Windows shortcuts
The Windows keyboard shortcuts worth memorizing — clipboard, window snapping, screenshots and text editing — one sheet for the desk.
Last updated
The essentials
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Copy / Paste / Undo / Redo | Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V / Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y |
| Open clipboard history (past copies, pin favorites) | Win+V |
| Switch between open windows | Alt+Tab |
| Show desktop, minimizing everything | Win+D |
Windows & desktops
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Snap the current window left, right, or to a corner | Win+Arrow keys |
| Show a scrollable view of open windows and virtual desktops | Win+Tab |
| Switch virtual desktops | Ctrl+Win+Left/Right |
| Create a new virtual desktop | Ctrl+Win+D |
| Minimize every window except the one you're on | Win+Home |
Screenshots & recording
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open the snipping tool to capture part of the screen | Win+Shift+S |
| Capture the screen (opens Snipping Tool on Win 11 by default) | PrtScn |
| Open the Xbox Game Bar for recording and overlays | Win+G |
| Start or stop recording the active window | Win+Alt+R |
Text editing
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Jump the cursor one word left or right | Ctrl+Arrow keys |
| Select one word at a time in that direction | Ctrl+Shift+Arrow keys |
| Jump to the start or end of the line | Home / End |
| Delete the whole previous word | Ctrl+Backspace |
System
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Lock the PC | Win+L |
| Open File Explorer | Win+E |
| Open Settings | Win+I |
| Open Task Manager directly | Ctrl+Shift+Esc |
| Open the power-user menu (Device Manager, Terminal, etc.) | Win+X |
Worth remembering
- →Win+V's history is off by default the first time you use it — Windows prompts you to turn it on, and it only remembers what you copy from then on.
- →Ctrl+Shift+Esc is the fast path to Task Manager — Ctrl+Alt+Delete gets there too, but through an extra menu.
Questions
What is the single most useful one to learn?
Win+V, the clipboard history, if you enable it — it turns copy and paste from one slot into a list. Most people never discover it because it is off by default.
How do I take a screenshot of just one area?
Win+Shift+S opens the snipping overlay for a region, window or full screen, and puts the result on the clipboard. Print Screen alone captures everything, which is rarely what you wanted.
What is the difference between Win+L and Win+D?
Win+L locks the session and requires your password; Win+D just shows the desktop. Leaving a machine with Win+D is not securing it, which is worth knowing in a shared space.
How do virtual desktops help?
Win+Ctrl+D creates one and Win+Ctrl+arrow switches. They suit separating contexts — one desktop per project — rather than separating applications, which window management already handles.
Do these work the same on a Mac keyboard?
No. The Windows key maps to Command on most Mac keyboards connected to a PC, and the Alt and Option positions are swapped — which makes muscle memory unreliable when moving between the two.
How do I move a window that has gone off-screen?
Win+Shift+arrow moves the active window between monitors, which recovers a window stranded on a display that is no longer connected. Alt+Space then M also works, letting you drag it back with the arrow keys.
Is there a way to see every shortcut for the app I am in?
Not universally, and Win+/ opens the accessibility help in some contexts. Most applications list theirs under a help menu, and the ones worth learning are usually the three or four you would otherwise reach for the mouse to do.