Boost productivity with these Windows keyboard shortcuts

If you rely heavily on your mouse or trackpad for navigation and completing tasks in Windows 11, you may be missing out on some time-saving tricks. Learn about productivity-boosting keyboard shortcuts to speed up your work and boost your productivity.

Essential Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts

These are the essential, basic keyboard shortcuts that can make working with Windows 11 feel like a breeze:

• Ctrl+A. Select all the items in a particular window.
• Crtl+C. Copy the selected text or image.
• Ctrl+V. Paste the copied text or image.
• Ctrl+X. Cut the highlighted text or item.
• Ctrl+Z. Undo your previous action.
• Ctrl+Y. Redo an action.
• Alt+Tab. Switch between open windows or apps.

While many of these may be familiar to you, if they’re not already part of how you interact with Windows 11 apps and programs, they may make a huge difference. Imagine working with a large amount of similar data in Microsoft Excel and having to manually type in everything, when you could simply copy and paste with keyboard shortcuts.

More Windows keyboard shortcuts for productivity

Windows 11 offers a ton of powerful keyboard combinations that allow you to speed up computing processes. What sets this next group apart from the basic shortcuts is the use of the proprietary Windows logo key. By itself, this key brings up the Start menu, but when used as part of a shortcut, it can save you time and boost your productivity.

• Windows Key+Shift+S. Take screenshots
  This screenshot shortcut opens Windows 11 screen capture. It can capture your entire screen or just of a specific rectangle or freeform shape you’ve drawn.
• Windows Key+. (period). Special characters 
  Add some personality to your writing and chats by adding emojis, special characters, and GIFs. This shortcut opens a panel that shows all the options that aren’t available on a standard keyboard.
• Windows Key+H. Enable voice typing
  You can always talk faster than you can type. Enable this Windows 11 feature to put pen to paper, or words to document, as quickly as you can speak.
• Ctrl+Windows Key+Left/Right Arrow. Switch between virtual desktops
  Windows 11 lets you organize your apps into different virtual desktops. Use this keyboard shortcut to quickly toggle between them.
• Windows Key+G. Xbox Game Bar
  Even if you’re not an avid gamer, the Xbox Game Bar is an extremely useful tool for recording your screen, which is great if you’re creating a presentation.
• Windows Key+E. File Explorer
  Stop hunting for the file you’re looking for and quickly open the Windows File Explorer.
• Windows Key+Z. Snap layouts
  This shortcut is a faster way to snap all your windows into place.
• Windows Key+D. Minimize Windows
  D is for desktop, and this shortcut allows you to minimize your windows and return to your desktop.

These Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts increase productivity because they offer quicker alternatives to what you’d ordinarily do with a pointer. For other ways to work smarter, get to know other built-in Windows 11 features.