How to Create Keyboard Shortcuts for Apps in Windows 11

Do you want to open your favorite Windows 11 apps quickly and easily? Are you bored with clicking icons on the desktop or Start menu? If the answer is yes, then you might be interested in creating keyboard shortcuts for any Windows 11 app.

Keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that you can press to execute certain commands, such as opening an app, copying and pasting text, or closing a window. With keyboard shortcuts, you can save time and increase your productivity.

In this article, we will show you how to create a keyboard shortcut for any Windows 11 application by two different methods: using the Properties menu and using a third-party application called AutoHotkey. We will also provide some tips and tricks to create effective and memorable keyboard shortcuts.

Using the Properties Menu

One of the easiest ways to create keyboard shortcuts for any Windows 11 app is to use the Properties menu. The Properties menu is the context menu that appears when you right-click on an application icon, either on the desktop, Start menu, or File Explorer.

The Properties menu lets you change various app settings, including name, location, icon, and compatibility. One of the settings you can change is keyboard shortcuts.

Here are the steps to create a keyboard shortcut for any Windows 11 app using the Properties menu:

1. Find the icon of the application for which you want to create a keyboard shortcut, either on the desktop, Start menu, or File Explorer. If the app doesn’t have an icon, you can create your own by right-clicking on the app, selecting Send to, and then selecting Desktop (create shortcut).
2. Right-click on the app icon, then select Properties.
3. In the Properties window, click the Shortcut tab.
4. Under the Shortcuts tab, you’ll see a field called Shortcut key. This field indicates the keyboard shortcut currently assigned to the application, if any. If it doesn’t exist, this field will be empty.
5. Click on the Shortcut key field, then press the key you want to use as a keyboard shortcut. You can use the keys of any letter, number, or symbol, but you must combine them with the keys Ctrl, Alt, or both. For example, if you want to create a Ctrl+Alt+P keyboard shortcut for the Paint application, you must press Ctrl+Alt+P in the Shortcut key field. You can’t use F1 keys until F12, Esc, or Print Screen as keyboard shortcuts, as these keys already have built-in Windows 11 functionality.
6. After you press the desired key, you will see that the Shortcut key field will display the key combination you selected. If you want to change or delete a keyboard shortcut, you can click on the Shortcut key field again and press a different key or press the Backspace key.
7. Click OK to save your changes and close the Properties window.
8. Now, you can try your newly created keyboard shortcut. Press the key combination you selected, and you will see that the application will open automatically. If you create a keyboard shortcut for an app that’s already open, the keyboard shortcut moves focus to that app.

Here’s a table showing some examples of keyboard shortcuts you can create for any Windows 11 app using the Properties menu: