Start with frequent tasks
Learn the commands you use every hour: search, save, switch tabs, copy, paste, undo, and open command menus.
Productivity Reference
Keyboard Shortcuts
Practical Notes
Shortcut Learning Strategy
Keyboard shortcuts are easiest to adopt when you focus on repeated actions instead of trying to memorize an entire application at once.Mind the platform
The same action may use Ctrl on Windows or Linux and Command on macOS.
Practice in context
Shortcuts stick faster when you use them during real work instead of reading a list once.
| Shortcut | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>V</kbd> | Open the clipboard history. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + number | Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Alt</kbd> + number | Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + number | Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + number | Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + number | Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-left"></i></kbd> | Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-right"></i></kbd> | Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Enter</kbd> | Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>X</kbd> | Open the Quick Link menu. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>R</kbd> | Open the Run dialog box. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>Space</kbd> | Open the shortcut menu for the active window. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Z</kbd> | Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>W</kbd> | Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>C</kbd> | Open Windows Copilot. Updated in Windows 11. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>G</kbd> | Open Xbox Game Bar when a game is open. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + Pause | Opens Start > Settings > System > About . | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>V</kbd> | Paste as plain text | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>V</kbd> (or <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Insert</kbd>) | Paste the selected item. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>V</kbd> (or <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>Insert</kbd>) | Paste the selected text. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + underlined letter | Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>_</kbd> (underline) | Perform the command for that letter. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>R</kbd> | Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar). | Note: Applies to the Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer. To update your Xbox Game Bar, go to the Microsoft Store app and check for updates. |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Y</kbd> | Redo an action. | Not available |
| <kbd>F5</kbd> | Refresh the active window. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>R</kbd> (or <kbd>F5</kbd>) | Refresh the active window. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-down"></i></kbd> | Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window. | Not available |
| <kbd>F2</kbd> | Rename the selected item. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + arrow keys | Resize the Start menu when it's open. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>M</kbd> | Restore minimized windows on the desktop. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd><i class="fa fa-arrow-down"></i></kbd> | Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>PrtScn</kbd> | Save full screen screenshot to file. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>PrtScn</kbd> | Save screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game Bar). | Note: Applies to the Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer. To update your Xbox Game Bar, go to the Microsoft Store app and check for updates. |
| <kbd>F3</kbd> | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>F</kbd> | Search for PCs (if you're on a network). | Not available |
| Type on any page with search box | Search settings. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> with an arrow key | Select a block of text. | Not available |
| Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>A</kbd> | Select all items in a document or window. | Not available |
| <kbd>Shift</kbd> with any arrow key | Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + arrow key (to move to an item) + <kbd>Spacebar</kbd> | Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop. | Not available |
| <kbd>Space</kbd> | Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>D</kbd> | Select the address bar. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>E</kbd> | Select the search box. | Not available |
| <kbd>Ctrl</kbd> + <kbd>F</kbd> | Select the search box. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>Shift</kbd> + <kbd>V</kbd> | Set focus to a notification. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>J</kbd> | Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available. When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip. Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored. | Not available |
| <kbd>Alt</kbd> + <kbd>A</kbd> | Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu. | Not available |
| <kbd><i class="fa fa-windows"></i></kbd> + <kbd>B</kbd> | Set focus to the first icon in the Taskbar corner. | Not available |
| <kbd>Shift</kbd> + right-click a taskbar button | Show the window menu for the app. | Not available |