Windows

Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world, created by Microsoft. First launched in 1985, it started as a graphical interface for MS-DOS, allowing users to interact with their PCs using windows and a mouse instead of just typing commands. Fun fact: Windows 95 was such a cultural phenomenon that people lined up at midnight to buy it, and its startup sound was composed by ambient music legend Brian Eno! Windows continues to evolve, from XP’s classic stability to Windows 11’s sleek design. It’s hard to imagine life without that iconic Start button! Whether for work, gaming, or creativity, Windows has been a trusted companion for billions of users.

Shortcuts

General

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlArrow Keys`	❌	Resize the Start menu when it's open.
`CtrlZ`	❌	Undo an action.
`CtrlEsc`	❌	Open Start.
`CtrlD`	❌	Delete the selected item and move it to the Recycle Bin.
`F6`	❌	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
`AltShiftArrow Keys`	❌	When a group or tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it in the direction specified.
`CtrlShiftArrow Keys`	❌	Select a block of text. Or, when a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder.
`Ctrl↑`	❌	Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
`ShiftDel`	❌	Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin first.
`→`	❌	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
`CtrlShift`	❌	Switch the keyboard layout when multiple keyboard layouts are available.
`CtrlX`	❌	Cut the selected item.
`CtrlE`	❌	Open Search (in most apps).
`F2`	❌	Rename the selected item.
`CtrlV`	❌	Paste the selected item.
`CtrlA`	❌	Select all items in a document or window.
`←`	❌	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
`CtrlF4`	❌	Close the active document (in apps that are full-screen and let you have multiple documents open at the same time).
`CtrlY`	❌	Redo an action.
`F5`	❌	Refresh the active window.
`ShiftArrow Keys`	❌	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.
`Esc`	❌	Stop or leave the current task.
`CtrlShiftV`	❌	Paste as plain text
`CtrlA`	❌	Set focus to the first icon in the Suggested actions menu.
`CtrlC`	❌	Copy the selected item.
`F10`	❌	Activate the Menu bar in the active app.
`F4`	❌	Display the address bar list in File Explorer.
`PrScn`	❌	Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard.
`F3`	❌	Search for a file or folder in File Explorer.

File Explorer

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlE`	❌	Select search box.
`Alt↑`	❌	Move up a level in the folder path.
`AltP`	❌	Display preview panel.
`CtrlN`	❌	Open new window.
`F11`	❌	Switch active window full-screen mode.
`Ctrl`	❌	Change view file and folder.
`CtrlShiftE`	❌	Expands all folders from the tree in the navigation pane.
`CtrlL`	❌	Focus on the address bar.
`Alt←`	❌	View previous folder.
`F4`	❌	Switch focus to address bar.
`E`	❌	Open File Explorer.
`F6`	❌	Cycle through elements on the screen.
`Alt→`	❌	View next folder.
`CtrlW`	❌	Close active window.
`CtrlShift`	❌	Changes folder view.
`End`	❌	Scroll to the bottom of the window.
`CtrlShiftN`	❌	Creates a new folder on desktop or File Explorer.
`CtrlF`	❌	Start search.
`Home`	❌	Scroll to the top of the window.
`AltEnter`	❌	Open Properties settings for the selected item.
`F2`	❌	Rename selected item.
`AltD`	❌	Select address bar.
`F5`	❌	Refresh File Explorer's current view.

Text Editing

Window	Mac	Description
`CtrlU`	❌	Underline selected text
`Ctrl↓`	❌	Go to end of line break
`←`	❌	Go to the left or to the end of previous line break
`CtrlA`	❌	Select all text
`CtrlV`	❌	Paste text
`CtrlB`	❌	Make selected text bold
`CtrlShiftHome`	❌	Select text between the cursor and the beginning of the document
`ShiftEnd`	❌	Select text between the cursor and the end of the current line
`Tab`	❌	Indent
`Backspace`	❌	Delete characters to the left
`Ctrl←`	❌	Go to beginning of previous word
`CtrlShift↑`	❌	Select paragraphs to the left
`ShiftPgUp`	❌	Select one frame at a time of text above the cursor
`CtrlBackspace`	❌	Delete words to the left
`CtrlH`	❌	Find and replace text
`PgUp`	❌	Move up one frame
`CtrlZ`	❌	Undo text
`Ctrl→`	❌	Go to beginning of next word
`CtrlY`	❌	Redo text
`Ctrl↑`	❌	Go to beginning of line break
`Home`	❌	Go to the beginning of the current line
`ShiftHome`	❌	Select text between the cursor and the beginning of the current line
`↑`	❌	Go up one row
`CtrlX`	❌	Cut text
`ShiftPgDn`	❌	Select one frame at a time of text below the cursor
`ShiftTab`	❌	Outdent
`Ctrl=`	❌	Make selected text subscript
`CtrlShiftEnd`	❌	Select text between the cursor and the end of the document
`PgDn`	❌	Move down one frame
`CtrlC`	❌	Copy text
`CtrlF`	❌	Find text
`CtrlEnd`	❌	Go to the end of the document
`CtrlHome`	❌	Go to the beginning of the document
`CtrlShift←`	❌	Select words to the left
`CtrlI`	❌	Make selected text italic
`Del`	❌	Delete characters to the right
`Shift↓`	❌	Select lines downwards
`Shift→`	❌	Select characters to the right
`CtrlDel`	❌	Delete words to the right
`End`	❌	Go to the end of the current line
`Shift↑`	❌	Select lines upwards
`CtrlShift=`	❌	Make selected text superscript
`CtrlShift↓`	❌	Select paragraphs to the right
`→`	❌	Go to the right or to the beginning of next line break
`↓`	❌	Down Arrow
`CtrlShift→`	❌	Select words to the right
`Shift←`	❌	Select characters to the left

Desktop

Window	Mac	Description
`Alt←`	❌	Go back
`Alt→`	❌	Go forward
`CtrlArrow Keys`	❌	Change Start menu size
`AltPgUp`	❌	Move up one screen
`AltF8`	❌	Reveals typed password in Sign-in screen
`AltF4`	❌	Close active window. (If no active window is present, a shutdown box appears.)
`AltEsc`	❌	Cycle through open windows
`CtrlR`	❌	Refresh current window(or, Ctrl + F5)
`CtrlArrow KeysSpace`	❌	Select multiple items on desktop or File Explorer
`ShiftF10`	❌	Open context menu for selected item
`CtrlAltTab`	❌	View open apps
`AltSpace`	❌	Open context menu for the active window
`AltPgDn`	❌	Move down one screen
`AltTab`	❌	Switch between open apps while pressing Tab multiple times
`CtrlShiftEsc`	❌	Open Task Manager
`ShiftArrow Keys`	❌	Select multiple items

Windows Key

Window	Mac	Description
`Ctrl←`	❌	Switch to the virtual desktop on the left
`O`	❌	Lock device orientation
`Shift→`	❌	Move active window to monitor on the right
`I`	❌	Open Settings
`,`	❌	Temporarily peek at the desktop
`U`	❌	Open Ease of Access settings
`Pause`	❌	Show System Properties dialog box
`F`	❌	Launch Feedback Hub app
`Home`	❌	Minimize or maximize all but the active desktop window
`PrScn`	❌	Capture a full screenshot in the "Screenshots" folder
`CtrlShift`	❌	Open another instance as an administrator of the app in the number position in the Taskbar
`CtrlQ`	❌	Open Quick Assist
`↑`	❌	Maximize app windows
`←`	❌	Snap app or window left
`-`	❌	Zoom out using the magnifier
	❌	Open the app in number position in the Taskbar
`Ctrl→`	❌	Switch to the virtual desktop on the right
`ShiftS`	❌	Create part of the screen screenshot
`Y`	❌	Change input between desktop and Mixed Reality
`CtrlSpace`	❌	Change previous selected input option
`ShiftV`	❌	Cycle through notifications
`J`	❌	Set focus on a tip for Windows 10 when applicable
`CtrlShiftB`	❌	Wake up the device when black or a blank screen
`A`	❌	Open Action center
`CtrlF4`	❌	Close active virtual desktop
`AltD`	❌	Open date and time in the Taskbar
`/`	❌	Start IME reconversion
`Z`	❌	Switch input between the desktop experience and Windows Mixed Reality
`W`	❌	Open the Windows Ink Workspace
`CtrlF`	❌	Open search for the device on a domain network
`R`	❌	Open Run command
	❌	Open Start menu
`Space`	❌	Change keyboard layout and input language
`E`	❌	Open File Explorer
`P`	❌	Open Project settings
`Shift`	❌	Open another app instance in the number position in the Taskbar
`→`	❌	Snap app or window right
`Shift↑`	❌	Stretch desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen
`+`	❌	Zoom in using the magnifier
`ShiftM`	❌	Restore minimized windows on the desktop
`Alt`	❌	Open Jump List of the app in number position in the Taskbar
`D`	❌	Display and hide the desktop
`L`	❌	Locks computer
`↓`	❌	Minimize app windows
`S`	❌	Open Search
`Esc`	❌	Exit magnifier
`Ctrl`	❌	Switch to the last active window of the app in the number position in the Taskbar
`M`	❌	Minimize all windows
`B`	❌	Set focus notification area in the Taskbar
`K`	❌	Open Connect settings
`X`	❌	Open Quick Link menu
`Tab`	❌	Open Task View
`V`	❌	Open Clipboard bin
`G`	❌	Launch Game bar app
`CtrlD`	❌	Create a virtual desktop
`H`	❌	Open dictation feature
`T`	❌	Cycle through apps in the Taskbar
`CtrlEnter`	❌	Open Narrator
`.`	❌	Open emoji panel(or, Win + Semicolon ;)
`Shift↓`	❌	Move active window to monitor on the left