Windows key

For the Windows product key, see Microsoft Product Activation.

Windows 11 features a design reflecting the current Windows and Microsoft logos, using four equally sized squares.

The previous Windows key (center) shipping with Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

The Windows key (center) with an orb surrounding the center-anchored Windows logo used for Windows Vista and Windows 7. For Windows XP, the logo had no orb surrounding it and was off-center to the left.

The first Windows key (center) used by Windows 95.

The Windows key (also known as win, start, logo, flag or super^[1] key) is a keyboard key which was originally introduced on Microsoft's Natural Keyboard in 1994. Windows 95 used it to bring up the start menu and it then became a standard key on PC keyboards. Ctrl+Esc performs the same function, in case the keyboard lacks this key.

History and usage

Historically, the addition of two Windows keys and a menu key marked the change from the 101/102-key to 104/105-key layout for PC keyboards.^[2] Compared to the former layout, a Windows key was placed between the left Ctrl and the left Alt and another Windows key and the menu key were placed between the right Alt (or AltGr) and the right Ctrl key. The Windows key was introduced with Microsoft's Natural Keyboard in 1994.^[3] The key is predated by the ⌘ Command key on Apple computers in the 1980s, and before that by the Super (or Meta) key on Lisp/Unix workstation computers in the 1970s.

Windows 95 required the key to be on a keyboard to get the "Designed for Windows" logo, and used it to bring up the Start Menu. It was quickly added by virtually all desktop keyboard manufacturers. The first laptop to bear Windows keys on its keyboard was the Gateway Solo.^[4]

In laptop and other compact keyboards it is common to have just one Windows key (usually on the left). On Microsoft's Entertainment Desktop sets (designed for Windows Vista), the Windows key is in the middle of the keyboard, below all other keys (where the user's thumbs rest).

Some keyboards during the Windows Vista and 7 era feature a circular bump surrounding the logo which distinguishes its feeling from the other buttons.

On Windows 8 tablet computers, hardware certification requirements initially mandated that the Windows key be centered on the bezel below the screen, except on a convertible laptop, where the button is allowed to be off-center in a tablet configuration. This requirement was relaxed in Windows 8.1, allowing the Windows key to be placed on any bezel or edge of the unit, though a centered location along the bottom bezel is still preferred.^[5]

Licensing

Microsoft regulates the appearance of the Windows key logo picture with a specially crafted license for keyboard manufacturers ("Microsoft Windows Logo Key Logo License Agreement for Keyboard Manufacturers"). With the introduction of a new Microsoft Windows logo, first used with Windows XP, the agreement was updated to require that the new design be adopted for all keyboards manufactured after 1 September 2003.^[6] However, with the release of Windows Vista, Microsoft published guidelines for a new Windows Logo key that incorporates the Windows logo recessed in a chamfered lowered circle with a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 with respect to background that the key is applied to.^[7]

In Common Building Block Keyboard Specification, all CBB compliant keyboards were to comply with the Windows Vista Hardware Start Button specification beginning on 1 June 2007.^{[citation needed]}

The Unicode character U+229E ⊞ SQUARED PLUS closely resembles the look of the key, as of Windows 11^[update].

Use with Microsoft Windows

From the Windows 95 to Windows 7 releases of the operating system, tapping the Windows key by itself traditionally revealed Windows Taskbar (if not visible) and opened the Start menu. In Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, this key launches the Start screen but does not show the taskbar. However, this feature was added back into Windows 10.

Pressing the key in combination with other keys allows invoking many common functions through the keyboard. Holding down Ctrl+Esc will not substitute for the Windows key in these combinations. Which Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given Windows session depends on many factors, such as accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software such as IntelliType and Group Policy if applicable.

Below is a list of notable shortcuts which work natively. Unless otherwise noted, they are valid in the next version of Windows. Using aftermarket scripts, users can also make custom shortcuts.

Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0

The following shortcuts are valid in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.^[8][9]

• ⊞ Win opens the Start Menu
• ⊞ Win+D shows the desktop (hiding even non-minimizable windows), or restores hidden windows when pressed a second time.
• ⊞ Win+E opens Windows Explorer with folder pane on left side of window.
• ⊞ Win+F opens Find files and folders.
• ⊞ Win+M minimizes all windows.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+M restores windows that were minimized with ⊞ Win+M.
• ⊞ Win+R opens the "Run Program Or File" Window.
• ⊞ Win+U runs Utility Manager.
• ⊞ Win+Pause or ⊞ Win+Break opens properties of My Computer.
• ⊞ Win+F1 opens Windows Help.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+F opens Find computers.
• ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ cycles through taskbar buttons. This key combination is reassigned in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 adds the following:

• ⊞ Win+L locks the desktop.

Windows XP

Windows XP adds the following:

• ⊞ Win+B selects the first icon in the Notification Area.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+F opens Search for Computers. Requires Active Directory Domain Services.
• ⊞ Win+L locks the desktop and (if Fast User Switching is enabled) shows the user selection screen.

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition adds the following:

• ⊞ Win+Alt+↵ Enter starts Windows Media Center.

Windows Vista

Windows Vista adds the following shortcuts:

• ⊞ Win+Space bar brings the Windows Sidebar to the front.
• ⊞ Win+G selects next Windows Sidebar gadget item, bringing all gadgets to the foreground in process. Gadgets were removed in Windows 8. It shows up the Xbox game bar in Windows 10 and 11.
• ⊞ Win+X invokes Windows Mobility Center. Works only if portable computer features are installed. This key combination is reassigned in Windows 8.
• ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ switches active app using Aero Flip 3D. Requires desktop composition, a feature of Windows Aero. Aero Flip 3D is removed in Windows 8 and this key is reassigned.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+Tab ↹ is same as above, but Aero Flip 3D remains even when this key combination is released. Arrow keys or mouse may be used to navigate between windows.
• ⊞ Win+1 through ⊞ Win+9, ⊞ Win+0 starts the corresponding Quick Launch Bar program. ⊞ Win+0 runs the tenth item. Quick Launch is removed in Windows 7 and this key is reassigned.
• ⊞ Win+L locks the computer.

Windows 7

Windows 7 adds the following shortcuts:

• ⊞ Win+Space bar activates Aero Peek. Reassigned in Windows 8.
• ⊞ Win+P toggles between the devices that receive video card's output. The default is computer monitor only. Other options are video projector only, both showing the same image and both showing a portion of a larger desktop.
• ⊞ Win+↑ maximizes the active window.
• ⊞ Win+↓ restores the default window size and state of the active window, if maximized. Otherwise, minimizes the active window.
• ⊞ Win+← or → to align the window to the corresponding side of the screen, tiled vertically.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+← or → to move the window to the next or previous monitor, if multiple monitors are used.
• ⊞ Win+T to iterate through items on the taskbar from left to right.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+T to iterate through items on the taskbar from right to left.
• ⊞ Win++ to zoom into the screen at the mouse cursor position using the Magnifier Utility.
• ⊞ Win+- to zoom out if the Magnifier Utility is running.
• ⊞ Win+Esc to exit zoom.
• ⊞ Win+1 through ⊞ Win+9, ⊞ Win+0 to either start or switch to the corresponding program pinned to taskbar. ⊞ Win+0 runs the tenth item. Press multiple times to cycle through the application's open windows. Press and release quickly to keep the taskbar's preview open (which allows you to cycle using arrow keys).
• ⊞ Win+Home minimizes all windows other than the active window. Pressing this combination a second time restores them.
• ⊞ Win+D minimizes all windows. Pressing the combination a second time restores them.

Windows 8

Windows 8 introduces the following:

• ⊞ Win Opens the Start Screen.
• ⊞ Win+C opens the charms. Reassigned in Windows 10.
  • ⊞ Win+F opens Search charm in file mode to search for computer files. If the Search charm is already open, switches to file search mode.
  • ⊞ Win+W opens Search charm in settings mode to search for Control Panel applets. If the Search charm is already open, switches to settings search mode.
  • ⊞ Win+Q opens Search charm in app mode to search for app shortcuts and executable files. If the search charm is already open, it has no effects.
  • ⊞ Win+H opens the Share charm.
  • ⊞ Win+K opens the Devices charm for printing, connecting to a second screen/projector, or pushing multimedia content via Play To.
  • ⊞ Win+I opens Settings charm, where app-specific settings, network options and shutdown button is located.
• ⊞ Win+X opens Quick Links menu^[10] and grants access to several frequently used features of Windows, such as accessing desktop or File Explorer.^[11] With Windows 8.1 update, it includes a shortcut to shut down or restart the computer.
• ⊞ Win+Z or right click opens the command bar for Metro-style apps. This bar appears at the bottom of the screen and replaces both context menu and toolbar in Metro-style apps.
• ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ invokes the app switcher and changes between Metro-style apps. Unlike Alt+Tab ↹, the app switcher does not include windows that appear on desktop.
• ⊞ Win+Space bar changes input method. Unlike Alt+⇧ Shift, this combination also causes a pop-up notification to appear.
• ⊞ Win+PrtScr or ⊞ Win+Volume up instantly saves a screenshot to the "Screenshots" folder in "Pictures" library. All screenshots are saved as PNG files.^[12]

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 introduces the following:

• ⊞ Win+O locks device orientation^[13]
• ⊞ Win+S activates the Search Everywhere charm, opening a sidebar at the side of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+U activates the Ease of Access Center control panel applet.
• ⊞ Win+V cycles through notifications.

Windows 10

Windows 10 introduces the following:^[14]

• ⊞ Win+A opens Action Center.
  • ⊞ Win+V or ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+V cycles through notifications.
• ⊞ Win+V opens the clipboard history (after October 2018 update).^[15]
• ⊞ Win+C activates Cortana listening mode. Reassigned in Windows 11.
• ⊞ Win+G opens the Game DVR bar (Xbox Game Bar).
  • ⊞ Win+Alt+R starts or stops recording. All recordings are saved in the "Captures" folder in the "Videos" library as an MP4 file.
  • ⊞ Win+Alt+G records the last 30 seconds when background recording is turned on for the game.
  • ⊞ Win+Alt+T shows or hides the recording timer.
  • ⊞ Win+Alt+PrtScr instantly saves a screenshot to the "Captures" folder in the "Images" library. All screenshots are saved as PNG files.
• ⊞ Win+I opens Settings.
• ⊞ Win+F opens the Feedback Hub.
• ⊞ Win+W opens the Widget panel.
• ⊞ Win+Tab ↹ opens task view (opens timeline and remains after April 2018 Update).^[16]
• ⊞ Win+↑+← through ⊞ Win+↓+→ to align a window snapped to the right or left to the corresponding quadrant of the screen.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+D creates a new virtual desktop.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+B refreshes display in case of screen lockup.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+F4 closes the active virtual desktop.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+← or → switches between virtual desktops.
• ⊞ Win+. or ; opens the emoji panel while typing (this was changed on the "May 2019 update").^[17]
• ⊞ Win+H opens the dictation toolbar (after Fall Creators Update).^[18]
• ⊞ Win+P brings up projection settings: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend, Second screen only and Connect to a wireless display.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+S Opens Snip & Sketch tool to capture screen selection and puts into clipboard.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt Opens website https://www.office.com/?from=OfficeKey, ^[19]
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+D Opens OneDrive.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+L Opens website LinkedIn.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+Y Opens website Yammer.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+N Opens OneNote.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+O Opens Outlook.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+P Opens PowerPoint.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+T Opens Teams.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+W Opens Word.
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+⇧ Shift+Alt+X Opens Excel.
• ⊞ Win+, Opens the Workspace (temporality) (ends when you release the key ,).
• ⊞ Win+Ctrl+C Enables or disables the color filters.

Windows 11

Windows 11 introduces the following:

• ⊞ Win+C Opens Copilot. ^[20]

Microsoft Office

Additional installed software may introduce other shortcuts using the Windows key. For example, various Microsoft Office applications add shortcuts of their own:

• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+S to take a screenshot for OneNote; conflicts with ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+S on Windows 8.1.
• ⊞ Win+E to open a new side note in OneNote.
• ⊞ Win+⇧ Shift+N to open OneNote.
• ⊞ Win+Y to open Skype for Business. This shortcut also places the cursor directly on the search bar. (Disabled in Skype for Business 2016)

Use with other operating systems

The Windows key can also be used on other operating systems, though it usually carries a different name in them. Because its identity and function are operating system-defined, some cross-platform applications refer to the Windows logo key as the OS key.

On Unix and Unix-like operating systems, the key is usually given the X keysym "Super" (on earlier versions "Meta" was often used), and toggles the MOD4 shift bit. Most Unix desktop environments use it much like Windows, with Super activating a primary menu similar to the Windows Start menu (GNOME Shell bringing up the Overview, KDE Plasma, Cinnamon, and others bring up their main menus), and in combination with character keys performing actions such as run-command, often with the shortcuts and actions copied from Windows. A common action that is not shared with Windows is for the Super key to allow dragging a window around from any location without raising it, and in the Compiz window manager it causes the scroll wheel to zoom in or out of any part of the desktop. Additionally, because the Super key historically serves in several Unix programs as an application-specific command key/modifier, Unix desktops often differentiate usage of the right and left Super keys, with the user choosing which side they prefer to activate the desktop main menu and which they prefer to use for program-specific commands, in a manner similar to the differentiation between the Alt and AltGr keys.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into a macOS computer, the Windows key acts as the ⌘ Command. This swaps the locations of ⌘ Command and Alt from standard Macintosh keyboards. Plugging a Macintosh keyboard into a Windows (or Linux) machine makes ⌘ Command act like ⊞ Win, again with the locations swapped with Alt from standard.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into a computer running ChromeOS, the Windows key acts as the Search key. This key is in the location where the Caps Lock key would be on other keyboards.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into an Xbox 360, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as the Guide button on Xbox 360 Controller or remote controls, opening the Xbox Guide. Holding down the Windows key and pressing M opens a pop up conversation window over gameplay, if an instant message conversation is in progress. On an Xbox One or Xbox Series S/X, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as pressing the Xbox button on the controller.

On a PlayStation 3 console, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as the PS Button on the Sixaxis and DualShock 3, opening the XrossMediaBar.

References

1. "Ubuntu using Windows key(Super key) to Launch Gnome Main Menu - Ubuntu Sharing". Retrieved 8 March 2019.
2. Initially, 104-key keyboards were frequently called "Windows keyboards" but this denomination has become less and less used with time.
3. Fisher, Lawrence M. (6 September 1994). "Microsoft Is Bringing Out Its First Computer Keyboard". The New York Times.
4. DiCarlo, Lisa (14 August 1995). "Gateway aims to fly solo; high-end line optimized for Win 95, comes with extra cache". PC Week. 12 (32). Ziff-Davis: 6 – via Gale.
5. "Windows Hardware Certification Requirements for Client and Server Systems". MSDN. Microsoft. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
6. Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Windows Logo Key Logo License Agreement Amendment". Archived from the original on 23 March 2006.
7. "Windows Vista Hardware Start Button". Microsoft. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
8. "Windows 95 Tips.txt File Contents". Support.microsoft.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
9. "Microsoft Windows shortcut keys". Computerhope.com. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
10. "Keyboard shortcuts - Windows 8, Windows RT". Windows 8, RT Help. Microsoft. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
11. Thurrot, Paul (26 June 2013). "Hands-On with Windows 8.1: Power User Menu". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
12. Chen, Raymond (14 January 2014). "How do I hit the Win+PrintScreen hotkey if my tablet doesn't have a PrtSc key?". The Old New Thing. Microsoft. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
13. "Keyboard shortcuts Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1". Microsoft. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
14. Morris, Paul (31 July 2015). "New Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts [List]". Redmond Pie. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
15. "Windows 10 October 2018 Update: the 10 best new features". The Verge. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
16. "Make the most of your time with the new Windows 10 update". Microsoft. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
17. Lopez, Napier (10 June 2017). "Windows 10 now has an emoji shortcut (it's about time)". The Next Web. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
18. "Use dictation to talk instead of type on your PC". Microsoft. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
19. microsoft365.com or Microsoft 365 (app for Windows).
20. "Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companion". Microsoft. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.

External links

Microsoft Support page

• Keyboard shortcuts in Windows 7 and above
• How to enable or disable the keyboard Windows key

IBM PC keyboard (Windows, ANSI US layout) v t e
Esc		F1	F2	F3	F4		F5	F6	F7	F8		F9	F10	F11	F12		PrtScn/ SysRq	Scroll Lock	Pause/ Break
																	Insert	Home	PgUp		Num Lock	∕	∗	−
																	Delete	End	PgDn		7	8	9	+
																					4	5	6
																		↑			1	2	3	Enter
																	←	↓	→		0    Ins		.  Del