System & Display Shortcuts
Compare System & Display keyboard shortcuts across Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, with actions, key combinations, and usage notes.
How to use this reference
Use this category reference to compare the same kind of task across your devices. Start with the section for your operating system, read the action and description, and try the shortcut in an appropriate application. Keys joined with a plus sign are held together; alternatives let you choose the combination that works on your keyboard. A gesture requires a compatible touchpad or touch screen rather than a physical keyboard.
Before practicing, check which window has focus. Text fields, browser tabs, terminal sessions, and system dialogs can interpret the same keys differently. Save any open work before testing commands that close a window, delete content, or change system settings. Accessibility commands may need to be enabled in settings first, and a laptop may require the Fn key for function keys. If a combination is intercepted by an application or a custom keymap, consult its built-in help and your operating system settings. Follow the full platform guide for related commands and additional context.
Windows 11
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Print Screen (Full) | PrtSc | Copy a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard |
| Print Screen (Window) | Alt + PrtSc | Copy a screenshot of the active window to the clipboard |
| Snipping Tool | Win + Shift + S | Open the Snipping Tool for a region, window, or full screenshot |
| Lock Screen | Win + L | Lock your Windows session immediately |
| Open Start Menu | Win | Open or close the Start menu |
| Open Settings | Win + I | Open the Windows Settings app |
| Open File Explorer | Win + E | Open a new File Explorer window |
| Open Run Dialog | Win + R | Open the Run command dialog |
| Minimize Window | Win + Down | Minimize the active window |
| Maximize Window | Win + Up | Maximize the active window |
| Snap Left | Win + Left | Snap the active window to the left half of the screen |
| Snap Right | Win + Right | Snap the active window to the right half of the screen |
| Show Desktop | Win + D | Minimize all windows and show the desktop |
| Open Notification Center | Win + N | Open the Notification Center and Quick Settings |
| Open Quick Settings | Win + A | Open Quick Settings (Wi-Fi, volume, brightness) |
| Project Display | Win + P | Open project settings to choose a presentation display mode |
| Full Screen (UWP apps) | Win + Shift + Enter | Make the active Universal Windows Platform app full screen, if supported |
| Task Manager | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager directly |
| Clipboard History | Win + V | Open clipboard history to paste previously copied items |
| Emoji Picker | Win + . | Open the emoji and symbol picker |
| Zoom Out (Magnifier) | Win + - | Zoom out with the Magnifier |
macOS
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot (Full Screen) | Cmd + Shift + 3 | Save a screenshot of the entire screen to the Desktop |
| Screenshot (Selection) | Cmd + Shift + 4 | Drag to select an area and save it as a screenshot |
| Screenshot (Window) | Cmd + Shift + 4 then Space | Click a window to capture and save it as a screenshot |
| Screenshot Tool | Cmd + Shift + 5 | Open the screenshot and screen recording toolbar |
| Screenshot to Clipboard | Cmd + Ctrl + Shift + 3 | Copy full-screen screenshot to clipboard instead of saving |
| Full Screen | Ctrl + Cmd + F | Use or stop using the app in full screen, if supported by the app |
| Lock Screen | Ctrl + Cmd + Q | Lock your Mac and show the login screen immediately |
| Sleep Display | Ctrl + Shift + Power | Put the display to sleep without locking the session |
| Show Notification Center | Cmd + Option + Ctrl + Space | Show the Notification Center sidebar |
| Do Not Disturb | Option + Click (menu bar) | Option-click the Focus menu to toggle Do Not Disturb |
| Open Preferences | Cmd + , | Open the preferences/settings of the current app |
| Minimize Window | Cmd + M | Minimize the current window to the Dock |
| Hide App | Cmd + H | Hide all windows of the current application |
| Hide Others | Cmd + Option + H | Hide all other application windows |
| Zoom / Maximize | Ctrl + Cmd + F | Toggle full screen for the current window |
| Character Viewer | Ctrl + Cmd + Space | Open the Character Viewer to insert emoji and symbols |
Ubuntu Linux
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot (Full Screen) | PrtSc | Open the GNOME screenshot tool with full screen selected |
| Screenshot (Selection) | Shift + PrtSc | Drag to capture a selected region |
| Screenshot (Window) | Alt + PrtSc | Capture the active window |
| Screenshot Tool | Shift + Ctrl + Alt + R | Start screen recording (GNOME Screencast) |
| Lock Screen | Super + L | Lock the screen immediately |
| Log Out | Ctrl + Alt + Delete | Open the power/logout dialog |
| Open Terminal | Ctrl + Alt + T | Open a new terminal window |
| Minimize Window | Super + H | Minimize the active window |
| Maximize Window | Super + Up | Maximize the active window |
| Restore Window | Super + Down | Restore the window to its previous size |
| Snap Left | Super + Left | Snap the active window to the left half |
| Snap Right | Super + Right | Snap the active window to the right half |
| Close Window | Alt + F4 | Close the active window |
| Force Quit (xkill) | Ctrl + Alt + Esc | Enable cursor to click and kill a frozen window |
| Run Application | Alt + F2 | Open a run dialog to launch an application by name |
| Settings | Super | Search for 'Settings' after pressing Super to open system settings |
ChromeOS
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshot (Full Screen) | Ctrl + Show Windows | Take a full-screen screenshot saved to Downloads |
| Screenshot (Partial) | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows | Drag to select a region for a screenshot |
| Screen Record | Ctrl + Shift + Show Windows | In the screenshot toolbar, choose the record option |
| Lock Screen | Search + L | Lock the screen immediately |
| Sign Out | Ctrl + Shift + Q | Sign out of the current ChromeOS account (press twice) |
| Open Task Manager | Search + Esc | Open the ChromeOS Task Manager to end processes |
| Settings | Alt + Shift + S | Open the quick settings panel (clock area) |
| Toggle Caps Lock | Search + Alt | Enable Caps Lock (ChromeOS has no dedicated Caps Lock key) |
| Brightness Up | Brightness Up | Increase screen brightness |
| Brightness Down | Brightness Down | Decrease screen brightness |
| Volume Up | Volume Up | Increase the speaker volume |
| Volume Down | Volume Down | Decrease the speaker volume |
| Mute | Volume Mute | Mute or unmute the speaker |
| Clipboard History | Search + V | Open the clipboard history panel |
| Emoji Picker | Search + Shift + Space | Open the emoji picker |
| Full Screen | Full Screen | Toggle full screen mode for the current window |
Windows 10
| Action | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Print Screen (Full) | PrtSc | Copy a screenshot of the entire screen to the clipboard |
| Print Screen (Window) | Alt + PrtSc | Copy a screenshot of the active window to the clipboard |
| Save Screenshot to File | Win + PrtSc | Save a full-screen screenshot directly to Pictures > Screenshots |
| Project Display | Win + P | Open project settings to choose a presentation display mode |
| Full Screen (UWP apps) | Win + Shift + Enter | Make the active Universal Windows Platform app full screen, if supported |
| Snip & Sketch | Win + Shift + S | Open Snip & Sketch for a partial or full screenshot |
| Lock Screen | Win + L | Lock your Windows session immediately |
| Open Start Menu | Win | Open or close the Start menu |
| Open Settings | Win + I | Open Windows Settings |
| Open File Explorer | Win + E | Open File Explorer |
| Minimize Window | Win + Down | Minimize the active window |
| Maximize Window | Win + Up | Maximize the active window |
| Snap Left | Win + Left | Snap the window to the left half |
| Snap Right | Win + Right | Snap the window to the right half |
| Show Desktop | Win + D | Minimize all windows to show the desktop |
| Action Center | Win + A | Open the Action Center (notifications and quick settings) |
| Task Manager | Ctrl + Shift + Esc | Open Task Manager directly |
| Clipboard History | Win + V | Open clipboard history (must be enabled in Settings first) |