Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcut



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  + start typing
Search your PC
Ctrl + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-)
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl + scroll wheel
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Windows logo key‌  + C
Open the charms

In an app, open the commands for the app
Windows logo key  + F
Open the Search charm to search files
Windows logo key  + H
Open the Share charm
Windows logo key  + I
Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key  + K
Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key‌  + O
Lock the screen orientation (portrait or landscape)
Windows logo key‌  + Q
Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within an open app (if the app supports app search)
Windows logo key + S
Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web
Windows logo key‌  + W
Open the Search charm to search settings
Windows logo key‌  + Z
Show the commands available in the app
Note
You can also see some settings and options by going to the Settings charm when the app is open.
Windows logo key‌  + spacebar
Switch input language and keyboard layout
Windows logo key‌  + Ctrl + spacebar
Change to a previously selected input
Windows logo key‌  + Tab
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key‌  + Ctrl + Tab
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key‌  + Shift + Tab
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Windows logo key‌  + Shift + period (.)
Snaps an app to the left
Windows logo key‌  + period (.)
Cycle through open apps
Esc
Stop or exit the current task

General keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
Press this key
To do this
F1
Display Help
F2
Rename the selected item
F3
Search for a file or folder
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
Back
Alt + Right arrow
Forward
Alt + Page Up
Move up one screen
Alt + Page Down
Move down one screen
Alt + Tab
Switch between open apps (except desktop 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 + plus (+) or Ctrl + minus (-)
Zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
Change the size of desktop icons or zoom in or out of a large number of items, like apps pinned to the Start screen
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 + 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 + F1
Open Windows Help and Support
Windows logo key
Display or hide the Start screen
Windows logo key  + B
Set focus in the notification area
Windows logo key‌  + C
Open the Charms
Windows logo key  + D
Display and hide the desktop
Windows logo key  + E
Open File Explorer
Windows logo key  + F
Open the Search charm and search for files
Windows logo key  + H
Open the Share charm
Windows logo key  + I
Open the Settings charm
Windows logo key  + K
Open the Devices charm
Windows logo key  + L
Lock your PC or switch people
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  + Q
Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app (if the app supports app search)
Windows logo key  + R
Open the Run dialog box
Windows logo key  + S
Open the Search charm to search Windows and the web
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
Note
You can also see some settings and options by going to the Settings charm when the app is open.
Windows logo key  + ,
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
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + Tab
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps)
Windows logo key  + Shift + Tab
Cycle through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order
Windows logo key  + Ctrl + B
Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area
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  + Shift + period (.)
Cycle through open apps
Windows logo key  + period (.)
Cycle through open apps
Windows logo key  + /
Initiate IME reconversion
Windows logo key   + Alt + Enter
Open WindowsMedia Center
Windows logo key   + plus (+) or minus (-)
Zoom in or out using Magnifier
 Windows logo key  + Esc
Exit Magnifier

Dialog box keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.
Press this key
To do this
F1
Display Help
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 the Save 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

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

Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard shortcuts

Press this key
To do this
Alt + Page Up
Move between apps from left to right
Alt + Page Down
Move between apps from right to left
Alt + Insert
Cycle through apps in the order that they were started
Alt + Home
Display the Start screen
Ctrl + Alt + Break
Switch between a window and full screen 
Ctrl + Alt + End
Display the Windows Security dialog box
Ctrl + Alt + Home
In full-screen mode, activate the connection bar
Alt + Delete 
Display the system menu
Ctrl + Alt + minus (-) on the numeric keypad
Place a copy of the active window, within the client, on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Alt+Print Screen on a local PC)
Ctrl + Alt + plus (+) on the numeric keypad
Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard (provides the same functionality as pressing Print Screen on a local PC)
Ctrl + Alt + Right arrow
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.
Ctrl + Alt + Left arrow
“Tab” out of the Remote Desktop controls to a control in the host app (for example, a button or a text box). Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another (host) app.

Windows Help viewer keyboard shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.
Press this key
To do this
F3
Move the cursor to the search box
F10
Display the Options menu
Home
Move to the beginning of a topic
End
Move to the end of a topic
Alt + Left arrow
Move back to the previously viewed topic
Alt + Right arrow
Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic
Alt + Home
Display the Help and Support home page 
Alt + A
Display the customer support page
Alt + C
Display the Table of Contents 
Alt + N
Display the Connection Settings menu
Ctrl + F 
Search the current topic
Ctrl + P
Print a topic

App rearranging shortcuts

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for rearranging modern apps.
Note
Keep the Windows logo key pressed down continuously while you're rearranging apps, from the moment you enter rearrange mode and through all the various rearrange commands. When you're done rearranging, release your finger from the Windows logo key to select the current arrangement.

Press this key
To do this
Windows logo key  + . (period)
Enter rearrange mode and select apps or dividers across monitors
Windows logo key  + left arrow
Move app divider left
Windows logo key  + right arrow
Move app divider right
Windows logo key  + up arrow
Maximize app
Windows logo key  + down arrow
Close app
Windows logo key  + Esc
Exit rearrange mode
Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcut Windows 8.1 Keyboard Shortcut Reviewed by Black on 6:24 AM Rating: 5

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