Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

The most useful Windows keyboard shortcuts, essentials, the Win key, window snapping and virtual desktops, screenshots, File Explorer, and system task management.

The Windows keyboard shortcuts that save the most time, covering the Win key, window snapping, virtual desktops, screenshots, and File Explorer. The same essentials work in most Windows apps.

Essentials

ActionWindows
Copy Ctrl+C
Cut Ctrl+X
Paste Ctrl+V
Undo / Redo Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y
Save Ctrl+S
Find Ctrl+F
Select all Ctrl+A

Win key

ActionWindows
Open Start menu Win
Lock the PC Win+L
Show desktop Win+D
Open File Explorer Win+E
Open Settings Win+I
Action center Win+A
Notification center and calendar Win+N
Task View (all open windows) Win+Tab

Snap & virtual desktops

ActionWindows
Snap window left / right Win+Left / Win+Right
Maximize window Win+Up
Minimize window Win+Down
Open snap layouts (Windows 11) Win+Z
New virtual desktop Ctrl+Win+D
Switch desktops Ctrl+Win+Left / Ctrl+Win+Right
Close virtual desktop Ctrl+Win+F4

Screenshots

ActionWindows
Snipping Tool (region) Win+Shift+S
Region snip (Windows 11 default) / full screen to clipboard (Windows 10) PrtScn
Active window to clipboard Alt+PrtScn

File Explorer

ActionWindows
New folder Ctrl+Shift+N
Rename selected F2
Delete to Recycle Bin Delete
Delete permanently Shift+Delete
Address bar Ctrl+L
Change view style (2 = Large icons, 6 = Details) Ctrl+Shift+2 / Ctrl+Shift+6

System & windows

ActionWindows
Task Manager Ctrl+Shift+Esc
Secure desktop options Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Close active window Alt+F4
Switch windows Alt+Tab
Properties of the selected item Alt+Enter
Run dialog Win+R

Tip: Win+Shift+S opens the Snipping Tool for a quick region capture, and Win+Left/Win+Right snap windows into a tidy split-screen without dragging. Ctrl+Shift+Esc jumps straight into Task Manager.

What this does

A Windows keyboard shortcuts reference lists essentials, the Win key, window snapping and virtual desktops, screenshots, File Explorer, and system task management.

How to use it

  1. Browse by task.
  2. Find the keys for your shortcut.
  3. Try it on your PC.

Example

Win+Shift+S opens the Snipping Tool to capture part of the screen.

Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

How do I open Task Manager?

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open it directly, or Ctrl+Alt+Delete then pick Task Manager. Right-clicking the taskbar also offers a Task Manager link.

How do I take a screenshot?

Win+Shift+S opens the Snipping Tool to drag a region; the image goes to your clipboard and the notification opens an editor. On Windows 11, PrtScn does the same region snip by default; on Windows 10 it copies the full screen to the clipboard.

What is window snapping?

Snap arranges windows to halves or quarters of the screen. Press Win+Left or Win+Right to snap to a side, and Win+Up to maximize. Win+Tab shows your virtual desktops.