- 14 ways to open Command Prompt in Windows 10
- 1. How to open Command Prompt from the Start Menu
- 2. Open Command Prompt using search
- 3. How to open Command Prompt from the Run box
- 4. Create a Command Prompt shortcut on your desktop or in any folder you want
- 5. Use our already-made Command Prompt shortcut
- 6. Pin Command Prompt to your taskbar or Start Menu
- 7. Launch the Command Prompt using the WinX menu
- 8. How to open Command Prompt from File Explorer’s address bar
- 9. Open Command Prompt using its cmd.exe executable file
- 10. How to open the Command Prompt from the old Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer
- 11. Open Command Prompt from the Task Manager
- 12. Ask Cortana to open Command Prompt
- 13. How to open Command Prompt when you boot Windows 10 using the Advanced Startup Options
- 14. How to open Command Prompt while installing Windows 10
- How do you like to open the Command Prompt?
- How-to: Windows Keyboard shortcuts
- New Windows Terminal Keyboard shortcuts
- CMD shell Command History shortcuts:
- Virtual Desktops
- Group Policy GPO
- Add Custom shortcut keys
- Keyboard shortcuts in Windows
- Additional keyboard shortcuts
- Additional keyboard shortcuts
14 ways to open Command Prompt in Windows 10
Geeks and IT professionals love the Command Prompt (CMD), and for good reason: it allows you to do many administrative tasks with ease. We think that it is a good idea to make a list of all the fourteen methods we know for opening Command Prompt, so that you can choose what suits you best. Knowing how to open CMD as an administrator is also important. Therefore, read on and choose your favorite way to open Command Prompt:
NOTE: We wrote this tutorial using Windows 10 with May 2020 Update. If you are using an older version of Windows 10, some things might look different or might not be working as expected.
1. How to open Command Prompt from the Start Menu
On your Windows 10 PC, open the Start Menu and go to the Windows System shortcuts folder. There, you’re going to find a Command Prompt shortcut: click or tap on it to open CMD.
If you want to run Command Prompt as an administrator, right-click or press and hold on its shortcut, then open the More sub-menu and finally, click or tap “Run as administrator.” Alternatively, you can also hold the Ctrl and Shift keys pressed and click or tap on the Command Prompt shortcut to launch CMD as admin.
2. Open Command Prompt using search
In Windows 10, one of the fastest ways to open Command Prompt is to use search. Inside the search field from your taskbar, enter command or cmd. Then, click or tap on the Command Prompt result.
If you want to launch Command Prompt as administrator, use the “Run as administrator” link from the right side of the search panel. Alternatively, you can also right-click (or press and hold, if you use a touchscreen) on the Command Prompt search result, and then choose “Run as administrator.”
3. How to open Command Prompt from the Run box
One of the quickest ways to open Command Prompt in Windows 10 is via the Run window. Press the Win + R keys on your keyboard, then type cmd, and press Enter on your keyboard or click/tap OK.
4. Create a Command Prompt shortcut on your desktop or in any folder you want
If you prefer using shortcuts, then you should create a shortcut to the Command Prompt. This guide shows you how to do it: How to create shortcuts for apps, files, folders, and web pages in Windows. Basically, you have to right-click or press and hold on an empty space on your desktop or in any other folder, then go to New in the contextual menu, and click or tap on Shortcut.
Next, in the Create Shortcut wizard, point your new shortcut to cmd, give it a name (like Command Prompt, or Old-School Terminal :), and save it.
5. Use our already-made Command Prompt shortcut
Alternatively, you can download our collection of shortcuts and use what we have created: Download the biggest library of Windows shortcuts. In this pack, there are also plenty of other useful shortcuts to download and use. If you want to run the shortcut as administrator, right-click (or press and hold on it, if you use a touchscreen), and then click or tap the “Run as administrator” option from the contextual menu.
6. Pin Command Prompt to your taskbar or Start Menu
If you would rather have a clean desktop, you might prefer to pin the Command Prompt to the taskbar or to the Start Menu. To find and open Command Prompt in the Windows 10 Start Menu, click or tap Start, scroll down the list of apps, and open the Windows System folder. Right-click or press and hold on the Command Prompt shortcut. In the menu that opens, you have options to Pin to Start for the Start Menu and More. When you choose More, the menu extends with the first option to “Pin to taskbar.”
From now on, use the shortcut that you have pinned to open Command Prompt. Also, if you want to run Command Prompt as administrator, use the right-click menu on the shortcut pinned on your Start Menu or taskbar, and click/tap the “Run as administrator” option from it.
7. Launch the Command Prompt using the WinX menu
Windows 10 includes a hidden menu for power users, which you can access from the desktop. The quickest way to launch it is to press the Win + X keys on your keyboard, but you can also do it with right-click (or press and hold) on the Windows logo from the bottom-left corner of your desktop. In early versions of Windows 10 (before Creators Update), this menu includes two shortcuts for the Command Prompt: one to run it as a regular user and one to run it as an administrator.
After the Creators Update was released, Windows 10 replaced the Command Prompt shortcuts with Powershell shortcuts. However, you can configure Windows 10 to go back to showing Command Prompt shortcuts in its power user menu. You can find out how to do that in this tutorial: Add the Control Panel and the Command Prompt to the WinX menu in Windows 10.
8. How to open Command Prompt from File Explorer’s address bar
You can also open Command Prompt using the address bar from File Explorer. All you have to do is type cmd in the address bar and press Enter. Then, a Command Prompt instance opens immediately, using the path of the current folder.
For more details, read this tutorial: How to run commands from Windows 10’s File Explorer. Unfortunately, you cannot open Command Prompt as an administrator using this method.
9. Open Command Prompt using its cmd.exe executable file
You can also open Command Prompt using its cmd.exe file. Open File Explorer, navigate to the partition where Windows is installed, open the Windows folder, and then enter System32. There, you’re going to find cmd.exe – the executable file used by Command Prompt.
Also, the easiest way to open it as an administrator is to right-click (or press and hold it, if you have a touchscreen) and then click/tap on the “Run as administrator” option from the contextual menu.
10. How to open the Command Prompt from the old Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer
A somewhat cumbersome, but workable method to launch Command Prompt in Windows is to use one of Microsoft’s older web browsers to do it. Launch Internet Explorer or the old Microsoft Edge (not the one based on Chromium) and enter this command in the address bar: file://C:/Windows/System32/cmd.exe. Press Enter and then, in the dialog that opens, click or tap the Run button.
This method only opens Command Prompt windows with standard user rights, not administrative privileges.
11. Open Command Prompt from the Task Manager
You can open Command Prompt using the Task Manager. Launch Task Manager (a quick way is by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc). If you get the compact view of the Task Manager, first press More details in the bottom-left corner of the window. Open the File menu, select “Run new task,” and then type cmd in the “Create new task” window. Hit Enter on your keyboard or press the OK button and Command Prompt opens.
Also, if you want to run Command Prompt as administrator, mark the checkbox “Create this task with administrative privileges” before you press Enter or the OK button.
12. Ask Cortana to open Command Prompt
If you have a microphone installed on your Windows 10 computer or device, you can also tell Cortana what you want to do. Say “Hey Cortana” if you enabled her to answer you anytime you call for her, or click/tap on her icon next to the search field on your taskbar. Then, ask Cortana to “open Command Prompt.”
In just a moment, Cortana understands what you want and immediately launches the Command Prompt. Unfortunately, there is no command you could use to ask Cortana to launch Command Prompt as administrator.
13. How to open Command Prompt when you boot Windows 10 using the Advanced Startup Options
If you need to run advanced commands in Command Prompt and your Windows 10 PC no longer works properly, you might need a way to open CMD at boot, before Windows 10 loads itself completely. To do that, you can use the Recovery options. Here’s how:
Open the Settings app and navigate to Update & Security. Select Recovery on the left side of the window, and click or tap on Restart now in the Advanced startup section from the right.
On the Choose an option screen, press Troubleshoot.
Then, click or tap on Advanced options.
This brings you to the Advanced options screen. Here, you should get an entry called Command Prompt. Click or tap on it.
Your Windows 10 computer or device reboots and then asks you to choose a user account from the list of administrators configured on the PC. Select it and enter your password if asked.
Finally, Windows 10 opens the Command Prompt as administrator.
You can now use CMD to do anything you want, including performing advanced tasks such as boot repairs or partition management with diskpart, for instance.
14. How to open Command Prompt while installing Windows 10
We have another neat method of opening Command Prompt even when Windows 10 is not installed on your computer. It also works when your Windows 10 is corrupted that it can’t boot properly. Use a Windows 10 installation media to boot your computer or device. When the Windows 10 setup wizard shows up, simultaneously press the Shift + F10 keys on your keyboard to open Command Prompt.
It’s as simple as that! 🙂
How do you like to open the Command Prompt?
These are all the ways we know for launching Command Prompt in Windows 10. It can help you find the right way to open it, depending on what you are doing on your Windows 10 PC. If you know other methods, do not hesitate to share them in a comment below. Also, if you are looking for some good articles on how to use the Command Prompt, don’t hesitate to read our recommendations below.
How-to: Windows Keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts for the Windows CMD shell and PowerShell.
Switch to/from full screen mode. Alt ENTER Cancel the current command (if nothing is selected). Ctrl C Enter Mark mode. Ctrl M Select text in mark mode. Shift ←/→ Copy the selected text. Ctrl C (or Ctrl Insert) Paste the selected text. Ctrl V (or Shift Insert) Move the cursor in the direction specified. Arrow keys Move the cursor by one page up. Page up Move the cursor by one page down. Page down Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer. Ctrl Home (Mark mode) Move the cursor to the end of the buffer. Ctrl End (Mark mode) Autocomplete folder/file name. [Tab] Scroll through history of typed commands. ↓ / ↑ Toggle full screen. Alt Enter or F11 Clear command line. ESC Toggle Insert/Overwrite. INSERT Erase line to the left. Ctrl Home Erase line to the right. Ctrl End Move one word to the left (backward). Ctrl ← Move one word to the right (forward). Ctrl → Erase character to the left. ⌫ Move to beginning of line. [Home] Move to end of line. [End] Scroll window up. ⇧ PgUp Scroll window Down. ⇧ PgDn
New Windows Terminal Keyboard shortcuts
CMD shell Command History shortcuts:
Print characters of the previous command one by one. F1 Repeat part of the previous command; up to character Z F2 Z Repeat the previous command. F3 Beginning from the current cursor position, delete up to character Z. F4 Z Scroll through history of typed commands (↑). F5 Scroll the screen up or down one line. Ctrl ↑ / ↓ Show history of previous commands. F7 Clear command history. ALT F7 Move backwards through the command history, but only display commands
matching the current text at the command prompt.F8 Run a specific command from the command history. F9 Signal end-of-file. Ctrl Z
Virtual Desktops
Group Policy GPO
Mark all settings on the page as «green» (apply all). F5 Mark current settings on the page as «green» (apply this setting). F6 Mark current settings as «red» (don’t apply this setting). F7 Mark all settings on the page as «red» (don’t apply). F8 Display a list of available variables. F3
⇧ is the Shift key
⌫ is the Backspace key
⊞ is the Windows Key
Add Custom shortcut keys
If you have a shortcut anywhere on the Start Menu or Desktop you can create a keyboard shortcut for it.
For example if you have a shortcut to the traditional Control Panel in the Start Menu, right click it and choose More > Open file location. Right click on the shortcut file and select Properties. Under Shortcut>Shortcut Key you can assign a hotkey,
pressing Ctrl+C will assign the shortcut Ctrl+Alt+C.
How to disable one or more ⊞ (Windows Key) Keyboard Shortcuts:
In the Windows registry add a new String Value called “ DisabledHotkeys » under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
Set the value data for this key to the hotkey characters you want to disable.
For example: to disable the hotkeys Win + X and Win + R, set the value to RX
(n.b. This will also affect other modifier key combinations like Win + Shift + X)
Restart Explorer or Logoff/reboot and the new settings will apply to this user account.
The hotkeys specified will be disabled and unassigned and thus available to any third party app which allows you to assign global hotkeys.
«If NumLock is on, pressing a key on the numeric keypad while holding SHIFT overrides NumLock and instead generates an arrow key»
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows
Learn more about screenshots with Snip & Sketch
If you are trying to take a screenshot or screengrab, see How to take and annotate screenshots on Windows 10.
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it’ll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
Cut the selected item.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Copy the selected item.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Paste the selected item.
Switch between open apps.
Close the active item, or exit the active app.
Windows logo key + L
Windows logo key + D
Display and hide the desktop.
Rename the selected item.
Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.
Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
Refresh the active window.
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
Show your password on the sign-in screen.
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened.
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the command for that letter.
Display properties for the selected item.
Open the shortcut menu for the active window.
Move up one screen.
Move down one screen.
Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
Select all items in a document or window.
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
Refresh the active window.
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph.
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
Use the arrow keys to switch between all open apps.
Alt + Shift + arrow keys
When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
Ctrl + Shift + arrow keys
When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
Resize the Start menu when it’s open.
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.
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off.
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 in a document.
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
Stop or leave the current task.
Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard.
You can change this shortcut so it also opens screen snipping, which lets you edit your screenshot. Select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Keyboard, and turn on the toggle under Print Screen shortcut.
Open or close Start.
Windows logo key + A
Open Action center.
Windows logo key + B
Set focus in the notification area.
Windows logo key + C
Open Cortana in listening mode.
This shortcut is turned off by default. To turn it on, select Start > Settings > Cortana, and turn on the toggle under Let Cortana listen for my commands when I press the Windows logo key + C.
Cortana is available only in certain countries/regions, and some Cortana features might not be available everywhere. If Cortana isn’t available or is turned off, you can still use search.
Windows logo key + Shift + C
Open the charms menu.
Windows logo key + D
Display and hide the desktop.
Windows logo key + Alt + D
Display and hide the date and time on the desktop.
Windows logo key + E
Open File Explorer.
Windows logo key + F
Open Feedback Hub and take a screenshot.
Windows logo key + G
Open Game bar when a game is open.
Windows logo key + H
Windows logo key + I
Windows logo key + J
Set focus to a Windows tip when one is available.
When a Windows tip appears, bring focus to the Tip. Pressing the keyboard shortcuts again to bring focus to the element on the screen to which the Windows tip is anchored.
Windows logo key + K
Open the Connect quick action.
Windows logo key + L
Lock your PC or switch accounts.
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 + Ctrl + Q
Windows logo key + R
Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key + S
Windows logo key + Shift + S
Take a screenshot of part of your screen.
Windows logo key + T
Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
Windows logo key + U
Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key + V
Open the clipboard.
To activate this shortcut, select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard, and turn on the toggle under Clipboard history.
Windows logo key + Shift + V
Cycle through notifications.
Windows logo key + X
Open the Quick Link menu.
Windows logo key + Y
Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop.
Windows logo key + Z
Show the commands available in an app in full-screen mode.
Windows logo key + period (.) or semicolon (;)
Windows logo key + comma (,)
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
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 except 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 + Ctrl + Enter
Windows logo key + Plus (+)
Windows logo key + forward slash (/)
Begin IME reconversion.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + V
Open shoulder taps.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Copy the selected text.
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Paste the selected text.
Alt + selection key
Begin selection in block mode.
Move the cursor in the direction specified.
Move the cursor by one page up.
Move the cursor by one page down.
Ctrl + Home (Mark mode)
Move the cursor to the beginning of the buffer.
Ctrl + End (Mark mode)
Move the cursor to the end of the buffer.
Move up one line in the output history.
Move down one line in the output history.
Ctrl + Home (History navigation)
If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the top of the buffer. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the left of the cursor in the command line.
Ctrl + End (History navigation)
If the command line is empty, move the viewport to the command line. Otherwise, delete all the characters to the right of the cursor in the command line.
Display the items in the active list.
Move forward through tabs.
Move back through tabs.
Ctrl + number (number 1–9)
Move forward through options.
Move back through options.
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the command (or select the option) that is used with that letter.
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
Select the address bar.
Select the search box.
Select the search box.
Close the active window.
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons.
Display all folders above the selected folder.
Create a new folder.
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
Display the contents of the selected folder.
Collapse the selected folder.
Display the preview panel.
Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item.
View the next folder.
View the folder that the folder was in.
View the previous folder.
View the previous folder.
Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder.
Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in.
Display the bottom of the active window.
Display the top of the active window.
Maximize or minimize the active window.
Windows logo key + Tab
Windows logo key + Ctrl + D
Add a virtual desktop.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Right arrow
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the right.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Left arrow
Switch between virtual desktops you’ve created on the left.
Windows logo key + Ctrl + F4
Close the virtual desktop you’re using.
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.
Windows logo key + I
Go back to the settings home page.
Type on any page with search box
Additional keyboard shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it’ll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
The following table contains common keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Copy the selected item
Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Paste the selected item
Switch between open apps
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
The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows.
Windows logo key + start typing
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
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
Stop or exit the current task
Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
Rename the selected item
Search for a file or folder
Display the address bar list in File Explorer
Refresh the active window
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
Activate the Menu bar in the active app
Close the active item, or exit the active app
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the command for that letter
Display properties for the selected item
Open the shortcut menu for the active window
Move up one screen
Move down one screen
Switch between open apps (except desktop apps)
Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
Select all items in a document or window
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Copy the selected item
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Refresh the active window
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Paste the selected item
Cut the selected item
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
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
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
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available
Turn the Chinese input method editor (IME) on or off
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
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
Stop or leave the current task
Windows logo key + F1
Open Windows Help and Support
Display or hide the Start screen
Windows logo key + B
Set focus in the notification area
Windows logo key + C
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.
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
Windows logo key + Shift + period (.)
Cycle through open apps
Windows logo key + period (.)
Cycle through open apps
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
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.
Display the items in the active list
Move forward through tabs
Move back through tabs
Ctrl + number (number 1–9)
Move forward through options
Move back through options
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
Select the address bar
Select the search box
Select the search box
Close the current window
Ctrl + mouse scroll wheel
Change the size and appearance of file and folder icons
Display all folders above the selected folder
Create a new folder
Num Lock + asterisk (*)
Display all subfolders under the selected folder
Display the contents of the selected folder
Collapse the selected folder
Display the preview pane
Open the Properties dialog box for the selected item
View the next folder
View the folder that the folder was in
View the previous folder
View the previous folder
Display the current selection (if it’s collapsed), or select the first subfolder
Collapse the current selection (if it’s expanded), or select the folder that the folder was in
Display the bottom of the active window
Display the top of the active window
Maximize or minimize the active window
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.
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
Move between apps from left to right
Move between apps from right to left
Cycle through apps in the order that they were started
Display the Start screen
Switch between a window and full screen
Display the Windows Security dialog box
In full-screen mode, activate the connection bar
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.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.
Move the cursor to the search box
Display the Options menu
Move to the beginning of a topic
Move to the end of a topic
Move back to the previously viewed topic
Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic
Display the Help and Support home page
Display the customer support page
Display the Table of Contents
Display the Connection Settings menu
Search the current topic
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.
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
Windows logo key + down arrow
Windows logo key + Esc
Exit rearrange mode
Additional keyboard shortcuts
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020
We recommend you move to a Windows 10 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it’ll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
Ctrl + C (or Ctrl + Insert)
Copy the selected item
Cut the selected item
Ctrl + V (or Shift + Insert)
Paste the selected item
Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin
Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first
Rename the selected item
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word
Move the cursor to the beginning of the next paragraph
Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph
Ctrl + Shift with an arrow key
Select a block of text
Shift with any arrow key
Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document
Ctrl with any arrow key + Spacebar
Select multiple individual items in a window or on the desktop
Select all items in a document or window
Search for a file or folder
Display properties for the selected item
Close the active item, or exit the active program
Open the shortcut menu for the active window
Close the active document (in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)
Switch between open items
Use the arrow keys to switch between open items
Ctrl + Mouse scroll wheel
Change the size of icons on the desktop
Windows logo key + Tab
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D
Cycle through items in the order in which they were opened
Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop
Display the address bar list in Windows Explorer
Display the shortcut menu for the selected item
Open the Start menu
Alt + underlined letter
Display the corresponding menu
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the menu command (or other underlined command)
Activate the menu bar in the active program
Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu
Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu
Refresh the active window
View the folder one level up in Windows Explorer
Cancel the current task
Shift when you insert a CD
Prevent the CD from automatically playing
Switch the input language when multiple input languages are enabled
Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are enabled
Right or Left Ctrl + Shift
Change the reading direction of text in right-to-left reading languages
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.
Move forward through tabs
Move back through tabs
Move forward through options
Move back through options
Alt + underlined letter
Perform the command (or select the option) that goes with that letter
Replaces clicking the mouse for many selected commands
Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
Display the items in the active list
Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key
Windows logo key
Open or close the Start menu.
Windows logo key + Pause
Display the System Properties dialog box.
Windows logo key + D
Display the desktop.
Windows logo key + M
Minimize all windows.
Windows logo key + Shift + M
Restore minimized windows to the desktop.
Windows logo key + E
Windows logo key + F
Search for computers (if you’re on a network).
Windows logo key + L
Lock your computer or switch users.
Windows logo key + R
Open the Run dialog box.
Windows logo key + T
Cycle through programs on the taskbar.
Windows logo key + number
Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the program is already running, switch to that program.
Shift+Windows logo key + number
Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Ctrl+Windows logo key + number
Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Alt+Windows logo key + number
Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.
Windows logo key + Tab
Cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key + Tab
Use the arrow keys to cycle through programs on the taskbar by using Aero Flip 3-D.
Ctrl+Windows logo key + B
Switch to the program that displayed a message in the notification area.
Windows logo key + Spacebar
Preview the desktop.
Windows logo key + Up Arrow
Maximize the window.
Windows logo key + Left Arrow
Maximize the window to the left side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Right Arrow
Maximize the window to the right side of the screen.
Windows logo key + Down Arrow
Minimize the window.
Windows logo key + Home
Minimize all but the active window.
Windows logo key + Shift + Up Arrow
Stretch the window to the top and bottom of the screen.
Windows logo key + Shift + Left Arrow or Right Arrow
Move a window from one monitor to another.
Windows logo key + P
Choose a presentation display mode.
Windows logo key + G
Cycle through gadgets.
Windows logo key + U
Open Ease of Access Center.
Windows logo key + X