Windows Shortcuts & Commands

Complete Reference Guide - 100+ Shortcuts & Commands

Author

Dr. Md Abdus Samad

Published

May 30, 2025

Essential Navigation

Core System Navigation

Shortcut Description
Win + D Show/Hide Desktop
Win + E Open File Explorer
Win + L Lock Computer
Win + I Open Settings
Win + X Power User Menu
Win + R Run Dialog
Win + S Open Search
Win + A Quick Settings
Win + K Connect Wireless
Win + U Accessibility Settings

Task Switching & Views

Shortcut Description
Alt + Tab Switch Between Apps
Alt + F4 Close Active Window
Win + Tab Task View (All Windows)
Win + , (comma) Peek at Desktop
Win + B Focus System Tray
Win + M Minimize All Windows
Ctrl + Shift + Esc Task Manager
Win + Pause System Properties

Window Management

Window Snapping

Shortcut Description
Win + Left Arrow Snap Window Left
Win + Right Arrow Snap Window Right
Win + Up Arrow Maximize Window
Win + Down Arrow Minimize/Restore Window
Win + Shift + Up Stretch Vertically
Win + Shift + Down Restore/Minimize Height
Win + Home Minimize All Except Active
Win + Z Snap Layouts (Win 11)

Window Control & Multi-Monitor

Shortcut Description
Win + Shift + Left/Right Move Window Between Monitors
Alt + Space Window Menu
Alt + Space + M Move Window Mode
Alt + Space + S Resize Window Mode

Virtual Desktops

Shortcut Description
Win + Ctrl + D Create New Desktop
Win + Ctrl + F4 Close Current Desktop
Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Switch Between Desktops

File Explorer

Basic Operations

Shortcut Description
Ctrl + N New Window
Ctrl + W Close Window
Ctrl + Shift + N New Folder
F2 Rename Selected Item
Delete Move to Recycle Bin
Shift + Delete Permanent Delete
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo

Text Editing

Basic Editing

Shortcut Description
Ctrl + C Copy
Ctrl + X Cut
Ctrl + V Paste
Ctrl + Z Undo
Ctrl + Y Redo
Ctrl + A Select All
Ctrl + F Find
Ctrl + H Replace

Advanced Navigation & Selection

Shortcut Description
Ctrl + Left/Right Jump by Word
Ctrl + Backspace Delete Previous Word
Ctrl + Delete Delete Next Word
Ctrl + Shift + Left/Right Select Word by Word
Home Go to Start of Line
End Go to End of Line
Shift + Home Select to Start of Line
Shift + End Select to End of Line
Ctrl + Home Go to Start of Document
Ctrl + End Go to End of Document

Browser Shortcuts

Tab Management

Shortcut Description
Ctrl + T New Tab
Ctrl + Shift + T Reopen Closed Tab
Ctrl + W Close Current Tab
Ctrl + Tab Next Tab
Ctrl + Shift + Tab Previous Tab
Ctrl + 1-8 Switch to Tab 1-8
Ctrl + 9 Switch to Last Tab

Browser Navigation

Shortcut Description
Ctrl + L Focus Address Bar
Ctrl + D Bookmark Page
F5 / Ctrl + R Refresh Page
Ctrl + Shift + R Hard Refresh
F11 Full Screen Mode
Ctrl + +/- Zoom In/Out

Productivity Tools

Shortcut Description
Win + V Clipboard History
Win + Shift + S Screenshot Tool
Win + PrintScreen Full Screenshot to Pictures
Win + Period (.) Emoji Panel
Win + H Voice Typing/Dictation
Win + G Xbox Game Bar
Win + Alt + R Start/Stop Recording

Run Commands

Press Win + R, type the command, and hit Enter.

System Tools

Command Description
cmd Command Prompt
powershell Windows PowerShell
taskmgr Task Manager
msconfig System Configuration
msinfo32 System Information
regedit Registry Editor (Use with caution)
resmon Resource Monitor
perfmon Performance Monitor
control Control Panel

Management Consoles (.msc)

Command Description
devmgmt.msc Device Manager
diskmgmt.msc Disk Management
services.msc Windows Services
compmgmt.msc Computer Management
eventvwr.msc Event Viewer
lusrmgr.msc Local Users & Groups

Control Panel Items (.cpl)

Command Description
ncpa.cpl Network Connections
appwiz.cpl Programs & Features
firewall.cpl Windows Firewall
desk.cpl Display Settings
powercfg.cpl Power Options
main.cpl Mouse Properties
sysdm.cpl System Properties
timedate.cpl Date & Time

Quick Launch Applications

Command Description
calc Calculator
notepad Notepad
mspaint Paint
snippingtool Snipping Tool
magnify Magnifier
osk On-Screen Keyboard
charmap Character Map
wordpad WordPad

System Utilities

Command Description
cleanmgr Disk Cleanup
mstsc Remote Desktop Connection
winver Windows Version Info
dxdiag DirectX Diagnostic Tool
sndvol Volume Mixer

Special Folders

Command Description
. Current User Folder
shell:startup Startup Folder
shell:downloads Downloads Folder
shell:recent Recent Items
shell:sendto Send To Folder
%temp% Temp Folder
%appdata% AppData Folder
%programfiles% Program Files Folder

Command Prompt & Network

File Operations

Command Description
dir List directory contents
cd [path] Change directory
mkdir [name] Create directory
copy [source] [dest] Copy files
move [source] [dest] Move files
del [file] Delete file
tree Display folder structure as tree
attrib +h [file] Hide file
attrib -h [file] Unhide file

Network Commands

Command Description
ipconfig /all Display network configuration
ipconfig /flushdns Clear DNS cache
ping [address] Test connection to address
tracert [address] Trace route to destination
netstat -an Display active connections
nslookup [domain] Query DNS records
arp -a Display ARP table
netsh wlan show profiles Show saved WiFi networks

System Commands

Command Description
systeminfo Display system information
tasklist List all running processes
taskkill /f /im [name] Force kill process
shutdown /s /t 0 Shutdown immediately
shutdown /r /t 0 Restart immediately
hostname Display computer name
whoami Display current username
ver Display Windows version

System Maintenance

WarningImportant

Run Command Prompt or PowerShell as Administrator for these commands. Right-click and select “Run as administrator”.

System Repair Commands

Command Description
sfc /scannow Scan and repair system files (15-30 minutes)
chkdsk /f /r Check disk for errors and repair (requires restart)
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth Repair Windows system image (run before sfc)

Utility Commands

Command Description
powercfg /batteryreport Generate battery health report
netsh wlan show profile name="WiFi-Name" key=clear Show saved WiFi password

PowerShell System Commands

Command Description
Get-ComputerInfo Detailed system information
Get-Process List running processes
Get-Service List Windows services
Get-Hotfix Show installed updates
Get-NetAdapter Display network adapters
Get-Volume Show disk volumes
Get-LocalUser List local users
Test-Connection google.com Advanced ping command

Windows 11 Features

Windows 11 Exclusive Shortcuts

Shortcut Description
Win + W Open Widgets Panel
Win + C Open Copilot AI
Win + N Notification Center
Win + Z Snap Layouts Menu

God Mode - Access All Settings

TipHow to Enable God Mode
  1. Create a new folder on your desktop
  2. Rename it to: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}
  3. Double-click to access 200+ Windows settings

Accessibility Shortcuts

Shortcut Description
Win + + (Plus) Open Magnifier & Zoom In
Win + - (Minus) Zoom Out
Win + Esc Close Magnifier
Win + Ctrl + Enter Toggle Narrator
Win + H Voice Typing

Advanced Graphics

Shortcut Description
Win + Ctrl + Shift + B Restart Graphics Driver

Pro Tips & Tricks

Taskbar Tricks

  • Shift + Click on taskbar icon - Open new instance
  • Ctrl + Click on taskbar icon - Cycle through windows
  • Middle Click on taskbar icon - Open new instance
  • Shift + Right-Click on taskbar - Show window menu

File Explorer Secrets

  • Alt + D - Focus address bar instantly
  • F4 in address bar - Show recent locations dropdown
  • Type cmd in address bar - Open Command Prompt in that folder
  • Type powershell in address bar - Open PowerShell in that folder
  • Shift + Right-Click on folder - Extended menu with “Copy as path”

Run Dialog Tricks

  • Ctrl + Shift + Enter in Run Dialog - Run as Administrator
  • Type \computer-name - Connect to network computer
  • Type website URL - Opens in default browser

Multi-Monitor Magic

  • Win + Shift + Left/Right Arrow - Move window between monitors
  • Win + P - Project/display options (duplicate, extend, etc.)

Quick Copy Tricks

  • Ctrl + Shift + C/V - Copy/paste in Command Prompt
  • Win + V - Open clipboard history (enable in Settings first)
  • Select file in Explorer, Ctrl + Shift + C - Copy file path
TipProductivity Hack

Pin frequently used apps to taskbar and use Win + [1-9] to launch them instantly!

Safety Notes & Best Practices

WarningRegistry Editor Warning

Only modify the registry if you know exactly what you are doing. Always create a backup before making changes. Incorrect registry edits can make Windows unstable or unbootable.

WarningAdministrator Commands

Commands like sfc /scannow, chkdsk, and DISM require administrator privileges. Right-click Command Prompt/PowerShell and select “Run as administrator”.

WarningMaintenance Time

sfc /scannow takes 15-30 minutes. chkdsk and DISM can take 30+ minutes. Run these when you have time and will not need your computer.

Safe Practices

  • Lock your PC when leaving: Win + L
  • Regularly update Windows via Settings > Windows Update
  • Enable BitLocker for drive encryption (if available)
  • Use strong passwords and Windows Hello if possible
  • Keep important files backed up to cloud or external drive
  • Run Windows Defender scans regularly
  • Only download software from trusted sources

Maintenance Schedule

NoteRecommended Schedule
  • Monthly: Run Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr), check for Windows updates
  • Quarterly: Run sfc /scannow, review installed programs
  • Yearly: Full system backup, DISM health check

Top 20 Must-Know Shortcuts

Master these first - they will save you hours!

  1. Win + E - File Explorer
  2. Win + D - Show/Hide Desktop
  3. Alt + Tab - Switch Apps
  4. Win + L - Lock PC
  5. Win + V - Clipboard History
  6. Win + Shift + S - Screenshot
  7. Ctrl + Shift + Esc - Task Manager
  8. Win + Left/Right - Snap Windows
  9. Win + I - Settings
  10. Win + R - Run Dialog
  11. Win + Tab - Task View
  12. Alt + F4 - Close Window
  13. Ctrl + Shift + N - New Folder
  14. Win + Period - Emoji Panel
  15. Win + X - Power User Menu
  16. F2 - Rename File
  17. Ctrl + Z - Undo
  18. Win + S - Search
  19. Win + Ctrl + D - New Desktop
  20. Ctrl + Shift + T - Reopen Tab

Learning Path

TipSuggested Learning Path
  • Week 1: Master the top 5 shortcuts
  • Week 2: Add window management shortcuts
  • Week 3: Learn File Explorer shortcuts
  • Week 4: Explore Run commands and productivity tools

Last Updated: October 2025