12 New Essential Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts and 32 Old

Everyone wants a shortcut in life, and many of us are already using the shortcuts. Don't you? And not even in our lives, Shortcuts have also played a significant role in the computer world. Shortcuts save our clicks, our time, and give us easy access to a particular program. Imagine what happens if the shortcuts would not exist. How difficult it becomes for a computer user without the shortcuts like, Ctrl + C , Ctrl + V, Ctrl + A etc.

Today I am not going to tell you about the well-known old Windows shortcuts, but today I will tell you about some new and valuable keyboard shortcuts. Yeah, maybe you already know about a few of these. But even more-than-half of these shortcuts will be definitely brand new to you. And I'm sure, many of you will try these shortcuts for the very first time, after reading this post. Without taking your much time, let's begin with the list of 44 important Shortcuts keys for Windows 10, 8 and 7.

12 New Useful Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows 10, + 32 Old for Windows 8 and 7

Some of these shortcuts are new and would be only work in Windows 10. They would not function in the earlier Windows versions. Now your question would be, which Shortcut is basically for which Windows? For your convenience, I have categorized these shortcuts into 3 categories. For Windows 10 only, for Windows 10 and 8, For Windows 10, 8 and 7.


1. Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 Only:

12 New and Essential Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 Only:

Here is the list of 12 Useful Keyboard Shortcuts which works for Windows 10 only.

Windows 10

Shortcut Keys - Action Taken

• Win + A = Opens Action Center.


• Win + H = Capture and Share Screenshot of the Current Active Window (Or the desktop, if there is no active window). Tip: Click on the Window which you want to capture and then hit the shortcut keys.

Recommended:- 3 Free and Best Screenshot Capturing Tools

• Win + Q = Opens Search.


• Win + S = Start Search.


• Win + HOME = Minimize all windows just except the active one.


• Alt + F8 = Show your password on the sign-in screen.


• Win + Shift + C = Opens Cortana.

Recommended:- 5 Ways to Fix Start Menu and Cortana Problem

• Ctrl + Win + B = Switch to the program that displayed message in the notification area.


• Ctrl + Win + Space = Switch the language.


• Ctrl + Win + D = Create new virtual desktop.


• Ctrl + Win + F4 = Close the active virtual desktop and move all its windows to the previous virtual desktop.


• Ctrl + Win + / = Switch to the virtual desktop on the left or right.

2. Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10 and Windows 8 Only:

13 Useful Keyboard Shortcuts Keys for Windows 8 and 10:

A list of 13 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts, which works for both the Windows 10 and 8.

Windows 10

Windows 8

Shortcut Keys - Action Taken

• Win + H = Share the Opened Apps or Picture. Use the Shortcut after opening the app.


• Win + I = Opens Settings Window.


• Win + K = Find a Device and Connect.


• Win + Q = Opens All Apps (Windows 10 Users, see the above mentioned same shortcut key).


• Win + T = Cycle the taskbar programs.


• Win + X = Opens Secondary or Alternative Start Menu.


• Win + X Release then A = Opens Command Prompt with administrative privileges.


• Win + X Release then P = Opens Control Panel.


• Win + X Release then M = Opens Device Manager.


• Alt + Enter = Display properties for the selected item/icon.


• Win + PrtScn = Capture screenshot of the entire desktop and saves it to Screenshots folder under the Pictures in your user profile.


• Ctrl + Shift + Mouse Left Click on taskbar buttons = Opens the program as an administrator.

Recommended:- 12 Ways to open Elevated CMD (Admin Privileges) in Windows

• Shift + Mouse Right Click on a taskbar button = Opens the context menu with a new option 'Copy as path'.

3. Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7:

19 Important Keyboard Shortcuts Keys for Windows 7, 8 and 10:

Selected 19 very useful Keyboard Shortcuts, which works for Windows 10, 8 and 7.

Windows 10

Windows 8

Windows 7

Shortcut Keys - Action Taken

• Win + D = Display or hide the desktop (Minimize-Maximize All Windows).


• Win + E = Opens File Explorer or My Computer.


• Win + L = Lock User.


• Win + M = Minimize All Windows.


• Win + P = Choose a presentation display mode, Project to Another Screen.


• Win + R = Opens RUN.


• Win + U = Opens Ease of Access Center.


• Alt + Tab = Switch between the opened items.


• Alt + F4 = Close the active item.


• Alt + D = Select the address bar (Works both for the File Explorer & Browsers).


• Alt + PrtScn = Capture screenshot of active/opened window and copies to clipboard. You can paste it to Word, photos etc.


• Ctrl + Esc = Opens the Start menu.


• Shift + Del = Hard delete (Delete the selected item without moving it to the Recycle Bin).

Recommended:- Delete or Rename a File 'In Use'

• Ctrl + Alt + Tab = Switch between the opened items, use the arrow keys to select.


• Ctrl + Shift + Esc = Opens Task Manager.


• Ctrl + Shift + N = Create a new folder.


• Shift + Mouse Left Click on a taskbar button = Opens the program or quickly open another instance of a program.


• Shift + Mouse Right Click on a File = Opens the context menu with the option 'Copy as path'.


• Shift + Mouse Right Click on a Folder = Opens the context menu with 2 new options 'Copy as path' and 'Open Command Window here'. The 'Open Command Window here' option provides direct access to that Folder in the cmd.

Need more? For the Complete Keyboard Shortcuts list check out: Microsoft’s official website.

Did you like this post? Which key shortcuts you like the most? We are interested in hearing your thoughts about this post. Also, if you know about any other significant Windows 10 Keyboard shortcut, please share with us through the comments.