Best Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts!

No matter how much we use Windows 10 every day, that doesn’t mean that we have mastered all the shortcuts that the operating system offers. Here is a catch-up session because many of these shortcuts will allow you to significantly increase your productivity.

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

The shortcuts to know at your fingertips!

If you don’t already know the shortcuts below, it’s time to revise your lesson as they are among the most used on Windows 10!

Shortcut

Ordered

Windows

Open the Start Menu (no kidding!)

Windows + E

Open File Explorer

Windows + I

Open Settings

Windows + L

Change account or lock PC (it’s still faster than using CTRL + ALT + DEL, right?)

Windows + S

Open Windows search

Windows + V

Open the clipboard history and find an item previously copied

Windows + SHIFT + S

Take a screenshot (other shortcuts exist like the Print Screen key,

Windows + semicolon

Display the emoji panel

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts to improve productivity

Instead of using the mouse, here are other shortcuts specific to Windows 10 that can save you many seconds when you work on your PC.

Shortcut

Ordered

Alt + F4

Close the active application

Alt + TAB

Switch between different applications

Windows + D

Instantly switch to the desktop (the shortcut can be executed again to return to the previous display)

Windows + TAB

View active applications

Windows + CTRL + D

Create an additional virtual office

Windows + CTRL + right or left arrow

Switch between different virtual desktops

Windows + CTRL + F4

Close the virtual desktop being displayed

Windows + up or down arrow

Maximize or minimize the window

Windows + direction arrow

Hang the active window on a corner of the screen

Shortcuts shared by many applications

Difficult to mention all the possible shortcuts since each application includes its own shortcuts. However, here are some shortcuts shared by the majority of applications, and in particular in the file explorer, Word, Edge, etc.

Shortcut

Ordered

CTRL + C

Copy an item

CTRL + X

Cut an item

CTRL + V

Paste an item

CTRL + A

Select all items

CTRL + F

Find an item

CTRL + P

Print the window or page currently displayed

CTRL + Z

Undo the last action performed (for example move a file or rename it)

CTRL + Y

Restore the last action

CTRL + S

Save

F5

Refresh the content of the active window

Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts

Shortcuts for video game enthusiasts

Only usable when a game is running, here are some useful shortcuts for aspiring or experienced gamers.

Shortcut

Ordered

Windows + G

Open the games bar

Windows + Alt + G

Record the last 30 seconds of play

Windows + Alt + R

Start or stop recording

SHIFT + F4

I repeat, because when a game crashes there is sometimes only this solution left to close it =) (or CTRL + ALT + DEL, select the process and kill it)

To go even further …

Here is a list of other shortcuts to use in the Windows environment. They are less commonly used but if you want to improve or train your memory, here they are.

Shortcut

Ordered

Windows + A

Open the Notification Center

Windows + C

Open Cortana (if enabled)

Windows + F

Open the comments hub (Windows Insider)

Windows + K

Find and connect a new device or device

Windows + X

Open the Quick Link menu (also callable by right-clicking on the Start Menu)

Windows + H

Open the sharing window (if activated in the application)

Windows + Z

View the commands that are available in an application

Windows + P

Choose a display mode if several screens are connected to the PC (duplicate, extend, screen 1 or 2 only)

Windows + R

Open the command “Execute”

Windows + Enter

Open narrator

Windows + CTRL + Q

Open quick assistance

Windows + F1

Open Windows Help and Support

Windows + number (1,2,3 …)

Open an application that is pinned to the taskbar with the number corresponding to its position

CTRL + Alt + TAB

See open applications

CTRL + Shift + Esc

Open the task manager

Windows + Plus (+)

Activate magnifying glass

How do I change or disable keyboard shortcuts?

In Windows 10, it is not possible to modify the shortcuts configured by default which were presented to you a little above. On the other hand, it is possible in certain software, to create others or to modify them but they are specific to each application.

If you want to disable all shortcuts, again, this is not possible except by hacking in the registry, which is a bit too risky manipulation for me to present it here.

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