Windows keyboard shortcuts are a quick way to perform actions without the usual series of steps (like typing and mouse clicks) that they would normally require.

From locking your computer to shutting it down, minimising all windows or recording your screen, keyboard shortcuts are simply quicker - making your workflow that much more efficient. Microsoft has built a number of default shortcuts into Windows, and we’ll list the most useful ones here. You can also set your own custom shortcuts for actions you commonly perform - we’ll show you how.

WhileWindows 11and Windows 10 operating systems share a long list of keyboard shortcuts, some are exclusive to the latest iteration, and some do different things on the other version. Our list below clearly mentions which shortcuts are new and which have been updated. Read on for a list of the most helpful Windows keyboard shortcuts that will make you more productive.

How to use keyboard shortcuts on Windows

Before we get to the list of actual shortcuts, it’s worth explaining that you don’t need to do anything to set these up - they’re already active in Windows by default.

This means that all you have to do to use each one is press the right button combination, which should activate the shortcut. So, there’s no extra work required.

Keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11 and Windows 10

Keyboard shortcut

Switches between open apps.

Closes the active item or exit the active app.

Windows key + L

Locks your PC.

Windows key + D

Displays and hides the desktop.

Windows key + X

Windows key + X, then press U and U again

Shuts down the computer.

Windows key + X, then press U and then R

Restarts the computer.

Windows key + X then press U, then S

Puts the computer to sleep.

Windows key + X then press U, then press I

Signs out of the computer.

Cycles through items in the order in which they were opened.

Ctrl + Esc

Opens the Start menu.

Ctrl + Shift + Esc

Opens the Task Manager.

Takes a screenshot of your screen and copies it to the clipboard. This shortcut can also be made to open screen snipping, which lets you edit your screenshot. To do this, go to Start > Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard, and then turn on the “Use the Print Screen button to open screen snipping” option.

Windows key + Shift + S

Takes a screenshot of part of your screen.

Windows key + PrtScn

Saves a full-screen screenshot to file.

Windows key + Alt + PrtScn

Saves a screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game Bar).

Windows key + E

Opens the File Explorer.

Windows key + G

Opens the Xbox Game Bar.

Windows key + I

Opens Settings.

Locks your PC or switches accounts.

Windows key + M

Minimises all windows.

Windows key + Shift + M

Restores all minimised windows.

Windows key + R

Opens the Run dialog box.

Windows key + Alt + R

Records a video of window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar).

Windows key + S

Opens the search dialog box.

Windows key + T

Cycles through apps on the taskbar.

Windows key + U

Opens Accessibility Settings.

Windows key + V

Opens the clipboard history. By default on Windows 11 and Windows 10, Clipboard history isn’t on – but it’s easy to turn it on; just press this keyboard shortcut and then select the prompt to turn it on. You can turn it off by visiting Start > Settings > System > Clipboard and then turning off Clipboard history.

Windows key + period (.) or semicolon (;)

Opens emoji panel.

Windows key + comma (,)

Temporarily peek at the desktop.

Windows key + Pause

Opens Start > Settings > System > About.

Windows key + number

Opens the desktop and starts the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.

Windows key + Shift + number

Opens the desktop and starts a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

Windows key + Ctrl + number

Opens the desktop and switches to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

Windows key + Alt + number

Opens the desktop and opens the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + number

Opens the desktop and opens a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator.

Windows key + Tab

Opens Task view.

Windows key + Up arrow

Maximises the window.

Windows key + Down arrow

Removes the current app from the screen or minimises the desktop window.

Windows key + Left arrow

Maximises the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen.

Windows key + Right arrow

Maximises the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen.

Windows key + Home

Minimises all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on the second stroke).

Windows key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow

Moves an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.

Windows key + Shift + Spacebar

Cycles backwards through language and keyboard layout.

Windows key + Spacebar

Switches input language and keyboard layout.

Windows key + Ctrl + Spacebar

Changes to a previously selected input.

Windows key + Plus (+)

Opens Magnifier and zooms in.

Windows key + Minus (-)

Zooms out in Magnifier.

Windows key + Esc

Closes Magnifier.

Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B

Wakes PC from a blank or black screen.

Windows key + Ctrl + S

Turns on Windows Speech Recognition

Windows key + Ctrl + O

Turns on the On-Screen Keyboard

Windows key + Ctrl + D

Adds a virtual desktop.

Windows key + Ctrl + Right arrow

Switches between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.

Windows key + Ctrl + Left arrow

Switches between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.

Windows key + Ctrl + F4

Closes the virtual desktop you’re using.

Shortcuts that are new or updated with Windows 11

Windows key + A

Opens Quick Settings.

Windows key + C

Opens Windows Copilot.

Windows key + H

Launches voice typing.

Windows key + Alt + K

Toggles microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute.

Windows key + N

Opens notification center and calendar.

Windows key + W

Opens Widgets.

Windows key + Z

Opens the snap layouts.

Windows key + Alt + Up arrow

Snaps window in focus to top half of screen.

Windows key + Alt + Down arrow

Snaps window in focus to bottom half of screen.

For a more complete list of Windows keyboard shortcuts that can nearly completely remove the need for a mouse, visit this Microsoftsupport page.

How to make your own shortcuts

You can create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11 and Windows 10 in a few ways. The first, less complex way is to install Microsoft PowerToys and then use the Keyboard Manager tool. It lets you remap any key to another key or a shortcut. It also lets you change a shortcut (system-wide or in a particular application) to another key or shortcut.

Microsoft PowerToys also offers numerous other tools, most of which are accessible via keyboard shortcuts - each of which can be reconfigured to a custom shortcut. Examples of PowerToys utilities include FancyZones - which customises window layouts; Color Picker - which allows you to identify and select colours on your screen; and Mouse Without Borders - which enables using a single mouse across multiple Windows computers. Read ourdedicated Microsoft PowerToys guidefor everything you need to know about it.

The other, more complex way is to use the built-in shortcut creator in Windows.

you’re able to then right-click the newly created shortcut, select Properties, and then type a keyboard shortcut command in the “Shortcut key”. Just click on the box, then input your chosen combination of buttons, and hit the Enter key to finalise it.