Updated January 20, 2025
In 1995, Microsoft released Windows 95, and navigating Windows was changed forever. Along with introducing the Start menu, Microsoft also added a new control key to PC keyboards, the Windows logo key.

Like the Command key on Apple keyboards, it allows the user to run shortcuts to open programs or execute repetitive commands, like showing the Desktop. Windows 95 had only twelve Windows logo key shortcuts, while Windows 11 has over seventy. So here is the complete list of Windows logo key shortcuts inside Windows 11.
Windows logo key shortcuts for Windows 11
Press |
To |
 |
Open Start menu |
+ A |
Open Quick Settings (part of the Action Center) |
+ B |
Highlights Show Hidden Icons on Taskbar |
+ C |
Open Windows Copilot |
+ Shift + C |
Open Charms menu |
+ Ctrl + C |
Turn on Color Filters (must enable in Color Filter settings first) |
+ Alt + D |
Show / hide date and time on the Desktop |
+ D |
Show Desktop |
+ E |
Open File Explorer |
+ F |
Open Feedback Hub |
The following seven (7) Windows logo key shortcuts are for the Game Bar |
+ G |
Open the Game Bar |
+ Alt +B |
Turn HDR on or off (applies to the Xbox Game Bar app version 5.721.7292.0 or newer) |
+ Alt + G |
Record the last few moments of game play. (you can change the amount of time recorded in Game Bar > Settings) |
+ Alt + R |
Start / stop recording |
+ Alt + Print Screen |
Take a screenshot of your game |
+ Alt + T |
Show / hide the recording timer |
+ Alt + M |
Start / stop microphone recording |
+ H |
Open Speech Services (voice dictation) |
+ I |
Open Settings |
+ J |
Set focus to an available Windows tip |
+ K |
Open Cast (connect to wireless display and audio devices) |
+ Alt + K |
Toggle microphone mute in apps that support Call Mute |
+ L |
Switch users (lock computer if on a domain) |
+ M |
Minimize all open windows (show Desktop) |
+ Shift + M |
Restore open minimized windows |
+ N |
Opens Notification Center (part of the Action Center) |
+ O |
Lock device orientation |
+ P |
Open Project (project video to another screen) |
+ Q |
Opens Search dialog box |
+ Ctrl + Q |
Opens Quick Assist |
+ R |
Opens Run dialog box |
+ Shift + R |
Select a region of the screen to record video from |
+ S |
Opens Search dialog box |
+ Shift + S |
Select a region of the screen to capture a screenshot to the clipboard |
+ T |
Set focus on Taskbar and cycle through pinned / running desktop apps |
+ U |
Opens Accessibility section in Settings |
+ V |
Displays Clipboard history |
+ W |
Opens Widgets |
+ X |
Opens Power User menu |
+ Y |
Switch between Desktop and Windows Mixed Reality |
+ Z |
Opens Snap layouts menu |
+ 1-9 |
Go to the app at the given position on the Taskbar |
+ + (plus) |
Zoom in (Magnifier) |
+ - (minus) |
Zoom out (Magnifier) |
+ , (comma) |
Peek at the Desktop |
+ / (forward slash) |
Start reconversion of the Input Method Editor (IME) |
+ Spacebar |
Switch input language and keyboard layout |
+ Shift + Spacebar |
Switch backward through input languages and keyboard layouts |
+ Tab |
Show all open apps and view additional desktops |
+ Esc |
Close Magnifier |
+ Print Screen |
Take a full screen screenshot and save it to the Screenshots folder inside of your Pictures folder |
+ Home |
Minimize non-active desktop windows |
+ Pause/Break |
Open System in Settings |
+ Left Arrow |
Snap desktop window to the left (+Shift to move window to left monitor) |
+ Right Arrow |
Snap desktop window to the right (+Shift to move window to right monitor) |
+ Up Arrow |
Maximize desktop window (+Shift to keep width) |
+ Alt + Up Arrow |
Snap active window to the top half of the screen |
+ Down Arrow |
Restore/minimize desktop window (+Shift to keep width) |
+ Alt + Down Arrow |
Snap active window to the bottom half of the screen |
+ F1 |
Opens How to get help in Windows 11 search in a browser |
+ Ctrl + Enter |
Turn Narrator on or off |
+ Ctrl + C |
Enable / disable color filters if turned on in Settings |
+ Ctrl + F |
Search for network devices |
+ Ctrl + D |
Add a Desktop |
+ Ctrl + V |
Open the quick settings sound output page |
+ Ctrl + Spacebar |
Change to a previous input selection |
+ Ctrl + Right arrow |
Switch between desktops you’ve created on the right |
+ Ctrl + Left arrow |
Switch between desktops you’ve created on the left |
+ Ctrl + F4 |
Close the Desktop you’re using |
+ Ctrl + Shift + B |
Wake up the device when screen is black / blank |
+ Shift + Right arrow |
Move an app to a monitor on the right |
+ Shift + Left arrow |
Move an app to a monitor on the left |
+ Shift + Up arrow |
Stretch the Desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen |
+ Shift + Down arrow |
Restores a snapped or maximized window |
+ Shift + Enter |
Move an app to a monitor on the left |
+ Period (.) or Semicolon (;) |
Makes a Universal Windows Platform (UWP) full screen |
For more Windows keyboard shortcuts, see the links below:
Windows logo key keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Natural keyboard shortcuts
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Accessibility keyboard shortcuts
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
4adbd4bb-78a7-4cf0-a63c-5aaf65f75ae3|2|3.5|96d5b379-7e1d-4dac-a6ba-1e50db561b04