Windows Keyboard Shortcuts — The Essential Cheatsheet

Windows keyboard shortcuts.

The Windows shortcuts worth memorising — search by name or keys, and copy as you go.

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Essentials

CopyCtrl+C

CutCtrl+X

PasteCtrl+V

Paste as plain textCtrl+⇧+V

UndoCtrl+Z

RedoCtrl+Y

Select allCtrl+A

SaveCtrl+S

PrintCtrl+P

FindCtrl+F

Text editing

BoldCtrl+B

ItalicCtrl+I

UnderlineCtrl+U

Move one word left / rightCtrl+←/→

Delete previous wordCtrl+⌫

Start / end of lineHome+/ End

Select to start / end of line⇧+Home / End

Top / bottom of documentCtrl+Home / End

Windows & desktop

Switch appsAlt+Tab

Close appAlt+F4

Task view⊞+Tab

Snap window left / right⊞+←/→

Show desktop⊞+D

Lock PC⊞+L

Open Settings⊞+I

Search⊞+S

Run dialog⊞+R

Task ManagerCtrl+⇧+Esc

Screenshots & capture

Snip an area (Snipping Tool)⊞+⇧+S

Copy whole screenPrtSc

Copy active windowAlt+PrtSc

Save full screenshot⊞+PrtSc

Open Game Bar⊞+G

Emoji picker⊞+.

File Explorer

Open File Explorer⊞+E

New folderCtrl+⇧+N

PropertiesAlt+Enter

RenameF2

Delete to Recycle BinDel

Delete permanently⇧+Del

Up one folderAlt+↑

Browser

New tabCtrl+T

Close tabCtrl+W

Reopen closed tabCtrl+⇧+T

Next / previous tabCtrl+Tab

Focus address barCtrl+L

Reload pageCtrl+R

Back / forwardAlt+←/→

Get faster on Windows

These everyday Windows shortcuts cover the clipboard and text editing, snapping and switching windows, the Windows key tricks, screenshots, File Explorer and your browser. The Ctrl and ⊞ Windows keys handle most of them. On a Mac instead? See the Mac keyboard shortcuts cheatsheet.

FAQ

How do I take a screenshot on Windows?

Press ⊞ + Shift + S to open Snipping Tool and capture an area, PrtSc to copy the whole screen, or ⊞ + PrtSc to save a full screenshot to your Pictures folder.

How do I snap a window in Windows?

Press ⊞ + Left or ⊞ + Right arrow to snap the active window to that half of the screen; add Up or Down to snap into quarters.

What does the Windows key do?

The ⊞ Windows key opens the Start menu on its own and powers many shortcuts — ⊞ + E opens File Explorer, ⊞ + L locks the PC, and ⊞ + D shows the desktop.

Windows keyboard shortcuts.

Get faster on Windows

FAQ

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