Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternate way to do something that you'd typically do with a mouse. Keeping the shortcut keys in mind may save your time to open a Windows program or app. Learn and use these shortcut keys is a great way to enhance your Windows 10 experience.

This post provides the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.

• 1. Top 10 shortcut keys
• 2. Classical shortcut keys
• 3. Cortana keyboard shortcuts
• 4. Desktop keyboard shortcuts
• 5. Connecting and Sharing shortcuts

Top 10 most commonly used shortcuts in Windows 10

Windows Key: Show Window Start Menu.

Windows Key A: Open Windows 10 notifications.

Windows Key E: Open Windows 10 File Explorer.

Windows Key I: Open Windows 10 Settings.

Windows Key L: Lock your PC or switch accounts.

Windows Key R: Open the Run dialog.

Windows Key U: Open Ease of Access Center.

Windows Key S: Open Search. Learn more How to Show/Hide Search Box or Icon on Taskbar.

Windows Key X: Open the Quick Access Menu (also called Win X menu, or Power User Menu).

Windows Key F1: Open Edge and Searches how do I get help in Windows 10 with Bing.

The Classical keyboard shortcuts

Here are some traditional but useful keyboard shortcuts, which are still compliant in Windows 10.

Windows Key P: Choose a presentation display mode.

Windows Key T: Cycle through apps on the taskbar.

Windows Key Enter: Open Narrator, a program that reads the text for you and shows you tips.

Windows Key Space: Switch input language and keyboard layout.

Windows Key number(1, 2, 3....): Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.

Windows Key Print Screen: Take a screenshot of the whole screen.

Windows Key Shift Left or Right: Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another.

Windows Key Esc: Exit Magnifier.

Windows Key Pause: Display the System Properties dialog box, can view basic System information.

Ctrl Shift Esc: Open Task Manager.

Alt Tab: Switch to the previous window.

Alt F4: Close current window, but if you perform this combination when viewing the desktop, you open Power dialogue to shut down or restart Windows, put your device in sleep mode, sign out or switch the current user.

Cortana keyboard shortcuts

Windows C: Open Cortana listening mode.

Windows Q: Open Cortana's Home View, enables search by speech or keyboard input.

Desktop keyboard shortcuts

Windows Key D: Show Windows desktop (also available with Windows Key M).

Windows Key Left: Snap current window to the left side of the screen.

Windows Key Right: Snap current window to 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.

Virtual Desktop Shortcut Keys

Virtual Desktops can help you expand and organize your desktop. To create a new desktop, open Task view ( Win Tab), then select New desktop near the bottom-right corner.

Windows Key Ctrl D: Add a new virtual desktop.

Windows Key Ctrl Left / Right: Switch to the virtual desktop on the left or right.

Windows Key Ctrl F4: Close the current virtual desktop.

Connecting and Sharing shortcut keys

Windows Key H: Share content (if supported by current app).

Windows Key K: Connect to wireless displays and audio devices.

Tips: If these shortcuts bring inconvenience and interfere with you, learn how to disable Win keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10.