Cheat sheetOffice
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 |
| Create or switch virtual desktops | Ctrl+Win+Arrow keys |
| 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 whole screen straight to the clipboard | 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.