In Summary
- With Windows 11, Microsoft added a bunch of new features like a new search bar, improved animations, better multitasking capabilities, and a few more.
- Additionally, Microsoft has also added some cool new keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11.
- We have summarized a list of all Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts, old and new, to help you become a power user.
Back in June, Microsoft unveiled the latest version of its desktop operating system, Windows 11, to the public. While it’s still in beta testing, many users already have Windows 11 installed on their PCs. With Windows 11, Microsoft has added a number of new features, such as a new search bar, improved animations, better multitasking capabilities, and a few more.
Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts
With each new version of Windows, the tech giant adds cool new keyboard shortcuts to improve the overall experience for power users. In Windows 11, too, there are many new keyboard shortcuts that you might find very useful, such as Widgets, Layouts, Action Center, and Quick Settings. Let’s take a detailed look at them.
1. New Shortcuts added in Windows 11
Microsoft has added some new features in Windows 11. For example, Snap Layouts. If you hover over the maximize button (the square in the upper right corner of each window next to the close cross sign), you’ll see several grids. You can use these grids to arrange your windows the way you want. And there’s a keyboard shortcut to access Snap Layouts.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Open Action Center | Win + A |
|
| Open Notifications Panel (Notification Center) | Win + N | |
| Open Widgets Panel | Win + W | |
| Quick Access to Snap Layout | Win + Z | |
| Open Microsoft Teams | Win + C |
|
2. Windows 11 Text-Editing Keyboard Shortcuts
Text-Editing plays an important role for many people when editing documents, presentations, and much more. In the following table, you can find all the valuable Windows 11 shortcuts for quick test editing.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Cut the selected item | Ctrl + X | |
| Copy the selected item | Ctrl + C | |
| Paste the selected item | Ctrl + V | |
| Bolden selected text | Ctrl + B | |
| Italicize selected text | Ctrl + I | |
| Underline selected text | Ctrl + U | |
| Move the cursor to the start of the current line | Home | |
| Move the cursor to the end of the current line | End | |
3. General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11
This table summarizes all common and frequently used Windows 11 shortcut keys that will help you interact with the UI.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Switch between open apps. | Alt + Tab | |
| Close the active item, or exit the active app. | Alt + F4 | |
| Lock your PC. | Win + L | |
| Display and hide the desktop. | Win + D | |
| Perform the command for that letter. | Alt + underlined letter | |
| Display properties for the selected item. | Alt + Enter | |
| Open the shortcut menu for the active window. | Alt + Spacebar | |
| Go back. | Alt + Left arrow | |
| Go forward. | Alt + Right arrow | |
| Move up one screen. | Alt + Page Up | |
| Move down one screen. | Alt + Page Down | |
| Close the active document | Ctrl + F4 | |
| Select all items in a document or window | Ctrl + A | |
| Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin | Ctrl + D | |
| Refresh the active window | Ctrl + R | |
| Redo an action. | Ctrl + Y | |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word. | Ctrl + Right arrow | |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word. | Ctrl + Left arrow | |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph | Ctrl + Down arrow | |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph. | Ctrl + Up arrow | |
| Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps | Ctrl + Alt + Tab | |
| When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified. | Alt + Shift + arrow keys | |
| When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder. | Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys | |
| Resize the Start menu when it’s open. | Ctrl + arrow keys | |
| Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop | Ctrl + arrow key+ spacebar | |
| Select a block of text | Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key | |
| Open Start. | Ctrl + Esc | |
| Open Task Manager | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | |
| Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available | Ctrl + Shift | |
| Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off. | Ctrl + Spacebar | |
| Display the shortcut menu for the selected item. | Shift + F10 | |
| Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first | Shift + Delete | |
| Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu | Right arrow | |
| Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu | Left arrow | |
| Stop or leave the current task | Esc | |
| Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard. | PrtScn | |
4. Windows 11 Function Key Keyboard Shortcuts
Function keys add a significant amount of flexibility to our work. These keyboard shortcuts help you use a variety of function keys on your keyboard.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Rename the selected item. | F2 | |
| Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. | F3 | |
| Display the address bar list in File Explorer. | F4 | |
| Refresh the active window. | F5 | |
| Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. | F6 | |
| Activate the Menu bar in the active app | F10 | |
| Maximize or minimize the active window | F11 | |
5. Windows 11 File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
Many people’s daily work requires interaction with several working files, which increases the use of the file manager. The following table allows you to manage files using shortcuts quickly.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Select the address bar. | Alt + D | |
| Select the search box | Ctrl + E | |
| Open a new window | Ctrl + N | |
| Close the active window | Ctrl + W | |
| Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons | Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel | |
| Display all folders above the selected folder | Ctrl + Shift + E | |
| Create a new folder | Ctrl + Shift + N | |
| Display all subfolders under the selected folder | Num Lock + asterisk (*) | |
| Display the contents of the selected folder | Num Lock + plus (+) | |
| Collapse the selected folder | Num Lock + minus (-) | |
| Display the preview panel | Alt + P | |
| Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item | Alt + Enter | |
| View the next folder | Alt + Right arrow | |
| View the folder that the folder was in | Alt + Up arrow | |
| View the previous folder | Alt + Left arrow or Backspace | |
| Display the current selection | Right arrow | |
| Collapse the current selection | Left arrow | |
| Display the bottom of the active window | End | |
| Display the top of the active window | Home | |
6. Windows 11 taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts
These keyboard shortcuts will help you get the most out of your Windows 11 taskbar.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app. | Shift + left click a app icon |
|
| Open an app as an administrator | Ctrl + Shift + left click a app icon |
|
| Show the window menu for the app | Shift + right-click a app icon |
|
| Cycle through apps in the taskbar | Win + T | |
| Open apps in taskbar based off their pinned number | Win + Number key | |
| Cycle through the windows of the group | Ctrl + click a grouped taskbar button | |
7. Windows 11 settings Keyboard Shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts will help you navigate the Settings app in Windows 11 with ease.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Open settings | Win + I | |
| Go back to the settings home page | Backspace | |
| Search settings | Type on any page with a search box | |
8. Windows 11 Virtual Desktops Keyboard Shortcuts
Do you have multiple virtual desktops? These shortcuts will help you switch between them quickly.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Open Task view | Win + Tab | |
| Add a virtual desktop |
Win + Ctrl + D
|
|
| Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right | Win + Ctrl + Right arrow | |
| Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left | Win + Ctrl + Left arrow | |
| Close the virtual desktop you’re using | Win + Ctrl + F4 | |
9. Windows 11 Dialog box Shortcut Keys
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Display the items in the active list | F4 | |
| Move back through tabs | Ctrl + Shift + Tab | |
| Move back through tabs | Ctrl + Shift + Tab | |
| Move to nth tab | Ctrl + number (number 1–9) | |
| Move forward through options | Tab | |
| Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter | Alt + underlined letter | |
| Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box | Spacebar | |
| Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box | Backspace | |
| Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons | Arrow keys | |
10. Windows 11 Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts
This list will allow you to work more efficiently in the command prompt.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Copy the selected text | Ctrl + C | |
| Paste the selected text | Ctrl + V | |
| Enter Mark mode. | Ctrl + M | |
| Begin selection in block mode | Alt + selection key | |
| Move the cursor in the direction specified | Arrow keys | |
| Move the cursor by one page up | Page up | |
| Move the cursor by one page down | Page down | |
| Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer | Ctrl + Home | |
| Move the cursor to the end of the buffer | Ctrl + End | |
| Move up one line in the output history | Ctrl + Up arrow | |
| Move down one line in the output history | Ctrl + Down arrow | |
11. Windows 11 Game Bar Keyboard Shortcuts
Are you in a game and want to access game features? These shortcuts will help you without exiting the game.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Open Game Bar | Win + G | |
| Take a screenshot of the active game | Win + Alt + PrtSc | |
| Record the last 30 seconds of the active game | Win + Alt + G | |
| Start or stop recording active game | Win + Alt + R | |
| Show/ hide recording timer of active game | Win + Alt + T | |
12. Windows 11 Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts help access various accessibility features in Windows 11.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Turn on Magnifier and Zoom | Win + plus (+) | |
| Zoom out using Magnifier | Win + minus (-) | |
| Open “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows Settings | Win + U | |
| Exit Magnifier | Win + Esc | |
| Switch to the docked mode in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + D | |
| Switch to full-screen mode in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + F | |
| Turn Sticky Keys on or off | Press Shift five times | |
| Switch to lens mode in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + L | |
| Invert colors in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + I | |
| Cycle through views in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + M | |
| Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + R | |
| Pan in Magnifier | Alt + Ctrl + Arrow keys | |
| Zoom in or out | Ctrl + Alt + mouse scroll | |
| Open Narrator | Win + Enter | |
| Turn Toggle Keys on or off | Press Num Lock for five seconds | |
| Open on-screen keyboard with this shortcut in Windows 11 | Win + Ctrl + O | |
| Turn Filter Keys on and off | Hold down Right Shift for eight seconds | |
| Turn High Contrast on or off | Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtSc | |
| Turn Mouse Keys on or off | Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock | |
13. Windows 11 Browser Shortcuts
These shortcuts will make using browsers ever so easy. That said, all listed shortcuts will work fine on most browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and more.
| Action | Shortcut | |
|---|---|---|
| Find on page | Ctrl + F | |
| Select the URL in the address bar to edit | Alt + D | |
| Open “Ease of Access” Centre in Windows Settings | Win + U | |
| Open History | Ctrl + H | |
| Open Downloads in a new tab | Ctrl + J | |
| Open a new window | Ctrl + N | |
| Print the current page | Ctrl + P | |
| Reload the current page | Ctrl + R | |
| Open a new tab and switch to it | Ctrl + T | |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I create custom application shortcuts in Windows 11?
Yes, you can indeed create a custom application shortcut in Windows 11. Just create a shortcut of the app and then right-click. Under properties, you will see an option for the shortcut key. Click on it and press the key combination you want to set for that application.
2. What is the shortcut key for opening task manager quickly?
You can open the task manager quickly by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Escape keys together. Yes, it’s not Ctrl + Alt + Del anymore. Get used to the new shortcut.
3. Are the Windows 11 shortcut keys the same across all devices?
Yes, absolutely. All the listed shortcuts in our article will work across all Windows 11 devices across different manufacturers and device form factors.