The operating system Windows 10 inherits all the keyboard shortcuts from previous versions (Windows 8.1/7/XP etc.), but it also includes some new keyboard shortcuts. All of them are listed below.
The Windows logo key (WIN) is also known as Start key, logo key, Windows key, Win key.
Keyboard shortcuts for Windows logo key (WIN) |
Key | Action |
WIN | Open or close the Start Menu |
WIN+A | Open Action center |
WIN+B | Set focus in the notification area |
WIN+C | Open Cortana in listening mode (it is available not for all countries) |
WIN+D | Show or hide the desktop |
WIN+E | Open the File Explorer |
WIN+F | Open the Feedback Hub |
WIN+G | Open the Game bar when a game is open |
WIN+H | Open the Share charm |
WIN+I | Open Settings |
WIN+K | Open the Connect quick action |
WIN+L | Lock the Computer screen or switch the account |
WIN+M | Minimize all opened windows |
WIN+O | Lock the device orientation |
WIN+P | Choose a presentation display mode (this shortcut starts DisplaySwitch.exe for multi monitor systems) |
WIN+Q | Open the Search |
WIN+R | Open the Run dialog box |
WIN+S | Open the Search panel |
WIN+T | Cycle through all apps on the taskbar |
WIN+U | Open the Ease of Access Center (Narrator) |
WIN+V | Cycle through notifications |
WIN+Shift+V | Cycle through notifications in reverse order |
WIN+X | Open the Quick Link menu |
WIN+Z | Show the commands available in an application in full-screen mode |
WIN+comma (,) | Show the desktop for a while |
WIN+Pause | Display the System Properties dialog box (view basic information about your computer) |
WIN+Ctrl+F | Find computers in your network |
WIN+Shift+M | Restore previously minimized windows |
WIN+number | Switch to a running application or minimize it, or show the desktop and start a pinned application number n (n = 1..9). |
WIN+Shift+number | Show the desktop, and start a new copy of an application pinned to the taskbar in the position n (n = 1..9) |
WIN+Ctrl+number | Show the desktop or switch to the last active window of the application pinned to the taskbar in the position n (n = 1..9) |
WIN+Alt+number | Show the Resent menu (the jump list) of an application number n (n = 1..9) in the task bar |
WIN+Alt+D | Show / hide Calendar and clock |
WIN+Ctrl+Shift+number | Show the desktop or open a new instance of an application at the position n (n = 1..9) on the taskbar, run it as an administrator |
WIN+Ctrl+Shift+B | Restart the video driver |
WIN+Tab | Open the Task View |
WIN+Up arrow | Maximize the window |
WIN+Down arrow | Minimize the window of an application or remove current application from screen |
WIN+Left arrow | Maximize the window of an application or desktop window to the left side of the screen |
WIN+Right arrow | Maximize the application or desktop window to the right side of the screen |
WIN+Home | Minimize application except the active window (restores all windows on second stroke) |
WIN+Shift+Up arrow | Stretch the current window to the top and bottom of the screen |
WIN+Shift+Down arrow | Restore or minimize active windows vertically, maintaining width |
WIN+Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow | Move an application or window in the desktop from one monitor to another |
WIN+Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
WIN+Ctrl+Spacebar | Change to a previously selected input language |
WIN+Enter | Open the Narrator |
WIN+forward slash (/) | Initiate Input Method Editor (IME) reconversion |
WIN+plus (+) or minus (-) | Zoom in or out using the Magnifier |
WIN+Esc | Exit the Magnifier |
WIN+Ctrl+D | Add a virtual desktop |
WIN+Ctrl+Right arrow | Switch between virtual desktops through the right side |
WIN+Ctrl+Left arrow | Switch between virtual desktops through the left side |
WIN+Ctrl+F4 | Close the current virtual desktop |
Keyboard shortcuts for Command Prompt |
Key | Action |
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) | Copy the selected text |
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) | Paste the selected text |
Ctrl+M | Enter the Mark mode |
Alt+selection key | Begin selection in block mode (e.g. Ctrl+Alt+C) |
Arrow keys | Move the cursor in the direction specified |
Page up | Move the cursor by one page up |
Page down | Move the cursor by one page down |
Ctrl+Home (Mark mode) | Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer |
Ctrl+End (Mark mode) | Move the cursor to the end of the buffer |
Ctrl+Up arrow | Move up one line in the output history |
Ctrl+Down arrow | Move down one line in the output history |
Ctrl+Home (History navigation) | If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line. |
Ctrl+End (History navigation) | If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line. |
F3 | Type the last command entered in the command line |
Keyboard shortcuts for Dialog boxes |
Key | Action |
F4 | Display the items in the active list |
Ctrl+Tab | Move forward through all tabs |
Ctrl+Shift+Tab | Move back through all tabs |
Ctrl+number (number 1-9) | Move to the n tab (n = 1..9) |
Tab | Move forward through all options |
Shift+Tab | Move back through all options |
Alt+underlined letter | Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter |
Spacebar | Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box |
Backspace | Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As... or the Open dialog box |
Arrow keys | Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons |
keyboard shortcuts for File Explorer |
Key | Action |
Alt+D | Select the address bar |
Ctrl+E | Select the search box |
Ctrl+F | Select the search box |
Ctrl+N | Open a new window |
Ctrl+W | Close the current window |
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel | Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons |
Ctrl+Shift+E | Display all folders above the selected folder |
Ctrl+Shift+N | Create a new folder |
Num Lock+asterisk (*) | Display all subfolders under the selected folder in the left pane |
Num Lock+plus (+) | Display the contents of the selected folder in the left pane |
Num Lock+minus (-) | Collapse the selected folder in the left pane |
Alt+P | Display the preview pane |
Alt+Enter | Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item |
Alt+Right arrow | View the next folder |
Alt+Up arrow | View the folder that the folder was in |
Alt+Left arrow | View the previous folder |
Backspace | View the previous folder |
Right arrow | Display the current selection (if it's collapsed), or select the first subfolder |
Left arrow | Collapse the current selection (if it's expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in |
End | Scroll to the bottom in the active window |
Home | Scroll to the top in the active window |
F11 | Maximize or minimize the active window |
Keyboard shortcuts for the Taskbar |
Key | Action |
Shift+click a taskbar button | Open an application or quickly open another instance of an application |
Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar button | Open an application as an administrator |
Shift+right-click a taskbar button | Show the window menu for the application |
Shift+right-click a grouped taskbar button | Show the window menu for the group |
Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar button | Cycle through the windows of the group |
Keyboard shortcuts for the Narrator |
Key | Action |
WIN+Enter | Start or exit Narrator |
Caps Lock+ESC | Exit Narrator |
Caps Lock+M | Start reading |
Ctrl | Stop reading |
Caps Lock+Spacebar | Do default action |
Caps Lock+Right arrow | Move to the next item |
Caps Lock+Left arrow | Move to the previous item |
Caps Lock+Up or Down arrow | Change the view |
Caps Lock+F2 | Show commands for current item |
Caps Lock+Enter | Change search mode |
Caps Lock+A | Change verbosity mode |
Caps Lock+Z | Lock Narrator key (Caps Lock) so you don't have to press it for every keyboard shortcut |
Caps Lock+X | Have Narrator ignore the next keyboard shortcut you use |
Caps Lock+F12 | Turn keystroke reading off or on |
Caps Lock+V | Repeat phrase |
Caps Lock+Page Up or Page Down | Increase or decrease voice volume |
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-) | Increase or decrease voice speed |
Caps Lock+D | Read an item |
Caps Lock+F | Read advanced info about an item |
Caps Lock+S | Read an item spelled out |
Caps Lock+W | Read a window |
Caps Lock+R | Read all items in the containing area |
Caps Lock+Num Lock | Turn on/off the mouse mode |
Caps Lock+Q | Move to the last item in the containing area |
Caps Lock+G | Move Narrator cursor to the system cursor |
Caps Lock+T | Move Narrator cursor to the pointer |
Caps Lock+tilde (~) | Set focus to an item |
Caps Lock+Backspace | Go back one item |
Caps Lock+Insert | Jump to linked item |
Caps Lock+F10 | Read current row header |
Caps Lock+F9 | Read current column header |
Caps Lock+F8 | Read current row |
Caps Lock+F7 | Read current column |
Caps Lock+F5 | Read current row and column location |
Caps Lock+F6 | Jump to the table cell |
Shift+Caps Lock+F6 | Jump to cell contents |
Caps Lock+F3 | Jump to the next cell in current row |
Shift+Caps Lock+F3 | Jump to the previous cell in current row |
Caps Lock+F4 | Jump to the next cell in current column |
Shift+Caps Lock+F4 | Jump the to previous cell in current column |
Caps Lock+Close square bracket (]) | Read text from start to cursor |
Caps Lock+zero (0) | Read text attributes |
Caps Lock+H | Read document |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+U | Read current page |
Caps Lock+U | Read next page |
Shift+Caps Lock+U | Read previous page |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+I | Read current paragraph |
Caps Lock+I | Read next paragraph |
Shift+Caps Lock+I | Read previous paragraph |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+O | Read current line |
Caps Lock+O | Read next line |
Shift+Caps Lock+0 | Read previous line |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+P | Read current word |
Caps Lock+P | Read next word |
Shift+Caps Lock+P | Read previous word |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) | Read current character |
Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) | Read next character |
Shift+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) | Read previous character |
Caps Lock+Y | Move to the beginning of text |
Caps Lock+B | Move to the end of text |
Caps Lock+J | Jump to the next heading |
Shift+Caps Lock+J | Jump to the previous heading |
Caps Lock+K | Jump to the next table |
Shift+Caps Lock+K | Jump to the previous table |
Caps Lock+L | Jump to the next link |
Shift+Caps Lock+L | Jump to the previous link |
Caps Lock+C | Read current date and time |
Press Caps Lock twice in quick succession | Turn Caps Lock on or off |
Caps Lock+E | Give negative feedback |
Shift+Caps Lock+E | Give positive feedback |
Caps Lock+E tapped twice in quick succession | Open the feedback dialog |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Up arrow | Go to parent |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Right arrow | Go to next sibling |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Left arrow | Go to previous sibling |
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Down arrow | Go to first child |
Caps Lock+N | Move to main landmark |
Microsoft company is constantly adding new hotkeys to the Windows 10, so new releases may include some new shortcuts.