Here are the most useful Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts — get to know these and you’ll save oodles of time as you zip around Windows 10 without taking your hands off the keys.
* The Pause key is located to the upper right of most keyboards; however, some portable and laptop keyboards don’t have a Pause key.
KEY COMBINATION | WHAT IT DOES |
Windows key | Show/hide the Start menu (toggle) |
Windows-A | Show/hide the Action Center (toggle) |
Windows-C | Open Cortana in listening mode |
Windows-D | Show the desktop or go to your previous location |
Windows-E | Open File Explorer |
Windows-H | Take a screenshot of your current app and share it |
Windows-I | Open the Settings app |
Windows-K | Connect to a wireless display or audio device |
Windows-L | Lock the device or switch accounts |
Windows-M | Minimize all windows |
Windows-O | Lock the screen orientation |
Windows-R | Open the Run box |
Windows-S | Open the Search box (or Cortana, if you’ve enabled it) |
Windows-T | Put the focus on the taskbar and cycle through your running desktop apps |
Windows-X | Open a menu of tools for power users |
Windows-Tab | Open Task View |
Windows-Pause* | Display System Properties screen |
Windows-1 through 9 | Go to the app in the corresponding position on the taskbar |
Windows-, (comma) | Peek at the desktop (requires holding the Windows key down) |
Windows-Home | Minimize/restore non-active desktop apps (toggle) |
Windows-up arrow | Maximize a desktop app (or restore it if it’s minimized) |
Windows-down arrow | Minimize a desktop app (or restore it if it’s maximized) |
Windows-F1 | Get Windows help |
Windows-Ctrl-D | Add a virtual desktop |
Windows-Ctrl-F4 | Close the virtual desktop you’re working in |
Alt-Tab | Cycle through thumbnails of open apps |
Alt-F4 | Exit the current Windows app or desktop application |
Ctrl-A | Select all |
Ctrl-C | Copy |
Ctrl-E | Select the address bar in Edge |
Ctrl-N | Open a new window in Edge |
Ctrl-R | Refresh |
Ctrl-V | Paste |
Ctrl-X | Cut |
Ctrl-W | Close the current window in Edge |
Ctrl-Y | Redo |
Ctrl-Z | Undo |
Ctrl-F4 | Close the active document in desktop apps |
Ctrl-mouse click | Select multiple items in File Explorer |
Ctrl-Shift | Select a group of contiguous items in File Explorer |
Ctrl-Shift-Esc | Run the Task Manager |
Ctrl-Shift-N | Create a new folder in File Explorer |
PrtScrn | Take a screenshot and place it on the Clipboard |
F3 | Search for a file or folder in File Explorer |