Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts

by Wren McMains
(01/11/2020, updsated 12/30/20)

These are the ones I use frequently:

• Windows + E - Launches File Explorer (I never found this useful for the way I use File Explorer until I learned to change this option under "View / Options / Charnge folder and search options" from "Quick access" to "This PC", but some will find the default "Quick access" more useful.)
  
• Windows + D - Switches between Show desktop and showing the empty desktop with all programs mimimized.
• Windows + X - Opens the power user's menu in the lower-left corner of the screen.
• Windows + Tab - Opens Task view, from where you can switch between open windows or virtual desktops.
• Windows + + - Launches Magnifier and zooms in.
• Windows + - - If Magnifier is opened, it zooms out.
• Windows + Escape - Closes Magnifier.
• Windows + H - Makes Windows 10 enter in dictation mode.
• I recently learned about the keyboard shortcuts for snapping windows (see section below). I find these really useful.
• Working on this list reminded me of Virtual Desktops, I'm currently using them to see if I find them useful. Given that I usually have 30 or more windows open, they might be.

A much more complete list of Windows 10 Shortcuts:

Keyboard shortcuts for the Windows 10 desktop

• Windows - Opens and closes the Start Menu (also Ctrl + Esc)
• Windows + A - Opens the Action Center.
• Windows + D - Switches between Show desktop and showing the empty desktop with all programs mimimized. This hides or shows apps and windows from your desktop.
• Windows + E - Launches File Explorer.
• Windows + I - Open the Settings app.
• Windows + K - Opens the Connect pane, from which you can initiate connections to wireless displays and audio devices.
• Windows + L - Locks your Windows 10 computer or device and takes you to the Lock screen.
• Windows + M - Minimizes all the open windows from the desktop.
• Windows + O - Locks the display orientation of your Windows 10 device. This is useful when you want your Windows 10 tablet or Surface Pro to stay in Portrait or Landscape mode, even if you re-orientate it.
• Windows + P - Opens the Project pane and allows you to search and connect to external displays and projectors.
• Windows + R - Launches the Run window.
• Windows + V - Clipboard History.
• Windows + W - Open Windows Ink Workspace, where you can interact with apps like Sticky Notes, Sketchpad or Snip & Sketch.
• Windows + X - Opens the advanced menu from the lower-left corner of the screen. It's also known as the WinX menu or the power user's Start Menu.
• Windows + , - Peek at the desktop.
• Windows + ; - Opens the emoji popup from where you can insert emojis into your text (also Windows + .)
• Windows + Pause/Break - Opens the System page from the Control Panel.
• Windows + Print Screen - Takes a picture of your screen and automatically saves it in your Screenshots folder. By default, it is located in "This PC -> Pictures -> Screenshots."
• Windows + Spacebar - Switches between available input languages and keyboard layouts.

Switching between Apps and Task View Shortcuts

• Alt + Tab - Repeatedly pressing the Tab key while holding Alt pressed, cycles through open windows and apps. Release the Tab key on the window or app that you want to open.
• Ctrl + Alt + Tab - Displays the list of open windows and apps and keeps the list on the screen even after you release the keys. You can then navigate through open windows and apps using the arrow keys or the mouse.
• Windows + Tab - Opens Task view, from where you can switch between open windows or virtual desktops.

Snapping Windows Shortcuts

• Windows + Left Arrow - Snaps the active window to the left half of your screen.
• Windows + Right Arrow - Snaps the active window to the right half of your screen.
• Windows + Up Arrow - Maximizes the active window both vertically and horizontally.
• Windows + Down Arrow - Restores your active window to its initial state, or minimizes it.
• Windows + Shift + Up Arrow - Maximizes the active window vertically, maintaining its width.
• Windows + Shift + Down Arrow - Restores or minimizes your active window vertically, maintaining its width.
• Windows + Home - Minimizes all inactive windows and restores them if you use the key combination again.
• Windows + Shift + Left Arrow - If you have multiple monitors, it moves the active window to the monitor on the left.
• Windows + Shift + Right Arrow - If you have multiple monitors, it moves the active window to the monitor on the right.
• Alt + Space - Displays the title bar menu of the current window. You can also access this menu by right-clicking the title bar of the current window. The menu generally includes options to resize the window and other app-specific options.
• F11 - Enables or disables the full-screen view of the active window. It works only for the applications that support this feature, like File Explorer and most of the web browsers.

Taskbar Shortcuts

• Windows + 1, Windows +2, etc. - Launch the first, second, third... application pinned to the taskbar, and so on. For instance, Windows + 1 launches whichever application is first in the list, numbered from left to right.
• Windows + T - Highlights the first application in the taskbar. You can use the arrow keys to cycle through the taskbar applications. The applications that are running also display a thumbnail above their icon when you select them.
• Windows + B - If the Notification Area Icons are set to "Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar," this keyboard shortcut highlights the first application in the system tray. You can use the arrow keys to cycle through all the applications found in the system tray. If the "Always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar" is disabled, this keyboard shortcut highlights the "Show hidden icons" arrow. You can then press Enter to display the hidden icons or use the arrow keys to cycle through the applications found in the system tray.
• Shift + click on a taskbar application - Launches a new instance of the selected application. It works only for applications which support running in multiple instances, like Microsoft Office or Internet browsers.
• Ctrl + Shift + click on a taskbar application - Launches a new instance of the selected application with administrator rights. It works only for applications which support running in multiple instances, like Microsoft Office or Internet browsers.
• Shift + right-click on a taskbar application - Launches the contextual menu for that application instead of the list with recent items or pinned tasks or folders.

Virtual Desktop Shortcuts

• Windows + Ctrl + D - Creates a new virtual desktop.
• Windows + Ctrl + Left Arrow - Switches to the previous virtual desktop.
• Windows + Ctrl + Right Arrow - Switches to the next virtual desktop.
• Windows + Ctrl + F4 - Closes the current virtual desktop.

Accessibility Shortcuts

• Windows + U - Starts the Ease of Access Center.
• Windows + Control + Enter - Launches Narrator.
• Windows + Control + N - Opens the Narrator settings.
• Windows + + - Launches Magnifier and zooms in.
• Windows + - - If Magnifier is opened, it zooms out.
• Windows + Escape - Closes Magnifier.
• Windows + H - Makes Windows 10 enter in dictation mode, where you can enter text easier, by simply speaking.

Gaming Shortcuts

• Windows + G - Opens the Game bar.
• Windows + Alt + Print Screen - Takes a screenshot during play.
• Windows + Alt + G - Records the last 30 seconds of your gameplay (or the time frame you set in the Gaming settings).
• Windows + Alt + R - Starts or stops recording your gameplay.
• Windows + Alt + M - Turns the microphone on or off.
• Windows + Alt + B - Starts or pauses the broadcast of your gameplay on the online streaming platforms.
• Windows + Alt + W - Shows a live feed from your webcam while streaming your gameplay online.

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