The shortcut to select all in Windows 11 is Ctrl + A: it selects every item in the active window or all the text in the active document or box.
This guide shows where Ctrl + A works, the Shift and arrow keys for selecting only part of a list or text, what Ctrl + R and Ctrl + F5 do, and fixes when select all does nothing.
How to select all using shortcut in Windows 11
The same key combination works on the desktop, in File Explorer, and in apps such as Notepad, Word and browsers.
- Click once inside the window, document or text box whose contents you want to select.
- Press and hold Ctrl.
- Press A, then release both keys.
- Press Ctrl + C to copy the selection, Ctrl + X to cut it, or Delete to remove it.
To paste what you copied, press Ctrl + V. The copy and paste keyboard shortcuts work the same way in every Windows app.
Shortcut to select all in Windows by location
| Where you are | Press | What gets selected |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop | Click the desktop, then Ctrl + A | Every icon on the desktop |
| File Explorer folder | Click the file list, then Ctrl + A | Every file and folder in the current folder |
| Text document or text box | Click in the text, then Ctrl + A | All the text |
| Web page | Click the page body, then Ctrl + A | All selectable text on the page |
| Only part of a list | Shift + arrow keys | A continuous block of items |
| Scattered items | Ctrl + arrow to move, Spacebar to add | Only the items you pick |
Select all files in File Explorer with Ctrl + A
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer.
- Open the folder that holds the files.
- Click an empty area of the file list so the list, not the address bar, has focus.
- Press Ctrl + A. Every item in the folder is highlighted.
- Hold Ctrl and click any item you want to leave out of the selection.
For picking a handful of files rather than all of them, the methods to select multiple files use Shift-click and Ctrl-click.
Select part of the text with Shift and arrow keys
When Ctrl + A takes too much, these keys select from the cursor position only.
| Press | Selects |
|---|---|
| Shift + Right or Left arrow | One character at a time |
| Shift + Ctrl + Right or Left arrow | One word at a time |
| Shift + Down or Up arrow | One line at a time |
| Shift + Ctrl + Down or Up arrow | One paragraph at a time |
| Shift + End / Shift + Home | To the end or start of the line |
| Shift + Page Down / Shift + Page Up | One page of text |
| Shift + Ctrl + End | From the cursor to the end of the document |
| Shift + Ctrl + Home | From the cursor to the start of the document |
Select multiple items on the desktop without a mouse
- Press Windows + D to show the desktop, then press an arrow key to focus an icon.
- Hold Shift and press arrow keys to extend the selection to neighbouring icons.
- To pick scattered icons instead, hold Ctrl, move with the arrow keys, and press Spacebar on each icon you want.
- Press Shift + F10 to open the menu for the selected items.
How to create a keyboard shortcut for any program in Windows 11
A desktop shortcut can carry its own key combination, which opens the program from anywhere.
- Open Start, select All, and drag the program onto the desktop to make a shortcut.
- Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties.
- On the Shortcut tab, click in the Shortcut key box.
- Press the letter you want to use.
- Select OK, then press the key combination to launch the program.
What does Ctrl + R do? What is Ctrl + F5 on Windows 11/10?
These keys sit next to Ctrl + A in Microsoft's shortcut list and are often confused with it.
| Shortcut | What it does in Windows |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + A | Selects all items in a window, or all text |
| Ctrl + R | Refreshes the current window |
| F5 | Refreshes the active window |
| Ctrl + F5 | Refreshes the current window |
| Ctrl + Z | Undoes the previous action, including an accidental delete after select all |
| Shift + Delete | Deletes the selection permanently, skipping the Recycle Bin |
Inside an app, the app decides what a shortcut does, so Ctrl + R or Ctrl + F5 may do something different in a word processor or browser.
See how many files Ctrl + A selected in File Explorer
- Press Ctrl + A in the folder.
- Look at the status bar at the bottom-left of the File Explorer window.
- Read the number of items selected and compare it with the total item count shown beside it.
Ctrl + A not working in Windows 11
Ctrl + A selects only the address bar or search box text
The keyboard focus is in a text field, not the file list.
- Click an empty area of the file list or page body.
- Press Ctrl + A again.
Nothing is selected on the desktop
Another window has focus, or desktop icons are hidden.
- Press Windows + D and click an empty part of the desktop.
- Right-click the desktop, select View, and make sure Show desktop icons is ticked.
- Press Ctrl + A.
Select all deleted or moved everything by mistake
Delete or a drag was applied to the whole selection.
- Press Ctrl + Z straight away to undo.
- If the window was closed, open the Recycle Bin, select the items and choose Restore.
The A key types but Ctrl shortcuts do nothing
The Ctrl key itself is not registering.
- Try the Ctrl key on the other side of the keyboard.
- Test Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V in Notepad.
- Reconnect a wireless keyboard or try a different USB port.
Select all shortcut FAQ
What is the shortcut to select all?
The shortcut to select all in Windows is Ctrl + A. It selects every item in the active window, such as all files in a File Explorer folder, or all the text in a document or text box.
How do I select all with the keyboard shortcut?
Click inside the window or text you want, hold Ctrl and press A. Everything is highlighted. Then press Ctrl + C to copy, Ctrl + X to cut, or Delete to remove the selection.
What is the shortcut key for select all in File Explorer?
Ctrl + A works in File Explorer too. Click an empty part of the file list first so the address bar or search box does not have focus, then press Ctrl + A to select every file and folder.
What is the shortcut to select text without selecting everything?
Hold Shift and use the arrow keys. Shift + Ctrl + arrow selects whole words or paragraphs, and Shift + Ctrl + End selects from the cursor to the end of the document.
How do I select all on the desktop?
Press Windows + D to show the desktop, click an empty area of it, and press Ctrl + A. Every desktop icon is selected.
Is the select all shortcut the same in Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes. Ctrl + A selects all in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, and the same combination works in most apps, including Microsoft Office and web browsers.
How do I undo select all?
Click anywhere outside the selection, or press an arrow key, to clear it. If you already deleted the selected items, press Ctrl + Z to undo, or restore them from the Recycle Bin.
