Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10: What They Are and What They Are for

When we sit in front of the computer, it is normal to use the keyboard as an input method and the mouse to interact with the system, execute actions and move between applications and windows. However, in Windows 10 we have a lot of keyboard shortcuts that offer us a quick way to perform or execute certain functions without having to lift our hands from the keyboard. It is also a way to increase productivity, since as its name suggests, they are shortcuts that allow you to access certain actions quickly and that would otherwise require several clicks of the mouse to access them. Next, we are going to show all keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.

As you can see there are a lot of key combinations that few people can memorize, however, it is not that we have to learn each and every one of the keyboard shortcuts available in the Microsoft operating system. It is enough that each user learns the key combinations that allow them to execute those actions that they use most on a daily basis so that their productivity increases.

Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10

What is a keyboard shortcut

A keyboard shortcut, access key, accelerator key, shortcut, key combination or as it is known in English, hotkey, is a key or set of keys that execute an action that is previously defined by the application developer or the operating system. Actions that are also available through the different options of a menu or using the mouse pointer to choose the corresponding option.

Therefore, they are a way of executing one or more commands that may be available through a menu, the user interface of any software in its different levels or even in the command console and that help us to speed up or execute said commands. operations.

That said, we will show below all the keyboard shortcuts available in Windows 10, from the general ones, those associated with the Windows key, those that allow us to execute command prompt actions, in the dialog boxes or Explorer of Windows 10 files, virtual desktops, configuration page and system taskbar.

General key combinations

There are certain general keyboard shortcuts that we can use on a daily basis that will probably make life a little easier for us. Surely some of you already know many of them and you will even be using them every day. However, these are the general key combinations of Windows 10.

Ctrl + X -> Cut selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) -> Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) -> Paste the selected item.
Ctrl + Z – > Undo an action.
Alt + tab -> Switch between open applications.
Alt + F4 -> Close the active element or exit the active application.
Windows + L -> Lock the computer.
Windows + D -> Show and hide the desktop.
F2 -> Rename the selected item.
F3 -> Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.
F4 -> Show address bar list in File Explorer.
F5 -> Update active window.
F6 -> Scroll through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F10 -> Activate the menu bar in the active application.
Alt + F8 -> Show password on login screen.
Alt + Esc -> Scroll through the items in the order they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter -> Execute the command corresponding to that letter.
Alt + Enter -> View the properties of the selected element.
Alt + Spacebar -> Open context menu of active window.
Alt + Left Arrow -> Back.
Alt + Right Arrow -> Go Forward.
Alt + Page Down -> Move up one screen.
Alt + Page Down -> Move down one screen.
Ctrl + F4 -> Close active document (in applications that are open to full screen and that allow you to have several documents open simultaneously).
Ctrl + A -> Select all elements in a document or window.
Ctrl + D (or Delete) -> Delete the selected item and move it to the recycle bin.
Ctrl + R (or F5) -> Refresh the active window.
Ctrl + Y -> Redo an action.
Ctrl + Right Arrow -> Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Ctrl + Left Arrow -> Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Ctrl + Down Arrow -> Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Ctrl + Up Arrow -> Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Ctrl + Alt + Tab -> Use the arrow keys to switch between all open applications.
Alt + Shift + Arrow Keys -> When a group or icon has focus on the Start menu, move it in the specified direction.
Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys -> When a window has focus on the Start menu, move it to another window to create a folder.
Ctrl + arrow keys -> Resize the Start menu when it opens.
Ctrl + arrow key (to move to an item) + Space bar -> Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop.
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key -> Select a text block.
Ctrl + Esc -> Open Start.
Ctrl + Shift + Esc -> Open Task Manager.
Ctrl + Shift -> Change keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Ctrl + Spacebar -> Enable or disable the Input Method Editor (IME) for Chinese.
Shift + F10 -> Show context menu of selected item.
Shift with an arrow key -> Select multiple items in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
Shift + Delete -> Delete the selected item without moving it to the recycle bin.
Right arrow -> Open the next menu on the right or open a submenu.
Left arrow -> Open the next menu on the left or close a submenu.
Esc -> Stop or quit the current task.
Print Screen -> Take a screenshot of the full screen and copy it to the Clipboard. You can change this shortcut so that the screen clipping also opens, allowing you to edit your screenshot. To do this, we open the Configuration> Accessibility> Keyboard page and activate the toggle button located under Direct access to print the screen.

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Keyboard shortcuts with the Windows key

The Windows key is located in the bottom left of our keyboard and although it is basically used to show or hide the Start menu of the system, the truth is that in combination with other keys it offers us a lot of interesting functions.

Windows -> Open or Close Start.
Windows + A -> Open Activity Center.
Windows + B -> Bring focus to the notification area.
Windows + C -> Open Cortana in listening mode. This quick access is disabled by default. To activate it, we open the Configuration> Cortana page and activate the toggle button in Allow Cortana to hear our commands when we press Windows + C.
Windows + Shift + C -> Open the access buttons menu.
Windows + D -> Show and hide the desktop.
Windows + Alt + D -> Show and hide the date and time on the desktop.
Windows + E -> Open File Explorer.
Windows + F -> Open Opinion Center and take a screenshot.
Windows + G -> Open the game bar with an open game.
Windows + H -> Start dictation.
Windows + I -> Open Configuration.
Windows + J -> Set focus to a Windows suggestion when one is available.
Windows + K -> Open Connect quick action.
Windows + L -> Lock the computer or change accounts.
Windows + M -> Minimize all windows.
Windows + O -> Lock device orientation.
Windows + P -> Choose a presentation mode.
Windows + Ctrl + Q -> Open Quick Assistance.
Windows + R -> Open the Run dialog box.
Windows + S -> Open search.
Windows + Shift + S -> Take a screenshot of part of the screen.
Windows + T -> Scroll through the applications on the taskbar.
Windows + U -> Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows + V -> Open Clipboard. To activate this shortcut, we open the Configuration> System> Clipboard page and activate the toggle button located under Clipboard History.
Windows + Shift + V -> Scroll through notifications.
Windows + X -> Open the Quick Link menu.
Windows + Y -> Switch entry between Windows Mixed Reality and the desktop.
Windows + Z -> Show available commands in an application in full screen mode.
Windows + period (.) Or semicolon (;) -> Open the emoji panel.
Windows + comma (,) -> Temporarily browse the desktop.
Windows + Pause -> Show System Properties dialog box.
Windows + Ctrl + F -> Search for computers (on a network).
Windows + Shift + M -> Restore minimized windows on the desktop.
Windows + number -> Open the desktop and start the application anchored to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.
Windows + Shift + number -> Open the desktop and start a new application instance anchored to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number.
Windows + Ctrl + number -> Open the desktop and switch to the last active application window anchored to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number.
Windows + Alt + number -> Open the desktop and open the list of application shortcuts pinned to the taskbar at the position indicated by the number.
Windows + Ctrl + Shift + number -> Open the desktop and open a new instance of the application located in the determined position in the taskbar as administrator.
Windows + Tab -> Open Task View.
Windows + Up Arrow -> Maximize window.
Windows + Down Arrow -> Remove current application from screen or minimize desktop window.
Windows + Left Arrow -> Maximize the application or desktop window on the left side of the screen.
Windows + Right Arrow -> Maximize the application or desktop window on the right side of the screen.
Windows + Start -> Minimize everything except the active desktop window (repeat the action to restore all windows).
Windows + Shift + Up Arrow -> Expand the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows + Shift + Down Arrow -> Restore / minimize vertically active desktop windows while preserving width.
Windows + Shift + Left or Right Arrow -> Move an application or desktop window from one monitor to another.
Windows + Spacebar -> Switch between input language and keyboard layout.
Windows + Ctrl + Spacebar -> Switch to a previously selected entry.
Windows + Ctrl + Enter -> Activate Narrator.
Windows + More (+) -> Open Magnifier.
Windows + forward slash (/) -> Start IME conversion.
Windows + Ctrl + V -> Open animated notifications.
Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B -> Activate the PC from a black or blank screen.

Keyboard shortcuts for dialog boxes

Dialog boxes are one of the elements of the system with which we interact the most throughout the day when we use our computer. In this type of windows we can use certain very interesting keyboard shortcuts as you can see below:

F4 -> the elements of the active list.
Ctrl + Tab -> Advance through the tabs.
Ctrl + Shift + Tab -> Go back through the tabs.
Ctrl + number (number 1–9) -> Move to the nth tab.
Tab -> Advance through options.
Shift + Tab -> Go back through the options.
Alt + underlined letter -> Run the command (or select the option) that is used with the letter.
Space bar -> If the active option is a box, activate or deactivate it.
Backspace -> Open a folder one level higher if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Arrow keys -> If the active option is a group of radio buttons, select a button.

File Explorer keyboard shortcuts

Of course, one of the utilities that we use the most every day since we turn on the PC is the Windows file explorer. From there we go to any path where we have saved certain files that we want to use or move. In addition, from it we have access to system drives, default system folders, etc.

Alt + D -> Select the address bar.
Ctrl + E -> Select the search box.
Ctrl + F -> Select the search box.
Ctrl + N -> Open a new window.
Ctrl + W -> Close the active window.
Ctrl + mouse wheel -> Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Ctrl + Shift + E -> Show all folders above the selected folder.
Ctrl + Shift + N -> Create a new folder.
Num Lock + asterisk (*) -> Show all subfolders of the selected folder.
Num Lock + plus sign (+) -> Show the contents of the selected folder.
Num Lock + minus sign (-) -> Collapse the selected folder.
Alt + P -> Show preview pane.
Alt + Enter -> Open Properties dialog box for selected item.
Alt + Right Arrow -> View next folder.
Alt + Up Arrow -> View the folder that contained the folder.
Alt + Left Arrow -> View the previous folder.
Backspace -> View previous folder.
Right arrow -> Show current selection if collapsed or select first subfolder.
Left Arrow -> Collapse the current selection if it is expanded or select the folder that contained the folder.
End -> Show the bottom of the active window.
Home -> Show the top of the active window.
F11 -> Maximize or minimize the active window.

Virtual desktop shortcuts

Virtual desktops is a feature that Microsoft incorporated into Windows 10 so that users can organize their desk in a much more comfortable way. Now this implies that we have to move from one desk to another to find what we need. With these keyboard shortcuts you will surely be much more comfortable handling your virtual desktops.

Windows + Tab -> Open Task View.
Windows + Ctrl + D -> Add a virtual desktop.
Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow -> Toggle between the virtual desktops you have created on the right.
Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow -> Toggle between the virtual desktops you have created on the left.
Windows + Ctrl + F4 -> Close the virtual desktop you are using.

Taskbar keyboard shortcuts

The taskbar is another important element in Windows 10, since it is where open applications are displayed on the desktop, even if they are minimized and where the icons of certain applications appear running in the background or access to certain settings. Although the truth is that we can access any of these options with a couple of clicks, these keyboard shortcuts can also be very useful.

Shift + click a button on the taskbar -> Open an application or quickly open another instance of an application.
Ctrl + Shift + click a button on the taskbar -> Open an application as an administrator.
Shift + right-click a button on the taskbar -> Show menu in the application window.
Shift + right-click a button on the grouped taskbar -> Show group window menu.
Ctrl + click a button on the grouped taskbar -> Scroll through group windows.

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Shortcuts for command prompt

Although for many the command prompt is still a great unknown, the truth is that these keyboard shortcuts can help us, and a lot, when we use the command line in Windows 10 to execute certain options or tasks.

Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert) -> Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert) -> Paste the selected text.
Ctrl + M -> Access mark mode.
Alt + selection key -> Start selection in block mode.
Arrow keys -> Move the cursor in the specified direction.
Page Up -> Move cursor up one page.
Page Down -> Move cursor down one page.
Ctrl + Home (mark mode) -> Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (mark mode) -> Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
Ctrl + Up Arrow -> Move up one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Down Arrow -> Move down one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Home (history navigation) -> If the command line is empty, move the window to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, it removes all the characters to the left of the cursor on the command line.
Ctrl + End (history navigation) -> If the command line is empty, move the window to the command line. Otherwise, it removes all the characters to the right of the cursor on the command line.

Keyboard shortcuts configuration page

To access most of the system’s settings and options, it is necessary to open the Windows 10 Configuration page. Navigating all the options is quite simple, but we can also do it quickly with these two keyboard shortcuts.

Windows + I -> Open Configuration page.
Backspace -> Return to the main Settings page.