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Need to override system hot keys in Windows 11

Anonymous
2022-11-02T17:48:54+00:00

I got a new laptop, and started using it in earnest yesterday. The biggest thing that I'm having a hard time with is not being able to CTRL+SHIFT+LeftArrow and CTRL+SHIFT+RightArrow. I can still do it with one of CTRL or SHIFT, but not both. I use this all of the time to highlight text that I want to cut/copy/delete, but I can't do it with the new machine. From what I can tell with the documentation, Windows added a new hot key sequence for this that will combine tiles on the taskbar ("When a tile is in focus on the Start menu, move it into another tile to create a folder." under "Copy, paste, and other general keyboard shortcuts" on https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec). Is there any way to remove this system setting and go back to what it was? I won't be tiling my taskbar with enough frequency (if ever) that I'd need a hot key for it, and the highlighting functionality is a natural part of how I type/work. Even writing this message, I've done it a number of times and had nothing happen. How do I get this back?!?

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Settings

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T21:28:20+00:00

    I've tried it on my laptop's built in keyboard and an external Logitech keyboard. Neither work. When I launch OSK, both the SHIFT and CTRL register and highlight the keys, but not the arrow keys. Actually, SHIFT and CTRL are about the only keys that highlight on the OSK when I press them. Typing this message, nothing is registered. I did note, while pressing a lot of keys this time, SHIFT+CTRL+UpArrow will highlight the previous paragraph for me, and that works. DownArrow does the next paragraph. Just Left and Right that don't work.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T20:44:26+00:00

    Nothing happens at all. I don't think that I have anything else running that would be hijacking it. I do have Windows Media Player Legacy running, but using the key sequence has no effect on my volume, track selection of anything. I've closed everything except this browser and Discord (our company chat preference that never really closes) and it still does nothing. Any other ideas? Do you not see this behavior?

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  3. EmilyS726 227.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-11-02T20:05:38+00:00

    Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying that it is the word for word selection not working. This tile grouping feature is for the Start menu only and you actually need to have a tile on the start menu focused before it even works, so it shouldn't interfere the ctrl+shift+arrow selection. In fact, under the copy text section in that same doc, the ctrl+shift+arrow shortcut is still serving the same purpose.

    Do you mind telling me what is the exact behavior when you do ctrl+shift+arrow? I know you said nothing happened - but did the cursor even move?

    Also curious, any third party app running in the background, such as music app that might use the arrow key for volume control?

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-11-02T19:41:05+00:00

    That will work to highlight single characters at a time. If you add CTRL (in older versions of Windows), you would highlight words at a time. When you're trying to do a sentence, it makes a difference. And, CTRL+arrows still works, and jumps word by word - it just won't highlight it when you include SHIFT.

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  5. EmilyS726 227.6K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2022-11-02T19:22:06+00:00

    Hello Matt, this is Emily. This is one of my favorite features too, but I don't need to use the Ctrl key though. Just shift + any arrow key should do the work. Does it work for you?

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