Windows 10: Key combinations at a glance

Windows 10 brings some innovations that you can use with the appropriate key combinations. We will show you the most important ones in this article.

Windows 10: The most important key combinations

If you press and hold the Windows key and the respective letter at the bottom left, the corresponding action will be carried out.

[Windows] + [E]: Explorer opens.
[Windows] + [D]: You jump directly to the desktop and back again.
[Windows] + [I]: Settings will open.
[Windows] + [A]: Action Center opens.
[Windows] + [X]: An expert menu with numerous functions opens.
[Windows] + [S]: The search via Cortana is started.
[Windows] + [L]: The computer will be locked.
[Windows] + [P]: Project your screen onto another screen.
[Windows] + [V]: The clipboard opens.
[Windows] + [K]: Connect wireless devices.
[Windows] + [.]: The emoji menu opens.
[Windows] + number: Opens the app pinned to the taskbar in the respective position.
[Windows] + [Alt] + [G]: Enter the gaming menu to record your gameplay.
[Windows] + [Print]: A screenshot is taken and saved under Users / Pictures / Screenshots.
[Windows] + [Shift] + [S]: You can take a screenshot of a selected area.

These are the shortcut keys using the Ctrl key:

[Ctrl] + [A]: All elements or the complete text will be selected.
[Ctrl] + [X]: All marked elements will be cut.
[Ctrl] + [C]: All selected items are copied.
[Ctrl] + [V]: All cut or copied items will be pasted.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [V]: All cut or copied elements are pasted without formatting.
[Ctrl] + [Z]: The last action is undone.
[Ctrl] + [Y]: The last action is repeated.
[Ctrl] + [Shift] + [N]: Creates new folder.
[Ctrl] + [F]: Search within a folder in Explorer.
[Ctrl] + [Alt] + [Del]: Security options will appear.
[Alt] + [Enter] or [Alt] + double-click: Opens the properties of a file.

In the following practical tips you will find other useful keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows 10.

You can manage virtual desktops by keyboard shortcut.

Press "Windows" + "Tab" keys to open the indicator for all open windows and desktops. You can click on this with the mouse or select it using the arrow keys under Enter.
To start a new virtual desktop, press the "Windows" + "Ctrl" + "D" keys at the same time.
The desktop is closed again via "Windows" + "Ctrl" + "F4". All windows and programs are moved to the adjacent desktop.
Use "Windows" + "Ctrl" + "Left Arrow" or "Right Arrow" to switch directly between the desktops.

In Windows 10, the screen can be split using a key combination.

Open any window and hold down the "Windows" key and one of the four arrow keys.
Thus, the window can be minimized, maximized or moved to the left or right edge of the screen.
The key combinations can also be combined. If you click on the left and up arrow keys in succession, the window lands in the upper left quarter of the screen.
As soon as you have arranged a program, other programs will be suggested to you for the other half of the screen, which you can expand with a click in the free area.

You can open the command prompt with the "Run" ("[Windows]" + "R") command, among other things. Just type "cmd" here and click "OK".

Hold down the "Shift" key to use the arrow keys to highlight the text in the console for the first time.
You can copy and paste content using the common combinations "Ctrl" + "C" and "Ctrl" + "V".
Especially professionals who often work with the console will find it a lot easier to use.Many users have wanted this feature for years.