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Source: Daniel Rubino/Windows Central

On Windows 10, keyboard shortcuts provide a quick way to navigate and operate the experience and features using a single press of one or multiple keys, which otherwise will take several clicks and more time to accomplish using the mouse.

Although it can be overwhelming trying to memorize all the available keyboard  shortcuts, it' important to consider that most don't need to learn every Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD  shortcut on Windows 10. Only focusing on those you need to use more frequently  can noticeably make things easier and you to work more eiciently.

 In this Windows 10 guide, we'll show you all the most useful keyboard shortcuts to navigate and operate the desktop and apps. Also, we'll outline the shortcuts that are essential for all users.

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Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

This comprehensive list includes the most useful keyboard shortcuts to perform tasks on Windows 10 a little faster.

 Essential shortcuts

 Desktop shortcuts

shortcuts

 Command Prompt shortcuts

shortcuts

Essential shortcuts 

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD  These are the essential keyboard shortcuts that every Windows 10 should  know.  Action Ctrl + A Select all content. Ctrl + (or Ctrl + Copy selected items to . Insert) Ctrl + X Cut selected items to clipboard. Ctrl + V (or Shift + Paste content from clipboard. Insert) Ctrl + Z an action, including undelete files (limited). Ctrl + Y Redo an action. Ctrl + Shift + N Create new folder on desktop or File Explorer. Close active window. (If no active window Alt + F4 present, then shutdown box appears.) Ctrl + D (Del) Delete selected item to the Recycle Bin. Delete selected item permanently skipping Shift + Delete Recycle Bin. F2 Rename selected item. ESC Close current task. 

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 Alt + Tab Switch between open apps.  PrtScn Take and stores it in clipboard. Windows key + I Open app. Windows key + E Open File Explorer. Windows key + A Open . Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop. Windows key + L Lock device. Windows key + V Open Clipboard bin. Windows key + Period Open emoji panel. (.) or semicolon (;) Capture full screenshot in the "" Windows key + PrtScn folder. Windows key + Shift + Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch. S Windows key + Left Snap app or window left. arrow key Windows key + Right Snap app or window right. arrow key 

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD   

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Desktop shortcuts

You can use these keyboard shortcuts to open, close, navigate, and complete specific tasks more quickly throughout the desktop experience, including on Start , , Settings, and more.

Keyboard shortcut Action Windows key (or Ctrl + Open . Esc) Ctrl + Change Start menu size. Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open . Ctrl + Shift Switch . 

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 Close active window. (If no active window Alt + F4  present, then shutdown box appears.) Ctrl + F5 (or Ctrl + R) Refresh current window. Ctrl + Alt + Tab View open apps. Ctrl + Arrow keys (to Select multiple items on desktop or File Explorer. select) + Spacebar Alt + Underlined letter Runs command for the underlined letter in apps. Switch between open apps while pressing Tab Alt + Tab multiple times. Alt + Left arrow key Go back. Alt + Right arrow key Go forward. Alt + Page Up Move up one screen. Alt + Page down Move down one screen. Alt + Esc Cycle through open windows. Alt + Spacebar Open for the active window. Alt + F8 Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen. Open another instance of an app from the Shift + Click app button taskbar. 

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 Ctrl + Shift + Click app Run app as administrator from the taskbar.  button Shift + Right-click app Show window menu for the app from the taskbar. button Ctrl + Click a grouped Cycle through windows in the group from the app button taskbar. Shift + Right-click Show window menu for the group from the grouped app button taskbar. Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous Ctrl + Left arrow key word. Move the cursor to the beginning of the next Ctrl + Right arrow key word. Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous Ctrl + Up arrow key paragraph Move the cursor to the beginning of the next Ctrl + Down arrow key paragraph. Ctrl + Shift + Arrow key Select block of text. Ctrl + Spacebar Enable or disable Chinese IME. Shift + F10 Open context menu for selected item. 

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 F10 Enable app .  Shift + Arrow keys Select multiple items. Windows key + X Open Quick Link menu. Windows key + Open app in number position from the taskbar. Number (0-9) Windows key + T Cycle through apps in the taskbar. Windows key + Alt + Open Jump List of the app in number position Number (0-9) from the taskbar. Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop. Windows key + M Minimize all windows. Windows key + Shift + Restore minimized windows on the desktop. M Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop Windows key + Home window. Windows key + Shift + Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of Up arrow key the screen. Windows key + Shift + Maximize or minimize active desktop windows Down arrow key vertically while maintaining width. 

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 Windows key + Shift + Move active window to monitor on the left.  Left arrow key Windows key + Shift + Move active window to monitor on the right. Right arrow key Windows key + Left Snap app or window left. arrow key Windows key + Right Snap app or window right. arrow key Windows key + S ( or Open Search. Q) Windows key + Alt + D Open date and time in the taskbar. Windows key + Tab Open . Windows key + Ctrl + Create new . D Windows key + Ctrl + Close active virtual desktop. F4 Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to the virtual desktop on the right. Right arrow Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to the virtual desktop on the left.  Left arrow

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD 

 Windows key + P Open Project settings.  Windows key + A Open Action center. Windows key + I Open Settings app. Return to Settings app home page.

File Explorer shortcuts

On Windows 10, File Explorer includes many keyboard shortcuts to help you complete tasks a little quicker.

Here's a list with the most useful shortcuts for File Explorer.

Keyboard shortcut Action Windows key + E Open File Explorer. Alt + D Select address bar. Ctrl + E (or F) Select search box. Ctrl + N Open new window. Ctrl + W Close active window.

 Ctrl + F (or F3) Start search.

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 Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel Change view file and folder.  Expands all folders from the tree in the Ctrl + Shift + E navigation pane. Create new folder on desktop or File Ctrl + Shift + N Explorer. Ctrl + L Focus on the address bar. Ctrl + Shift + Number (1-8) Changes folder view. Alt + P Display preview panel. Open Properties settings for the selected Alt + Enter item. Alt + Right arrow key View next folder. Alt + Left arrow key (or View previous folder. Backspace) Alt + Up arrow Move up a level in the folder path. F11 Switch active window full-screen . F5 Refresh the instance of File Explorer. F2 Rename selected item. F4 Switch focus to address bar. 

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 F5 Refresh File Explorer's current view.  F6 Cycle through elements on the screen. Home Scroll to top of the window. End Scroll to bottom of window.

Command Prompt shortcuts

If you use Command Prompt, you can use these keyboard shortcuts to work a little more eiciently.

Keyboard shortcut Action Ctrl + A Select all content of the current line. Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Copy selected items to clipboard. Insert) Ctrl + V (or Shift + Paste content from clipboard. Insert) Ctrl + M Starts mark mode. Ctrl + Up arrow key Move screen up one line.

 Ctrl + Down arrow key Move screen down one line.

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 Ctrl + F Open search for Command Prompt.  Left or right arrow keys Move cursor left or right in the current line. Cycle through command history of the current Up or down arrow keys session. Page up Move cursor one page up. Page down Move cursor one page down. Ctrl + Home Scroll to top of the console. Ctrl + End Scroll to the bottom of the console.

Windows key shortcuts

Using the Windows key combined with other keys, you can perform many useful tasks, such as launch Settings, File Explorer, , apps pinned in the taskbar, or you can open specific features like Narrator or . You can also accomplish tasks like controlling windows, virtual desktops, taking screenshots, locking your device, and a lot more.

Here's a list with all the most common keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key.

Keyboard shortcut Action 

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 Windows key Open Start menu.  Windows key + A Open Action center. Windows key + S ( or Open Search. Q) Windows key + D Display and hide the desktop. Windows key + L Locks computer. Windows key + M Minimize all windows. Windows key + B Set focus notification area in the taskbar. Windows key + C Launch app. Windows key + F Launch app. Windows key + G Launch Game bar app. Change input between desktop and Mixed Windows key + Y Reality. Windows key + O Lock device orientation. Windows key + T Cycle through apps in the taskbar. Switch input between the desktop experience Windows key + Z and . 

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD 

 Set focus on a tip for Windows 10 when Windows key + J  applicable.k Windows key + H Open dictation feature. Windows key + E Open File Explorer. Windows key + I Open Settings. Windows key + R Open Run command. Windows key + K Open Connect settings. Windows key + X Open Quick Link menu. Windows key + V Open Clipboard bin. Windows key + W Open the Workspace. Windows key + U Open settings. Windows key + P Open Project settings. Windows key + Ctrl + Open Narrator. Enter Windows key + Plus Zoom in using the magnifier. (+) Windows key + Minus Zoom out using the magnifier. (-) 

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 Windows key + Esc Exit magnifier.  Windows key + Start IME reconversion. Forward- (/) Windows key + Comma Temporarily peek at the desktop. (,) Windows key + Up Maximize app windows. arrow key Windows key + Down Minimize app windows. arrow key Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop Windows key + Home window. Windows key + Shift + Restore minimized windows on the desktop. M Windows key + Shift + Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of Up arrow key the screen. Windows key + Shift + Maximize or minimize active windows vertically Down arrow key while maintaining width. Windows key + Shift + Move active window to monitor on the left. Left arrow key 

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 Windows key + Shift + Move active window to monitor on the right.  Right arrow key Windows key + Left Snap app or window left. arrow key Windows key + Right Snap app or window right. arrow key Windows key + Open app in number position in the taskbar. Number (0-9) Windows key + Shift + Open another instance of the app in number Number (0-9) position in the taskbar. Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to last active window of the app in Number (0-9) number position in the taskbar. Windows key + Alt + Open Jump List of the app in number position in Number (0-9) the taskbar. Windows key + Ctrl + Open another instance as an administrator of the Shift + Number (0-9) app in number position in the taskbar. Windows key + Ctrl + Change previous selected input option. Spacebar Windows key + Change keyboard layout and input language.  Spacebar

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 Windows key + Tab Open Task View.  Windows key + Ctrl + Create a virtual desktop. D Windows key + Ctrl + Close active virtual desktop. F4 Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to the virtual desktop on the right. Right arrow Windows key + Ctrl + Switch to the virtual desktop on the left. Left arrow Windows key + Ctrl + Wake up the device when black or a blank Shift + B screen. Capture full screenshot in the "Screenshots" Windows key + PrtScn folder. Windows key + Shift + Create part of the screen screenshot. S Windows key + Shift + Cycle through notifications.. V Windows key + Ctrl + F Open search for device on domain network. Windows key + Ctrl + Open .  Q

Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD 

 Windows key + Alt + D Open date and time in the taskbar.  Windows key + Period Open emoji panel. (.) or semicolon (;) Windows key + Pause Show System Properties dialog box.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

 Windows 10 on Windows Central – All you need to know

 Windows 10 help, tips, and tricks

 Windows 10 forums on Windows Central

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