Item: The Windows Power User's Playbook: 100+ Keyboard Shortcuts and Rare Power Tricks
Author: Walter Gemperle Jr.

The Windows Power User's Playbook: 100+ Keyboard Shortcuts and Rare Power Tricks

Tired of wasting time with your mouse? Unlock the true potential of your PC with these 100+ rare and powerful Windows keyboard shortcuts. This guide goes far beyond the basics, giving you instant access to hidden system tools, developer environments, and secret workflows designed for maximum productivity and control.

Here’s your ultimate playbook for mastering Windows.

▶️ Core System & Desktop Navigation

Ctrl + Shift + Esc → Open Task Manager instantly.
Ctrl + Alt + Del → Access security and user options.
Win + D → Show/hide desktop.
Win + M / Win + Shift + M → Minimize / restore all windows.
Win + Tab → Open Task View.
Alt + Tab / Alt + Esc → Cycle through open apps.
Ctrl + Win + D → Create a new virtual desktop.
Ctrl + Win + F4 → Close the current virtual desktop.
Ctrl + Win + ← / → → Switch between virtual desktops.
Win + L → Lock your computer.
Win + Pause/Break → Open System Properties.
Win + Ctrl + Shift + B → Restart graphics driver (useful for black screens).

📁 Window Management & File Explorer

Win + E → Open File Explorer.
Alt + D → Instantly focus on the address bar.
Ctrl + Shift + N → Create a new folder.
Alt + Enter → Open the properties for a file or folder.
F2 → Rename a selected file or folder.
F3 → Search in File Explorer.
F5 → Refresh the current window.
Alt + P → Show/hide the preview pane.
Win + Arrow Keys → Snap windows to the side of the screen.
Win + Shift + ← / → → Move a window between monitors.
Win + Home → Minimize all but the active window.
Win + ↑ / ↓ → Maximize, restore, or minimize the active window.
Ctrl + Shift + C → Copy the full path of a selected file.

⚙️ Hidden Settings & Control Access

Win + I → Open Settings.
Win + U → Open Accessibility (Ease of Access).
Win + A → Open Quick Settings (Windows 11) or Action Center (Windows 10).
Win + P → Adjust project/display modes.
Win + R → Open the Run dialog.
Win + X → Open the Power User Menu (with quick links to Device Manager, Disk Management, and more).
Win + K → Connect to wireless displays and audio devices.
Win + Ctrl + Q → Open Quick Assist.
Win + Ctrl + F → Find PCs on a network.
Win + F → Open the Feedback Hub.

📸 Clipboard, Screenshots & Capture

Win + V → Open your Clipboard History.
Win + Shift + S → Take a screenshot of a specific area.
PrtScn / Alt + PrtScn / Win + PrtScn → Various screen capture options.
Win + Alt + PrtScn → Take a screenshot using the Xbox Game Bar.
Win + G → Open the Xbox Game Bar (for recording, performance monitoring, etc.).
Win + H → Start dictation.
Win + Alt + R → Record your screen using the Game Bar.
Win + Shift + R → Start a video recording with the Snipping Tool (Windows 11).

🌐 Browser & Universal App Tricks

Ctrl + T / Ctrl + W / Ctrl + Shift + T → New tab, close tab, reopen closed tab.
Ctrl + N / Ctrl + Shift + N → New window or incognito window.
Ctrl + L / Alt + D → Focus the URL/address bar.
Ctrl + H / Ctrl + J → Open History / Downloads.
Alt + ← / → → Navigate back/forward.
Ctrl + F → Find text on the current page.
F11 → Toggle full-screen mode.
Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab → Switch between browser tabs.

⚡ Advanced Power User Tricks

Win + T → Cycle through apps on the taskbar.
Win + 1–9 → Launch the app pinned to that number on the taskbar.
Shift + Click (on a taskbar app) → Open a new instance of the app.
Ctrl + Shift + Click (on a taskbar app) → Run the app as an administrator.
Win + Space → Switch input language or keyboard layout.
Win + , (comma) → Peek at the desktop temporarily.
Win + O → Lock device orientation.
Win + . / Win + ; → Open the Emoji picker.
Alt + F4 → Close the active window.
Ctrl + Alt + F4 → Exit a Remote Desktop session.
Win + Shift + Enter → Full-screen a Universal app.

✍️ Text Editing & Navigation

Ctrl + Backspace / Delete → Delete a word backward / forward.
Ctrl + ← / → → Jump the cursor by word.
Ctrl + Shift + ← / → → Highlight text word by word.
Ctrl + Home / End → Jump to the beginning / end of a document.
Shift + Home / End → Select to the beginning / end of a line.
Ctrl + A / C / X / V / Z / Y → Select all, copy, cut, paste, undo, redo.
Ctrl + Shift + V → Paste without formatting.

💻 Developer & Debugging Shortcuts

F12 → Open Developer Tools in most browsers and some applications.
Ctrl + Shift + I → Open browser DevTools.
Ctrl + Shift + J → Open the browser console.
Ctrl + Shift + C → Inspect an element in the browser.
Ctrl + ` (backtick) → Toggle Windows Terminal (if enabled).
Win + R → powershell → Launch PowerShell.
Win + R → cmd → Launch Command Prompt.
Ctrl + Shift + Enter (in the Run dialog) → Run a command as an administrator.
Win + G → Performance overlay (useful for debugging GPU load).
Alt + Ctrl + Del → The classic troubleshooting menu.

🔑 Rare Debug & Deep System Commands

These commands are run from the Win + R dialog.

gpedit.msc → Local Group Policy Editor
regedit → Registry Editor
perfmon → Performance Monitor
dxdiag → DirectX Diagnostic Tool
devmgmt.msc → Device Manager
diskmgmt.msc → Disk Management
compmgmt.msc → Computer Management
eventvwr → Event Viewer
taskschd.msc → Task Scheduler
netplwiz → Advanced User Accounts
services.msc → Windows Services
control → The Classic Control Panel
ncpa.cpl → Network Connections
appwiz.cpl → Programs and Features
sysdm.cpl → System Properties

🔮 God Mode & Secret Shortcuts

God Mode Folder Trick: Create a new folder and name it: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} → This unlocks a master control panel with over 200 hidden settings in one place.
Win + R → shell:startup → Open your personal Startup folder.
Win + R → shell:common startup → Open the Startup folder for all users.

The Windows Power User's Playbook: 100+ Keyboard Shortcuts and Rare Power Tricks