ExpressBasics: All the Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Need to Know
Windows is full of various keyboard shortcuts that you can use with keys like Ctrl, Alt, and Shift in combination with the different letters on your keyboard to quickly perform common tasks and boost your productivity with relative ease.
In today’s edition of ExpressBasics, we’ll look at all the common keyboard shortcuts you can use in Windows 10, Windows 11, and even some older versions. Many of them will also be useful in Microsoft Office programs and can also be used in third-party programs that you use.
Ctrl shortcuts
Ctrl+A = Select All
Ctrl+B = Bold
Ctrl+C = Copy
Ctrl+D = Duplicate
Ctrl+E = Center alignment
Ctrl+F = Search
Ctrl+G = Go To
Ctrl+H = Replace
Ctrl+I = Italic
Ctrl+J = Justify
Ctrl+K = hyperlink
Ctrl+L = Left alignment
Ctrl+M = New Slide
Ctrl+N = New page
Ctrl+O = Open
Ctrl+P = Print
Ctrl+Q = Remove paragraph formatting
Ctrl+R = Right alignment
Ctrl+S = Save
Ctrl+T = Fit Tabs/Open New Tab
Ctrl+U = Underline
Ctrl+V = Paste
Ctrl+W = Close open tab/Word document
Ctrl+X = Cut
Ctrl+Y = Redo
Ctrl+Z = Undo
Ctrl + Home = Move cursor to top of document
Ctrl + End = Move cursor to end of document
Ctrl + Esc = Open Windows Start Menu
Ctrl + Tab = Switch between open tabs
Ctrl + Shift + Tab = Switch between open tabs (reverse)
Ctrl + Shift = Superscript
Ctrl + Page Up/Down = Next/Previous tab
Ctrl + left arrow = previous word
Ctrl + right arrow = next word
Ctrl + Del = Delete next word
Ctrl + Backspace = Delete previous word
Ctrl + Alt + left/right/up/down arrow = rotate screen
Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Open Task Manager
Ctrl + Alt + Del = Open Session Options/Task Manager (older versions of Windows)
Windows keys
Win key = Open/Close the Start menu
Win + A = Open Windows Action Center
Win + C = Open Cortana listening
Win + D = Show/Hide Desktop
Win + E = Open File Explorer
Win + G = Open Windows Game Bar
Win + H = Open Sharing Charm
Win + I = Open Settings
Win + K = Open Connect Quick Action
Win + L = Lock your PC
Win + M = Minimize all windows
Win + R = Open ‘Run’ dialog
Win + S = Open search
Win + U = Open Ease of Access Center
Win + X = Open quick links menu
Win + (numeric keys) = Open apps pinned to taskbar
Win + Left/Right/Up/Down arrow = Snap app windows
Win + , = Desktop Peek
Win + Ctrl + D = Add Virtual Desktop
Win + Ctrl + Left/Right = Switch between virtual desktops
Win + Ctrl + F = Close current virtual desktop
Win + Enter = Open Narrator
Win + Home = Minimize all but active application window
Win + PrintScreen = Screenshot and Save
Win + Shift + Up = Extend desktop window to top and bottom of screen
Win + Tab = Open Task View
Earn + [Plus key or Minus key (+ or -)] = Zoom in/out
Also note that a number of symbols can be entered even if your keyboard does not support them via Alt shortcuts. For example, Alt+0191 is the upside-down question mark, while Alt+251 is the square root symbol. You can view a list of all Alt codes at (www.alt-codes.net)
To use Alt shortcuts, users must press Num Lock (if necessary) and use the number keys on the numeric keypad while holding down the Alt key.
