Cheatsheet - Windows

Quick-reference cheatsheet for Windows keyboard shortcuts, PowerShell commands, and systems administration tools.

Keyboard Shortcut Modifier Key Legend

Win / ⊞: Windows Key
Ctrl: Control Key
Alt: Alternate Key
Shift: Shift Key
Esc: Escape Key

Essential System Shortcuts

Lock Screen: Win + L
Open Task Manager: Ctrl + Shift + Esc
Security Screen (Lock/Switch User/Sign out): Ctrl + Alt + Delete
Open Settings: Win + I
Open File Explorer: Win + E
Open Run Dialog: Win + R
Power User / Admin Menu: Win + X (Quick access to Terminal Admin, Device Manager, Disk Mgmt)
Open Windows Search: Win + S
Emoji & Clipboard History: Win + V (Clipboard history), Win + . (Emoji picker)

Application & Window Management

Switch Applications: Alt + Tab (Hold Alt, tap Tab to cycle)
Close Active App / Window: Alt + F4
Close Active Tab: Ctrl + W
Snap Window to Left / Right Half: Win + Left Arrow / Win + Right Arrow
Snap Window to Corner (Quarter Screen): Win + Left/Right Arrow, then Win + Up/Down Arrow
Minimize All Windows: Win + D (Toggle desktop) or Win + M
Task View & Virtual Desktops: Win + Tab
Create New Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + D
Switch Virtual Desktops: Win + Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow
Close Current Virtual Desktop: Win + Ctrl + F4

File Explorer Navigation

Create New Folder: Ctrl + Shift + N
Rename Selected Item: F2
Open Properties: Alt + Enter
Permanent Delete (Bypass Recycle Bin): Shift + Delete
Select Address Bar (Type path): Alt + D or Ctrl + L
Focus Search Field: Ctrl + F or Ctrl + E
Toggle Preview Pane: Alt + P

Screenshots

Snip & Sketch (Region Screenshot): Win + Shift + S (Rectangular, Window, Freeform, Fullscreen)
Save Full Screen Directly to File: Win + PrtScn (Saved to Pictures\Screenshots)
Copy Active Window to Clipboard: Alt + PrtScn

Package Management with Winget

# Search and install applications
winget search <app_name>            # Search official winget repository
winget install Git.Git              # Install Git
winget install Microsoft.PowerToys  # Install PowerToys
winget install Microsoft.VisualStudioCode

# Upgrades and maintenance
winget upgrade                      # List all applications with available upgrades
winget upgrade --all                # Upgrade all installed software silently
winget uninstall <app_name>         # Uninstall software cleanly

PowerShell System Administration

# Services & Processes
Get-Service | Where-Object {$_.Status -eq "Running"} # List running services
Start-Service -Name "wuauserv"      # Start Windows Update service
Stop-Service -Name "spooler" -Force # Stop print spooler service
Get-Process | Sort-Object CPU -Descending | Select-Object -First 10 # Top CPU processes
Stop-Process -Id 1234 -Force        # Terminate process by PID

# Network Diagnostics
Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 # Show all IPv4 configurations
Test-NetConnection -ComputerName google.com -Port 443 # Test TCP port connectivity
Clear-DnsClientCache                # Flush local DNS resolver cache (equivalent to ipconfig /flushdns)
Get-NetTCPConnection -State Established # List active established network connections

# System Health & Repair
sfc /scannow                        # Scan and repair corrupted Windows system files
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth # Repair Windows Component Store from Windows Update
chkdsk C: /f                        # Check disk filesystem for errors (requires reboot)

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) Management

# Status and Distributions
wsl --status                        # Display default version, kernel version
wsl --list --verbose                # List all installed Linux distros and their state (WSL 1 vs 2)
wsl --install -d Ubuntu             # Install Ubuntu distro

# Execution and Control
wsl -d Ubuntu                       # Launch specific distribution
wsl --shutdown                      # Terminate all running WSL2 VMs immediately (frees RAM)
wsl --export Ubuntu backup.tar      # Export complete Linux rootfs to tar archive
wsl --import Ubuntu_New C:\WSL backup.tar # Restore Linux distribution to custom folder