12 Windows keyboard shortcuts worth learning

The twelve Windows shortcuts that pay for themselves in a day. Learn two a week and you will not notice you are using them.

Cheat sheet

12 Windows shortcuts worth learning

  • WinVOpen clipboard history
  • WinShiftSScreenshot part of the screen
  • Win.Open the emoji panel
  • WinDShow and hide the desktop
  • WinLLock the computer
  • WinEOpen File Explorer
  • AltTabSwitch between open windows
  • WinTabOpen Task View
  • Win←Snap the window to the left half
  • WinZOpen the snap layouts
  • WinCtrlDMake a new virtual desktop
  • CtrlShiftEscOpen Task Manager
Sundry Millsundrymill.com/library
12 Windows keyboard shortcuts worth learning

The twelve

  • Open clipboard history

    Turn it on the first time you press it.

  • Screenshot part of the screen

    It lands on the clipboard, ready to paste.

  • Open the emoji panel

  • Show and hide the desktop

  • Lock the computer

  • Open File Explorer

  • Switch between open windows

    Keep holding Alt and press Tab again to go further.

  • Open Task View

  • Snap the window to the left half

  • Open the snap layouts

  • Make a new virtual desktop

  • Open Task Manager

How to use it

  • Win is the Windows logo key, bottom left between Ctrl and Alt.
  • Start with Win + V and Win + Shift + S. Together they replace most copying and screenshot faff.
  • Snap works with any arrow: Win + Right snaps to the right half, Win + Up maximises.

One more for the list: in Qulok, Ctrl + Alt + Q turns demo mode on and off from anywhere, keeping the window you are showing and hiding the rest.

Checked against Microsoft’s Keyboard shortcuts in Windows on 28 September 2026.

Free to use in personal and commercial work. No credit needed, though a link back is always nice.

More from the library

See the whole library