Computer shortcut keys let you do in one stroke what normally takes several mouse clicks, and on Windows 10 and 11 there are dozens worth learning. This guide groups the most useful ones by task so you can find what you need fast, and ends with fixes for when a shortcut stops responding.
If you use a Mac, see our Mac keyboard shortcuts list instead. Most Windows shortcuts use Ctrl where a Mac uses Command.
Key takeaways
- The ten shortcuts that matter most: Ctrl+C, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+S, Alt+Tab, Win+D and Win+Shift+S.
- The Windows key (Win) opens most of the system-level shortcuts, from Win+E (File Explorer) to Win+L (lock).
- A shortcut that stops working is usually a stuck modifier, Fn lock, Sticky Keys or a conflicting app, and a quick key test shows which.
Want to see which keys your keyboard actually registers? Run the online keyboard tester and press the keys you use for shortcuts.
The basics every Windows user should know
These work in almost every program. If you only learn one table, learn this one.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+C | Copy |
| Ctrl+X | Cut |
| Ctrl+V | Paste |
| Ctrl+Shift+V | Paste without formatting (works in many apps, not all) |
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo (Ctrl+Shift+Z in some apps) |
| Ctrl+A | Select all |
| Ctrl+F | Find |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+P | |
| Ctrl+N | New document or window |
| Ctrl+O | Open |
| Alt+Tab | Switch between open apps |
| Alt+F4 | Close the active window (on the desktop it opens the shut down dialog) |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Open Task Manager |
| Ctrl+Alt+Del | Security screen: lock, switch user, sign out, Task Manager |
| Win+L | Lock your PC |
| Win+D | Show or hide the desktop |
| Win+V | Clipboard history (turn it on the first time you press it) |
Windows key shortcuts for the system
The Windows key opens system tools without hunting through menus. If you are not sure where a key sits or what it is for, our guide to every key on a computer keyboard labels them all.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Win | Open the Start menu |
| Win+E | Open File Explorer |
| Win+I | Open Settings |
| Win+R | Open the Run box |
| Win+S | Open Search |
| Win+X | Open the power user menu (Task Manager, Device Manager, Terminal and more) |
| Win+A | Open Quick Settings (Windows 11) |
| Win+N | Open notifications and calendar (Windows 11) |
| Win+W | Open Widgets (Windows 11) |
| Win+G | Open the Xbox Game Bar |
| Win+H | Start voice typing (Windows 11) |
| Win+K | Open the cast panel |
| Win+P | Choose a display mode: PC screen only, duplicate, extend, second screen only |
| Win+. (period) or Win+; | Open the emoji, GIF and symbol panel |
| Win+Ctrl+Shift+B | Restart the graphics driver if the screen goes black or frozen |
Text editing shortcuts
Editing text with the keyboard is faster than reaching for the mouse, and the same keys work in Notepad, Word, browsers and most email apps.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Left / Ctrl+Right | Jump one word left or right |
| Ctrl+Backspace | Delete the previous word |
| Ctrl+Delete | Delete the next word |
| Home / End | Jump to the start or end of the line |
| Ctrl+Home / Ctrl+End | Jump to the start or end of the document |
| Shift+Arrow keys | Select one character or line at a time |
| Ctrl+Shift+Left / Right | Select one word at a time |
| Shift+Home / Shift+End | Select to the start or end of the line |
| Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+U | Bold, italic, underline (in most editors) |
| Ctrl+K | Insert a link (in Word, Outlook and many web editors) |
Combine them. Ctrl+Shift+Left three times selects three words, and one Backspace removes them.
Windows, snapping and virtual desktops
Window management is where Windows 11 shortcuts save the most time, especially on a large or dual monitor setup.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Win+Left / Win+Right | Snap the window to the left or right half |
| Win+Up | Maximize the window |
| Win+Down | Restore the window, then minimize it |
| Win+Z | Open snap layouts (Windows 11) |
| Win+Shift+Left / Right | Move the window to another monitor |
| Win+M | Minimize all windows |
| Win+Home | Minimize everything except the active window |
| Win+Tab | Open Task View |
| Win+Ctrl+D | Create a new virtual desktop |
| Win+Ctrl+Left / Right | Switch between virtual desktops |
| Win+Ctrl+F4 | Close the current virtual desktop |
File Explorer shortcuts
Open File Explorer with Win+E, then use these.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Create a new folder |
| F2 | Rename the selected item |
| Alt+Up | Go up one folder level |
| Alt+Left / Alt+Right | Go back or forward |
| Ctrl+L or Alt+D | Jump to the address bar |
| Ctrl+E or F3 | Jump to the search box |
| F5 | Refresh |
| Alt+Enter | Show properties of the selected item |
| Shift+Delete | Delete permanently, skipping the Recycle Bin (after a confirmation) |
| Ctrl+T | Open a new tab (Windows 11 22H2 and later) |
| Ctrl+W | Close the current tab |
Screenshot shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Win+Shift+S | Open the snipping toolbar to capture a region, window or full screen |
| Print Screen | Capture the full screen to the clipboard (on recent Windows 11 builds it opens the snipping toolbar by default, which you can change in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard) |
| Alt+Print Screen | Copy the active window to the clipboard |
| Win+Print Screen | Save a full-screen capture to Pictures > Screenshots |
On many laptops you may need to hold Fn with the Print Screen key. We cover that in our guide to function keys F1 to F12.
Browser shortcuts
These work in Chrome, Edge and Firefox unless noted.
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+T | New tab |
| Ctrl+W | Close the tab |
| Ctrl+Shift+T | Reopen the last closed tab |
| Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Next or previous tab |
| Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+8 | Jump to that tab; Ctrl+9 goes to the last tab |
| Ctrl+L or F6 | Select the address bar |
| Ctrl+D | Bookmark the page |
| Ctrl+H | Open history |
| Ctrl+J | Open downloads |
| Ctrl+Shift+N | Private window (Chrome, Edge); Firefox uses Ctrl+Shift+P |
| F5 or Ctrl+R | Reload; Ctrl+Shift+R reloads ignoring cache |
| Ctrl+Plus / Ctrl+Minus / Ctrl+0 | Zoom in, zoom out, reset zoom |
| F11 | Full screen |
| Ctrl+Shift+Delete | Open the clear browsing data dialog |
Accessibility shortcuts
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shift pressed 5 times | Turn on Sticky Keys (a prompt appears first) |
| Hold right Shift for 8 seconds | Turn on Filter Keys |
| Hold Num Lock for 5 seconds | Turn on Toggle Keys |
| Win+Plus | Open Magnifier |
| Win+Ctrl+Enter | Turn Narrator on or off |
| Win+U | Open accessibility settings |
| Win+Ctrl+O | Open the on-screen keyboard |
Why your computer shortcut keys stop working
When a shortcut does nothing, work through these causes in order.
- A modifier key is stuck. If Ctrl, Shift or Alt is registering as held down, every combination breaks. Open the keyboard tester; it flags any key held for more than three seconds as a possible stuck key.
- Fn lock is on. On many laptops F1 to F12 act as media keys until you press Fn together with them, or toggle Fn lock.
- Sticky Keys or Filter Keys changed the behavior. The accessibility shortcuts above are easy to trigger by accident.
- The wrong layout is active. If you added a second input language, Win+Space may have switched layouts.
- An app owns the shortcut. Screen recorders, clipboard tools and games can capture a combination before Windows sees it.
- The Windows key is disabled. Some gaming keyboards have a Win lock switch or a gaming mode.
- You are inside a remote or virtual session. The remote machine may receive the shortcut instead of your PC.
Be aware that a browser-based test cannot see the Fn key or a few system-level combinations such as Ctrl+Alt+Del. If a single key looks dead, use the Keycode Finder to confirm whether it sends any signal. For a wider checklist, read keyboard not working: causes and fixes.
Frequently asked questions
What are computer shortcut keys?
Computer shortcut keys are key combinations that trigger an action without using the mouse, such as Ctrl+C to copy or Win+L to lock your PC. They usually pair a modifier key like Ctrl, Alt, Shift or the Windows key with a letter, number or function key.
What is the most useful Windows shortcut?
It depends on your work, but Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V and Ctrl+Z cover most daily tasks. For faster navigation, Alt+Tab switches apps, Win+D shows the desktop, and Win+Shift+S captures a screenshot. Learn those three before moving on to window snapping and virtual desktops.
How do I see all keyboard shortcuts in a program?
Many apps list them in a menu, since shortcuts appear beside menu items. Word, Excel and most browsers also have a shortcut reference in their help pages. In Windows itself, Microsoft publishes the full list of Windows shortcuts in its official support documentation.
Why do my Windows shortcuts not work?
Common causes are a stuck modifier key, Fn lock on a laptop, Sticky Keys, a different input language, or an app using the same shortcut. Test your keys in a keyboard tester to see whether Ctrl, Alt, Shift and the Windows key register properly.
Are Windows 10 and Windows 11 shortcuts the same?
Most are identical. Windows 11 adds or changes a few, including Win+Z for snap layouts, Win+A for Quick Settings, Win+W for Widgets and Win+N for notifications. The editing, browser and File Explorer shortcuts work the same on both.