Top Useful Windows 10 Shortcuts Keys Everyone Need to Know

Windows 10 is familiar and easy to use, with lots of similarities to Windows 7 including the Start menu. It starts up and resumes fast, has more built-in security to help keep you safe, and is designed to work with software and hardware you already have. The Windows Insider Program is a global community of fans who love Windows and want to help make it better. Insiders see the operating system in its earliest stages, and play a role in shaping it. Their feedback has contributed to the best Windows ever.


If you’re keen to try these Windows 10 shortcuts out for yourself, head over to the Microsoft website and sign up for the Windows 10 Technical Preview program. Otherwise, just check out the list below so that you’re ready for action when Windows 10 hits the market in the second half of 2015. So, without further ado, here are Top Useful Windows 10 Shortcuts Keys Everyone Need to Know.

Window Snapping

• Windows Key + Left – Snap current window to the left side of the screen.
• Windows Key + Right – Snap current window the the right side of the screen.
• Windows Key + Up – Snap current window to the top of the screen.
• Windows Key + Down – Snap current window to the bottom of the screen.

Task View / Window Management

• Windows Key + Tab – This opens the new Task View interface, and it stays open — you can release the keys. Only windows from your current virtual desktop will appear in the Task View list, and you can use the virtual desktop switcher at the bottom of the screen to switch between virtual desktops.
• Alt + Tab – This isn’t a new keyboard shortcut, and it works just like you’d expect it to. Pressing Alt+Tab lets you switch between your open Windows. Tap Tab again to flip between windows and release the keys to select a window. Alt+Tab now uses the new Task View-style larger thumbnails. Unlike Windows Key + Tab, Alt + Tab lets you switch between open windows on all virtual desktops.

Virtual Desktops

• Windows Key + Ctrl + D – Create a new virtual desktop and switch to it
• Windows Key + Ctrl + F4 – Close the current virtual desktop.
• Windows Key + Ctrl + Left / Right – Switch to the virtual desktop on the left or right.

Command Prompt

Copying and Pasting Text / Ctrl Key Shortcuts

• Ctrl + V or Shift + Insert – Pastes text at the cursor.
• Ctrl + C or Ctrl + Insert – Copies the selected text to the clipboard.
• Ctrl + A – Select all text in the current line if the line contains text. If it’s an empty line, select all text in the Command Prompt.

Selecting Text / Shift Key Shortcuts

• Shift + Left / Right / Up / Down – Moves the cursor left a character, right a character, up a line, or down a line, selecting the text along the way. Continue pressing arrow keys to select more text.
• Ctrl + Shift + Left / Right – Moves the cursor one word to the left or right, selecting that word along the way.
• Shift + Home / End – Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line, selecting text along the way.
• Shift + Page Up / Page Down – Moves the cursor up or down a screen, selecting text.
• Ctrl + Shift + Home / End – Moves the cursor to the beginning or end of the “screen buffer,” selecting all text between the cursor and the beginning or end of the Command Prompt’s output.

Other Shortcuts Key

• Ctrl + Up / Down – Moves one line up or down in the Command Prompt’s history — it’s like using the scroll bar.
• Ctrl + Page Up / Page Down – Moves one page up or down in the Command Prompt’s history — it’s like scrolling even farther.
• Ctrl + M – Enter “mark mode,” which helps for selecting text. Previously, the only way to do this was by right-clicking in the Command Prompt and selecting Mark. Thanks to the new Shift key shortcuts, this mode is no longer as important.
• Ctrl + F – Opens a Find dialog for searching the Command Prompt’s output.
• Alt + F4 – Closes the Command Prompt window.