On Windows 10, keyboard shortcuts provide a quick way to navigate and operate the experience and features using a single press of one or multiple keys, which otherwise will take several clicks and more time to accomplish using the mouse.
These are the essential keyboard shortcuts that every Windows user should know:
Keyboard shortcut | Action |
Ctrl+A | Select all items in a document or window. |
Ctrl+C | Copies selected text or item. |
Ctrl+X | Cuts selected text or item. |
Ctrl+V | Pastes text or item on clipboard to your cursor location or designated file location. |
Ctrl+D | Delete selected text or item. |
Ctrl+Z | Undo something. |
Alt+F4 | Close active window. (If no active window is present, then a shutdown box appears.) |
Ctrl+Y | Redo something. |
Ctrl+S | Save a document. |
Ctrl+P | Print a document. |
Esc | Close current task. |
Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Opens the task manager. |
Ctrl+plus(+) | Zoom in on a large number of items, like apps pinned to the screen. |
Ctrl+minus(-) | Zoom out on a large number of items, like apps pinned to the screen. |
Alt+Tab | Switch between open apps |
Windows logo key+Tab | Cycle through open apps (except desktop apps in Windows 8) |
Shift + Delete | Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
Windows logo key + L | Lock your PC or switch users |
Windows logo key + M | Minimize all windows |
Windows logo key + Shift + M | Restore minimized windows on the desktop |
Ctrl + Alt with any arrow key | Rotate the entire screen in direction of the arrow key. Helpful for viewing photos or videos that aren’t right-side up. |
Windows logo key + A | Access the Action Center menu where you can view your notifications and access commonly used settings like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
Windows logo key + I | Access Windows Settings |
Windows logo key + C | Open Cortana in listening mode |
Windows logo key + S | Search for any file or an app installed on your computer |
Windows logo key + E | Open file Explorer. |
Windows logo key+D | Display and hide the desktop. |
Windows logo key+V | Open Clipboard bin. |
Windows logo key + Left arrow key | Snap app or window left. |
Windows logo key + Right arrow key | Snap app or window right. |