Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

Computers are meant to make our daily tasks easier but anyone who’s been using a computer long enough knows that you waste a lot of time with arm and finger movements performing commands with the mouse, keyboard or trackpad.

You probably don’t even realize it but if you think about it, you’re doing a ton of repetitive actions during the course of the day. For example, you’re typing on the keyboard, then you reach over to your mouse to perform a separate task, and then you move your hand back again, rinse and repeat. There has to be an easier way, right?

Thankfully, to streamline your workflow, there are plenty of Windows keyboard shortcuts you can start learning now. And they go beyond the Control+C to copy and Control+V to paste shortcuts.

There are actually dozens of really useful keyboard shortcuts in Windows, including new ones you can use only on Windows 10. Here are some of the most useful ones plus some of our favorite classic Windows keyboard shortcuts.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for your reference!

General Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcut Function
Win Display or Hide the Start screen
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open the Task Manager
Win + M Minimize all windows
Win + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop
Win + R Open the Run dialogue box
Win + F1 Open Windows Help and Support
Win + Up arrow Maximize the desktop window
Win + Down arrow Minimize the desktop window
Win + plus (“+”) or minus (“-“) Zoom in or out using Magnifier
Win + L Lock your PC or switch accounts.
Alt + F4 Close the active item or exit the active app
Alt + Enter Display properties for the selected item
Control + C Copy the selected item
Control + X Cut the selected item
Control + V Paste the selected item
Control + Y Redo an action
Control + Z Undo an action
F1 Display Help
F2 Rename the selected item
F3 Search for a file or folder
F4 Display the address bar list in the File Explorer
F5 Refresh the active window
F10 Activate the menu bar in the active app

New shortcuts for Windows 10

Here are exclusive keyboard shortcuts designed for Windows 10. These are great time-savers for power users and multi-taskers who use multiple virtual desktops.

Win + Q Open Cortana for voice input
Win + S Open Cortana for text input
Win + I Open Windows settings pane
Win + A Open Windows 10 Action Center
Win + X Open Start button context menu
Win + Left Snap active window to left
Win + Right Snap active window to right
Win + Up Snap active window to top of screen
Win + Down Snap active window to bottom of screen
Win + Ctrl + D Create a new virtual desktop
Win + Crtl + Left Cycle through desktops to the left
Win + Ctrl + Right Cycle through desktops to the right
Win + Ctrl + F4 Close current desktop
Win + TAB Access all desktops and apps in Task View
Win + PrtSc Take a screenshot and save it to Pictures folder
Win + G Open the Game DVR recorder
Win + Alt + G Start recording current activity on screen
Win + Alt + R Stop recording

Windows 10 secrets only the pros know

Do you want more power user tips? Here are Windows 10 secrets only the pros know!

Tags: apps, computer, Microsoft Windows 10, settings