Windows key shortcut guide

This guide displays common keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows key.

Get started

To open the shortcut guide, hold down the ⊞ Windows key for the time as set in the PowerToys Settings (900ms by default). An overlay will appear showing keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows key, including:

• common Windows shortcuts
• shortcuts for changing the position of the active window
• taskbar shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts using the Windows key ⊞ Win can be used while the guide is displayed. The result of those shortcuts (active window moved, arrow shortcut behavior changes etc.) will be displayed in the guide.

Pressing the shortcut key combination again will dismiss the overlay.

Tapping the Windows key will display the Windows Start menu.

Important

The PowerToys app must be running and Shortcut Guide must be enabled in the PowerToys settings for this feature to be used.

Settings

These configurations can be edited from the PowerToys Settings:

Setting	Description
Activation method	Choose your own shortcut or use the ⊞ Win key
Activation shortcut	The custom shortcut used to open the shortcut guide
Press duration	Time (in milliseconds) to hold down the ⊞ Win key in order to open global Windows shortcuts or taskbar icon shortcuts
App theme	Light, Dark or Windows default
Background opacity	Opacity of the Shortcut Guide overlay
Excluded apps	Ignores Shortcut Guide when these apps are in focus. Add an application's name, or part of the name, one per line (e.g. adding Notepad will match both Notepad.exe and Notepad++.exe; to match only Notepad.exe add the .exe extension).

Install PowerToys

This utility is part of the Microsoft PowerToys utilities for power users. It provides a set of useful utilities to tune and streamline your Windows experience for greater productivity. To install PowerToys, see Installing PowerToys.