This simple little app should be built into Windows 11

This simple little app should be built into Windows 11

What you need to know

  • CtrlHelp is a new app on Windows 11 that helps you master shortcuts within apps.
  • You can use the app to summon a searchable cheat sheet within supported applications that shows all of the shortcuts available.
  • The app also has an interactive practice mode that lets you explore shortcuts within popular apps, including Word, Excel, Photoshop, and Visual Studio.

As a seasoned analyst with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen countless apps come and go, but few have left me as impressed as CtrlHelp on Windows 11. Having spent hours hunched over keyboards, struggling to remember the endless array of shortcuts across various applications, this app feels like a breath of fresh air.


Windows 11 offers an extensive collection of shortcuts readily accessible for your convenience. Alongside system shortcuts, applications on Windows 11 come equipped with hotkeys and shortcuts that enhance productivity. However, remembering all these shortcuts can be challenging, especially when identical keys perform different functions across various apps. To make things easier, a fresh app called CtrlHelp has been introduced, which I find one of the best new apps this year.

ControlHelp is a user-friendly application divided into two sections. Initially, you can hone your skills with shortcut keys through an interactive learning mode. This practice mode also provides convenient navigation for discovering which shortcuts are available in various applications. The latter part of the app, in my view, offers more practicality. It enables you to quickly summon a guide for shortcut keys by simply pressing and holding down the Control key.

As a seasoned user with years of navigating through numerous apps, I can confidently say that having a cheat sheet that outlines the shortcut keys for any app is incredibly helpful. Not only does it save time by allowing me to quickly access specific commands, but it also makes the overall experience more efficient and convenient. Additionally, being able to search the cheat sheet for a specific command is a game-changer, making it easy to find what I need without having to sift through endless options. I highly recommend utilizing these resources to enhance your own app usage!

Currently, I’m observing CtrlHelp – a versatile tool that assists with over 80 applications and approximately 8,000 shortcuts. This dynamic software invites users to suggest additional applications for support, implying its supported app library will likely grow in the future. As of now, it seamlessly integrates with a variety of popular applications such as multiple browsers, Slack, Zoom, Teams, Visual Studio, and more. Notably, it also supports a significant portion of Adobe’s suite, including DaVinci Resolve, Figma, Blender, among others. For a comprehensive list of supported apps, you can refer to its Microsoft Store listing.

The pricing for CtrlHelp is set at $9.99, however, it offers a complimentary trial. From what I understand, during this trial period, it seems there are no restrictions on the features, allowing you to evaluate whether this application suits your unique workflow needs.

Must-have Windows 11 app

This simple little app should be built into Windows 11

Occasionally, I stumble upon an application like CtrlHelp that leaves me questioning its tardiness in being created. The intuitive nature of this app on my PC makes it seem as though it’s a long-overdue feature for Windows 11, or even Microsoft PowerToys. I was so enthused by the app that I invited my wife to witness CtrlHelp in action. Upon seeing the app, she echoed my thoughts, stating that it appears as if it should have always been integrated into Windows.

As an observer, I’d like to point out that while CtrlHelp may appear as a novelty, it’s essential to acknowledge that CheatKeys was among the pioneers in displaying app shortcuts by pressing the Control key. However, from my perspective, CtrlHelp seems more intuitive and offers comparable functionality. The developers of CtrlHelp have skillfully adhered to the Windows design language, making it a seamless fit on Windows 11. I must say, the integrated search tool within CtrlHelp is particularly appealing to me.

Recently launched over the summer, CtrlHelp is still in the process of ironing out a few bugs. For instance, I encountered trouble accessing the cheat sheet from the Slack version obtained via Microsoft Store. However, the number of issues encountered during my testing has been minimal. Considering its newness, the current iteration of CtrlHelp is quite impressive, boasting respectable performance for an app just starting out.

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2024-08-06 15:39