Disclosure: we make SofaDeck, which is one of the options below. Facts about Windows and other products were checked on 23 October 2026 and can change.
Short answer: the Windows 11 hotkeys worth learning are below. To make your own, use a shortcut's Shortcut key box (built in), PowerToys Keyboard Manager (free from Microsoft) or AutoHotkey (free, scriptable). To turn off a hotkey that keeps firing, check Accessibility → Keyboard and Gaming → Game Bar, or disable it with PowerToys. And if you can't remember them all, put them on labelled buttons on your phone.
The Windows 11 hotkeys worth knowing
| Hotkey | Does |
|---|---|
| Win+E | Open File Explorer |
| Win+D | Show the desktop (press again to restore) |
| Win+L | Lock the PC |
| Win+V | Clipboard history |
| Win+Shift+S | Snip part of the screen |
| Win+. (period) | Emoji, GIF and symbol panel |
| Win+Z | Snap layouts for the window in front |
| Win+Tab | Task view and virtual desktops |
| Win+Ctrl+D / Win+Ctrl+Left/Right | New virtual desktop / switch desktops |
| Win+G / Win+Alt+R | Game Bar / start or stop recording |
| Win+H | Voice typing |
| Win+I | Settings |
| Ctrl+Shift+Esc | Task Manager |
| Win+Alt+K | Mute the call in supported apps |
Checked on Windows 11 on 23 October 2026.
Three ways to make your own hotkeys
1. Shortcut key (built in)
Right-click a program's shortcut on the desktop or in the Start menu folder → Properties → click the Shortcut key box and press a letter. Windows turns it into Ctrl+Alt+letter. It only opens that program or file, but it needs nothing installed.
2. PowerToys Keyboard Manager (free, Microsoft)
Install PowerToys from the Microsoft Store, open Keyboard Manager and choose Remap a shortcut. You can map one shortcut to another (for example Ctrl+Shift+Q to Alt+F4), limit a remap to one app, launch a program, or set a shortcut to Disable. It's the cleanest way to change or turn off hotkeys without scripting.
3. AutoHotkey (free, scriptable)
AutoHotkey runs small scripts in the tray: type a snippet, move windows to exact positions, run several steps in a row. It's the most powerful option and has a learning curve; start from the examples in its documentation.
Turning off hotkeys that get in the way
- Sticky Keys / Filter Keys pop-ups: Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard, turn off the keyboard shortcut for each.
- Game Bar opening on Win+G or a controller button: Settings → Gaming → Game Bar.
- Any other combo: PowerToys Keyboard Manager → Remap a shortcut → map it to Disable.
- The Windows key in games: many gaming keyboards have a Win-lock key or a game mode; on Windows 11 Pro, Group Policy can turn off Windows-key hotkeys.
Hotkeys on your phone
The problem with custom hotkeys is remembering them. A button deck solves it: each hotkey gets a big labelled button. SofaDeck turns your phone into that deck with no phone app. Single keys — F1 to F24, Enter, Escape, arrows, Print Screen, media keys — are free, so you can bind an app's action to F13–F24 and fire it from the phone without clashing with anything. Combos with Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Win, and multi-step macros, are in Pro ($9.99 once). You can also say the button's name to press it.
Direct installer .exe · 3.7 MB Store version signed by Microsoft No account Local network only Signed updates SofaDeck installs on your Windows PC. Your phone is the remote — it works in the phone’s browser.One email from support@dixonappstudio.com. No list unless you tick the box. PrivacyOr on your PC, go to sofadeck.com/getMore: macro software for Windows, productivity buttons worth having and use your phone as a macro pad.
On a Mac too? Change and create Mac keyboard shortcuts. Want several steps behind one key? See how to automate tasks on Windows.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a custom hotkey in Windows 11?
The built-in way: right-click a desktop or Start menu shortcut → Properties → click in Shortcut key and press a letter; Windows makes it Ctrl+Alt+that letter and the hotkey opens the program. For more, Microsoft PowerToys' Keyboard Manager remaps shortcuts and can launch apps, and AutoHotkey scripts can do almost anything.
How do I turn off hotkeys in Windows 11?
It depends on the hotkey. Sticky Keys (Shift five times) and Filter Keys: Settings → Accessibility → Keyboard. Game Bar (Win+G): Settings → Gaming → Game Bar. Any shortcut: PowerToys Keyboard Manager can remap it to Disable. On Windows 11 Pro, Group Policy can turn off the Windows-key hotkeys.
How do I change a hotkey in Windows 11?
Windows doesn't let you edit most built-in shortcuts directly. Use PowerToys Keyboard Manager to remap a shortcut to another, or check the app's own settings, since many apps (Discord, OBS, Teams) let you change their hotkeys.
Can I trigger hotkeys from my phone?
Yes. A deck app such as SofaDeck puts hotkeys on big phone buttons over your Wi-Fi. Single keys (F1–F24, Enter, arrows, media keys) are free; combos with Ctrl, Alt, Shift or Win are part of Pro.