Windows 11 introduces new keyboard shortcut keys that complement pre-existing Windows shortcuts, designed to enhance your work efficiency and speed. The majority of Windows 10 shortcuts continue to function in Windows 11, with additional shortcuts introduced to accommodate new features in this latest version.

Windows 11 shortcuts offer a wide range of commands, from navigation within Settings and executing commands on a command prompt, to alternating between snap layouts and interacting with dialog boxes. This article will provide a comprehensive list of crucial keyboard shortcut keys, otherwise known as Windows hotkeys, that every Windows 11 user should familiarize themselves with.

Shortcut Keys or Windows Hotkeys for Windows 11

Utilizing keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11 can greatly enhance your efficiency by accelerating your usual tasks. These shortcuts offer a more streamlined approach to task completion, often reducing the need for repetitive clicking and scrolling.

While the prospect of learning all available shortcuts may seem overwhelming, it's not necessary to memorize every single one. Instead, focusing on the shortcuts related to your most frequent tasks can significantly improve your speed and productivity.

New Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 11

Windows 11 brings a few Keyboard Shortcuts for accessing its cool new features such as widgets, snap layouts, action center, and quick settings.

FYI, Win key is the Windows Logo key on your keyboard.

ActionShortcuts Keys
Open up the Widgets pane.
It supplies you with the weather forecast, local traffic, news, and even your calendar.
Win + W
Toggle up the Quick Settings.
It controls the Volume, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Brightness sliders, Focus Assist, and other settings.
Win + A
Bring up the Notification Center and Calendar.
It shows all your notifications in the OS.
Win + N
Open the Snap Layouts flyout.
It helps you organize apps and windows for multitasking.
Win + Z
Open Windows Copilot
It's an AI-powered assistant that lets you do anything from generating text to creating AI images.
Win + C
Snap an active window to the top half of your display.Win + Up Arrow
Snap an active window to the bottom half of your display.Win + Down Arrow
Open Quick Cast settings.Win + K
Launch Voice TypingWin + H

Here are the most frequently used and essential keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open the Start menu.Win or Ctrl + Esc
Select all contentsCtrl + A
Copy the selected itemsCtrl + C
Cut the selected itemsCtrl + X
Paste the copied or cut itemsCtrl + V
Undo an actionCtrl + Z
Redo an actionCtrl + Y
Italicize selected textCtrl + I
Underline selected textCtrl + U
Bolden selected textCtrl + B
Opens new window/documentCtrl + N
Switch between the running applicationsAlt + Tab
Open Task ViewWin + Tab
Close the active app or If you are on Desktop, open the Shutdown box to shut down, restart, log out or put your PC to sleep. Alt + F4
Lock your screen or computer.Win + L
Display and hide the desktop.Win + D
Stop or leave the current taskEsc
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.Ctrl + Delete
Delete the selected item permanently.Shift + Delete
Capture part of the screen with Snip & Sketch.Win + Shift + S
Open the Start button context menu.Windows + X
Rename the selected item.F2
Refresh the active window.F5
Open the Menu bar for the current app.F10
Open the charms menu.Win + Shift + C
Go back.Alt + Left arrow
Go forward.Alt + Left arrow
Move up one screenAlt + Page Up
Move down one screenAlt + Page Down
Open Task Manager.Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Project a screen.Win + P
Print the current page.Ctrl + P
Select more than one item.Shift + Arrow keys
Save the current file.Ctrl + S
Save AsCtrl + Shift + S
Open a file in the current app.Ctrl + O
Cycle through the apps on the taskbar in the order they were opened.Alt + Esc
Display your password on the login screenAlt + F8
Open the shortcut menu for the current windowAlt + Spacebar
Open properties for the selected item.Alt + Enter
Open the classic/full context menu (right-click menu) for the selected item.Shift + F10
Select multiple items between two mouse clicks.Shift + Select with the mouse
When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.Alt + Shift + Arrow keys
When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys
Open Run command.Win + R
Open a new program window of the current appCtrl + N
Take a screen clippingWin + Shift + S
Open Windows 11 settingsWin + I
Go back to the Settings home pageBackspace
Stop or close the current taskEsc
Enter/Exit the full-screen modeF11
Launch Emoji keyboardWin + period (.) or Win + semicolon (;)
Request Remote AssistanceWindows + Ctrl + Q
Delete the last entered wordCtrl + Backspace
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.Ctrl + Right arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.Ctrl + Left arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.Ctrl + Down arrow
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.Ctrl + Up arrow
Select multiple individual items in a window or desktopCtrl + Arrow Keys + Space
Open Search box Ctrl + F
Launch Microsoft Office AppsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win
Open OneNote desktop or web appCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + N
Open a new File Explorer window with OneDrive selectedCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + D
Open the Outlook inboxCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + O
Open a new slide on PowerPointCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + P
Open Microsoft TeamsCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + T
Open a blank Word documentCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + W
Open a blank Excel spreadsheetCtrl + Alt + Shift + Win + X
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.Left Arrow
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.Right Arrow
Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.Win + J
Open “how to get help in windows” Bing search in the default browser.Win + F1
Search settings.Type on any page with a search box

Keyboard Shortcuts For Taking Screenshots in Windows 11

ActionShortcut keys
Capture a full screenshot and saves it in the clipboard or Open the screen snipping tool.PrtScn or Print
Captures and saves a screenshot of the whole screen in the ‘Screen Captures’ folderWindows + Print
Screenshot function for the selected areaWindows + Shift + S

Task Manager Shortcuts for Windows 11

ActionShortcut keys
End the selected process Alt + E
Open the Create new task dialog to run a new task.Alt + N
Turn Efficiency Mode on or off.Alt + V
Cycle through the tabs in the navigation areaCtrl + Tab
Cycle through the tabs in the navigation area in reverse.Ctrl + Shift + Tab

Desktop and Virtual Desktops Shortcuts for Windows 11

These simple shortcuts will help you navigate your desktop, virtual desktops, and Azure Virtual Desktop more smoothly.

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open Start menuWindow logo key (Win)
Switch keyboard layoutCtrl + Shift
View all open appsAlt + Tab
Select more than one item on the desktop Ctrl + Arrow keys + Spacebar
Minimize all open windowsWin + M
Maximize all minimized windows on the desktop.Win + Shift + M
Minimize or maximize all but the active windowWin + Home
Snap the current app or window to the Left half of your displayWin + Left Arrow Key
Snap the current app or window to the Right half of your display.Win + Right Arrow Key
Stretch the active window to the top and bottom of the screen.Win + Shift + Up arrow key
Restore or minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width.Win + Shift + Down arrow key
Open Desktop viewWin + Tab
Add a new virtual desktopWin + Ctrl + D
Close the active virtual desktop.Win + Ctrl + F4
Toggle or switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the RightWin + Ctrl + Right arrow
Toggle or switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the LeftWin + Ctrl + Left arrow
Create a shortcutCTRL + SHIFT while dragging an icon or file
Open Windows SearchWin + S or Win + Q
Take a peek look at the desktop until you release the WINDOWS key.Win + Comma (,)
Activate the connection bar in a remote desktop seassion.Ctrl + Alt + Home 
Switch the client between full-screen and window mode in Remote DesktopCtrl + Alt + Break
Switch between programs from left to right.Alt + Page Up
Switch between programs from right to left.Alt + Page Down
Cycle through the programs in the order they were started.Alt + Insert
Store a snapshot of the active window, within the client, on the clipboardCtrl + Alt + Minus Sign (-) 
Store a snapshot of the entire client windows area, within the client, on the clipboardCtrl + Alt + Plus Sign (+)

Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

You can use below keyboard shortcuts to take control of your taskbar:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Run an app as administrator from the taskbarCtrl + Shift + Left Click app button or icon
Open the app in the first position on your taskbar. Win + 1
Open the app in the number position from the taskbar.Win + Number (0 - 9)
Cycle through apps in the taskbar.Win + T
View Date and Time from the taskbarWin + Alt + D
Open another instance of an app from the taskbar.Shift + Left Click app button
Show the window menu for the app from the taskbar.Shift + Right-click grouped app icon
Highlight the first item in the Notification Area and use the Arrow key to switch between the itemWin + B
Open the application’s menu on the taskbarAlt + Windows key + number keys
Show the hidden icons in Taskbar Corner Overflow/System trayWin + B and hit Enter

File Explorer (with Tabs) Shortcuts for Windows 11

These keyboard shortcuts can help you navigate your Windows filesystem more quickly than ever:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open the File Explorer.Win + E
Open New TabCtrl + T
Switch to the next tab (or Cycle through tabs left to right)Ctrl + Tab
Switch to the previous tab (or Cycle through tabs right to left)Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Jump to one of the first nine tabs from left to right Ctrl + 1 to 9
Close the active tabCtrl + W
Open the search in most apps including file explorer.Ctrl + E or F3
Open the current window in a new window.Ctrl + N
Close active window.Ctrl + W
Start the mark modeCtrl + M
Change the file and folder view.Ctrl + Mouse Scroll
Cycle through screen elements in a window or desktopF6
Create a new folder.Ctrl + Shift + N
Expand all subfolders in the navigation pane on the left.Ctrl + Shift + E
Select the address bar of File Explorer.Alt + D
Changes folder view.Ctrl + Shift + Number key(1-8)
Display the preview panel.Alt + P
Open the Properties settings for the selected item.Alt + Enter
Expand the selected drive or folderNum Lock + plus (+)
Collapse the selected drive or folder.Num Lock + minus (-)
Expand all the subfolders under the selected drive or folder.Num Lock + asterisk (*)
Go to the next folder.Alt + Right arrow
Go to the previous folderAlt + Left arrow (or Backspace)
Go to the parent folder the folder was in.Alt + Up arrow
Switch focus to address bar.F4
Refresh the active windowF5
Expand the current folder tree or select the first subfolder (if it’s expanded) in the left pane.Right Arrow key
Collapse the current folder tree or select the parent folder (if it’s collapsed) in the left pane.Left Arrow Key
Move to the top of the active window.Home
Move to the bottom of the active window.End
Go back to the previous folderBackSpace

Command Prompt Shortcuts for Windows 11

If you are a Command Prompt user, then these shortcuts will come in handy:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Scroll to the top of the Command Prompt (cmd).Ctrl + Home
Scroll to the bottom of the cmd.Ctrl + End
Select everything on the current line Ctrl + A
Move the cursor up a pagePage Up
Move the cursor down a pagePage Down
Enter Mark mode.Ctrl + M
Clear everything you have typed at once.Esc
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.Ctrl + Home (in Mark mode)
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.Ctrl + End (in Mark mode)
Cycle through command history of active sessionUp or Down arrow keys
Move the cursor left or right in the current command line.Left or Right arrow keys
Move your cursor to the start of the current lineShift + Home
Move your cursor to the end of the current lineShift + End
Move the cursor up one screen and select text.Shift + Page Up
Move the cursor down one screen and select text.Shift + Page Down
Move the screen up one line in the output history.Ctrl + Up arrow
Move the screen down one line in the output history.Ctrl + Down arrow
Move the cursor up one line and select the text.Shift + Up 
Move the cursor down one line and select the text.ShiftDown
Move the cursor one word at a time.Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Keys
Begin selection in block modeAlt + selection key
Open search for Command Prompt.Ctrl + F

Dialog box Shortcuts for Windows 11

Use the following Windows hotkeys to navigate the Dialog box of any application easily:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Move forward through tabs.Ctrl + Tab
Move back through tabs.Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Switch or Jump to the nth tab.Ctrl + number key 1–9
Show the items in the active list.F4
Move forward through options of the dialog boxTab
Move back through options of the dialog boxShift + Tab
Execute the command (or select the option) that is used with the underlined letter.Alt + underlined letter
Check or Uncheck the check box if the active option is a check box.Spacebar
Select or move to a button in a group of active buttons.Arrow keys
Open the parent folder if a folder is selected in the Open or Save As dialog box.Backspace

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

Windows 11 provides these keyboard shortcuts to make your computer more accessible and easier to use for everyone:

ACTIONSHORTCUTS KEYS
Open Ease of Access CentreWin + U
Turn on Magnifier and Zoom inWin + plus (+) 
Zoom out using MagnifierWin + minus (-) 
Exit MagnifierWin + Esc
Switch to the docked mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + D
Switch to full-screen mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + F
Switch to lens mode in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + L
Invert colors in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + I
Cycle through views in MagnifierCtrl + Alt + M
Resize the lens with the mouse in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + R
Pan in the direction of the arrow keys in Magnifier.Ctrl + Alt + arrow keys
Zoom in or out using mouseCtrl + Alt + mouse scroll
Open NarratorWin + Enter
Open on-screen keyboardWin + Ctrl + O
Turn Filter Keys on and offPress Right Shift for eight seconds
Turn High Contrast on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + PrtSc
Turn Mouse Keys on or offLeft Alt + left Shift + Num Lock
Turn Sticky Keys on or offPress Shift five times
Turn Toggle Keys on or offPress Num Lock for five seconds
Open Action CenterWin + A
Turn Color Filters On/OffWin + Ctrl + C

Xbox Game Bar Shortcuts for Windows 11

Here are some keyboard shortcuts for the Xbox Game Bar overlay in Windows 11 that can help you perform in-game tasks like capturing game clips, taking screenshots, and more.

ACTIONSHORTCUT KEYS
Open Game bar Win + G
Record the last 30 seconds of the active gameWin + Alt + G
Start or stop recording the active gameWin + Alt + R
Take a screenshot of the active gameWin + Alt + PrtSc
Show/hide the recording timer of the gameWin + Alt + T
Turn Microphone recording on/offWin + Alt + M
Turn HDR on or offWin + Alt + B

Browser Shortcuts for Windows 11

You can use these shortcuts to navigate and use browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc.

ActionShortcut KEYS
Find anything on the pageCtrl + F
Open a new tab and switch to itCtrl + T
Close the active tabCtrl + W or Ctrl + F4
Select the URL in the address bar to editAlt + D
Open HistoryCtrl + H
Open Downloads in a new tabCtrl + J
Open a new windowCtrl + N
Close the active windowCtrl + Shift + W
Print the current pageCtrl + P
Reload the current pageCtrl + R

Other Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11

ActionShortcut keys
Start IME reconversionWin + forward slash (/)
Open Feedback HubWin + F
Open the Connect quick settingWin + K
Lock your device orientationWin + O
Display the System Properties PageWin + Pause
Search for PCs (if you’re on a network)Win + Ctrl + F
Move an app or window from one monitor to anotherWin + Shift + Left or Right arrow key
Switch input language and keyboard layoutWin + Spacebar
Open Clipboard HistoryWin + V
Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.Win + Y
Launch Cortana appWin + C
Open another instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Shift + Number key (0-9)
Switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Ctrl + Number key (0-9)
Open the right-click menu for the app pinned in the [number] position on the taskbar.Win + Alt + Number key (0-9)
Open another instance as an administrator of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position.Win + Ctrl + Shift + Number key (0-9)

Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts for Any App

Not every app or program has shortcut keys to open it in Windows 11. In such cases, you can create your own keyboard shortcuts or keybinding to launch an application in Windows 11. Here’s how you can create custom keyboard shortcuts for an app in Windows 11:

First, open the Start menu and search for the app you want to create a keyboard shortcut for. Then, right-click the app from the search results and select ‘Open file location’ from the context menu.

This will open the Programs folder in the user files where you can see the desktop shortcuts for the app. Now right-click the desired shortcut icon and select ‘Properties’ from the context menu. 

In the program Properties dialog box, switch to the ‘Shortcut’ tab and press the key combination you want for the shortcut in the ‘Shortcut key’ field. Then, click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’.

If an app doesn’t have a desktop shortcut, create one and add keyboard shortcuts to it. To do that, navigate to the folder where the app was installed and right-click on the application (.exe), and select ‘Show more options’.

In the full context menu, hover over ‘Send to’ and select ‘Desktop (create shortcut)’.

Then, go to the desktop and right-click the shortcut you just created, and select ‘Properties’.

In the Properties dialog, specify the shortcut in the ‘Shortcut key’ and click ‘Apply’ then ‘OK’.

Have fun doing things quicker and efficiently with the above-mentioned keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11.

That’s it.