windows 11
Practical key combinations make work easier
Windows 11 key combinations make work easier.
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With key combinations, Windows 11 users can use important functions in no time at all. Here is a selection.
PC professionals often use key combinations when dealing with Windows. Using the shortcuts, users can often perform a specific function faster than with the mouse. Windows 11 offers countless possibilities, but the following combinations can be particularly helpful depending on the situation.
Lock computer with a keystroke
If you share your PC with several users or leave your desk in the office, for example, you can lock the computer in less than a second with the “Windows key + L”. The active profile can then also be changed there.
Gamers know the old joke of typing “ALT + F4” in chat when someone asks for a key for a specific function in a game. The combination closes the running program or game completely.
A program no longer responds and cannot be closed? Simply call up the task manager with “CTRL + Shift + ESC”. All running apps and processes are displayed here and can be closed.
If you want to check or change something in the settings, press “Windows key + I” to get to the overview page.
And if you work with many open programs at the same time, you can use “ALT + TAB” to switch back and forth between all open apps. Minimized programs can also be selected in this way.
By the way: With “Windows key + M” all open windows can be minimized at the same time. A currently selected program can be reduced and enlarged again with “Windows key + arrow down”.
Copy, rename, update
The following key combinations are particularly useful in the browser and for word processing and when dealing with files: With “STRG + F” users can search websites or text documents for specific words or phrases.
The “CTRL + A” combination selects all content on the site or in the program, “CTRL + C” copies all or a previously selected text passage (cuts out with “CTRL + X”) and “CTRL + V” allows users then insert the whole thing into a document or into the address line of the browser. “CTRL + Z” undoes a previously performed action.
This also works when working with files. “Windows + E” opens the file explorer, with the key combinations already mentioned, all files in a folder can also be selected, copied and then stored in a new folder. If you want to rename files, just press “F2” and you can use the abbreviations here as well.
Users can also use the “Print” button to create a screenshot and then paste it into an image editing program with “CTRL + V”.
More tips for the browser
If you work with several tabs in the browser, you can usually open a new one with “CTRL + T” or close a selected tab with “CTRL + W”. A website is reloaded with “F5” and “F11” switches to full screen mode. With “CTRL and +” users can zoom in, with “CTRL and -” out again and “CTRL + 0” resets the display to the default setting.
All Windows 11 keyboard commands or key combinations can be found by users also on a handy overview page from Microsoft.