15 useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts that can speed up your work
If you've switched to the latest version of Microsoft's operating system and still haven't gotten used to it, some of the 15 useful Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts might help you. With the help of shortcuts, you can speed up work on the computer without having to fiddle with the mouse or touchpad.
Some of the main useful shortcuts for Windows 11 have been singled out by The Verge, and we are sharing them along with a description of their functions.
A selection of 15 Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts
1. Enlarged view
When you press the button Windows and the plus sign (+) at the same time, you launch the Magnifier program with the help of which you can zoom in on almost everything on the screen. After starting the program, press the same combination of buttons to zoom in, or Windows button and minus sign (-) to reduce it.
A similar combination of keys also applies to turning off this program if you don't like it, and you can do that by simultaneously pressing Windows i Esc button on the keyboard.
2. Overview of included applications on multiple desktop views
Similar to the Windows 10 operating system, Windows 11 also allows you to view multiple virtual “desktops” or views as a way to separate your running programs. For example, Windows + Tab the buttons in combination do this, while the combination Alt + Tab as in the previous version of the operating system, it switches from one application to another. More precisely, by holding the Alt button and pressing the Tab button repeatedly in parallel, you can switch from one window to another.
3. Clipboard – access the history of copied things on the computer
Good old button combination Ctrl + V for gluing, that is, the Paste option is still in the game, but if you often use copying, via the button Windows + V you open the history of the last 25 copied or “cut” items through Clipboard history.
ShutterstockYou can choose any of the 25 previously copied items from the panel, and by simply clicking on it, it will be “pasted” to the desired place. From there, you can copy or cut items again, via standard ones Ctrl + C or Ctrl + X shortcut.
4. Go back to the Windows desktop
If you are buried in open programs and you can't just go back to the desktop by minimizing open programs, or you simply need the desktop quickly because you want to hide something from people who are passing by you at that moment, a combination of buttons will save you Windwos + D.
5. Refreshing pages on websites
Surely you are sometimes in a situation where you constantly refresh the page of a website in anticipation of news or some results, and instead of constantly clicking on the circular arrow, usually in the upper left corner of the browser, there is a keyboard shortcut for that.
If you are set in the settings so that f1, f2 and other f buttons perform basic functions, you can do this by simply pressing f5the same as in the case of refreshing the desktop.
ShutterstockHowever, if the mentioned f buttons have double functions such as volume increase, screen brightness adjustment, etc. in addition to the basic ones, you should press the button for the same action fn + f5.
On some keyboards, the button fn should be pressed while simultaneously pressing another, and on others, the same key turns on and off the function keys, that is, it determines the priority of functions to basic or additional. You can determine this yourself at your discretion.
6. Restore the accidentally closed tab in the browser
If you often keep many web tabs open in your internet browsers, it is certain that you have accidentally closed one of the tabs. Then you have to search for it in the history, which increases the time of the work you are doing at that moment.
Instead, simply take a shortcut Ctrl + T or in some cases the same action can be done through a combination Ctrl + Shift + T. By repeatedly pressing this combination of buttons, your internet browser will return you the last few closed tabs or tabs.
7. Another zoom option
In addition to the Windows button mode, you can also zoom in or out on the screen by holding down a combination of buttons Ctrl + Alt, and then pressing the button plus (+) to enlarge or minus (-) to reduce.
Shutterstock / Sarayut RadomkitThis shortcut is useful because it works in a variety of applications, including almost any web browser or File Explorer, where it makes icons smaller or larger.
8. Scrolling via keyboard
Once you've mastered the zoom shortcuts, you can move up or “scroll” or scroll down views on websites with the keyboard as well. If you want to go down, simply press the button Spaceand it will move you page by page in practically every browser.
If you want to go back to the top, use Shift + Space.
9. Full screen mode in applications
Windows 11, like macOS, can run apps in full-screen mode, but it's not as obvious how, given that the option doesn't appear among the icons in the top-right corner of each window. You need a key for this f11of course if it is set to basic functions.
10. Direct way to the Start menu
The Start menu is the starting point for everything in the Windows 11 operating system, and the buttons Ctrl + Esc will take you directly there. There's also a “secret” Start menu with links to key areas and functions of the operating system that you can access directly with a shortcut Windows + X.
Shutterstock11. Take a screenshot
If you want to skip the Snipping Tool that appears when you click PrtSc buttonuse Windows + PrtSc. This shortcut takes a screenshot of the entire screen and automatically sends it to the screenshots folder and copies it to the Clipboard.
You can use Alt + PrtSc to just take a picture of the currently open window, and then use it Ctrl + V da ga nalepite u document.
12. Navigate through File Explorer
If you use File Explorer to browse files, there are keyboard shortcuts that can help even with that. Use backspace or Alt + left arrow to go to the previously browsed directory and Alt + right arrow to go the other way, as well as Alt + up arrow to go to the “parent” or main folder where the file you are viewing is located.
13. Deleting files without the recycle bin
If you really want to delete something completely and thus skip the Recycle Bin where the deleted files will be before you decide to remove them from there as well, use the shortcut Shift + Delete in File Explorer after selecting items to delete.
ShutterstockOf course, for selecting files to delete or, for example, to send or add to the Internet, there is also an option on the keyboard that will practically eliminate the use of the mouse for selecting individual items. Button combination Ctrl + Space will select one file, and while holding Ctrl press the arrows for a specific direction (depending on which files you want to select) and when you reach the desired file you want to select press again Space. You can repeat this process again and again, until you mark all the desired files, it is only important that you hold the button all the time Ctrl.
If, for example, you want to mark for sure five or ten files that are in a row one below the other, instead of constantly pressing Space button, you can use the combination: Ctrl + Shift and squeeze five or ten times down arrow, since the Shift button will provide the marking and the arrow will only specify which file you want to go to.
14. Rename one or more files
Button f2 will be useful if you want to rename files and folders faster. Of course, this will be the same as in the previous cases if the basic functions are included on this button, and if they are not, the combination will do the same thing fn + f2.
If you have selected multiple files in one folder, you can give them the same name with consecutive numbers attached, using the same buttons.
15. Undo the undo, i.e. undo the step back
Ctrl + Z is one of the most famous shortcuts that exist on computers, but not everyone knows that you can use it Ctrl + I to cancel the Undo step, i.e. to cancel the undoing of the last action if it happened. This will be especially useful if you are indecisive.
Besides the useful ones, there are also some shortcuts that are pointless, such as the one to open the Linkedin social network, but in general, keyboard shortcuts can really help in work or leisure while using the computer. If you did not know about any of the above, we hope that some of the above will make it easier for you to use the Windows 11 operating system in the future.