Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

Windows 11 is Microsoft’s latest software update, and while many of the features and settings are still the same as they were on Windows 10, there are several new additions — and that includes a few unique keyboard shortcuts to perform tasks faster and improve your overall productivity, so you don’t have to worry about learning all-new shortcuts.

Read more: Windows 11 Hidden Features You Should Know About

In this article we’ll cover the most important keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11, many of which carry over from Windows 10 and earlier versions of Microsoft’s operating system. That includes the basics, like copying highlighted items and undoing a previous action, as well as lesser known shortcuts, like snapping an active window into place.

Windows Hotkeys or Shortcut Keys for Windows 11

Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts can save you a lot of time and help you to do things faster. Plus, it is more convenient to do tasks with a single press of one or multiple keys than endless clicks and scrolls.
By learning these shortcuts, you can navigate both Windows 10 and Windows 11 easily.

Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

We are dividing the list of existing keyboard shortcuts into 9 segments to help you better remember and access them. There are dozens of keyboard shortcuts available in Windows under the following categories:

  1. New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11
  2. General and Popular Shortcuts
  3. Screenshot Shortcuts
  4. Dialog Box and Text Editor Shortcuts
  5. Browser Shortcuts
  6. Command Prompt Shortcuts for Windows 11
  7. File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11
  8. Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts 
  9. Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts
New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

Windows 11 brings a few Keyboard Shortcuts for accessing its cool new features such as widgets, snap layouts, action center, and quick settings. We will list all of them below, along with their functions. Just so you know, the “Win” or “Win” key in this article refers to the Windows Logo key on your keyboard.

ActionSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open up the Widgets pane.
It supplies you with the weather forecast, local traffic, news, and even your calendar.
Win + W
Quick Access to Snap Layout.
It helps you organize apps and windows for multitasking.
Win + Z
Open Notifications Panel.
It shows all your notifications in the OS.
Win + N
Toggle up the Quick Settings.
It controls the Volume, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brightness sliders, Focus Assist, and other settings.
Win + A
Open Teams Chat app from Taskbar.
It helps you quickly select a chat thread directly from the Taskbar.
Win + C
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
General and Popular Shortcuts

To start, here are the ones you’ll use most often.

ActionSHORTCUTS KEYS
Cycle through the apps on the taskbarAlt + Esc
Display your password on the login screenAlt + F8
Open the shortcut menu for the current windowAlt + Spacebar
Open properties for the selected itemAlt + Enter
Open the context menu (right-click menu) for the selected itemAlt + F10
Move up one screenAlt + Page Up
Move down one screenAlt + Page Down
Close active window. When you are on the desktop with no active window selected, this shortcut opens the shutdown dialog box with options to restart, sleep, hibernate, log out, or shut down your PC.Alt + F4
Switch between the running applications (Task Switcher)Alt + Tab
Undo an actionCtrl + Z
Redo an actionCtrl + Y
Move selected item to Recycle BinCtrl + Delete
Keyboard shortcut to open Task Manager in Windows 11Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Save the current file (works on apps like Office 365, Notepad, Paint, etc.)Ctrl + S
Print the current pageCtrl + P
Save AsCtrl + Shift + S
Open a file in the current appCtrl + O
Open a new program window of the current appCtrl + N
Lock your computerWin + L
Minimizes all open windows and takes you. to the DesktopWin + D
Open Task ViewWin + Tab
Open Start Button context menuWin + X
Open Windows 11 SettingsWin + I
Open Run commandWin + R
Open Windows SearchWin + S or Win + Q
Launch Voice TypingWin + H
Windows 11 keyboard shortcut to access the Emoji keyboardWin + period (.) or Win + semicolon (;)
Project a screenWin + P
Delete the selected item permanentlyShift + Delete
Select more than one itemShift + Arrow keys
Rename a selected item.F2
Quickly search for files in File Explorer.F3
Highlight the address bar in File Explorer.F4
Refresh your active window. This shortcut also refreshes the Windows desktop when no active window is selected.F5
Cycle through elements (tab, buttons, search bar, etc.) in a window or your desktop.F6
: Activate the menu bar in the active window.F10
Enter/ Exit full-screen modeF11
Stop or close the current taskEsc
Go back to the Settings home page (while on any Windows Settings page)Backspace
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Screenshot Shortcuts

Here are some of the common native screenshot keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11.

ActionSHORTCUTS KEYS
Take a screenshot of the entire desktopPrtScn/ Print Screen
Take a screenshot of the Active WindowAlt + PrtScn
Capture any part of the screen with Snip & SketchWin + Shift + S
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Dialog Box and Text Editor Shortcuts

Use the following Windows hotkeys to navigate the Dialog box of any application easily.

ActionSHORTCUTS KEYS
Select all conteCtrl + A
Copy the selected itemsCtrl + C
Cut the selected itemsCtrl + X
Paste the clipboard itemsCtrl + V
Bolden selected text (Rich Text Editors only)Ctrl + B
Italicize selected text (Rich Text Editors only)Ctrl + I
Underline selected text (Rich Text Editors only)Ctrl + U
Move the cursor to the start of the current lineHome
Move the cursor to the end of the current lineEnd
Move forward through tabs.Ctrl + Tab
Move back through tabs.Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Show the items in the active list.F4
Move forward through options of the dialog boxTab
Move back through options of the dialog boxShift + Tab
Execute the command (or select the option) that is used with the underlined letter.Alt + underlined letter
Check or Uncheck the check box if the active option is a check box.Spacebar
Select or move to a button in a group of active buttons.Arrow keys
Open the parent folder if a folder is selected in the Open or Save As dialog box.Backspace
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Browser Shortcuts

The following shortcuts work on all major Windows browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. In general, these are among the keyboard shortcuts are mainly use.

ActionSHORTCUTS KEYS
Move to the tab on the leftCtrl + Shift + Tab
Move Between TabsCtrl + Numbers (1,2,…,9)
Move to the tab on the rightCtrl + Tab
Open on-page Search (works on text editors, word processors, Command Prompt, etc.)Ctrl + F
Move back one page (back arrow)Alt + Left Arrow
Move forward one pageAlt + Right Arrow
Move the cursor to the end of the current line and select textShift + End
Select/ highlight one line at a timeShift + Up/ Down Arrow Keys
Move the cursor to the start of the current line and select textShift + Home
Select/ highlight one character at a timeShift + Right/ Left Arrow keys
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Command Prompt Shortcuts for Windows 11

The Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, and Terminal support the standard text editing shortcuts to copy, paste, and edit commands. if you are a Command Prompt user, then these shortcuts will come handy.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Scroll to the top of the Command Prompt window (cmd).Ctrl + Home
Open search for Command Prompt.Ctrl + F
Scroll to the bottom of the cmd.Ctrl + End
Select everything on the current line Ctrl + A
Move the cursor up a pagePage Up
Move the cursor down a pagePage Down
Enter Mark mode.Ctrl + M
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer in Mark modeCtrl + Home
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer in Mark modeCtrl + End
Cycle through command history of active session.Up / Down arrow keys
Move cursor left or right in the current command line.Left / Right arrow keys
Move the screen up one line in the output history.Ctrl + Up arrow
Move the screen down one line in the output history.Ctrl + Down arrow
Move the cursor one word at a time.Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys
Move your cursor to the start of the current line.Shift + Home
Move your cursor to the end of the current line.Shift + End
Move cursor down one screen and select text.Shift + Page Down
Move cursor up one screen and select text.Shift + Page Up
Move cursor down one line and select the text.Shift + Down
Move cursor up one line and select the text.Shift + Up 
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
File Explorer Shortcuts for Windows 11

These keyboard shortcuts can help you navigate your Windows file system quickly.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open the File Explorer.Win + E
Select Search in File Explorer.Ctrl + E or Ctrl +F
Open the current page in a new window.Ctrl + N
Close active window.Ctrl + W
Change the file and folder view (switch between small icons, large icons, list, detailed view, etc.).Ctrl + Mouse Scroll
Changes folder view.Ctrl + Shift + Number (1,2,…,8)
Create a new folder.Ctrl + Shift + N
Expand all subfolders in the navigation pane on the left.Ctrl + Shift + E
Select address bar of the File Explorer.Alt + D
Display the preview panel.Alt + P
Open the Properties settings for the selected item.Alt + Enter
Go to the next folder.Alt + Right arrow
Go to the previous folder.Alt + Left arrow (or Backspace)
Go to the parent folder for the current file/folder.Alt + Up arrow
Switch focus to address bar.F4
Refresh the File Explorer.F5
Switch between left and right panes.F6
Collapse the current folder tree or select the parent folder (if it’s collapsed) in the left pane.Left Arrow
Expand the current folder tree or select the first subfolder (if it’s expanded) in the left pane.Right Arrow
Move to the top of the active window.Home
Move to the bottom of the active window.End
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts 

The following shortcuts help you easily launch apps in specific ways or under specific conditions using the Windows taskbar icons.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Run an app as administrator from the taskbarCtrl + Shift + Left Click app button or icon
Open the app in the first position on your taskbar. Win + 1
Open the app in the number position from the taskbar.Win + Number (0,1,2,…,9)
Cycle through apps in the taskbar.Win + T
View Date and Time from the taskbarWin + Alt + D
Open another instance of an app from the taskbar.Shift + Left Click app button
Show the window menu for the group apps from the taskbar.Shift + Right-click grouped app icon
Highlight the first item in the Notification Area and use the Arrow key switch between the itemWin + B
Open the application’s menu on the task barAlt + Windows key + number keys
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know
Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts 

The following keyboard shortcuts help activate and make use of accessibility features in Windows 11.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows SettingsWin + U
Turn on Magnifier and Zoom inWin + plus (+) 
Zoom out using MagnifierWin + minus (-) 
Exit MagnifierWin + Esc
Switch to the docked mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + D
Switch to full-screen mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + F
Switch to lens mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + L
Invert colors in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + I
Cycle through views in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + M
Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + R
Pan in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys
Zoom in or out using mouseCtrl + Alt + mouse scroll
Open NarratorWin + Enter
Open on-screen keyboardWin + Ctrl + O
Turn Filter Keys on and offPress Right Shift for eight seconds
Turn High Contrast on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + PrtSc
Turn Mouse Keys on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + Num Lock
Turn Sticky Keys on or offPress Shift five times
Turn Toggle Keys on or offPress Num Lock for five seconds
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Know

I hope after reading this blog you will know Keyboard Shortcuts  of windows 11. If you have still any question or doubt related to Keyboard Shortcuts then you can ask your question in comment section or you can massage us on Instagram.

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