> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/microsoft/powertoys/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Keyboard shortcuts

> Complete reference of keyboard shortcuts for all PowerToys utilities, customization options, and conflict resolution

## Overview

Keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys) are a core feature of PowerToys, allowing quick activation of utilities without leaving your current task. All shortcuts are customizable and checked for conflicts.

### Hotkey structure

Keyboards shortcuts in PowerToys use the `HotkeySettings` class defined in `src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/HotkeySettings.cs`:

```csharp theme={null}
public record HotkeySettings
{
    public bool Win { get; set; }      // Windows key
    public bool Ctrl { get; set; }     // Control key
    public bool Alt { get; set; }      // Alt key
    public bool Shift { get; set; }    // Shift key
    public int Code { get; set; }      // Virtual key code
}
```

<Info>
  Virtual key codes follow the [Windows Virtual-Key Codes](https://learn.microsoft.com/windows/win32/inputdev/virtual-key-codes) specification.
</Info>

## Default keyboard shortcuts

### Global shortcuts

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Quick Access" icon="bolt">
    **Default:** Win + Alt + P (code: 80)

    Opens the Quick Access menu to quickly access any PowerToys module.

    Defined in `GeneralSettings.cs:111`
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Utility shortcuts

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Productivity">
    | Utility                 | Default Shortcut | Action                      | ViewModel Reference         |
    | ----------------------- | ---------------- | --------------------------- | --------------------------- |
    | **PowerToys Run**       | Alt + Space      | Open launcher               | `PowerLauncherViewModel.cs` |
    | **Always On Top**       | Win + Ctrl + T   | Pin window on top           | `AlwaysOnTopViewModel.cs`   |
    | **Color Picker**        | Win + Shift + C  | Activate color picker       | `ColorPickerViewModel.cs`   |
    | **FancyZones Editor**   | Win + Shift + \` | Open zone editor            | `FancyZonesViewModel.cs:95` |
    | **FancyZones Next Tab** | Win + PgDn       | Switch to next zone tab     | `FancyZonesViewModel.cs:96` |
    | **FancyZones Prev Tab** | Win + PgUp       | Switch to previous zone tab | `FancyZonesViewModel.cs:97` |
    | **Screen Ruler**        | Win + Shift + M  | Activate screen ruler       | `MeasureToolViewModel.cs`   |
    | **Text Extractor**      | Win + Shift + T  | Extract text from screen    | PowerOcrViewModel.cs        |
    | **Shortcut Guide**      | Win (hold)       | Show Windows shortcuts      | `ShortcutGuideViewModel.cs` |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Clipboard & Paste">
    | Utility                       | Default Shortcut             | Action              | ViewModel Reference         |
    | ----------------------------- | ---------------------------- | ------------------- | --------------------------- |
    | **Advanced Paste**            | Win + Shift + V              | Open paste menu     | `AdvancedPasteViewModel.cs` |
    | **Advanced Paste (Direct)**   | Ctrl + Win + Alt + V         | Paste as plain text | `AdvancedPasteViewModel.cs` |
    | **Advanced Paste (Markdown)** | Ctrl + Win + Alt + Shift + V | Paste as markdown   | `AdvancedPasteViewModel.cs` |
    | **Advanced Paste (JSON)**     | Ctrl + Win + Alt + J         | Paste as JSON       | `AdvancedPasteViewModel.cs` |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Display & Mouse">
    | Utility                      | Default Shortcut         | Action                    | ViewModel Reference       |
    | ---------------------------- | ------------------------ | ------------------------- | ------------------------- |
    | **Crop And Lock**            | Win + Ctrl + Shift + T   | Crop window thumbnail     | `CropAndLockViewModel.cs` |
    | **Light Switch**             | Custom                   | Toggle dark/light mode    | `LightSwitchViewModel.cs` |
    | **Mouse Highlighter**        | Win + Shift + H          | Toggle mouse highlighting | `MouseUtilsViewModel.cs`  |
    | **Mouse Pointer Crosshairs** | Win + Alt + P            | Toggle crosshairs         | `MouseUtilsViewModel.cs`  |
    | **Mouse Jump**               | Win + Shift + D          | Show mouse jump grid      | `MouseUtilsViewModel.cs`  |
    | **Find My Mouse**            | Ctrl + Ctrl (double tap) | Locate mouse pointer      | `MouseUtilsViewModel.cs`  |
    | **Peek**                     | Ctrl + Space             | Preview files             | `PeekViewModel.cs`        |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Developer Tools">
    | Utility                   | Default Shortcut | Action                | ViewModel Reference                |
    | ------------------------- | ---------------- | --------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
    | **Command Palette**       | Win + Shift + :  | Open command palette  | `CmdPalViewModel.cs`               |
    | **Environment Variables** | None             | Open in settings      | `EnvironmentVariablesViewModel.cs` |
    | **Registry Preview**      | None             | Opens with .reg files | `RegistryPreviewViewModel.cs`      |
    | **Hosts File Editor**     | None             | Open in settings      | `HostsViewModel.cs`                |
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="ZoomIt">
    | Feature         | Default Shortcut | Action               |
    | --------------- | ---------------- | -------------------- |
    | **Zoom**        | Ctrl + 1         | Enter zoom mode      |
    | **Live Zoom**   | Ctrl + 4         | Enter live zoom mode |
    | **Draw**        | Ctrl + 2         | Enter draw mode      |
    | **Type**        | Ctrl + 3         | Enter type mode      |
    | **Record**      | Ctrl + 5         | Start/stop recording |
    | **Snip**        | Ctrl + 6         | Capture screen snip  |
    | **Break Timer** | None             | Show break timer     |
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Customizing shortcuts

### Via Settings UI

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open utility settings">
    Navigate to the specific utility's settings page in PowerToys Settings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click shortcut field">
    Click on the keyboard shortcut input field
  </Step>

  <Step title="Press new combination">
    Press your desired key combination (must include modifier keys)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check for conflicts">
    PowerToys automatically checks for conflicts and displays warnings
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save changes">
    Changes are saved immediately and communicated via IPC to the Runner
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Shortcut requirements

Valid shortcuts must meet these criteria (enforced in `HotkeySettings.cs:226-234`):

<Warning>
  * Must include at least one modifier key (Win, Ctrl, Alt, or Shift)
  * Must include a main key (letter, number, or function key)
  * Cannot use Tab alone (reserved for accessibility)
  * Cannot conflict with system shortcuts
</Warning>

```csharp theme={null}
// From HotkeySettings.cs:226-234
public bool IsValid()
{
    if (IsAccessibleShortcut())
    {
        return false;
    }
    
    return (Alt || Ctrl || Win || Shift) && Code != 0;
}
```

### Shortcut format

Shortcuts are stored in JSON with virtual key codes:

```json theme={null}
{
  "win": true,
  "ctrl": false,
  "alt": true,
  "shift": false,
  "code": 80
}
```

This represents: **Win + Alt + P** (P has virtual key code 80)

### Command-line format

Shortcuts can be specified via command line using the `TryParseFromCmd` method (`HotkeySettings.cs:253-288`):

```bash theme={null}
# Format: Modifier+Modifier+Key
Win+Alt+P
Ctrl+Shift+F5
Win+Ctrl+Alt+0x43  # Using hex virtual key code
```

<Tip>
  Supported modifiers: `Win`, `Ctrl`, `Alt`, `Shift`

  Keys can be:

  * Single letters/digits: `A`, `5`
  * Virtual key codes: `0x70` (F1)
  * Key names: `F5`, `Home`, `End`
</Tip>

## Conflict detection

PowerToys includes sophisticated conflict detection to prevent shortcut collisions.

### Conflict types

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="System conflicts" icon="triangle-exclamation">
    Conflicts with Windows built-in shortcuts (Win+L, Alt+Tab, etc.)

    **Cannot be ignored**
  </Card>

  <Card title="PowerToys conflicts" icon="exclamation">
    Conflicts between different PowerToys utilities

    **Can be ignored if desired**
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

### Conflict properties

The `HotkeySettings` class tracks conflict state (`HotkeySettings.cs:62-115`):

```csharp theme={null}
public bool HasConflict { get; set; }          // Is there a conflict?
public string ConflictDescription { get; set; } // What conflicts?
public bool IsSystemConflict { get; set; }     // System vs. app conflict?
public bool IgnoreConflict { get; set; }       // User chose to ignore?
```

### Conflict resolution workflow

<Steps>
  <Step title="Detect conflict">
    When you set a shortcut, PowerToys checks all registered shortcuts
  </Step>

  <Step title="Show warning">
    If a conflict exists, a warning appears with details about the conflicting shortcut

    Implementation: `HotkeySettingsControlHook.cs`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose action">
    You can:

    * Change your shortcut
    * Change the conflicting shortcut
    * Ignore the conflict (if not a system conflict)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save preference">
    Ignored conflicts are saved in `GeneralSettings.IgnoredConflictProperties`
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Accessing conflict information

Conflicts are surfaced through the `GetAllHotkeySettings()` method implemented by each ViewModel:

```csharp theme={null}
// From ColorPickerViewModel.cs:92-99
public override Dictionary<string, HotkeySettings[]> GetAllHotkeySettings()
{
    var hotkeysDict = new Dictionary<string, HotkeySettings[]>
    {
        [ModuleName] = [ActivationShortcut],
    };
    
    return hotkeysDict;
}
```

## Advanced customization

### Per-application shortcuts

Keyboard Manager allows remapping shortcuts differently for specific applications:

<Info>
  This is managed separately through Keyboard Manager's UI and stored in `default.json` in the Keyboard Manager folder.

  See the Keyboard Manager documentation for details.
</Info>

### Disabling shortcuts

To disable a utility's shortcut without disabling the utility:

1. Clear the shortcut field in Settings UI
2. The shortcut will be set to an empty state (`Code = 0`)
3. The utility remains enabled but has no activation shortcut

```json theme={null}
{
  "win": false,
  "ctrl": false,
  "alt": false,
  "shift": false,
  "code": 0
}
```

### Group Policy override

Shortcuts can be controlled via GPO for enterprise deployments. See [Group Policy](/configuration/group-policy) for details.

## Shortcut best practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use Win key" icon="windows">
    Windows key combinations are less likely to conflict with applications
  </Card>

  <Card title="Avoid common combos" icon="ban">
    Stay away from Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Alt+F4, and other standard shortcuts
  </Card>

  <Card title="Be consistent" icon="check">
    Use similar patterns across utilities (e.g., Win+Shift for activation)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test thoroughly" icon="vial">
    Verify shortcuts work in your most-used applications
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Troubleshooting

### Shortcut not working

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="PowerToys not running elevated">
    Some shortcuts don't work with elevated applications unless PowerToys runs elevated

    **Solution:** Enable "Run as administrator" in General settings
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Conflicting application">
    Another application may be capturing the shortcut first

    **Solution:** Use a different shortcut or check the other application's settings
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Utility disabled">
    The utility must be enabled for its shortcut to work

    **Solution:** Check the utility's enabled state in Settings or Dashboard
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="GPO restriction">
    Group Policy may be preventing shortcut customization

    **Solution:** Contact your system administrator
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Shortcut conflict detection not working

If conflicts aren't being detected:

1. Restart PowerToys to refresh the shortcut registry
2. Check logs at `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\Logs`
3. Manually review `settings.json` for duplicate shortcuts

## Related documentation

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Settings overview" icon="gear" href="/configuration/settings-overview">
    Learn about PowerToys configuration architecture
  </Card>

  <Card title="Group Policy" icon="shield" href="/configuration/group-policy">
    Control shortcuts via enterprise policy
  </Card>
</CardGroup>