Windows Keyboard Shortcuts Cheatsheet

High-frequency Windows system shortcuts organized by General, File Explorer, Screenshots, Window Management, System, and Command Line. Quick reference for daily Windows usage.

Keyboard Shortcuts·53 commands·Last updated 2026-07-31

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#General9

Win⧉

Open/close Start menu

Win+S⧉

Open Search

Win+I⧉

Open Settings

Win+D⧉

Show desktop (toggle)

Alt+Tab⧉

Switch between open windows

Ctrl+Shift+Esc⧉

Open Task Manager directly

Alt+F4⧉

Close current window or quit app

Win+L⧉

Lock the computer

Win+E⧉

Open File Explorer

#File Explorer11

Ctrl+N⧉

Open new window

Ctrl+Shift+N⧉

Create new folder

Ctrl+W⧉

Close current window

Ctrl+Shift+E⧉

Expand parent of selected folder

Alt+↑⧉

Go up one level

Alt+←⧉

Back to previous folder

Alt+→⧉

Forward to next folder

Ctrl+A⧉

Select all

F2⧉

Rename selected item

Delete⧉

Delete to Recycle Bin

Shift+Delete⧉

Delete permanently (bypass Recycle Bin)

#Screenshots5

PrtScn⧉

Capture full screen to clipboard

Alt+PrtScn⧉

Capture active window to clipboard

Win+PrtScn⧉

Capture full screen and save to Pictures\Screenshots

Win+Shift+S⧉

Open Snipping Tool (selection/window/full/free-form)

Win+Alt+PrtScn⧉

Screenshot current game/app via Xbox Game Bar

#Window Management10

Win+↑⧉

Maximize window

Win+↓⧉

Minimize or restore window

Win+←⧉

Snap window to left half

Win+→⧉

Snap window to right half

Win+Shift+←⧉

Move window to left monitor

Win+Shift+→⧉

Move window to right monitor

Win+Home⧉

Minimize all windows except the active one

Win+Tab⧉

Open Task View, see all windows and virtual desktops

Ctrl+Win+D⧉

Create new virtual desktop

Ctrl+Win+F4⧉

Close current virtual desktop

#System7

Win+R⧉

Open Run dialog

Win+X⧉

Open Quick Link menu (PowerShell/Device Manager etc.)

Win+A⧉

Open Action Center (notifications and quick settings)

Win+P⧉

Project screen (PC only/Duplicate/Extend/Second screen only)

Win+K⧉

Open Connect devices (Bluetooth/wireless display)

Win+Pause⧉

View system properties

Ctrl+Alt+Delete⧉

Security options screen (Lock/Switch User/Task Manager)

#Command Line (CMD / PowerShell)11

Ctrl+C⧉

Cancel current command or copy selected text

Ctrl+V⧉

Paste

Ctrl+A⧉

Select all in command line

Ctrl+M⧉

Enter mark mode (select text with arrow keys)

↑⧉

Previous command in history

↓⧉

Next command in history

F7⧉

Show command history list

Tab⧉

Auto-complete file name/path

Esc⧉

Clear current input line

Ctrl+Shift+Plus(+)⧉

Increase font size (Windows Terminal)

Ctrl+Shift+Minus(-)⧉

Decrease font size (Windows Terminal)

💡 Tips

Win+Shift+S is the most-used screenshot shortcut — click the notification to open Snip & Sketch for editing.
Win+Arrow keys are snap masters — pair with Win+Shift+Arrow to move windows between monitors.
Ctrl+Shift+Esc opens Task Manager faster than Ctrl+Alt+Delete, skipping the selection step.
In CMD, right-click to copy selected text and right-click again to paste — often faster than shortcuts.