Speed up Windows 11: 10 keyboard shortcuts tricks

These three shortcuts are the backbone of almost every editing task you'll ever do on Windows. Select whatever you want, press Ctrl+C to copy it (or Ctrl+X to cut it), move to where you want it, and press Ctrl+V. Fast, reliable, and works in virtually every app.

1. Select the text, file, or item you want using your mouse or keyboard.
2. Press Ctrl+C to copy (the original stays put) or Ctrl+X to cut (the original moves when you paste).
3. Click or navigate to the destination.
4. Press Ctrl+V to paste.

Made a mess? Press Ctrl+Z and it's gone. Works in Word, Photoshop, File Explorer, your browser, and most other apps. Press it repeatedly to step back through your recent actions. Gone too far? Ctrl+Y brings it back.

1. After making an unintended change, press Ctrl+Z to undo it.
2. Press Ctrl+Z again (and again) to keep stepping back through your action history.
3. If you undo too much, press Ctrl+Y to redo and restore what you reversed.

Ctrl+S saves the current document without breaking your flow. One keystroke, no menu, no clicking. Make it a reflex. Crashes and power cuts don't announce themselves, so save constantly and you'll rarely lose work.

1. While working in any document or file, press Ctrl+S at any time.
2. For a new file that hasn't been saved before, a Save As dialogue will appear. Choose a location and filename, then press Enter.

Windows key + E jumps straight to File Explorer. No taskbar hunting, no Start menu, no delay. It's the fastest way to get to your files, and it works from anywhere in Windows regardless of what app you're in.

1. Press the Windows key and E simultaneously from anywhere.
2. File Explorer opens, defaulting to Home or Quick Access depending on your settings.
3. Navigate to the folder you need from there.

Press Windows key + D and every open window vanishes, revealing your desktop. Press it again and they all come back exactly where they were. Useful when you need to grab a file from the desktop or just need a moment to think without the clutter.

1. Press Windows key + D to minimise all open windows and show the desktop.
2. Press Windows key + D again to restore all windows to their previous positions.

Windows key + L locks your screen immediately and returns to the sign-in page. Your apps keep running in the background, so you're not losing any work. Essential in any shared space, whether that's an office, a café, or a busy household.

1. Press Windows key + L at any time.
2. The screen locks instantly. All open apps continue running behind the lock screen.
3. Sign back in with your PIN, password, or Windows Hello to pick up where you left off.

Windows key + I opens the Settings app directly, from anywhere, in one press. No Start menu, no hunting through menus. The search bar at the top of Settings will then find almost any option in seconds.

1. Press Windows key + I from anywhere in Windows.
2. The Settings app opens on its home page.
3. Use the search bar at the top or the left-hand menu to find the setting you need.

Stop manually dragging and resizing windows. Press Windows key + Left Arrow and the active window snaps to the left half of the screen. Windows key + Right Arrow snaps it to the right. Windows 11 then offers to fill the remaining space with another open window automatically.

1. Click the window you want to position so it's active.
2. Press Windows key + Left Arrow to snap it to the left half, or Windows key + Right Arrow for the right half.
3. Press Windows key + Up Arrow to maximise the window, or Windows key + Down Arrow to restore or minimise it.
4. After snapping one window, click any suggested window to fill the remaining screen space automatically.

Windows key + Tab opens Task View, a full overview of every open window and all your virtual desktops. It's the best way to switch context when you have a lot on the go. For a quicker app-only switcher, Alt+Tab does the job without the full interface.

1. Press Windows key + Tab to open Task View.
2. Use your mouse or arrow keys to select a window, then press Enter to switch to it.
3. To create, rename, or switch virtual desktops, use the desktop thumbnails along the top of Task View.
4. For a faster switcher that skips Task View entirely, press Alt+Tab and hold Alt to cycle through open windows.

Screen gone black for no obvious reason? Press Ctrl + Windows key + Shift + B. This tells Windows to restart the graphics driver, which fixes a surprising number of blank or unresponsive display situations without needing a full reboot. Most people have never heard of it.

1. If your screen goes black or stops responding, press Ctrl + Windows key + Shift + B simultaneously.
2. The screen will briefly flash or go dark, then return. That flash means the display driver has been reset.
3. Wait a few seconds for the display to stabilise before continuing.