALT + ENTER	Open WindowsMedia Center
Win + +/-	Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Win + ESC	Exit Magnifier

Dialog Box shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used in dialog boxes.

F1	Display Help
F4	Display the items in the active list
CTRL + TAB	Move forward through tabs
CTRL + SHIFT + TAB	Move back through tabs
CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)	Move to nth tab
TAB	Move forward through options
SHIFT + TAB	Move back through options
ALT + underlined letter in menus and dialog box options	Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
BACKSPACE	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
ARROW keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons

File Explorer shortcuts

These are the shortcuts that can be used to work with File Explorer’s windows or folders.

ALT + D	Select the address bar
CTRL + E	Select the search box
CTRL + F	Select the search box
CTRL + N	Open a new window
CTRL + W	Close the current window
CTRL + mouse scroll wheel	Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
CTRL + SHIFT + E	Display all folders above the selected folder
CTRL + SHIFT + N	Create a new folder
NUM LOCK + *	Display all subfolders under the selected folder
NUM LOCK + +	Display the contents of the selected folder
NUM LOCK + –	Collapse the selected folder
ALT + P	Display the preview pane
ALT + ENTER	Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
ALT + RIGHT ARROW	View the next folder
ALT + UP ARROW	View the folder that the folder was in
ALT + LEFT ARROW	View the previous folder
BACKSPACE	View the previous folder
RIGHT ARROW	Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
LEFT ARROW	Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
END	Display the bottom of the active window
HOME	Display the top of the active window
F11	Maximize or minimize the active window

Taskbar shortcuts

Here are the keyboard shortcuts to work with items on the Desktop’s taskbar.

SHIFT + Click a taskbar button	Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app
CTRL + SHIFT + Click a taskbar button	Open an app as an administrator
SHIFT + Right-click a taskbar button	Show the window menu for the app
SHIFT + Right-click a grouped taskbar button	Show the window menu for the groUP
CTRL + Click a grouped taskbar button	Cycle through the windows of the groUP

Ease-of-access shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts to help you use your computer easily.

Hold RIGHT SHIFT for eight seconds	Turn Filter Keys on and off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + PRINT SCREEN	Turn High Contrast on or off
LEFT ALT + LEFT SHIFT + NUM LOCK	Turn Mouse Keys on or off
Press SHIFT five times	Turn Sticky Keys on or off
Press NUM LOCK for five seconds	Turn Toggle Keys on or off
Win + U	Open the Ease of Access Center

Magnifier shortcuts

Here are the keyboard shortcuts to help you use Magnifier.

Win + +	Zoom in
Win + –	Zoom out
CTRL + ALT + SPACEBAR	Preview the desktop in full-screen mode
CTRL + ALT + D	Switch to docked mode
CTRL + ALT + F	Switch to full-screen mode
CTRL + ALT + I	Invert colors
CTRL + ALT + L	Switch to lens mode
CTRL + ALT + R	Resize the lens
CTRL + ALT + ARROW keys	Pan in the direction of the ARROW keys
Win + ESC	Exit Magnifier

Narrator shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts to help you use Narrator.

SPACEBAR or ENTER	Activate current item
TAB + ARROW keys	Move around on the screen
CTRL	Stop reading
CAPS LOCK + D	Read item
CAPS LOCK + M	Start reading
CAPS LOCK + H	Read document
CAPS LOCK + V	Repeat phrase
CAPS LOCK + W	Read window
CAPS LOCK + PAGE UP or PAGE DOWN	Increase or decrease the volume of the voice
CAPS LOCK + +/-	Increase or decrease the speed of the voice
CAPS LOCK + SPACEBAR	Do default action
CAPS LOCK + LEFT or RIGHT ARROW	Move to previous/next item
CAPS LOCK + F2	Show commands for current item
Caps + ESC	Exit Narrator

Remote Desktop Connection shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts to ease the use of remote desktop connection.

ALT + PAGE UP	Move between apps, left to right
ALT + PAGE DOWN	Move between apps, right to left
ALT + INSERT	Cycle through apps in the order that they were started
ALT + HOME	Display the Start screen
CTRL + ALT + BREAK	Switch between a window and full screen
CTRL + ALT + END	Display the Windows Security dialog box
CTRL + ALT + HOME	In full-screen mode, activate the connection bar
ALT + DELETE	Display the system menu
CTRL + ALT + –	Place a copy of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal server clipboard (similar to ALT + PRINT SCREEN on a local PC)
CTRL + ALT + +	Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard (similar to Print Screen on a local PC)
CTRL + ALT + RIGHT ARROW	TAB out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.
CTRL + ALT + LEFT ARROW	TABout of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.

Help Viewer shortcuts

These are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used with the help viewer.

F3	Move the cursor to the search box
F10	Display the Options menu
HOME	Move to the beginning of a topic
END	Move to the end of a topic
ALT + LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic
ALT + RIGHT ARROW	Move to the next (previously viewed) topic
ALT + HOME	Display the Help and support home page
ALT + A	Display the customer support page
ALT + C	Display the TABle of Contents
ALT + N	Display the Connection Settings menu
CTRL + F	Search the current topic
CTRL + P	Print a topic

Apps-rearranging shortcuts (Metro)

Here are the keyboard shortcuts that can be used to rearrange apps on Metro screen. You should keep the Windows key pressed down continuously once you enter in the rearrange mode, then use the various commands. When you’re done rearranging apps, then release the Windows key.

Win + .	Enter Rearrange mode and select apps or dividers across monitors
Win + LEFT ARROW	Move app divider left
Win + RIGHT ARROW	Move app divider right
Win + UP ARROW	Maximize app
Win + DOWN ARROW	Close app
Win + ESC	Exit Rearrange mode