Sticky Notes Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows 11 & 10 (Complete List + PDF)
Microsoft Sticky Notes has 28 built-in keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 and 11. The most-used are Ctrl+N to create a new note, Ctrl+T for strikethrough, Ctrl+B for bold, and Ctrl+H to open the notes list. To open Sticky Notes itself, press the Windows key, type “Sticky Notes,” and press Enter the old StikyNot.exe Run command no longer works in Windows 10 or 11. All shortcuts below are verified against Microsoft’s official documentation (updated 2026).
Key Takeaways
- Sticky Notes supports 28 verified keyboard shortcuts across editing, navigation, and formatting.
- The strikethrough shortcut is Ctrl+T the only one, confirmed by Microsoft.
- There is no dedicated numbered-list shortcut; Ctrl+Shift+L applies bullets only.
- Open the app via Start menu search; the legacy StikyNot.exe command is retired.
- Shortcuts use the US keyboard layout and work in Sticky Notes 3.0 and later.
Sticky Notes keyboard shortcuts
Below is the complete list of Microsoft Sticky Notes keyboard shortcuts, split into editing/navigation and formatting. Every shortcut is verified against Microsoft’s official Sticky Notes documentation and applies to the US keyboard layout in Sticky Notes 3.0 and later on Windows 10 and 11.
Type & Edit Sticky Notes
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create a new sticky note | Ctrl + N |
| Close the current note | Ctrl + W |
| Delete the current note | Ctrl + D |
| Open the notes list | Ctrl + H |
| Cycle forward through notes | Ctrl + Tab |
| Cycle backward through notes | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Select all text | Ctrl + A |
| Copy | Ctrl + C |
| Cut | Ctrl + X |
| Paste | Ctrl + V |
| Undo | Ctrl + Z |
| Redo | Ctrl + Y |
| Move one word left | Ctrl + Left Arrow |
| Move one word right | Ctrl + Right Arrow |
| Move to beginning of line | Home |
| Move to end of line | End |
| Move to beginning of note | Ctrl + Home |
| Move to end of note | Ctrl + End |
| Delete next word | Ctrl + Delete |
| Delete previous word | Ctrl + Backspace |
| Search notes (from notes list) | Ctrl + F |
| Clear search / return to list | Esc |
| Close Sticky Notes app | Alt + F4 |
Format Sticky Notes
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B |
| Italic | Ctrl + I |
| Underline | Ctrl + U |
| Bulleted list | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Strikethrough | Ctrl + T |
How to Open Sticky Notes in Windows 11 & 10
Sticky Notes comes pre-installed on Windows 10 and 11. There is no single keyboard shortcut that launches the app directly but here are the fastest verified ways to open it:
- Start menu search (fastest): Press the Windows key, type Sticky Notes, and press Enter.
- Start menu list: Open Start → scroll to S → click Sticky Notes.
- From the taskbar: Right-click the app while open → Pin to taskbar for one-click access later.
- Create a desktop shortcut: Drag Sticky Notes from the Start menu to your desktop, then assign a custom hotkey via its Properties → Shortcut key field.
Note: The legacy StikyNot.exe Run command (Windows + R) worked in Windows 7 and 8.1 but no longer functions in Windows 10 or 11, because the modern Sticky Notes app replaced the old desktop gadget.
Sticky Notes Strikethrough Shortcut Explained
The strikethrough shortcut in Sticky Notes is Ctrl + T. Select the text you want to cross out, then press Ctrl + T to apply or remove strikethrough. This is the only strikethrough shortcut in the app and is confirmed in Microsoft’s official documentation.
Strikethrough is useful for marking completed to-do items without deleting them press Ctrl + T again on the same text to undo it. Note that Ctrl + T does not open a new tab here as it does in browsers; inside Sticky Notes it is dedicated to strikethrough.
Windows 10 vs Windows 11: Are the Shortcuts Different?
The Sticky Notes keyboard shortcuts are identical on Windows 10 and Windows 11 both run the same modern Sticky Notes app (version 3.0 and later), so every shortcut in the tables above works the same way on both. The only differences are in how you launch the app: Windows 11 centers the Start menu and search, while Windows 10 places them on the left. Sync, formatting, and editing shortcuts are unchanged across both versions.
Sticky Notes Shortcuts Not Working? Try This
If a shortcut isn’t responding, check the following:
- Update the app. Formatting shortcuts require Sticky Notes 3.0 or later. Update via the Microsoft Store → Library → Get updates.
- Select text first. Formatting keys (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+U, Ctrl+T) only work on selected text.
- Check your keyboard layout. Microsoft’s shortcuts assume the US keyboard layout; other layouts may map keys differently.
- Ctrl+Shift+L does bullets, not numbered lists. There is no numbered-list shortcut this is expected behavior, not a bug.
- Restart the app if notes freeze: press Alt+F4, then reopen from the Start menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut for Sticky Notes strikethrough?
The strikethrough shortcut is Ctrl + T. Select your text and press Ctrl + T to apply or remove it.
How do I open Sticky Notes with a shortcut?
Press the Windows key, type Sticky Notes, and press Enter. The old StikyNot.exe Run command no longer works in Windows 10 or 11.
What is the shortcut to create a new sticky note?
Press Ctrl + N from the notes list or any open note.
Is there a numbered-list shortcut in Sticky Notes?
No. Ctrl + Shift + L applies bulleted lists only; Sticky Notes has no dedicated numbered-list shortcut.
Do these shortcuts work on Windows 11?
Yes. All Sticky Notes keyboard shortcuts work identically on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What is the bold shortcut in Sticky Notes?
Ctrl + B applies or removes bold from selected text.
How do I close a sticky note vs the whole app?
Ctrl + W closes the current note; Alt + F4 closes the entire Sticky Notes app.
Conclusion
Mastering these 28 Sticky Notes shortcuts turns a simple reminder app into a fast, keyboard-driven workspace especially the formatting keys (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+T) and navigation shortcuts (Ctrl+H, Ctrl+Tab) that most users never discover. Bookmark this page or download the PDF cheat sheet, and pair it with our other shortcut guides to speed up your whole Windows workflow.
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