How much do you know about Windows hotkeys? These handy commands, accessed by pressing two or more keys on your keyboard at once, are your, well, key to saving time when you’re at your computer. Once you have them memorized, you’ll find that using Windows keyboard shortcuts is faster than using your mouse to go into a menu and select a command.

Reader’s Digest knows you don’t have a lot of time to spend digging around in menus, so we’ve put together these practical, printable charts that make learning Windows keyboard shortcuts easier. In no time, you’ll be switching between windows, taking screenshots, opening programs and more, and doing it all faster using hotkeys. Here are the ones you need to know.

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Basic Windows keyboard shortcuts

These basic PC keyboard shortcuts will work on all Microsoft applications, browsers and programs, including Windows 11, Windows 10 and earlier versions. And they’re always ready—you don’t have to restart your computer. But you do have to press the indicated keys at the same time!

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COMMAND ACTION
CTRL + Z Undo your last action, such as typing the wrong word or accidentally deleting a file (Note: This doesn’t work to reopen closed windows.)
Alt + Tab Switch between your open windows
Alt + Print Screen Take a screenshot of an active window
CTRL + Alt + Delete (Del) Open the Windows Task Manager application
CTRL + W Close a browser tab, window or an open file
F5 Instantly refresh the current page in your browser
F12 Open the Save As window when you’re in a word processor application like Microsoft Word
Alt + F4 Close an open window
Shift + F10 Displays the context menu of relevant commands on a selected item
CTRL + A Select all
Shift + Delete Select the file, then press to permanently delete
CTRL + C Copy something you have selected
CTRL + V Paste the selection you copied
CTRL + X Cut (delete and copy) a selection
CTRL + B Start typing in bold. Hit again for regular text
CTRL + I Start typing in italics. Hit again for regular text
CTRL + U Start typing words that are underlined. Hit again for regular text

Windows key shortcuts

Some Windows keyboard shortcuts involve the Windows key. That’s the one with the Windows logo on it, and it’s usually located on the bottom row of your keyboard near the spacebar and Alt key. It’s basically the PC version of Apple’s Command key, aka your path to Mac keyboard shortcuts. Here are the most useful ones:

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COMMAND ACTION
Windows key (Win) Opens or closes the Start menu on your computer
Windows key + Tab Switch your view from one open window to another. For example, you can go from your browser to Photoshop and back simply by tapping this combination of hotkeys
Windows key + D Make the desktop pop up on the screen
Windows key + left arrow key To organize two windows that you want to look at side-by-side, open one window and tap this hotkey to “snap” the second window to the left side of the screen. Then, open the other window and tap the Windows key + right arrow to snap the second window to the right. This works on Windows 7 and up
Windows key + L Lock your computer quickly
Windows key + I Open your Windows settings application

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece on Windows keyboard shortcuts, Alina Bradford tapped her experience as a tech journalist to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

  • Microsoft: “Keyboard shortcuts”
  • HP: “20 Handy Windows Keyboard Shortcuts”
  • Lenovo: “What is the F12 key?”
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Alina Bradford
Alina is a tech, online safety and security expert and writer with more than 25 years of experience. She has contributed to CNET, CBS, Digital Trends, MTV and many other outlets, with the goal of making safety and security gadgets less mystifying for readers, one article at a time. She lives outside of Dallas with her husband and two huskies, Sith ...
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