New Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Really Use
Windows 11 doesn’t just come with a new coat of paint. There are many new features and redesigned elements here, from the widget panel to quick settings and dedicated virtual desktops. And they all come with their own brand new keyboard shortcuts. If you want to truly embrace (and make the most of) Windows 11, do two things first: figure out and remember the keyboard shortcuts that will make your day-to-day tasks faster, and then remap others to perform better. things, or do the same better.
Let’s start by looking at the new Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts. Then we’ll walk you through how to easily change these keyboard shortcuts using Microsoft’s own PowerToys tool.
13 Windows 11 Keyboard Shortcuts You Should Really Use
Just getting started with Windows 11? These keyboard shortcuts are worth remembering:
- Windows + A : Opens the Quick Settings panel where you can control Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Brightness, Media, and more.
- Windows + C : Opens the chat feature in Microsoft Teams if you need it.
- Windows + N : Opens the notification and calendar panel.
- Windows + W : Switch to a new widget panel.
- Windows + Z : Open the new “Snap Layouts” feature to help you quickly snap multiple windows to the grid.
- Windows + Alt + Up/Down Arrow : A new shortcut that quickly snaps the selected window to the top or bottom half of the screen.
- Windows + D : Show or hide the desktop. (Displaying the desktop will instantly hide all running windows, and you’ll only see the desktop wallpaper and your icons.)
- Windows + Tab : Opens a new virtual desktop interface that displays all open windows on the current desktop. You can switch to another desktop from below.
- Windows + Ctrl + D : Add a new virtual desktop.
- Windows + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow : Switch between virtual desktops.
- Windows + Ctrl + F4 : Close the current virtual desktop.
- Windows + H : Launch the new voice input feature.
- Windows + K : Go directly to the broadcast feature in quick settings.
How to remap Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts
Now that you’ve learned the new keyboard shortcuts in Windows 11, you can experiment with some of them. For example, you might want to remap the Windows + W keyboard shortcut to do something else, because when do you need to open the widget panel so quickly?
Similarly, you can make it easier to use other keyboard shortcuts. I find the Windows + Tab keyboard shortcut for virtual desktops a little tricky to type, so I mapped it to just the left Alt button – something I rarely use otherwise.
All this can be done using the Microsoft PowerToys tool. It’s available in preview for Windows 10 and 11, but it’s stable enough for everyday use. You can download the latest version from the Releases section of the PowerToys GitHub page .
Once you’ve installed it, go to the Keyboard Manager section in the sidebar and click Remap Key. ”
In the Physical Key section, enter the key(s) you wish to use. (In my example, it’s ” Alt (Left) “.) In the Map To section, enter the keyboard shortcut you want to use. For me it’s ” Windows + Tab “. You can create multiple keyboard shortcuts at the same time. When you’re done, click the OK button to save your settings.