You can enable certain settings that affect keyboard behavior for certain key combinations.

Web browsers allow some key presses and key combinations to be sent to both the client system and the destination system. For other keys and key combinations, the input processing occurs locally and not on the destination system. The key combinations that work on your system depend on the browser software, the client operating system, and the language settings.

Note: If you are using a Mac, you can map the Command key to the Windows Ctrl key when you use the key combinations to select, copy, and paste text. To enable this feature, click the Open Settings Window toolbar button in the sidebar and turn on Enable Command-A, Command-C, Command-V, and Command-X. This option appears in the Settings window only if you are using a Mac client system.
Without certain settings, the following keys and keyboard combinations often do not work in remote desktops.
  • Windows key combinations.
  • Alt+Backspace.
    Important: To input Ctrl+Alt+Del, use the Send Ctrl+Alt+Delete toolbar button at the top of the sidebar.
  • Caps Lock+modifier_key (such as Alt or Shift).

If you enable the Windows key for remote desktops, the following Windows key combinations work in remote desktops. To enable this key, click the Open Settings Window toolbar button in the sidebar and turn on Enable Windows Key for Desktops.

Important: After you turn on Enable Windows Key for Desktops, you must press Ctrl+Win (on Windows), Ctrl+Command (on Mac), or Ctrl+Search (on Chromebook) to simulate pressing the Windows key.

These key combinations do not work for published applications. These key combinations do work for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2016 remote desktops and published desktops.

Some key combinations that work in remote desktops that have a Windows Server 2012 R2 operating system do not work in remote desktops that have a Windows 10 operating system.

Table 1. Windows Key Shortcuts for Windows 10 Remote Desktops and Windows Server 2016 Remote Desktops
Keys Action Limitations
Win Open or close Start.
Win+A Open Action center.
Win+E Open File Explorer.
Win+G Open game bar when a game is open.
Win+H Open the Share charm.
Win+I Open the Settings charm.
Win+K Open the Connection quick action.
Win+M Minimize all windows.
Win+R Open the Run dialog box.
Win+S Open Search.
Win+X Open the Quick Link menu.
Win+, (comma) Temporarily peek at the remote desktop.
Win+Pause Display the System Properties dialog box. There is no Pause key on Chromebooks or Macs.
Win+Alt+Num Open the remote desktop and open the jump list for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Enter Open Narrator.
Table 2. Windows Key Shortcuts for Windows Server 2012 R2 Remote Desktops
Keys Action Limitations
Win+F1 Open Windows Help and Support.

Does not work in Safari.

Win Show or hide the Start window.
Win+B Set focus on the notification area.
Win+C Open the Charms panel.
Win+D Show and hide the remote desktop.

Does not work in Safari. Press Command-D on a Mac.

Win+E Open File Explorer.
Win+H Open the Share charm.
Win+I Open the Settings charm.
Win+K Open the Devices charm.
Win+M Minimize all windows.
Win+Q To search everywhere or within the open app, if the app supports app search, open the Search charm.
Win+R Open the Run dialog box.
Win+S To search Windows and the Web, open the Search charm.
Win+X Open the Quick Link menu.
Win+Z Show the commands available in the app.
Win+, (comma) Temporarily show the remote desktop, as long as you continue pressing the keys. Does not work on Windows 2012 R2 operating systems.
Win+Pause Display the System Properties dialog box. Chromebooks and Macs do not have a Pause key.
Win+Shift+M Restore minimized windows on the remote desktop.

Does not work in Safari. Press Command-D on a Mac.

Win+Alt+Num Open the remote desktop and open the jump list for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Up Arrow Maximize the window. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Down Arrow Remove current app from the screen or minimize the remote desktop window. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Left Arrow Maximize the app or remote desktop window to the left side of the screen. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Right Arrow Maximize the app or remote desktop window to the right side of the screen. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Home Minimize all but the active remote desktop window (restores all windows when you press Win+Home a second time).

Does not work in Safari browsers.

Win+Shift+Up Arrow Stretch the remote desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Shift+Down Arrow Restore the remote desktop window vertically, while maintaining width, after pressing Win+Shift+Up to stretch the window, or minimize active remote desktop window. Does not work on a Chromebook.
Win+Enter Open Narrator.