Computer Shortcut Keys: 100+ Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Computer shortcut keys are key combinations that perform a task without the mouse. For example, pressing Ctrl + C copies a file, and pressing Ctrl + V pastes it. Because your hand stays on the keyboard, you finish tasks faster and with less strain. This guide groups more than 100 computer shortcut keys by purpose. Most work on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and many also work in browsers and Office apps. First, learn the basic group. Then add one new group each day.

Basic Computer Shortcut Keys

These shortcuts are the foundation. Learn them first, since you will use them every day.

Copy, Paste and Undo

• Copy the selected item with Ctrl + C, so you can reuse it.
• Paste it with Ctrl + V when you reach the new place.
• Cut an item with Ctrl + X, so it moves instead of copying.
• Undo a mistake with Ctrl + Z, because it reverses your last action.
• Redo the undone action with Ctrl + Y if you undo too much.
• Select everything on the page with Ctrl + A before you copy or format it.
• Save your work with Ctrl + S, and do it often.
• Print the page with Ctrl + P, and then choose your printer.
• Find a word with Ctrl + F if the page is long.
• Open a new file or window with Ctrl + N when you need a fresh start.
• Open an existing file with Ctrl + O, because it skips the menu.
• Close the current tab or document with Ctrl + W.

Selecting Items

• Hold Shift + Arrow keys to select text one character or line at a time.
• Press Ctrl + Shift + Arrow keys when you need to select whole words.
• Click the first item, then hold Shift and click the last one to select a range.
• Hold Ctrl and click items to select several separate files.
• Press Shift + Home if you want to select back to the start of the line.
• Press Shift + End to select up to the end of the line.

Text Editing Shortcut Keys

These shortcuts help you write and format faster in Word, Notepad, Docs and email.

Moving and Deleting

• Jump to the start of a document with Ctrl + Home, even in a long file.
• Jump to the end with Ctrl + End.
• Move one word at a time with Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow.
• Delete the previous word with Ctrl + Backspace, because it is faster than single letters.
• Delete the next word with Ctrl + Delete.
• Go to the start of a line with Home, and to the end with End.
• Scroll one screen up or down with Page Up and Page Down.

Formatting

• Make text bold with Ctrl + B.
• Italicise it with Ctrl + I when you want emphasis.
• Underline it with Ctrl + U if the heading needs a mark.
• Centre a paragraph with Ctrl + E, and then check the alignment.
• Right-align text with Ctrl + R, and left-align it with Ctrl + L.
• Find and replace words with Ctrl + H in Word.
• Paste without formatting using Ctrl + Shift + V, so the pasted text matches the page.
• Increase the zoom with Ctrl + Plus, and decrease it with Ctrl + Minus.
• Reset the zoom to normal with Ctrl + 0.

Windows Key Shortcuts

The Windows key (Win) opens many system features. Therefore, these shortcuts help you control the whole computer.

Everyday Start and Search Shortcuts

• Open the Start menu with the Win key.
• Show the desktop with Win + D, and then press it again to return.
• Open File Explorer with Win + E.
• Lock your computer with Win + L when you leave your seat.
• Open Settings with Win + I.
• Open the Run box with Win + R, since it launches apps by name.
• Search your computer with Win + S when you cannot find a file.
• Open Quick Settings with Win + A on Windows 11.
• Open notifications with Win + N on Windows 11.
• Open the Power User menu with Win + X because it holds system tools.

Screenshots, Clipboard and Emoji

• Take a screenshot of a selected area with Win + Shift + S.
• Save a full-screen screenshot to your Pictures folder with Win + PrtScn.
• View your clipboard history with Win + V if you have turned it on.
• Open the emoji panel with Win + Period (.) while you type a message.
• Start voice typing with Win + H, so you can speak instead of typing.
• Open the Game Bar with Win + G, which also records the screen.

Snapping Windows and Virtual Desktops

• Snap a window to the left half with Win + Left Arrow.
• Snap a window to the right half with Win + Right Arrow.
• Maximise a window with Win + Up Arrow when you want more space.
• Minimise or restore it with Win + Down Arrow.
• Minimise all windows with Win + M, and restore them with Win + Shift + M.
• Show all open apps with Win + Tab, then pick one.
• Create a new virtual desktop with Win + Ctrl + D.
• Switch between virtual desktops with Win + Ctrl + Left or Right Arrow.
• Project your screen to another display with Win + P.
• Cast to a wireless display with Win + K if your TV supports it.
• Zoom in with the Magnifier using Win + Plus.

Alt Key Shortcuts

Alt shortcuts mostly deal with windows and menus. They are small but handy.

• Switch between open apps with Alt + Tab.
• Close the active window with Alt + F4, but save your work first.
• Go back one page with Alt + Left Arrow when you open the wrong link.
• Go forward with Alt + Right Arrow.
• View the properties of a selected file with Alt + Enter.
• Open the window menu with Alt + Space, since it holds move and resize options.
• Cycle through windows in the order you opened them with Alt + Esc.
• Press Alt alone to show menu hints in many apps.

Ctrl + Alt and Ctrl + Shift Shortcuts

• Open the Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc if an app stops responding.
• Open the security screen with Ctrl + Alt + Delete because it offers lock, sign out and Task Manager.
• Open the Start menu with Ctrl + Esc.
• Create a new folder with Ctrl + Shift + N in File Explorer.
• Switch the keyboard layout with Alt + Shift if you use two languages.
• Open Task Manager from the lock screen options when the system hangs.

File Explorer Shortcut Keys

• Rename a file with F2, then type the new name.
• Refresh the folder with F5 if a new file does not appear.
• Search in the folder with Ctrl + F or F3.
• Delete a file with Delete, so it goes to the Recycle Bin.
• Delete a file permanently with Shift + Delete, but think twice first.
• Move up one folder level with Alt + Up Arrow.
• Open the address bar with Ctrl + L or Alt + D.
• Open a new File Explorer window with Ctrl + N.
• Preview a file with Alt + P.
• Open the right-click menu with Shift + F10 when your mouse is not working.

Browser Shortcut Keys

These work in Chrome, Edge and Firefox, so they are useful for everyday browsing.

• Open a new tab with Ctrl + T when you want to search something else.
• Reopen a closed tab with Ctrl + Shift + T.
• Move to the next tab with Ctrl + Tab, and to the previous with Ctrl + Shift + Tab.
• Jump to a numbered tab with Ctrl + 1 to Ctrl + 8.
• Open an incognito or private window with Ctrl + Shift + N in Chrome and Edge.
• Bookmark a page with Ctrl + D so you can find it later.
• Open your history with Ctrl + H.
• Open downloads with Ctrl + J, because it shows every saved file.
• Clear browsing data with Ctrl + Shift + Delete.
• Reload the page with F5 or Ctrl + R.
• View the page source with Ctrl + U.
• Open developer tools with F12 or Ctrl + Shift + I.
• Go full screen with F11 when you read or present.

Function Key Shortcuts (F1 to F12)

• Open help with F1 if you get stuck.
• Rename a selected item with F2.
• Search with F3 because it opens the find box in many apps.
• Repeat the last action in Office with F4.
• Refresh the page with F5.
• Cycle through screen elements with F6, for example the address bar and page.
• Check spelling in Word with F7 before you submit a document.
• Show menu bar options with F10.
• Toggle full screen with F11.
• Open the Save As box in Word with F12.

Practical Tips for Learning Shortcut Keys

Do not try to learn all 100 at once. Instead, pick five shortcuts each day and use them for a week. Next, stick a small note near your screen. After that, add one group at a time. As a result, the keys become habits within a few weeks. If you use Excel, continue with Excel shortcut keys. If you are new to computers, start with types of computer in the Computer Skills section.

Make Shortcuts a Habit

Computer shortcut keys save only a few seconds each time, but those seconds add up across a day. Start with the basic group, add the Windows key shortcuts next, and then explore browser and File Explorer keys. After that, return to the Computer Skills category or visit the The Note homepage.