130+ Must-Know Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts [2024]

Have you recently shifted from macOS or the Linux operating system to Windows 11? There will be many things that you might be familiar with and a bunch of things that you might not be sure about. One of these things will be the keyboard shortcuts that help you to navigate around Windows 11 easily. Now, there will be universal shortcuts across different platforms, and some are limited to just a particular platform.

If you want to enhance your experience while using Windows 11 on your PC or laptop, here we curated a list of must-know keyboard shortcuts for Windows 11. Knowing these shortcuts can help make your life easy. So now, without wasting time, check out these Windows shortcuts.

Keyboard Shortcuts – The Must-Know Shortcuts for Windows 11

Nobody likes to waste time when you have a lot of things or tasks to complete. Now, if you are using a Windows 11 PC, these shortcuts can help make your life easier when navigating around Windows 11.

Windows + L Keys

If you plan to be away from your PC for a while when you are either at your home or office, you can simply use this key combination to lock your screen. This is the same as the lock screen of your smartphone. Depending on your PC, you will require either a fingerprint, password, or PIN to unlock the PC.

Windows + Tab Keys

This is a great shortcut combination if you are someone who makes use of the multiple desktop options that were first made available with Windows 10. Apart from quickly switching desktops, you can also switch between the open windows on your current desktop.

Alt + Tab Keys

Do you have too many Windows open on your desktop? Using the Alt and Tab key combination, you can quickly switch through the windows open on your desktop. When you have selected the windows that you want to bring up, simply release the Tab key, and you are good to go.

Ctrl + F Keys

This is a great shortcut key when you want to look or search for something. For example, if you use this key combination in Windows Explorer, you will be able to search for files and folders. But, if you use it in other programs such as web browsers or programs like MS Word and Google Docs, you can easily search for a word that you think might be there in the text or your web page.

Ctrl + W Keys

Want to close any particular window on your desktop? Simply use this key combination. It will close away the active window without you having to use your mouse. Yes, you can use the Alt + F4 key combination, but it will usually bring up the Shut-Down Windows menu if no window is active. Also, using the Ctrl + W key combination can close a single tab in your web browser. And yes, it works for all web browsers.

Ctrl + Plus and Ctrl + Minus Keys

Zooming in and out of web pages by default will require you to use the mouse and keyboard. But with this particular key combination, you can easily zoom in and zoom out with just two keys. This is good if you have text that is either too large or too small in your web browser.

Ctrl + Shift+ Escape Keys

Is a program or app stuck, crashing, or just not responding? The Task manager is always your savior. Simply press the Ctrl, Shift, and Escape keys to pull up the Task Manager on your desktop. From here you will be able to forcefully close the app or program that might be misbehaving or not responding

Win + T keys

The Win + T key combination works best when you use certain apps or programs. These apps would include web browsers, the file manager, or even the Command Prompt and Windows Terminal. This key combination opens up a new tab right away. If you keep pressing the key combination, you will continue to have more tabs opening up.

Win + Shift + Arrow Keys

Windows 11 lets you adjust your open windows to different sections of the screen. While you can use your mouse to drag and move these windows around, did you know that the Windows + Shift + arrow Key lets you move your active window? With the keyboard shortcuts, you can simply keep any window active and move them where to place them on the screen.

Win + . Keys

As smartphone users, there has been a point where you have used emojis, Whether it’s a text or a social media post. What if I told you that you can also make use of emojis on your Windows 11 PC? Well, to pull up the emoji screen, simply press the Windows key and the full stop or dot key. You will see the emoji board pop-up right away.

Win + V

Now, everything that you copy on your Windows PC will eventually stay on the clipboard. So, what if I told you that you can paste text that you earlier copied? That can be done by simply pressing the Windows and V keys to bring up the clipboard. This is a good keyboard shortcut for those who might be copying and pasting repetitive texts.

Alt + Escape

Without touching your mouse, did you know that you can easily cycle through all the open windows on your desktop? Simply press the Alt and Escape keys. You will instantly switch to the next open window on your desktop. This is good if you are someone who switches between two windows constantly.

Win + K Keys

Most modern PCs running Windows 11 will have the ability to wirelessly cast the screen to a wireless display that is connected to the same Wi-Fi network. You can easily cast your Windows 11 screen to another device by pressing the Windows and K keys. With the cast menu open, simply select the wireless device, and you are good to go.

Win + M Keys

You no longer need to use your mouse to minimize every active window. Simply press the Windows and M keys to minimize all windows from the desktop screen. Simple and quick. Additionally, you can also use the Windows and D key combination to display the desktop right away. This will also maximize all active and open windows.

Win + I Keys

Have some settings that you need to tinker around? Simply press the Windows And I keys on your keyboard to launch the Settings app. Skip running to the Start menu and launching the Settings app with this simple key combination.

Best Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for Paint App

Alt+F4 – Close the picture and its Paint window
Ctrl +S – Save changes to a picture
Ctrl +Y – Redo a change
Ctrl+(+) – Increase the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel
Ctrl+(-) – Decrease the width of a brush, line, or shape outline by one pixel
Ctrl+A – Select the whole picture
Ctrl+B – Make selected text bold
Ctrl+C – Copy selection to the clipboard
Ctrl+E – Open Properties Dialog box
Ctrl+G – Hide or Display grid lines
Ctrl+I – Make selected text italics
Ctrl+N – Create a new picture
Ctrl+O – Opens the existing picture
Ctrl+P – Prints your picture
Ctrl+Page Down – Zoom out
Ctrl+Page Up – Zoom in
Ctrl+R – Display or hide the ruler
Ctrl+U – Underline selected text
Ctrl+V – Paste a selection from the Clipboard
Ctrl+W – Open the Resize and Skew dialog
Ctrl+X – Cut a selection
Ctrl+Z – Undo a change
Down arrow – Move the selection or active shape down by one pixel
F11 – View your picture in full-screen mode
F12 – Save your picture to a new file
Left arrow – Move the selection or active shape left by one pixel
Right arrow – Move the selection or active shape right by one pixel
Shift+F10 – Show the context menu
Up arrow – Move the selection or active shape up by one pixel

Best Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows Game Bar Shortcuts

Windows+Alt+B – Start or end broadcasting
Windows+Alt+G – Records last 30 seconds
Windows+Alt+M – Switch the microphone off or on
Windows+Alt+printscrn – Capture a game screenshot
Windows+Alt+R – Begin or end a recording
Windows+Alt+T – Display or hide the recording timer
Windows+Alt+W – Display camera during broadcast
Windows+G – Displays game bar during a game

Best Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts for Microsoft Edge

Alt + D – Select the URL in the address bar to edit
Alt + E – Open the Settings and more menu
Alt + F – Open the Settings and more menu
Alt + F4 – Close the current window
Alt + Home – Open your home page in the current tab
Alt + Left arrow – Go back
Alt + Right arrow – Go forward
Alt + Shift + B – Set focus on the first item in the favorites bar
Alt + Shift + I – Open the Send feedback dialog
Alt + Shift + T – Set focus on the first item in the app bar toolbar
Alt – Set focus on the Settings and more button
Ctrl + (+) – Zoom in
Ctrl + (-) – Zoom out
Ctrl + (1 to 8) – Switch to a specific tab
Ctrl + 0 – Reset page zoom level
Ctrl + 9 – Switch to the last tab
Ctrl + [ – Rotate PDF counter-clockwise 90*
Ctrl + \ – Toggle PDF between fit to page / fit to width
Ctrl + ] – Rotate PDF clockwise 90*
Ctrl + D – Save the current tab as a favorite
Ctrl + E – Open a search query in the address bar
Ctrl + F – Open find on page
Ctrl + F4 – Close the current tab
Ctrl + F6 – Move focus to the web content pane
Ctrl + G – Jump to the next result for find on page
Ctrl + H – Open History
Ctrl + J – Open Downloads
Ctrl + K – Open a search query in the address bar
Ctrl + L – Select the URL in the address bar to edit
Ctrl + M – Mute the current tab (toggle)
Ctrl + N – Open a new window
Ctrl + O – Open a file from your computer in Edge
Ctrl + P – Print the current page
Ctrl + PgDn – Switch to the next tab
Ctrl + PgUp – Switch to the previous tab
Ctrl + R – Reload the current page
Ctrl + S – Save the current page
Ctrl + Shift + B – Show or hide the favorites bar
Ctrl + Shift + D – Save all open tabs as favorites in a new folder
Ctrl + Shift + Delete – Open clear browsing data options
Ctrl + Shift + E – Open search in sidebar
Ctrl + Shift + G – Jump to the previous result for find on page
Ctrl + Shift + I – Open Developer Tools
Ctrl + Shift + K – Duplicate the current tab
Ctrl + Shift + L – Paste and search or Paste and go (if it’s a URL)
Ctrl + Shift + M – Sign in as a different user or browse as a Guest
Ctrl + Shift + N – Open a new InPrivate window
Ctrl + Shift + O – Open Favorites
Ctrl + Shift + P – Print using the system dialog
Ctrl + Shift + R – Reload the current page, ignoring cached content
Ctrl + Shift + T – Reopen the last closed tab, and switch to it
Ctrl + Shift + Tab – Switch to the previous tab
Ctrl + Shift + U – Start or stop Read Aloud
Ctrl + Shift + V – Paste without formatting
Ctrl + Shift + W – Close the current window
Ctrl + Shift + Y – Open Collections
Ctrl + T – Open a new tab and switch to it
Ctrl + Tab – Switch to the next tab
Ctrl + U – View source
Ctrl + W – Close the current tab
End – Go to the bottom of the page, Move keyboard focus to last item of pane
Esc – Stop loading page; close dialog or pop-up
F1 – Open Help
F10 + Enter – Open Setting and more menu
F10 – Set focus on the Settings and more button
F11 – Enter full screen (toggle)
F12 – Open Developer Tools
F3 – Find in the current tab
F4 – Select the URL in the address bar
F5 – Reload the current tab
F6 – Move focus to next pane
F7 – Turn caret browsing on or off
F9 – Enter or exit Immersive Reader
Home – Go to the top of the page, Move keyboard focus to first item of pane
PgDn – Scroll down webpage, one screen at a time
PgUp – Scroll up webpage, one screen at a time
Shift + F10 – Open context menu
Shift + F5 – Reload the current tab, ignoring cached content
Shift + F6 – Move focus to previous pane
Shift + Spacebar – Scroll up webpage, one screen at a time
Shift + Tab – Go to previous tab stop
Spacebar – Scroll down webpage, one screen at a time
Tab – Go to next tab stop

Closing Thoughts

Yes, there are a ton of Windows keyboard shortcuts out there, but these are the essential pens that you need to know. With these keyboard shortcuts, you no longer have to waste time fiddling around with the mouse to click and select through menus and windows. Just use the keyboard shortcuts and you are good to go.

If you have other keyboard shortcuts that you feel every Windows 11 user should know, feel free to list them below, and we will add them to this list.

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130+ Must-Know Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts To Make Your Life Easy