Microsoft’s Windows 11 is coming soon, and it is constantly in the buzz even after 45 days of its launch. If you cannot wait for its official release to try, you can install the Windows 11 Insider Preview by joining Microsoft’s Insider Program. However, before that, you must check whether your PC is compatible with the minimum system requirements of Windows 11.
If you have installed Windows 11 Insider Preview, you might notice several differences in it compared to Windows 10. However, when it comes to keyboard shortcuts or Windows Hotkeys, many of them are precisely the same as in earlier Windows OS. Almost every Windows 10 keyboard shortcut works perfectly on Windows 11 too. Although, when you work on Windows 11 for a while, you will find some new hotkeys exclusively for it.
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In this post, we will list out all the Windows 11 Keyboard shortcuts for making you work faster and efficiently on the new OS.
Windows 11 Exclusive Keyboard Shortcuts
Since Windows 11 comes with some new features, you will find a few new hotkeys added exclusively for Windows 11 that you won’t find in any of the earlier Windows OS. Here is the list of the Windows 11 exclusive hotkeys with their action.
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
| Win + W | Launch Widgets Panel |
| Win + A | Open Quick Settings |
| Win + N | Access Notification Panel |
| Win + Z | Quickly access Snap Layout |
| Win + C | Open Team Chat App |
Launch Windows 11 Widgets Panel: Win + W
Windows 11 comes with the Widget Panel that lets you access the weather, news, calendar, etc., and add the widgets you prefer on it. While you can directly launch the Widgets Panel using its dedicated button on the Windows 11 taskbar, the Win + W key combination would let you use it without any help from a mouse or touchpad.
Open Windows 11 Quick Settings: Win + A
On Windows 11, you will find a Quick Settings panel with the Action center. You can access the Windows 11 Quick Settings section using Win + A keys combination. Although Win + A also works on Windows 10, its function is to launch Action Center and Notification panel. However, on Windows 11, the Notification center is separated, and there is a different hotkey for it.
Access Notification Panel: Win + N
Windows 11 comes with the Notification Panel at a new position. To access it, there is a new dedicated keyboard shortcut, Win+N. The Notification center shows you all the app notifications and unread messages.
Quickly access Snap Layout: Win + Z
Snap Layout is an excellent feature that was first introduced in Windows 10. This feature lets you multitask easier by helping you arrange the multiple app windows on the desktop screen. On Windows 11, Microsoft has made it easier to access Snap Flyout directly from the maximize button of the app window. However, you can do that using the hotkey Win + Z if you don’t want to use a mouse or touchpad.
Open Team Chat App: Win + C
On Windows 11, the Win + C keys combination is used for launching the Team Chat app. The same hotkey also works on Windows 10 to launch the Cortana app.
Windows 11 General Keyboard Shortcuts
Here is the list of most frequently used keyboard shortcuts on Windows 11.
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
| Ctrl + C | To Copy the selected text, image, or other items |
| Ctrl + V | To Paste the copied text, image, or other items |
| Ctrl + X | To move/cut the selected text, image, or other items |
| Ctrl + Z | To perform the undo action |
| Alt + Tab | Toggle between running apps |
| Windows Icon+ L | To lock your system |
| Windows Icon+ D | To display or hide the desktop |
| Alt + F4 | Close the current window of any application or folder |
| F2 | To rename the currently selected item |
| F3 | Perform a search in the File Explorer for a file or folder |
| F4 | Display the address bar list in File Explorer. |
| F5 | Perform a refresh in the active window |
| F10 | Activate the menu bar |
| Alt + F8 | Display your password on the sign-in screen |
| Alt + Enter | Full-screen mode |
| Ctrl + F4 | Close the active document |
| Ctrl + A | Select all items in a folder or whole text in a document |
| Ctrl + D | To delete the selected item and transfer it into recycle bin |
| Ctrl + R | To refresh the currently active window |
| Ctrl + Y | To redo an action |
| Ctrl + Right arrow | Move the cursor to the starting of the next word |
| Ctrl + Left arrow | Move the cursor to the starting of the previous word |
| Ctrl + Down arrow | Move the cursor to the starting of the next paragraph. |
| Ctrl + Up arrow | Move the cursor to the starting of the previous paragraph. |
| Ctrl + ESC | Open the Start Menu |
| Ctrl + Shift + ESC | Open the task manager |
| Shift + any arrow key | Select more than one item in a folder or on the desktop, or select text in a document. |
| Shift + Delete | Permanently delete an item |
| Windows icon + PrtScn | Take a screenshot of the whole screen |
Windows 11 File Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows 11 File Explorer comes with its own set of shortcuts for quicker navigation. Here is its list.
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
| Alt + D | Select the address bar (also works in browser) |
| Ctrl + E | Select the search box |
| Ctrl + F | Select the search bar |
| Ctrl + N | Open a duplicate window of the currently active window |
| Ctrl + W | Close the current folder or explorer window |
| Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel | Resize Folders or files icon |
| Ctrl + Shift + E | Display all folders above the current folder on the left panel |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | Create a new folder |
| Num Lock + * | Show the subfolders under the selected folder in the left panel |
| Alt + P | Display the preview panel. |
| Alt + Enter | Open Properties of the selected folder, image, or document |
| End | Reach to the bottom of the current window |
| Home | Reach to the top of the current window |
| F11 | Enter fullscreen mode |
Windows 11 Command Prompt Keyboard Shortcuts
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
| Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert | Paste the selected text |
| Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert | Copies the selected text to the clipboard |
| Ctrl + A | Select all text in the current line if the line contains the text. If it’s an empty line, select all text in the Command Prompt |
| Shift + Left / Right / Up / Down | Moves the cursor left a character, right a character, up a line, or down a line, selecting the text along the way. Continue pressing arrow keys to select more text |
| Ctrl + Shift + Left / Right | Moves the cursor one word to the left or right, selecting that word along the way |
| Shift + Home / End | Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line, selecting text along the way |
| Shift + Page Up / Page Down | Moves the cursor up or down a screen, selecting the text |
| Ctrl + Shift + Home / End | Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the “screen buffer,” selecting all text between the cursor and the beginning or end of the Command Prompt’s output. |
Windows 11 Taskbar Keyboard Shortcuts
Windows 11 Virtual Desktops Keyboard Shortcuts
| SHORTCUT | ACTION |
| Windows Key + Ctrl + D | Snap current window to the left side of the screen. |
| Windows Key + Right | Snap the current window on the right side of the screen. |
| Windows Key + Up | Snap the current window to the top of the screen. |
| Windows Key + Down | Snap current window to the bottom of the screen |
| Windows Key + Tab | Open Task view |
Windows 11 Dialog Box Shortcuts
| ACTION | SHORTCUTS KEYS |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Tab | Move forward through tabs. |
| Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Move back through tabs. |
| Ctrl + N (number 1–9) | Switch to the nth tab. |
| F4 | Show the items in the active list. |
| Tab | Move forward through options of the dialog box |
| Shift + Tab | Move back through options of the dialog box |
| Alt + underlined letter | Execute the command (or select the option) that is used with the underlined letter. |
| Spacebar | Check or Uncheck the check box if the active option is a check box. |
| Arrow keys | Select or move to a button in a group of active buttons. |
| Backspace | Open the parent folder if a folder is selected in the Open or Save As dialog box. |
Miscellaneous Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcut
| SHORTCUTS KEYS | ACTION |
|---|---|
| Win + G | Open Game bar |
| Win + Alt + G | Record the last 30 seconds of the active game |
| Win + Alt + R | Start or stop recording the active game |
| Win + Alt + PrtSc | Take a screenshot of the active game |
| Win + Alt + T | Show/hide recording timer of the game |
| Win + forward-slash (/) | Start IME reconversion |
| Win + F | Open Feedback Hub |
| Win + H | Launch Voice Typing |
| Win + K | Open the Connect quick setting |
| Win + O | Lock your device orientation |
| Win + Pause | Display the System Properties Page |
| Win + Ctrl + F | Search for PCs (if you’re on a network) |
| Win + Shift + Left or Right arrow key | Move an app or window from one monitor to another |
| Win + Spacebar | Switch input language and keyboard layout |
| Win + V | Open Clipboard History |
| Win + Y | Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop. |
| Win + C | Launch Cortana app |
| Win + Shift + Number key (0-9) | Open another instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position. |
| Win + Ctrl + Number key (0-9) | Switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position. |
| Win + Alt + Number key (0-9) | Open Jump List of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position. |
| Win + Ctrl + Shift + Number key (0-9) | Open another instance as an administrator of the app pinned to the taskbar in the number position. |
Peter is an Electrical Engineer whose primary interest is tinkering with his computer. He is passionate about Windows 10 Platform and enjoys writing tips and tutorials about it.
The shortcuts are great. Thank you very much.