Win+D : Show or Hide Desktop

Win+T : Open taskbar, when on the Windows 8.1 Start Screen. On the desktop, it selects the first app on
the taskbar.

Alt+F4 : This will completely shut down a Windows Store app and bring you to the desktop. But if you are
on the Desktop, it will still bring the old Shutdown dialog box.

Win+Tab : Switches between apps and the desktop

Alt+Tab : Switches between all apps, including desktop apps

Home key : When on the Start Screen or Desktop, pressing Home key takes you to the first or top left
most Tile or Icon as the case may be.

End key : When on the Start Screen or Desktop, pressing End key will take you to the last or left-most Tile
or Icon of the bottom-most row.

Escape key : When on the Start Screen, pressing Esc key takes you to the Desktop. It doesn’t work the
other way around.

Win+.+Right Arrow or Win+.+Left Arrow : Place up to four apps side by side.

Win+Down arrow : Closes Windows Store app and makes it run in the background.

Shortcut Description

Windows Key + D Show Desktop

Windows Key + C Open Charms Menu

Windows Key + F Charms Menu – Search

Windows Key + H Charms Menu – Share

Windows Key + K Charms Menu – Devices

Windows Key + I Charms Menu – Settings

Windows Key + Q Search For Installed Apps

Windows Key + W Search Settings

Windows Key + Tab Cycle through open Modern UI Apps

Windows Key + Shift + Tab Cycle through open Modern UI Apps in reverse order

Windows Key + . Snaps app to the right (split screen multitasking)

Windows Key + Shift + . Snaps app to the left (split screen multitasking)

Windows Key + , Temporarily view desktop

Alt + F4 Quit Modern UI Apps

Windows Key + E Launch Windows Explorer Window

Windows Key + L Lock PC and go to lock screen

Windows Key + T Cycle through icons on taskbar (press Enter to launch app)

Windows Key + X Show Advanced Windows Settings Menu

Windows Key + E Launch Windows Explorer Window

Windows Key + Page Down Moves Start screen and apps to secondary monitor on the right

Windows Key + M Minimize all Windows

Windows Key + Shift + M Restore all minimized Windows

Windows Key + R Open Run dialog box

Windows Key + Up Arrow Maximize current window

Windows Key + Down Arrow Minimize current window

Windows Key + Left Arrow Maximize current window to left side of the screen
Windows Key + Right Arrow Maximize current window to right side of the screen

Ctrl + Shift + Escape Open Task Manager

Windows Key + Print Screen Takes a Print Screen and saves it to your Pictures folder

Windows Key + Page UpMoves Start screen and apps to secondary monitor on the left

Windows Key + Pause Break Display System Properties

Shift + Delete Permanently delete files without sending it to Recycle Bin

Windows Key + F1 Open Windows Help and Support

Windows Key + V Cycle through notifications

Windows Key + Shift + VCycle through notifications in reverse order

Windows Key + 0 to 9 Launch/show app pinned to taskbar at indicated number

Windows Key + Shift + 0 to 9 Launch new instance of app pinned to taskbar at indicated number

Alt + Enter Display Properties of selected item in File Explorer

Alt + Up Arrow View upper level folder of current folder in File Explorer

Alt + Right Arrow View next folder in File Explorer

Alt + Left Arrow View previous folder in File Explorer

Windows Key + P Choose secondary display modes

Windows Key + U Open Ease of Access Center

Alt + Print Screen Print Screen focused Window only

Windows Key + Spacebar Switch input language and keyboard layout

Windows Key + Shift + Spacebar Switch to previous input language and keyboard layout

Windows Key + Enter Open Narrator

Windows Key + + Zoom in using Magnifier

Windows Key + – Zoom out using Magnifier

Windows Key + Escape Exit Magnifier

Further Reading