Jiang Wu Data Engineer @ Adyen (NL)

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

Here’s the list of Windows 10 shortcuts, and — in addition — some of our favorite “old but gold” shortcuts known from previous versions of Windows:

Windows 10 keyboard shortcut Description
Win Show the Windows 10 Start Menu
Win + Tab Launch Windows 10 Task View
Win + Q Search the web and Windows with Cortana (speech)
Win + S Search the web and Windows with Cortana (keyboard input)
Win + I Open Windows 10 settings
Win + A Open Windows 10 notifications
Win + L Lock your Windows 10 device
Win + Ctrl + D Create new virtual desktop
Win + Ctrl + F4 Close current virtual desktop
Win + Ctrl + [Left][Right] Switch between virtual desktops
Win + [Left][Right][Up][Down] Position windows on your screen
E.g. Win + [Left] moves the current window to the left half of your screen. If you use Win + [Up] afterwards, the current window will be placed in the upper left quarter of your screen.
And, what’s very handy in my opinion: If you release the Win key after positioning a window, Task View shows up on the opposite side of the positioned window to select and position another app.
Win + H Share content (if supported by current app)
Win + K Connect to wireless displays and audio devices
Win + X Open Start button context menu
Win + G Opens the Windows 10 Game Bar to take game screenshots and record gaming videos of Windows 10 games (works in any game app, e.g. Microsoft Solitaire Collection)

And, of course, these “old but gold” shortcuts known from previous Windows versions still work:

Windows 10 keyboard shortcut Description
Win + D Show Windows desktop
Win + E Open Windows Explorer
Win + Space Switch keyboard input language (if you have added at least a second one)
Win + Shift + [Left][Right] Move current Window from one monitor to another (when using a multiple monitor setup)
Win + [1][2][3][…] Open programs that are pinned to task bar
E.g. if first pinned program on your task bar is Windows Explorer (from left to right), the shortcut Win + 1 opens Windows Explorer for you.
Win + R Run a command
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Open the Windows Task Manager
Win + P Project a screen
Alt + Tab Switch to previous window
Alt + Space Restore, move, size, minimize, maximize or close current window. Also works like a charm for Windows 10 modern apps.
Alt + F4 a) Close current window
b) If you’re on your Windows 10 desktop, open Power dialogue to shut down or restart Windows, put your device in sleep mode, sign out or switch the current user

Additional shortcuts (not just Windows keyboard shortcuts):

Windows 10 keyboard shortcut Description
Win + Down arrow Minimize current window
Win + Up arrow Maximize current window
Win + M Minimize all windows
Win + Shift + Up arrow Stretch windows to top and bottom but retain width
Win + Enter Open narrator
Win + Shift + M Restore all minimize windows (useful after a Win + M)
Win + Home Minimize all windows except the one you’re actively using
Alt + Up Go up one level in File Explorer (aka Windows Explorer)
Alt + Left go to the previous folder in File Explorer
Alt + right go to the next folder in File Explorer
Win + O Lock orientation
Win + Prtsc Screen grab to image to Pictures\Screenshots
You can still just press Prtsc and then Ctrl + V to paste it in Word, PPT, and/or your favorite image manipulation program.
Win + “+” Magnify in
Win + “-“ Magnify out
Win + Esc Exit magnify
Win + T Cycle through taskbar apps
Win + F1 Open help support in browser? Really should open new app
Win + B Focus to notification area
Win + “,” Desktop peek (temporarily hide apps to briefly show the desktop)
Win + Shift + Number Open new instance of pinned taskbar item
E.g. Win + 2 launches the app in your second taskbar slot.
Win + Ctrl + Shift + Number Same as above, but launch the app with admin powers enabled
Win + U Open the Ease of Access Center
Win + Space Switch input language and keyboard
F2 Rename the selected item
Shift + Left Highlight text to the left of the cursor
Shift + Right Highlight text to the right of the cursor
Ctrl + Shift + Left (or Right) Highlight blocks of text instead of just characters at a time
Ctrl + A Select all item
Ctrl + X Cut (i.e. to move) the selected item
Ctrl + C Copy the selected item
Ctrl + V Paste copied/cut item
Ctrl + Z Undo an action (changes)
Ctrl + Y Redo an action (changes)
Shift + Delete Delete files without sending them to the Recycle Bin
Alt + Enter Show the properties of the currently selected file
Ctrl + Shift + Enter Run the selected app as an administrator

Find even more Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts at this link.

I’m pretty sure there are much more keyboard shortcuts you can use to speed up your work with Windows 10. If I miss one of your favorite(s), please let me know! I will try to keep the above list up to date.