To keep access keys underlined in Windows 11, open Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard and turn on Underline access keys. The switch makes supported keyboard cues visible even when you are not holding Alt.
This is a reversible preference for the current Windows account. It does not require administrator rights, change your files, or add shortcuts to an app. I reproduced the complete on-and-off workflow on Windows 11 version 25H2, build 26220.7872, and restored the original Off state.
What are access keys?
Access keys are keyboard paths attached to visible controls. In a supporting menu or dialog, Windows may underline one character in a label; pressing Alt with that character can open or activate the related item. Microsoft also uses small keytip badges in newer interfaces.
They are different from general Windows 11 keyboard shortcuts such as Windows + I or Ctrl + C. Access keys belong to the active window or control, while many shortcuts invoke broader app or system commands.
Microsoft's current access-key guidance explains that these cues improve keyboard usability and accessibility. An app still has to define the access key; Windows cannot invent one for a custom button or website.
Table of contents
Turn on underlined access keys
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Accessibility in the left sidebar.
- Select Keyboard.
- Turn on Underline access keys. The description below it says that access keys will be underlined even when you are not holding Alt.
The tested switch changed the Windows keyboard-cues state immediately. There was no Apply button, administrator prompt, sign-out, or restart.
Check whether the setting worked
Open an app or dialog that supports access keys and look at its menu names, buttons, check boxes, or other labeled controls. Classic desktop dialogs are usually the clearest test. A supported label can show an underlined character without requiring you to hold Alt first.
Press Alt once if no cue is visible. Some modern apps use keytips after Alt is pressed instead of permanent underlines. This does not mean the Windows switch failed; it means that the app presents its keyboard route differently.
The feature cannot underline controls that an app never assigned an access key. Custom app interfaces, many websites, and games may therefore show no change. Microsoft's Windows input accessibility guide describes the switch as applying when access keys are available.
Turn the setting off again
Use the same path when you want the normal hidden-until-needed behavior again:
- Return to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard.
- Turn off Underline access keys.
After rollback, supported apps can still show access keys when you press Alt. Off hides the always-visible cue; it does not disable keyboard navigation or remove an app's shortcuts.
Troubleshoot missing underlines
- Test a different app. A classic desktop dialog is more likely to expose traditional underlined access keys than a custom app or website.
- Press Alt once. The app may use keytips or reveal its cues only after keyboard navigation starts.
- Close and reopen the app. An app that was already running may need to recreate its controls before it reflects the preference.
- Check a managed-device policy. A work or school configuration can restore accessibility settings at sign-in. Ask the administrator to preserve the preference when you depend on it.
A Registry or command-line workaround is unnecessary for this task. The Settings switch is the current, documented route and provides a complete rollback.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do access-key underlines appear in only some apps?
Each app must define access keys for its own controls. Windows can reveal supported cues, but it cannot add underlines or keytips to a custom interface that does not provide them.
Do I still need to press Alt after turning the switch on?
Traditional underlined cues can remain visible without Alt, but some modern apps intentionally show keytip badges only after Alt is pressed. Use the app's visible keyboard model in that case.
Does this setting change normal keyboard shortcuts?
No. Shortcuts such as Ctrl + C, Alt + Tab, and Windows + I continue to work independently. This switch changes how supported access-key cues are displayed.
Can I leave access-key underlines turned on permanently?
Yes. It is a low-risk per-user accessibility preference. Leave it on if visible keyboard paths help you, or turn it off at any time if you prefer a cleaner interface.
Keep keyboard paths visible when they help
Underline access keys is useful when you navigate dialogs and menus with the keyboard or want visible reminders of supported commands. Enable it from Keyboard accessibility, verify it in a supporting app, and remember that apps using custom controls may show keytips differently or not expose access keys at all.
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