Windows shortcuts have been around for decades, yet most people only use a handful. Learn more of them and you can cut out endless clicks, streamline your workflow, and get through tasks faster than ever.
Productivity shortcuts
These are the commands you will use every single day. They make writing, editing, and saving far less clunky once you commit them to memory.
- Ctrl + C copies highlighted text or files
- Ctrl + V pastes while keeping formatting
- Ctrl + Shift + V pastes without formatting
- Windows + V opens Clipboard history
- Ctrl + X cuts and Ctrl + V pastes it back
- Ctrl + Z undoes, Ctrl + Y redoes
- Ctrl + F finds words in a document
- Ctrl + A selects everything in view
- Ctrl + S saves instantly
- Ctrl + Backspace deletes the previous word
- Ctrl + Delete deletes the next word
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Accessibility shortcuts
Windows has plenty of hidden tools to help users with vision or mobility needs, but anyone can benefit from them.
- Windows + Plus zooms in with Magnifier
- Windows + Minus zooms out, Windows + Esc exits
- Windows + Ctrl + Enter launches Narrator
- Press Shift five times to activate Sticky Keys
- Left Shift + Left Alt + Print Screen toggles high contrast
- Windows + Ctrl + C toggles color filters
- Windows + U opens Accessibility settings
- Windows + Ctrl + O opens the on screen keyboard
Navigation shortcuts
Multitasking gets a lot smoother when you stop reaching for the mouse.
- Ctrl + Alt + Tab shows all open apps
- Windows + S opens Search
- Windows + Tab shows Task View with desktops
- Windows + D hides or shows your desktop
- Windows + Arrow keys snap, maximize, or minimize windows
- Windows + Ctrl + D creates a new desktop
- Windows + Ctrl + F4 closes the current desktop
- Windows + number key opens the pinned app in that slot
File management shortcuts
Managing folders and files becomes much faster with these commands.
- Windows + E opens File Explorer
- F2 renames the selected file
- Shift + Delete permanently deletes
- Ctrl + N opens a new File Explorer window
- Ctrl + Shift + N creates a new folder
- Alt + Enter shows file or folder properties
- Alt + Left or Right moves through history
- Alt + Up moves one folder level higher
Browser shortcuts
If you spend most of your day online, these will shave minutes off your workflow.
- Ctrl + T opens a new tab
- Ctrl + Shift + T reopens the last closed tab
- Ctrl + W closes the current tab
- Ctrl + Tab moves right through tabs
- Ctrl + Shift + Tab moves left
- Ctrl + Shift + N opens a private window
- Alt + Left or Right goes back or forward
- Ctrl + D bookmarks the current page
- Ctrl + H opens browsing history
- Ctrl + N opens a brand new browser window
Why shortcuts matter
At first, keyboard shortcuts seem unnecessary since the mouse can do the same thing. But once you practice them for a full day, the time savings are obvious. Windows is packed with commands that make everyday work smoother. Master them now, and finishing early might finally be part of your routine.
