Microsoft Windows shortcuts

Tapping the Windows key without pressing any other keys toggles the Start Menu. Ctrl + Esc
duplicates this functionality, but cannot be used in place of the Windows key in other shortcuts.

As of Windows XP

 ⊞ Win + B to select the first icon in the Notification Area.

 ⊞ Win + D to show the desktop, or restore hidden programs when pressed a second time.
 ⊞ Win + E to open Windows Explorer.
 ⊞ Win + F to open Windows Search.
 ⊞ Win + CTRL + F to open Search for Computers. Requires Active Directory Domain
Services.
 ⊞ Win + CTRL + ALT + ↵ Enter toggles full screen in Microsoft Internet Explorer. This
shortcut has been discontinued, replaced by F11 .
 ⊞ Win + F1 to open Windows Help.
 ⊞ Win + L to lock the desktop or switch users.
 ⊞ Win + M to minimize all windows.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + M to restore windows that were minimized with ⊞ Win + M .
 ⊞ Win + R to open the Run dialog.
 ⊞ Win + U to run the Utility Manager, known as Ease of Access in later versions of
Windows.[5]
 ⊞ Win + Pause or ⊞ Win + Break to open System Properties.

Introduced in Windows XP Media Center Edition

 ⊞ Win + Alt + ↵ Enter to start Windows Media Center interface.

Introduced in Windows Vista

 ⊞ Win + G to select next Windows Sidebar gadget item and bring all gadgets to the
foreground.
 ⊞ Win + SPACEBAR to show the Windows Sidebar. Replaced with Aero Peek in
Windows 7, as the Windows Sidebar was discontinued.
  ⊞ Win + X to enter the Windows Mobility Center. Works only if portable computer
features are installed.
 ⊞ Win + Tab ⇆ to switch windows using Aero Flip 3D. Requires desktop composition, a
feature of Aero.
 ⊞ Win + 1 , ⊞ Win + 2 , ... ⊞ Win + 0 to start the corresponding Quicklaunch program.
⊞ Win + 0 runs the tenth item. Replaced in Windows 7, as the Quicklaunch feature was
discontinued.

Introduced in Windows 7

 ⊞ Win + SPACEBAR to active Aero Peek. Replaced a previous shortcut introduced in

Windows Vista.
 ⊞ Win + P to switch between projection modes when multiple monitors are present.
Monitors can be cloned, "extended" from the primary monitor, or deactivated altogether.
 ⊞ Win + ↑ to maximize the active window.
 ⊞ Win + ↓ to restore (default window size, not maximized nor in taskbar) the active
window.
 ⊞ Win + ← or → to align the window to the respective side of the screen, maximizing
it vertically.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + ← or → to move the window to the next or previous monitor, if
multiple monitors are used
 ⊞ Win + T to iterate through items on the taskbar.
 ⊞ Win + + or ⊞ Win to zoom into the screen at the mouse cursor position using the
Magnifier Utility.
 ⊞ Win + - to zoom out if the Magnifier Utility is running.
 ⊞ Win + esc to cancel magnification and close the Magnifier Utility.
 ⊞ Win + 1 , ⊞ Win + 2 , ... ⊞ Win + 0 to run or activate the corresponding programs in
the taskbar. ⊞ Win + 0 runs the tenth item. Replaced the Quicklaunch shortcuts
introduced in Windows Vista.

Third-party programs may introduce other shortcuts using the Windows key. For example,
OneNote by Microsoft adds several shortcuts:

 ⊞ Win + S to take a screenshot for OneNote.

  ⊞ Win + N to open a new side note in OneNote.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + N to open OneNote.

Microsoft Windows shortcuts

Tapping the Windows key without pressing any other keys toggles the Start Menu. Ctrl + Esc
duplicates this functionality, but cannot be used in place of the Windows key in other shortcuts.

As of Windows XP

 ⊞ Win + B to select the first icon in the Notification Area.

 ⊞ Win + D to show the desktop, or restore hidden programs when pressed a second time.
 ⊞ Win + E to open Windows Explorer.
 ⊞ Win + F to open Windows Search.
 ⊞ Win + CTRL + F to open Search for Computers. Requires Active Directory Domain
Services.
 ⊞ Win + CTRL + ALT + ↵ Enter toggles full screen in Microsoft Internet Explorer. This
shortcut has been discontinued, replaced by F11 .
 ⊞ Win + F1 to open Windows Help.
 ⊞ Win + L to lock the desktop or switch users.
 ⊞ Win + M to minimize all windows.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + M to restore windows that were minimized with ⊞ Win + M .
 ⊞ Win + R to open the Run dialog.
 ⊞ Win + U to run the Utility Manager, known as Ease of Access in later versions of
Windows.[5]
 ⊞ Win + Pause or ⊞ Win + Break to open System Properties.

Introduced in Windows XP Media Center Edition

 ⊞ Win + Alt + ↵ Enter to start Windows Media Center interface.

Introduced in Windows Vista

  ⊞ Win + G to select next Windows Sidebar gadget item and bring all gadgets to the
foreground.
 ⊞ Win + SPACEBAR to show the Windows Sidebar. Replaced with Aero Peek in
Windows 7, as the Windows Sidebar was discontinued.
 ⊞ Win + X to enter the Windows Mobility Center. Works only if portable computer
features are installed.
 ⊞ Win + Tab ⇆ to switch windows using Aero Flip 3D. Requires desktop composition, a
feature of Aero.
 ⊞ Win + 1 , ⊞ Win + 2 , ... ⊞ Win + 0 to start the corresponding Quicklaunch program.
⊞ Win + 0 runs the tenth item. Replaced in Windows 7, as the Quicklaunch feature was
discontinued.

Introduced in Windows 7

 ⊞ Win + SPACEBAR to active Aero Peek. Replaced a previous shortcut introduced in

Windows Vista.
 ⊞ Win + P to switch between projection modes when multiple monitors are present.
Monitors can be cloned, "extended" from the primary monitor, or deactivated altogether.
 ⊞ Win + ↑ to maximize the active window.
 ⊞ Win + ↓ to restore (default window size, not maximized nor in taskbar) the active
window.
 ⊞ Win + ← or → to align the window to the respective side of the screen, maximizing
it vertically.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + ← or → to move the window to the next or previous monitor, if
multiple monitors are used
 ⊞ Win + T to iterate through items on the taskbar.
 ⊞ Win + + or ⊞ Win to zoom into the screen at the mouse cursor position using the
Magnifier Utility.
 ⊞ Win + - to zoom out if the Magnifier Utility is running.
 ⊞ Win + esc to cancel magnification and close the Magnifier Utility.
 ⊞ Win + 1 , ⊞ Win + 2 , ... ⊞ Win + 0 to run or activate the corresponding programs in
the taskbar. ⊞ Win + 0 runs the tenth item. Replaced the Quicklaunch shortcuts
introduced in Windows Vista.
Third-party programs may introduce other shortcuts using the Windows key. For example,
OneNote by Microsoft adds several shortcuts:

 ⊞ Win + S to take a screenshot for OneNote.

 ⊞ Win + N to open a new side note in OneNote.
 ⊞ Win + ⇧ Shift + N to open OneNote.