Shortcut windows button

We explain the most important functions of the Windows button and present some related keyboard combinations. The Windows logo key looks like a little advertising sticker for Microsoft and has been part of every Windows keyboard since the launch of the Microsoft Natural Keyboard in The original computer keyboard with or keys were not yet equipped with a Windows button. But since the release of Windows 95 and the switch to keyboards with or keys, the Windows button has become the licensed standard.

It was originally placed to the left and right of the space bar , between the Alt key and the Ctrl key. However, the Windows button is now usually found to the left of the space bar. Irrespective of where it is located, little has changed about its central role in Windows shortcuts for performing important functions. Its function is to open the start menu when pressed.

Instead of clicking on the Windows symbol in the bottom left of the screen, simply press the Windows button. You can hit the key again to close the start menu. The Windows button was introduced with Windows 95 and offered new shortcut options with every system upgrade. Because of the wide variety of operating systems now on the market, shortcuts for the Windows key are not universally standardised.

Below, you find an overview of the main system-specific Windows combinations , starting with the current operating system Windows Minimises all open windows, without the option to maximise them again after pressing the shortcut a second time. Opens the context menu list of options such as device manager, network settings, system, and task manager. Many people still use the once popular operating system Windows 7 without realising that they may be exposed to certain security risks.

Microsoft is ending support for Windows 7 which means that it no longer provides updates for it. As a result, there will also be no more security updates. But the solution is quite simple. So the shortcuts for the Windows system can be performed using the Cmd key. Did you know that on very small keyboards there is a numeric keypad you can activate?

You can access this along with other useful functions by using the Fn key. If you want to be able to use these functions without having to use a keyboard shortcut, all you need to do is enable or disable this key. Many computer users tend to ignore the function keys also referred to as F keys. However, they provide useful functions that could save you a lot of time. When combined with other keys, function keys can access a number of helpful commands. The most important function of the Shift key is to switch between uppercase and lowercase letters.

These two keys on the bottom left and right side of the keyboard originate from the days of mechanical typewriters. The Shift keys on your keyboard have a range of other interesting functions on your Windows PC. The Caps Lock key switches all the letters on your keyboard from lowercase to uppercase until you turn it off. This is often useful, but it can also be annoying if you accidentally press the key. Arranging your workspace in Windows 10 can sometimes feel like a tedious process with your mouse.

Luckily, you can use many keyboard shortcuts to switch, snap, minimize, maximize, move, or resize windows. Release both keys and the window will be brought into the foreground.

Then, use the arrow keys to select the window you want and press Enter. The more sophisticated way to switch between windows is Task View. It takes up more of the screen and shows bigger previews of any open windows. From there, use the arrow keys to select the window you want to view, and then press Enter. The window you selected is brought to the foreground.

Minimizing hides a window from view, while maximizing enlarges the window so it occupies the largest possible area onscreen. You can also minimize all windows simultaneously so you can see the desktop. You can also enlarge a window without completely maximizing it. From there, decide which portion of the screen you want that window to occupy. You can use your keyboard to move a particular window to a certain spot onscreen. If you want even more keyboard-shortcut magic, check out these additional shortcuts for Windows 10 , as well as some for web browsers , and text-editing.

Use Google Fonts in Word. Use FaceTime on Android Signal vs. Customize the Taskbar in Windows What Is svchost. Best Smartwatches. Best Gaming Laptops. Best Smart Displays. Best Home Security Systems. Open the Search charm to search everywhere or within the open app if the app supports app search. Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box. Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard provides the same functionality as pressing Print Screen on a local PC.

Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another host app. Note: Keep the Windows logo key pressed down continuously while you're rearranging apps, from the moment you enter rearrange mode and through all the various rearrange commands. When you're done rearranging, release your finger from the Windows logo key to select the current arrangement. Learn more. Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously. Start the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

If the program is already running, switch to that program. Start a new instance of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Switch to the last active window of the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number.

Open the Jump List for the program pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. Place a copy of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard provides the same functionality as pressing PrtScn on a local computer. Useful when the Remote Desktop controls are embedded in another host program. Press the A — F buttons in Programmer mode. Windows 11 Windows 10 Windows 8. F2 Rename the selected item.

F3 Search for a file or folder in File Explorer. F4 Display the address bar list in File Explorer. F5 Refresh the active window. F6 Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop. F10 Activate the Menu bar in the active app. Shift with any arrow key Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document.

Right arrow Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu. Left arrow Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu. Esc Stop or leave the current task. PrtScn Take a screenshot of your whole screen and copy it to the clipboard. Note You can change this shortcut so it also opens screen snipping, which lets you edit your screenshot. Press this key To do this Windows logo key Open or close Start. Updated in Windows Arrow keys Move the cursor in the direction specified.

Page up Move the cursor by one page up. Page down Move the cursor by one page down. Press this key To do this F4 Display the items in the active list. Tab Move forward through options.

Spacebar Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box. Backspace Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box. Arrow keys Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons. Backspace View the previous folder. Right arrow Display the current selection if it's collapsed , or select the first subfolder. Left arrow Collapse the current selection if it's expanded , or select the folder that the folder was in. End Display the bottom of the active window.

Home Display the top of the active window. F11 Maximize or minimize the active window. Backspace Go back to the settings home page. Type on any page with search box Search settings.

Notes This shortcut is turned off by default. The following table contains common keyboard shortcuts for Windows 8.

The following table contains new keyboard shortcuts that you can use in Windows. The following table contains general keyboard shortcuts in Windows. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that you can use in dialog boxes. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with items on the desktop taskbar.

Remote Desktop Connection on the desktop keyboard shortcuts. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with the Help viewer. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for rearranging modern apps. Support for Windows 7 ended on January 14, We recommend you move to a Windows 11 PC to continue to receive security updates from Microsoft.

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for use in dialog boxes. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts that use the Windows logo key Press this key To do this Windows logo key Open or close the Start menu. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Remote Desktop Connection.

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Paint. The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with WordPad.

The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Calculator. Press the. Press the n! The following table contains keyboard shortcuts for working with Windows Journal. Need more help? Join the discussion. A subscription to make the most of your time. Try 1 month free. Was this information helpful?

Yes No. Thank you! Any more feedback? The more you tell us the more we can help. Can you help us improve?