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The shortcut involving pressing the Windows logo key, Ctrl, and a number is not functioning properly. This shortcut is supposed to open the desktop and switch to the last active window of the application that is pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

If you press Windows logo key + Ctrl + 5, it should open the 5th application icon on the taskbar. If there are no open windows, it will open the application; however, if there are multiple windows open, it will cycle through them. As far as I can tell, all the other Windows logo key shortcuts are working properly.

The two-key shortcuts work:

Windows logo key + D

Windows logo key + L

Windows logo key + R

Multi-key combinations that involve the Windows Logo Key and a number are functional, as are other three-key and four-key combinations, particularly those involving numbers. However, the combination mentioned at the beginning of the text does not work.

When using the Windows logo key in combination with a number, I am able to cycle through the windows. By pressing Windows logo key + Shift + number, I can open a new instance of an application. When I press Windows logo key + Alt + number, the jump list or menu pops up, and by pressing Windows logo key + Ctrl + Shift + number, I can open a new instance of the app as an admin.

Unfortunately, the Windows logo key + Ctrl + number shortcut does not work on at least two of my Windows machines, including a desktop and a laptop. On the laptop, which has a docking station, neither the USB keyboard nor the integral laptop keyboard is able to use this shortcut. Although this shortcut used to work on my desktop, it stopped working at some point in the last year or two. Interestingly, this shortcut worked for me on a different work laptop within the last two months.

Laptop that isn't working Windows version

Windows 10 Enterprise
Version 1809
OS Build 17763.720

On both the laptop and desktop machines where the Windows Logo Key + Ctrl + number shortcut does not work, I have verified that the Ctrl, Windows Logo, and number keys all function properly when pressed separately. Despite conducting a thorough search for an answer to this problem, I have been unable to find a solution.

This type of question about shortcuts can be challenging to search for.

Askify Moderator Edited question April 30, 2023