One of the advantages of Microsoft Windows PCs is that you can have many different programs and windows open at the same time. This advantage becomes a disadvantage, however, when you have to close dozens of open windows. Fortunately, you can carry out repetitive actions like closing windows with keyboard shortcuts.
Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. One option for closing windows with keyboard shortcuts is as follows:
If you can execute this sequence using one hand while the other hand controls the mouse, you’ll be able to close roughly a dozen windows in about as many seconds. Another option is to select the window you want to close and then press Fn+Alt+F4. You'll probably need two hands for this one.
Although the shortcut is officially listed as Alt+F4, you must hold down the Function (Fn) key for it to work. The Ctrl+W shortcut only closes the current file you're working on, but it leaves the program open. This feature can be handy if you want to leave the desktop program open but get rid of all the files you're working on in quick succession. Ctrl+W works in most browsers too, so you can close the current tab you're looking at without taking your hands off the keyboard. If you use Ctrl+W when only one browser tab is open, then the program window will close. It's possible to select an open window without using the mouse. Press Alt+Tab to cycle through your open windows. Use this shortcut in conjunction with the other shortcuts to close all open windows without taking your hands off the keyboard. Sometimes you don't actually want to close all those windows; what you really want to do is just look at your desktop. To quickly access your desktop, press the Windows Key+D. Use the same shortcut to bring back all your windows. When you have numerous files open in the same program, like a bunch of emails in Outlook, Word files, or several spreadsheets in Excel, you can close all of them at once using the mouse. Right-click the program in the Windows taskbar and select Close all windows (or Close Group in older versions of Windows).
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Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. If you are trying to take a screenshot or screengrab, see How to take and annotate screenshots. Click an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
Windows logo key + K Open Cast from Quick Settings. Updated in Windows 11. Windows logo key + L Lock your PC or switch accounts. Windows logo key + M Minimize all windows. Windows logo key + Shift + M Restore minimized windows on the desktop. Windows logo key + N Open notification center and calendar. Updated in Windows 11. Windows logo key + O Lock device orientation. Windows logo key + P Choose a presentation display mode. Windows logo key + Ctrl + Q Open Quick Assist. Windows logo key + R Open the Run dialog box. Windows logo key + Alt + R Record video of game window in focus (using Xbox Game Bar). Windows logo key + S Open search. Windows logo key + Shift + S Take a screenshot of part of your screen. Windows logo key + T Cycle through apps on the taskbar. Windows logo key + U Open Accessibility Settings. Windows logo key + V Open the clipboard history. Note: Clipboard history isn't turned on by default. If you'd like to turn it on, use this keyboard shortcut and then select the prompt to turn on history. Or you can select Start > Settings > System > Clipboard , and set Clipboard history to On. Windows logo key + Shift + V Set focus to a notification. Windows logo key + W Open Widgets. Updated in Windows 11. Windows logo key + X Open the Quick Link menu. Windows logo key + Y Switch input between Windows Mixed Reality and your desktop. Windows logo key + Z Open the snap layouts. Updated in Windows 11. Windows logo key + period (.) or semicolon (;) Open emoji panel. Windows logo key + comma (,) Temporarily peek at the desktop. Windows logo key + Pause Opens Start > Settings > System > About . Windows logo key + Ctrl + F Search for PCs (if you're on a network). Windows logo key + number Open the desktop and start the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app. Windows logo key + Shift + number Open the desktop and start a new instance of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Windows logo key + Ctrl + number Open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Windows logo key + Alt + number Open the desktop and open the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + number Open the desktop and open a new instance of the app located at the given position on the taskbar as an administrator. Windows logo key + Tab Open Task view. Windows logo key + Up arrow Maximize the window. Windows logo key + Alt + Up arrow Snap window in focus to top half of screen. New with Windows 11. Windows logo key + Down arrow Remove current app from screen or minimize the desktop window. Windows logo key + Alt + Down arrow Snap window in focus to bottom half of screen. New with Windows 11. Windows logo key + Left arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the left side of the screen. Windows logo key + Right arrow Maximize the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen. Windows logo key + Home Minimize all except the active desktop window (restores all windows on second stroke). Windows logo key + Shift + Up arrow Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen. Windows logo key + Shift + Down arrow Restore/minimize active desktop windows vertically, maintaining width. Windows logo key + Shift + Left arrow or Right arrow Move an app or window in the desktop from one monitor to another. Windows logo key + Shift + Spacebar Cycle backwards through language and keyboard layout. Windows logo key + Spacebar Switch input language and keyboard layout. Windows logo key + Ctrl + Spacebar Change to a previously selected input. Windows logo key + Ctrl + Enter Turn on Narrator. Windows logo key + Plus (+) Open Magnifier and zoom in. Windows logo key + Minus (-) Zoom out in Magnifier. Windows logo key + Esc Close Magnifier. Windows logo key + forward slash (/) Begin IME reconversion. Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + B Wake PC from blank or black screen. Windows logo key + PrtScn Save full screen screenshot to file. Windows logo key + Alt + PrtScn Save screenshot of game window in focus to file (using Xbox Game Bar). Windows logo key + Alt + Enter (on taskbar item focus) Open taskbar settings.
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
The following table contains common keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.
The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows.
The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key .
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for rearranging modern apps.
Note: Keep the Windows logo key pressed down continuously while you're rearranging apps, from the moment you enter rearrange mode and through all the various rearrange commands. When you're done rearranging, release your finger from the Windows logo key to select the current arrangement.
Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, 2020 We recommend you move to a Windows 11 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft. Learn more Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations of keys that provide an alternative way to do something that you’d typically do with a mouse. Click an option below, and it'll open to display a table of related shortcuts:
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Remote Desktop Connection.
Note: Ctrl+Alt+Break and Ctrl+Alt+End are available in all Remote Desktop sessions, even when you've set up the remote computer to recognize Windows keyboard shortcuts.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with WordPad.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Calculator.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Journal.
The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer.
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