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Keyboard shortcuts in a remote session: what goes where

In a remote session there are two computers listening to one keyboard. Most keys go straight to the remote PC, but your own computer grabs a few first: the Windows key, Alt+Tab, Ctrl+Alt+Del. This guide explains what goes where, the shortcuts that control the session itself, and how to send the keys your computer keeps.

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Updated · Works on Windows 10 and 11

The rule of thumb

  • Ordinary typing and shortcuts go to the PC. Letters, Enter, Ctrl+C, Ctrl+S, F5 and the like reach the remote PC while its screen has the focus.
  • Your own computer keeps a few. The Windows key, Alt+Tab and Ctrl+Alt+Del are caught by your own Windows (or Mac, or browser) before any app sees them.
  • Session shortcuts use Ctrl+Alt or Ctrl+Alt+Shift (and F11), so they work while your keys are going to the PC and don't clash with the Ctrl+Alt+letter combinations that type €, @ and other characters on many keyboards.

In the Windows app: session shortcuts

In the RemoteAccessApp Console, these work in any live session. Press Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H to see the list on screen at any time.

Keyboard shortcuts in a live session in the RemoteAccessApp Console
What it doesKeys
Show every session shortcutCtrl+Alt+Shift+H
Keys menu (Task Manager, Win+R, Alt+Tab…)Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K
Full screen on or offF11 or Ctrl+Alt+Enter
Next or previous sessionCtrl+Alt+PgDn / PgUp
The PC's next or previous displayCtrl+Alt+Shift+Right / Left
Zoom in or out, fit the windowCtrl+Alt+mouse wheel, Ctrl+Alt+Shift+0
Windows key (Start menu) on the PCAlt+Home
Alt+Tab and Alt+Shift+Tab on the PCAlt+PgUp / Alt+PgDn
Ctrl+Alt+Del (see below)Ctrl+Alt+End
Chat with the person at the PCCtrl+Alt+Shift+C
Command prompt on the PC, show or hideCtrl+Alt+Shift+T
Type text where paste doesn't workCtrl+Alt+Shift+V
Connection health on or offCtrl+Alt+Shift+I
Mirror input to other sessions on or offCtrl+Alt+Shift+M
Send filesCtrl+Alt+Shift+F
Save a screenshot (Pro)Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S
Disconnect this PCCtrl+Alt+Shift+D

The Keys menu in the session toolbar sends the combinations your own Windows would catch, such as the Windows key, Alt+Tab and Task Manager, with one click. The display shortcuts step through the PC's screens, and multi-monitor remote desktop shows how to see every screen at once. The help article on controlling several PCs at once explains how mirrored input (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M) sends your mouse and keyboard to other open sessions.

On the Connections page

For SSH, SFTP, Remote Desktop, VNC and the rest, the Connections page has its own shortcuts. Inside an SSH terminal, Ctrl+B goes to the server instead. Its tabs, Duplicate, and how to use them from the keyboard, are explained in hosts and sessions.

Keyboard shortcuts on the Connections page
What it doesKeys
Find a host or connect to anythingCtrl+K
Add a server, PC or deviceCtrl+N
Hide or show the list of connectionsCtrl+B
Jump to pane 1 to 8Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+8
Split right, split downCtrl+\, Ctrl+Shift+\
Duplicate the tab (the same host again, next to it)Ctrl+Shift+D
Make one pane fill the page (Esc puts it back)Ctrl+Shift+M
Close the tabCtrl+W

In a browser

On the website, the remote screen takes your keys while it has the focus. For the keys your computer or browser keeps, open Shortcuts in the session's toolbar. It has:

  • Windows: the Start menu, Task Manager, Run (Win+R), File Explorer (Win+E), Show desktop, Settings, Task view, the Win+X menu, Screenshot area and Print Screen.
  • Windows and apps: Alt+Tab and Alt+Shift+Tab, Close window (Alt+F4), Maximize, Minimize and Refresh.
  • Editing: Copy, Paste, Cut, Undo, Redo, Select all, Save and Find.
  • Ctrl+Alt+Del and Lock (Win+L), which ask you first.

In full screen in Chrome or Edge, the keyboard is locked to the page, so the Windows key, Alt+Tab and Esc go to the PC. Hold Esc to leave full screen. On a Mac, Command arrives as the Windows key; see controlling a Windows PC from a Mac. A Chromebook has no Windows key at all, so the Shortcuts menu does that job; more in how to use your Windows PC from a Chromebook.

On a phone or tablet

While your on-screen keyboard is open, a strip above it adds Esc, Tab, Ctrl, Alt, Win, the arrows and F1 to F12. Ctrl, Alt, Shift and Win are sticky: tap Ctrl, then C, to send Ctrl+C. More in control your PC from a phone.

Ctrl+Alt+Del, the lock screen and admin prompts

Windows deliberately keeps remote tools away from its protected screens: Ctrl+Alt+Del, the lock and sign-in screens, and the "Do you want to allow this app to make changes" prompt. No remote tool can press them for you, so someone at the PC has to.

When you choose Ctrl+Alt+Del, RemoteAccessApp explains this and offers Open Task Manager instead, which is what Ctrl+Alt+Del is most often used for. Be careful with Lock: once the PC is locked, you may not get back in until someone signs in at the PC. If clicks stop working while an administrator window is in front, see an admin window is blocking my clicks.

When paste doesn't work

Sign-in screens, boot menus and virtual machine consoles often ignore paste. Type text (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V) types your text key by key instead, at the speed you choose, and Undo typed text takes it back. It's in the session toolbar and in SSH, serial and web panel tabs. See type text where paste doesn't work.

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