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 theHotkeySettings class defined in src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/HotkeySettings.cs:
Virtual key codes follow the Windows Virtual-Key Codes specification.
Default keyboard shortcuts
Global shortcuts
Quick Access
Quick Access
Default: Win + Alt + P (code: 80)Opens the Quick Access menu to quickly access any PowerToys module.Defined in
GeneralSettings.cs:111Utility shortcuts
- Productivity
- Clipboard & Paste
- Display & Mouse
- Developer Tools
- ZoomIt
| 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 |
Customizing shortcuts
Via Settings UI
Shortcut requirements
Valid shortcuts must meet these criteria (enforced inHotkeySettings.cs:226-234):
Shortcut format
Shortcuts are stored in JSON with virtual key codes:Command-line format
Shortcuts can be specified via command line using theTryParseFromCmd method (HotkeySettings.cs:253-288):
Conflict detection
PowerToys includes sophisticated conflict detection to prevent shortcut collisions.Conflict types
System conflicts
Conflicts with Windows built-in shortcuts (Win+L, Alt+Tab, etc.)Cannot be ignored
PowerToys conflicts
Conflicts between different PowerToys utilitiesCan be ignored if desired
Conflict properties
TheHotkeySettings class tracks conflict state (HotkeySettings.cs:62-115):
Conflict resolution workflow
Show warning
If a conflict exists, a warning appears with details about the conflicting shortcutImplementation:
HotkeySettingsControlHook.csChoose action
You can:
- Change your shortcut
- Change the conflicting shortcut
- Ignore the conflict (if not a system conflict)
Accessing conflict information
Conflicts are surfaced through theGetAllHotkeySettings() method implemented by each ViewModel:
Advanced customization
Per-application shortcuts
Keyboard Manager allows remapping shortcuts differently for specific applications: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.Disabling shortcuts
To disable a utility’s shortcut without disabling the utility:- Clear the shortcut field in Settings UI
- The shortcut will be set to an empty state (
Code = 0) - The utility remains enabled but has no activation shortcut
Group Policy override
Shortcuts can be controlled via GPO for enterprise deployments. See Group Policy for details.Shortcut best practices
Use Win key
Windows key combinations are less likely to conflict with applications
Avoid common combos
Stay away from Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Alt+F4, and other standard shortcuts
Be consistent
Use similar patterns across utilities (e.g., Win+Shift for activation)
Test thoroughly
Verify shortcuts work in your most-used applications
Troubleshooting
Shortcut not working
PowerToys not running elevated
PowerToys not running elevated
Some shortcuts don’t work with elevated applications unless PowerToys runs elevatedSolution: Enable “Run as administrator” in General settings
Conflicting application
Conflicting application
Another application may be capturing the shortcut firstSolution: Use a different shortcut or check the other application’s settings
Utility disabled
Utility disabled
The utility must be enabled for its shortcut to workSolution: Check the utility’s enabled state in Settings or Dashboard
GPO restriction
GPO restriction
Group Policy may be preventing shortcut customizationSolution: Contact your system administrator
Shortcut conflict detection not working
If conflicts aren’t being detected:- Restart PowerToys to refresh the shortcut registry
- Check logs at
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\PowerToys\Logs - Manually review
settings.jsonfor duplicate shortcuts
Related documentation
Settings overview
Learn about PowerToys configuration architecture
Group Policy
Control shortcuts via enterprise policy