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Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Desktop Background Images

Posted by Alexis Dolle on December 27, 2019

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Alexis Dolle
Head of Growth

Analyzes data, eats data, drinks data, lives for data and helps the Mailbird team to build a more awesome experience.

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:

  1. First, click on any of the background images below to open it full-size in a new window.
  2. Then, right-click (or long-press for touch devices) and click save asto save it to your computer.
  3. Lastly, find the image on your computer, right-click it, and select set as desktop background

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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

  • Cortana is only available in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.

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

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key .
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

  • Cortana is only available in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.

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. 


Alexis Dolle
Head of Growth

Analyzes data, eats data, drinks data, lives for data and helps the Mailbird team to build a more awesome experience.

Published on December 27, 2019

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