Pretty much in the title, the only time I interact with the windows key in its standard operating condition is getting pissed off that the start menu opened. I use it in other capacities such as taking screen shots and other key commands but I got to wondering if anyone, ever actually uses it to access the start menu.
Also if anyone comes here and posts “dOnT uSe wINdoWs,” you really are cute.
Edit: I am more curious if anyone actually gets utility out of its default behavior (opening the start menu). I am aware that it is used in a number of key commands (although some are new to me).
Yes, I definitely do. I use it to open start menu and search, as well as using quite a few commands, run, snipping tool, moving and resizing windows, etc.
When win10 is no longer supported we will be making the leap to linux, and I really hope I can get much of this functionality there.
Yes, it’s one of the most useful keys. I haven’t used file explorers for applications in forever. Hit the Windows key, type a couple letters of the program you want, hit enter.
Also you can do Win+E to open the Windows Explorer.
Yeah, 100%. I hit the windows button and immediately just continue typing the name of the program I’m looking for. It’s extremely convenient.
Win+M minimises everything.
Win+(arrow key) moves windows around.
Win+S for screenshot.
Win+C (with PowerToys) opens a color pipette tool.
Win then type the name of the program or setting brings those results up (well, after windows has a network connection or realises it isn’t gonna get one. Which is stupid)Win+P allows you to quickly change how your windows works. Win+K brings up the menu to connect to a wireless monitor. Win+L will lock the screen. Win+R will call the “Run…” window.
KDE Plasma also inherits a lot of the shortcuts Windows has. AFAIK MATE/Cinnamon do also share some of the keybinds, but for some reason they use CTRL+ALT instead.
Also fun fact: the Windows key is also called the SUPER key.
With Internet searching disabled, the start menu is decent enough as a quick launcher and so I find myself hitting the Windows key quite often for that purpose.
On Linux there are better launchers that I’m too lazy to set up so still just hit Super and use the Application Launcher to find and run programs.
How else would you open a program?
Sometimes it works better for tabbing out of a game than alt-tab does. Not sure why. Also it depends on the game.
In Ubuntu I use the command key as my main way to launch applications.
Also if anyone comes here and posts “dOnT uSe wINdoWs,” you really are cute.
Don’t use windows?
🥺👉👈
You really are cute.
Windows Key + a lot of other keys are super useful shortcuts.
But I don’t even use the start menu at all. It’s rather pointless these days and also full of garbage.
I actually use it to open the start menu for a few reasons. Usually I do it to the press tab and the down arrow 5 times then enter twice, why? Because that puts your selector thingy on the sleep option as my keyboard doesn’t have a sleep key. The other reason is I can just start typing some program’s name and launch it without using my mouse. I don’t do it all the time since most programs I need to use the mouse to keep using anyway, but sometimes I just want a calculator or notepad++ and the search function works well enough for those
Do you mean super key? Yea, All the time for moving Windows, opening programs, etc.
Don’t you have a Penguin sticker on yours ? It doesnt have to be a Windows logo.
Yea, I bought a penguin sticker paste it on my Windows keys.
Yes since I use a lot of windowed fullscreen programs and it’s the easiest eay to access the taskbar when I need it.
I use it a lot. Ever since windows 8, the best way to use windows has been hit the windows key and type what you want.
Additionally there are a few shortcuts that are handy
- win + L for locking
- win + E for file explorer
- win + D for desktop
- win + ctrl + alt + shift + L to hate what windows has become
win + space to switch between keyboard languages
win + tab to open the desktop switcher
win + ctrl + t (if you have PowerToys installed) to prevent other apps from stealing focus from your windowdeleted by creator
Also “win + - > or <-” to move a tile to left or right side.
Well, I’d say the start menu peaked in Windows 7, where it only showed good local results, but it is still the best way to open something I know the name of.
You can disable online results permanently with about 15 minutes of web searching and adjusting settings (including within registry and group policy, but still).
including within registry and group policy
Sigh
Not on my work computer, the only place I use windows, I can’t. A workaround is never a complete fix.
win + x brings up a useful alternate start menu
I often use win+v for the clipboard history and win+shift+s for taking screenshots.
Plus Win+arrow keys to move a window around, maximize, or minimize it. I use it ALL THE TIME.
win + ; for some fun ascii art
Win+ca+enter = calculator
Can you edit these key bindings?
I think you can edit the ctrl alt shift win ones, or at least add them for letters they haven’t sold
I had to google ctrl shift windows, l, and…
It kind of makes sense: I bet the type of person who actually use this hotkey is the same kind of person who reposts motivational corporate shite every 10 minutes.
All the time. It’s basically the only way I open the Start menu. And I use Windows key shortcuts like Win+Alt+K really often.
Well once upon a time xp through 7 at least clicking start menu and starting to type the name of an app worked really well rather than resulting in some weird as web search opened in edge searching for no reason for what you had typed. I’m 100% sure there is some 3rd party launcher that still works as well as the start menu did before they ruined it. If I still used it I would probably install that.
The App menu in Cinnamon (Linux Mint) Also has the same binding and like older windows actually works well too.