Windows Cheatsheet

This cheatsheet covers common Windows keyboard shortcuts, commands, and tips for quick reference.

Keyboard Shortcut Modifier Key Legend

• Win: Windows Key (Looks like ❖ or ⊞)
• Ctrl: Control Key
• Alt: Alternate Key
• Shift: Shift Key
• Tab: Tab Key
• Esc: Escape Key
• Enter: Enter Key
• PrtScn: Print Screen Key (May require Fn key on some laptops)

Basic System Operations

• Lock Screen: Win + L
• Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
• Open Security Options / Task Mgr Menu: Ctrl + Alt + Delete
• Open Start Menu: Win or Ctrl + Esc
• Open Action Center / Quick Settings: Win + A (Modern Windows)
• Open Settings App: Win + I
• Open File Explorer: Win + E
• Open Run Dialog: Win + R
• Open System Properties: Win + Pause/Break
• Open Windows Search: Win + S or Win + Q
• Open Quick Link Menu (Power User Menu): Win + X (Access to Device Manager, PowerShell, Settings, etc.)
• Shutdown / Restart / Sleep Options: Alt + F4 (When Desktop is focused) or via Win + X menu or Start Menu Power options.

Application & Window Management

• Switch Between Open Apps: Alt + Tab (Hold Alt, tap Tab to cycle)
• Switch Between Open Apps (Reverse): Alt + Shift + Tab
• Cycle Through Apps in Order Opened: Alt + Esc
• Close Active Window/App: Alt + F4
• Close Active Document/Tab (within app): Ctrl + W or Ctrl + F4
• Minimize Active Window: Win + Down Arrow
• Maximize Active Window: Win + Up Arrow
• Restore/Minimize Active Window: Win + Down Arrow (again after minimizing)
• Snap Window to Left/Right Half: Win + Left/Right Arrow
• Snap Window to Corner: Win + Left/Right Arrow, then Win + Up/Down Arrow
• Minimize All Windows: Win + M
• Restore All Minimized Windows: Win + Shift + M
• Show/Hide Desktop (Peek): Win + , (Comma - Hold Win key)
• Show/Hide Desktop (Minimize Toggle): Win + D
• New Window (in most apps): Ctrl + N
• New Tab (in supporting apps): Ctrl + T

File Explorer

• Open File Explorer: Win + E
• Go Up One Level: Alt + Up Arrow
• Go Back: Alt + Left Arrow
• Go Forward: Alt + Right Arrow
• Select Address Bar: Alt + D or Ctrl + L
• Select Search Box: Ctrl + E or Ctrl + F
• Create New Folder: Ctrl + Shift + N
• Rename Selected Item: F2
• Refresh Active Window: F5 or Ctrl + R
• Show Properties for Selected Item: Alt + Enter
• Select All Items: Ctrl + A
• Delete Item (to Recycle Bin): Delete
• Delete Item Permanently: Shift + Delete (Use with caution!)
• Open New File Explorer Window: Ctrl + N (When Explorer is active)
• Close Current File Explorer Window: Ctrl + W (When Explorer is active)
• Change View (Cycle): Ctrl + Shift + [1-8] (e.g., Ctrl+Shift+2 for Details, Ctrl+Shift+5 for Large Icons - may vary slightly)
• Show/Hide Preview Pane: Alt + P
• Show/Hide Details Pane: Alt + Shift + P

Text Editing (Common Shortcuts)

• Cut: Ctrl + X
• Copy: Ctrl + C
• Paste: Ctrl + V
• Undo: Ctrl + Z
• Redo: Ctrl + Y
• Select All: Ctrl + A
• Find: Ctrl + F
• Replace: Ctrl + H
• Save: Ctrl + S
• Print: Ctrl + P
• Bold: Ctrl + B
• Italic: Ctrl + I
• Underline: Ctrl + U
• Move Cursor to Beginning of Line: Home
• Move Cursor to End of Line: End
• Move Cursor to Beginning of Document: Ctrl + Home
• Move Cursor to End of Document: Ctrl + End
• Move Cursor One Word Left/Right: Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow
• Select Text: Hold Shift while using movement keys (Arrows, Home, End)
• Select Word: Double-click word or Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Arrow
• Select Line: Triple-click line or Shift + Home/End
• Delete Previous Character: Backspace
• Delete Next Character: Delete
• Delete Previous Word: Ctrl + Backspace
• Delete Next Word: Ctrl + Delete

Screenshots

• Copy Entire Screen to Clipboard: PrtScn
• Save Entire Screen to File: Win + PrtScn (Saves to Pictures\Screenshots folder)
• Copy Active Window to Clipboard: Alt + PrtScn
• Open Snip & Sketch / Snipping Tool: Win + Shift + S (Allows selecting region: Rectangular, Freeform, Window, Fullscreen - copies to clipboard)
• Open Game Bar (for Screenshots/Recording): Win + G

Virtual Desktops

• Open Task View (See Desktops & Timeline): Win + Tab
• Create New Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + D
• Close Current Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + F4
• Switch to Next Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + Right Arrow
• Switch to Previous Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + Left Arrow

Command Prompt / PowerShell Commands

• Open Command Prompt/PowerShell via Run: Win + R, type cmd or powershell, press Enter
• Open as Administrator via Win+X Menu: Win + X, then select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) or Terminal (Admin)
• List Directory Contents: dir
• Change Directory: cd <directory_path> (e.g., cd Documents, cd C:\Users)
• Go Up One Directory: cd ..
• Clear Screen: cls
• Show IP Configuration: ipconfig (ipconfig /all for more details)
• Test Network Connection (Ping): ping <hostname_or_ip> (e.g., ping google.com)
• Show System Information: systeminfo
• Show Running Tasks: tasklist
• Forcefully Kill Task (by PID): taskkill /PID <process_id> /F (Find PID with tasklist)
• Forcefully Kill Task (by Image Name): taskkill /IM <image_name.exe> /F (e.g., taskkill /IM notepad.exe /F)
• Check Disk for Errors: chkdsk (May need /f to fix, often requires restart)
• System File Checker: sfc /scannow (Checks/repairs system files, requires Admin)
• Display Text File Content: type <filename.txt>
• Copy Files: copy <source> <destination>
• Move Files: move <source> <destination>
• Create Directory: mkdir <directory_name> or md <directory_name>
• Remove Directory: rmdir <directory_name> or rd <directory_name> (Only works if empty)
• Get Help on a Command: <command> /? (e.g., dir /?)

Accessibility

• Turn On/Off Magnifier: Win + Plus (+) / Win + Esc
• Zoom In/Out with Magnifier: Win + Plus (+) / Win + Minus (-)
• Turn On/Off Narrator: Win + Ctrl + Enter
• Open Ease of Access Center: Win + U
• Turn On/Off High Contrast: Left Alt + Left Shift + PrtScn
• Open On-Screen Keyboard: Win + Ctrl + O