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20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts That Will Save You Time
The most useful Windows keyboard shortcuts for copying, switching apps, taking screenshots, managing windows and more, explained for beginners.
Keyboard shortcuts let you do common jobs in a second, without hunting through menus. You don't need to learn them all. Pick two or three that suit how you work and they'll soon become second nature. The Windows key is the one with the Windows logo, usually near the bottom left.
The essentials
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + C | Copy |
| Ctrl + X | Cut |
| Ctrl + V | Paste |
| Ctrl + Z | Undo your last action (a lifesaver) |
| Ctrl + Y | Redo |
| Ctrl + A | Select everything |
| Ctrl + S | Save |
| Ctrl + F | Find a word on a page or in a document |
| Ctrl + P |
Windows and apps
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Alt + Tab | Switch between open apps |
| Windows + D | Show the desktop (press again to bring windows back) |
| Windows + ← or → | Snap a window to half the screen, which is great for working side by side |
| Windows + E | Open File Explorer |
| Windows + L | Lock your computer when you step away |
| Windows + V | Clipboard history: paste something you copied earlier (turn it on the first time) |
| Windows + Shift + S | Take a screenshot of part of the screen (more screenshot tips) |
| Windows + . | Open the emoji panel |
| Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager when something freezes |
In your web browser
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + T | Open a new tab |
| Ctrl + Shift + T | Reopen a tab you closed by mistake |
| Ctrl + + / - | Make the page bigger or smaller (Ctrl + 0 resets it) |
Mac users: most of these work on a Mac too. Just use the Command key instead of Ctrl, for example Command + C to copy.
For more ways to make your computer feel quicker, see our guide to speeding up a slow laptop.