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@haydenk
Created April 28, 2026 14:40
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[Reference] Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts: Win-key combos, virtual desktops, snap layouts, and other useful general shortcuts.

Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts

Win denotes the Windows key.

Keyboard Shortcut Usage
Win Open Start Menu or Screen.
Win + E Open File Explorer.
Win + C Open Chat.
Win + S or Win + Q Open Search (online and offline).
Win + I Open Settings app.
Win + A Open Action Center.
Win + N Open Notification Center.
Win + H Start voice typing.
Win + F Open Feedback hub.
Win + W Open Widgets.
Win + K Connect to wireless displays and audio devices.
Win + X Open Start context menu.
Win + G Open Game bar.
Win + [1] [2] [3] [...] Open programs that are pinned to task bar.
Win + Space Switch keyboard input language (only if 2 or more languages present).
Win + R Open Run.
Win + P Project current screen.
Win + L Lock your Windows 11.
Win + D Show Windows Desktop.
Win + V Show Clipboard history.
Win + O Change orientation.
Win + M Minimize all open windows.
Win + , Take a peek at the desktop until you release the Win key.
Win + Shift + S Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.
Win + U Open Accessibility settings.
Win + ; or Win + . Open Emoji viewer.
Win + B Highlight the first item in the Notification Area; use Arrow keys to switch between items.
Win + PrtScr or Win + Fn + PrtScr Take screenshot of current screen and save it to Screenshots under Pictures.
Win + T Cycle through apps on taskbar.
Win + Tab Open Task View.
Win + Ctrl + Left / Right Switch to the virtual desktop on the left/right.
Win + Down Snap current window to the bottom of the screen.
Win + Up Snap current window to the top of the screen.
Win + Right Snap current window to the right side of the screen.
Win + Left Snap current window to the left side of the screen.
Win + Ctrl + D Create a new virtual desktop and switch to it.
Win + Ctrl + F4 Close the current virtual desktop.

Other useful keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Usage
Alt + F4 Closes current program window. When no program is open, it provides Shut down Windows dialog.
Ctrl + F Opens a Find dialog for searching the currently opened program.
Ctrl + M Enter mark mode which helps for selecting text especially in Command Prompt.
Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down Scrolling up / down on current screen or page.
Ctrl + Up / Down Move up / down on current screen or page line by line.
Ctrl + A Select all content on the screen.
Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert Copies all content on screen to clipboard.
Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert Pastes text at the cursor.
Ctrl + Z Undo operation.
Ctrl + Y Redo operation, provided you've already used Ctrl + Z.
Alt + Tab Switch between open windows.
Shift + Left / Right / Up / Down Moves the cursor by a character/line and selects text along the way.
Ctrl + Shift + Left / Right Moves the cursor one word at a time, selecting that word.
Shift + Home / End Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line, selecting text along the way.
Shift + Page Up / Page Down Moves the cursor up or down a screen, selecting text.
Ctrl + Shift + Home / End Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the screen buffer, selecting all text in between.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift + F4 Restart File Explorer.
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