Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Desktop Background Images
Posted by Jason Ephraim on December 27, 2019
Jason Ephraim
Former Vice President of Growth
Former Vice President of Growth at Mailbird
Published on December 27, 2019
To help you get the most out of Windows 10, we created these beautiful desktop background images to help you remember it’s wide array of keyboard shortcuts.
To set any of the images as your new desktop background image in Windows:
- First, click on any of the background images below to open it full-size in a new window.
- Then, right click (or long-press for touch devices) and click save as… to save it to your computer.
- Lastly, find the image on your computer, right click it, and select set as desktop background
Here is a list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) |
Copy the selected item |
|
Ctrl+X |
Cut the selected item |
|
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) |
Paste the selected item |
|
Ctrl+Z |
Undo an action |
|
Alt+Tab |
Switch between open apps |
|
Alt+F4 |
Close the active item, or exit the active app |
|
Windows logo key +L
|
Lock your PC or switch accounts |
|
Windows logo key +D
|
Display and hide the desktop |
New keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key +A
|
Open Action center |
|
Windows logo key +S
|
Open search |
|
Windows logo key +C
|
Open Cortana in listening mode Note
|
|
Windows logo key +Tab
|
Open Task view |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+D
|
Add a virtual desktop |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Right arrow
|
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Left arrow
|
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F4
|
Close the virtual desktop you’re using |
General keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
F2 |
Rename the selected item |
|
F3 |
Search for a file or folder in File Explorer |
|
F4 |
Display the address bar list in File Explorer |
|
F5 |
Refresh the active window |
|
F6 |
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop |
|
F10 |
Activate the Menu bar in the active app |
|
Alt+F4 |
Close the active item, or exit the active app |
|
Alt+Esc |
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened |
|
Alt+underlined letter |
Perform the command for that letter |
|
Alt+Enter |
Display properties for the selected item |
|
Alt+Spacebar |
Open the shortcut menu for the active window |
|
Alt+Left arrow |
Go back |
|
Alt+Right arrow |
Go forward |
|
Alt+Page Up |
Move up one screen |
|
Alt+Page Down |
Move down one screen |
|
Alt+Tab |
Switch between open apps |
|
Ctrl+F4 |
Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously) |
|
Ctrl+A |
Select all items in a document or window |
|
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) |
Copy the selected item |
|
Ctrl+D (or Delete) |
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin |
|
Ctrl+R (or F5) |
Refresh the active window |
|
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) |
Paste the selected item |
|
Ctrl+X |
Cut the selected item |
|
Ctrl+Y |
Redo an action |
|
Ctrl+Z |
Undo an action |
|
Ctrl+Right arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word |
|
Ctrl+Left arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word |
|
Ctrl+Down arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph |
|
Ctrl+Up arrow |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph |
|
Ctrl+Alt+Tab |
Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps |
|
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+arrow keys |
When a group or tile is in focus in the Start menu, move it in the direction specified |
|
Ctrl+arrow key (to move to an item)+Spacebar |
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop |
|
Ctrl+Shift with an arrow key |
Select a block of text |
|
Ctrl+Esc |
Open Start |
|
Ctrl+Shift+Esc |
Open Task Manager |
|
Ctrl+Shift |
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available |
|
Ctrl+Spacebar |
Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off |
|
Shift+F10 |
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item |
|
Shift with any arrow key |
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document |
|
Shift+Delete |
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first |
|
Right arrow |
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu |
|
Left arrow |
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu |
|
Esc |
Stop or leave the current task |
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key
|
Open or close Start |
|
Windows logo key +A
|
Open Action center |
|
Windows logo key +B
|
Set focus in the notification area |
|
Windows logo key +C
|
Open Cortana in listening mode Note
|
|
Windows logo key +D
|
Display and hide the desktop |
|
Windows logo key +E
|
Open File Explorer |
|
Windows logo key +G
|
Open Game bar when a game is open |
|
Windows logo key +H
|
Open the Share charm |
|
Windows logo key +I
|
Open Settings |
|
Windows logo key +K
|
Open the Connect quick action |
|
Windows logo key +L
|
Lock your PC or switch accounts |
|
Windows logo key +M
|
Minimize all windows |
|
Windows logo key +O
|
Lock device orientation |
|
Windows logo key +P
|
Choose a presentation display mode |
|
Windows logo key +R
|
Open the Run dialog box |
|
Windows logo key +S
|
Open search |
|
Windows logo key +T
|
Cycle through apps on the taskbar |
|
Windows logo key +U
|
Open Ease of Access Center |
|
Windows logo key +V
|
Cycle through notifications |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+V
|
Cycle through notifications in reverse order |
|
Windows logo key +X
|
Open the Quick Link menu |
|
Windows logo key +Z
|
Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode |
|
Windows logo key +comma (,)
|
Temporarily peek at the desktop |
|
Windows logo key +Pause
|
Display the System Properties dialog box |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F
|
Search for PCs (if you’re on a network) |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+M
|
Restore minimized windows on the desktop |
|
Windows logo key +number
|
Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+number
|
Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+number
|
Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
|
Windows logo key +Alt+number
|
Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Shift+number
|
Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator |
|
Windows logo key +Tab
|
Open Task view |
|
Windows logo key +Up arrow
|
Maximize the window |
|
Windows logo key +Down arrow
|
Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window |
|
Windows logo key +Left arrow
|
Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen |
|
Windows logo key +Right arrow
|
Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen |
|
Windows logo key +Home
|
Minimize all but the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke) |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+Up arrow
|
Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+Down arrow
|
Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width |
|
Windows logo key +Shift+Left arrow or Right arrow
|
Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another |
|
Windows logo key +Spacebar
|
Switch input language and keyboard layout |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Spacebar
|
Change to a previously selected input |
|
Windows logo key +Enter
|
Open Narrator |
|
Windows logo key +forward slash (/)
|
Initiate IME reconversion |
|
Windows logo key +plus (+) or minus (-)
|
Zoom in or out using Magnifier |
|
Windows logo key +Esc
|
Exit Magnifier |
Command Prompt keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Command Prompt.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Ctrl+C (or Ctrl+Insert) |
Copy the selected text |
|
Ctrl+V (or Shift+Insert) |
Paste the selected text |
|
Ctrl+M |
Enter Mark mode |
|
Alt+selection key |
Begin selection in block mode |
|
Arrow keys |
Move the cursor in the direction specified |
|
Page up |
Move the cursor by one page up |
|
Page down |
Move the cursor by one page down |
|
Ctrl+Home (Mark mode) |
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer |
|
Ctrl+End (Mark mode) |
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer |
|
Ctrl+Up arrow |
Move up one line in the output history |
|
Ctrl+Down arrow |
Move down one line in the output history |
|
Ctrl+Home (History navigation) |
If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line. |
|
Ctrl+End (History navigation) |
If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line. |
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
F4 |
Display the items in the active list |
|
Ctrl+Tab |
Move forward through tabs |
|
Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
Move back through tabs |
|
Ctrl+number (number 1-9) |
Move to nth tab |
|
Tab |
Move forward through options |
|
Shift+Tab |
Move back through options |
|
Alt+underlined letter |
Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter |
|
Spacebar |
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box |
|
Backspace |
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in theSave As or Open dialog box |
|
Arrow keys |
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons |
File Explorer keyboard shortcuts
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Alt+D |
Select the address bar |
|
Ctrl+E |
Select the search box |
|
Ctrl+F |
Select the search box |
|
Ctrl+N |
Open a new window |
|
Ctrl+W |
Close the current window |
|
Ctrl+mouse scroll wheel |
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons |
|
Ctrl+Shift+E |
Display all folders above the selected folder |
|
Ctrl+Shift+N |
Create a new folder |
|
Num Lock+asterisk (*) |
Display all subfolders under the selected folder |
|
Num Lock+plus (+) |
Display the contents of the selected folder |
|
Num Lock+minus (-) |
Collapse the selected folder |
|
Alt+P |
Display the preview pane |
|
Alt+Enter |
Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item |
|
Alt+Right arrow |
View the next folder |
|
Alt+Up arrow |
View the folder that the folder was in |
|
Alt+Left arrow |
View the previous folder |
|
Backspace |
View the previous folder |
|
Right arrow |
Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder |
|
Left arrow |
Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in |
|
End |
Display the bottom of the active window |
|
Home |
Display the top of the active window |
|
F11 |
Maximize or minimize the active window |
Virtual desktops keyboard shortcuts
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key +Tab
|
Open Task view |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+D
|
Add a virtual desktop |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Right arrow
|
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+Left arrow
|
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left |
|
Windows logo key +Ctrl+F4
|
Close the virtual desktop you’re using |
Taskbar keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Shift+click a taskbar button |
Open an app or quickly open another instance of an app |
|
Ctrl+Shift+click a taskbar button |
Open an app as an administrator |
|
Shift+right-click a taskbar button |
Show the window menu for the app |
|
Shift+right-click a grouped taskbar button |
Show the window menu for the group |
|
Ctrl+click a grouped taskbar button |
Cycle through the windows of the group |
Settings keyboard shortcuts
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key +I
|
Open settings |
|
Backspace |
Go back to the settings home page |
|
Type on any page with search box |
Search settings |
Ease of Access keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that can help make your PC easier to use.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Right Shift for eight seconds |
Turn Filter Keys on and off |
|
Left Alt+left Shift+Print Screen |
Turn High Contrast on or off |
|
Left Alt+left Shift+Num Lock |
Turn Mouse Keys on or off |
|
Shift five times |
Turn Sticky Keys on or off |
|
Num Lock for five seconds |
Turn Toggle Keys on or off |
|
Windows logo key +U
|
Open the Ease of Access Center |
Magnifier keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Magnifier.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key +plus (+) or minus (-)
|
Zoom in or out |
|
Ctrl+Alt+Spacebar |
Preview the desktop in full-screen mode |
|
Ctrl+Alt+D |
Switch to docked mode |
|
Ctrl+Alt+F |
Switch to full-screen mode |
|
Ctrl+Alt+I |
Invert colors |
|
Ctrl+Alt+L |
Switch to lens mode |
|
Ctrl+Alt+R |
Resize the lens |
|
Ctrl+Alt+arrow keys |
Pan in the direction of the arrow keys |
|
Windows logo key +Esc
|
Exit Magnifier |
Narrator keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Windows logo key +Enter
|
Start or exit Narrator |
|
Caps Lock+ESC |
Exit Narrator |
|
Caps Lock+M |
Start reading |
|
Ctrl |
Stop reading |
|
Caps Lock+Spacebar |
Do default action |
|
Caps Lock+Right arrow |
Move to next item |
|
Caps Lock+Left arrow |
Move to previous item |
|
Caps Lock+Up or Down arrow |
Change view |
|
Caps Lock+F2 |
Show commands for current item |
|
Caps Lock+Enter |
Change search mode |
|
Caps Lock+A |
Change verbosity mode |
|
Caps Lock+Z |
Lock Narrator key (Caps Lock) so you don’t have to press it for every keyboard shortcut |
|
Caps Lock+X |
Have Narrator ignore the next keyboard shortcut you use |
|
Caps Lock+F12 |
Turn keystroke reading off or on |
|
Caps Lock+V |
Repeat phrase |
|
Caps Lock+Page Up or Page Down |
Increase or decrease voice volume |
|
Caps Lock+plus (+) or minus (-) |
Increase or decrease voice speed |
|
Caps Lock+D |
Read item |
|
Caps Lock+F |
Read advanced info about item |
|
Caps Lock+S |
Read item spelled out |
|
Caps Lock+W |
Read window |
|
Caps Lock+R |
Read all items in the containing area |
|
Caps Lock+Num Lock |
Turn mouse mode on or off |
|
Caps Lock+Q |
Move to last item in the containing area |
|
Caps Lock+G |
Move Narrator cursor to system cursor |
|
Caps Lock+T |
Move Narrator cursor to pointer |
|
Caps Lock+tilde (~) |
Set focus to item |
|
Caps Lock+Backspace |
Go back one item |
|
Caps Lock+Insert |
Jump to linked item |
|
Caps Lock+F10 |
Read current row header |
|
Caps Lock+F9 |
Read current column header |
|
Caps Lock+F8 |
Read current row |
|
Caps Lock+F7 |
Read current column |
|
Caps Lock+F5 |
Read current row and column location |
|
Caps Lock+F6 |
Jump to table cell |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+F6 |
Jump to cell contents |
|
Caps Lock+F3 |
Jump to next cell in current row |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+F3 |
Jump to previous cell in current row |
|
Caps Lock+F4 |
Jump to next cell in current column |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+F4 |
Jump to previous cell in current column |
|
Caps Lock+Close square bracket (]) |
Read text from start to cursor |
|
Caps Lock+zero (0) |
Read text attributes |
|
Caps Lock+H |
Read document |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+U |
Read current page |
|
Caps Lock+U |
Read next page |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+U |
Read previous page |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+I |
Read current paragraph |
|
Caps Lock+I |
Read next paragraph |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+I |
Read previous paragraph |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+O |
Read current line |
|
Caps Lock+O |
Read next line |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+0 |
Read previous line |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+P |
Read current word |
|
Caps Lock+P |
Read next word |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+P |
Read previous word |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) |
Read current character |
|
Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) |
Read next character |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+Open square bracket ([) |
Read previous character |
|
Caps Lock+Y |
Move to beginning of text |
|
Caps Lock+B |
Move to end of text |
|
Caps Lock+J |
Jump to next heading |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+J |
Jump to previous heading |
|
Caps Lock+K |
Jump to next table |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+K |
Jump to previous table |
|
Caps Lock+L |
Jump to next link |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+L |
Jump to previous link |
|
Caps Lock+C |
Read current date and time |
|
Press Caps Lock twice in quick succession |
Turn Caps Lock on or off |
|
Caps Lock+E |
Give negative feedback |
|
Shift+Caps Lock+E |
Give positive feedback |
|
Caps Lock+E tapped twice in quick succession |
Open the feedback dialog |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Up arrow |
Go to parent |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Right arrow |
Go to next sibling |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Left arrow |
Go to previous sibling |
|
Ctrl+Caps Lock+Down arrow |
Go to first child |
|
Caps Lock+N |
Move to main landmark |
Narrator touch keyboard shortcuts
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Narrator on a four-point tablet.
| Press this key | To do this |
|---|---|
|
Tap once with two fingers |
Stop Narrator from reading |
|
Tap three times with four fingers |
Show all Narrator commands (including the ones not in this list) |
|
Double-tap |
Activate primary action |
|
Triple-tap |
Activate secondary action |
|
Touch or drag a single finger |
Read what’s under your fingers |
|
Flick left/right with one finger |
Move to next or previous item |
|
Swipe left/right/up/down with two fingers |
Scroll |
|
Swipe down with three fingers |
Start reading on explorable text |
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Jason Ephraim
Former Vice President of Growth
Former Vice President of Growth at Mailbird
Published on December 27, 2019
Nice. Kudos for creating both the list and the images. Well done.
thank you man, really helpful. please make one wallpaper with all shortcuts.
I have used these for a long time.
They are simply the best desktop background images in existence 😉
WAAAUW IT’S VERRY NICE!!!!!
Where did the images go? I would like to have one.
Hello Michael, what images are you talking about?
I’m gone to tell my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this weblog on regular basis to take updated from latest
information.
Hello, Mailbird is not really the best solution for bulk emails: you’d rather use Mailchimp for it.
Thank you, we will keep on posting good article
Do you still answer here?
Hello Martin, how can we help?
can download the wallpaper…
cant*
Hi Max, yes, there is an issues with images on our old article. I get a reply from the team that in-charges that the fix was ongoing. I don’t have the ETA but hope it will be ready soon. Have a nice day and stay safe. 🙂