Does anyone actually use the windows key on their keyboard as intended by the OS?
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).
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
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).
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
win + ; for some fun ascii art
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 + 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 window
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
Win+ca+enter = calculator
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.
So you use your mouse to click on the start menu button, scroll through the menu and click again on the program? That sounds awful. I click the Windows button and type the program name.
I pin programs I frequently use to my task bar like a gentleman.
Check this.... Windows Key + Number corresponding to position of your task bar icon will launch that program. So your 3rd icon from the left = Win+3
Is the implication here that you don't use any other programs?
obviously
The real question is who uses the actual start menu, as in tiles and program list. I've only ever seen people type the program name
The Windows start menu is inexplicably a huge mess. Like all MS products, they cram their interface with as much as possible.
I preferred their nested menus to what is there now, though I started using search as soon as it became a thing (Windows 7?). They should have really implemented categories (like in Linux) early on rather than having every suite have it's own sub-menu in the Start Menu.
You can do that yourself, since Chicago first debuted in ~1994.
I don't want my OS categorizing stuff for me.
My start menu is categorized on the root (where "pinned" items go), and I leave the rest of the menu alone.
The maintainer of the application chooses the categorie(s) but manually organizing things as an end user... is kinda dumb. Maybe I don't understand your workflow (or why the Start Menu is the way it is now with all programs barfed into one list, I figured it was for touch devices). It doesn't really matter, though, because search is used primarily now, anyways. Forgetting the name of the application is the only reason I can see digging through the Start Menu now.
I prefer OpenShell, since it unfucks the start menu and makes it usable. It's just like Win7 but easy to customize.
I only ever see the real start menu on other people's computers. Openshell is like ublock, without it your face tends to contort and twist like you ate a lemon.
I use the tiles to "pin" programs that I use semi-regularly and can't be bothered remembering the name of. Or that share an inconveniently long prefix with the name of another program. Or that I have multiple versions of installed, with a specific version I usually need.
I don't like pinning such programs to the task bar because they add unnecessary clutter while not in use.
I imagine some legacy users who cut their teeth on Windows 95 or something and never changed their ways. I was a Mac user through the mid 2000s and switched back when I got my gaming rig with Windows 10 so I don’t remember when the search bar was implemented—never used the start menu since.
Win + L to lock
Win + D to minimise all windows
Win + arrow key to snap window to half a screen
Win +shift+s to get snapshots
Win +r to get to run command, generally for opening applications in safe mode
Win to quickly start search for apps or settings
100%
It's the only way I open the start menu. There is no faster way to get to what I want than Superkey and typing.
PS I have all my OSes set up similarly. OSx has spotlight, my GNOME and KDE are configured to launch searchable menus on Super, and my mobile launcher is set up to search when I swipe up.
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.
I’m on Linux. But yeah I use it to open the start menu all the time. Then I can type apps name and hit enter
Oh yeah. I use it all the time. It's useful to hit the key and type the first 3-5 characters of the program I want to launch and hitting return.
It's also the function key for the screen clip feature which I use often (Windows + Shift + S).
Use that one all the time
Hell yes. I'm not taking the time go move my hand to the mouse, find the cursor with my eyes, move the mouse and then move hands back to type. That's asinine.
As others have said, I use it mainly for the search function to start programs as well as many shortcuts. I've seen others mention screenshots and locking, but here are a few more:
A full list can be found here: windows key shortcuts
The one I use most is windows+shift+s for the snipping tool!
I set print screen as the shortcut for single button access.
Windows E opens windows Explorer, I used that all the time for work, I use the keyboard more than the mouse.
Constantly. I'm a keyboard shortcut junky. I use it with several different key combos. The fact that the "super key" works slightly differently in Pop OS kind of drives me crazy. I really need to figure out how to remap it so it's closer to the same.
Edit: I should clarify that I also use it to bring up the stupid Windows menu all the time, too. Then I will search for whatever app I'm looking for. I have turned off web searching with it, though.
Even though most-frequently used apps are pinned, there are still quite a few others that I need semi-regularly but not enough to earn a pin.
Yeah I expect the windows snapping to work with the super key... I need to figure something out. I need my tiling!
Yes! I will complain about MS WIndows all day...but they did do a few things right and this is one of them.
Yeah, of course! Some full screen programs, mostly games, will not let you tab out to the desktop, so i use the windows key to open the start menu which also pops up the taskbar so i can swap to something else.
Alt-escape should still work on these as well. Effectively minimises them.
Didn't know about alt+esc. I'll try that next time and see if it does the job. Thank you!
Constantly.
Open shit on the taskbar.
Win + E for file explorer.
Win key and type stuff for a few programs I don't want to have icons for.
One of the best keys!
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.
Whether you use Windows or Linux, the Windows key is the foundation of many useful keyboard shortcuts. You know, hold it down plus some other key.
Whatever your preferred OS, look them up! You may find a few you would like to start using.
But yeah, on my work computer which is a Windows machine, I often use it to open the start menu and start typing the name of the app I want to launch. It’s faster than clicking on an icon somewhere if your hands are already on the keyboard.
If you read my post I clearly stated I use it for keyboard shortcuts.
And shortcuts are it's intended behaviour, always has been.
You're making a distinction without a meaning.
You ok?
You don't deserve down votes for this. Yes you're being a touch rude, but they also clearly didn't read more than the title! The OP was not an unreasonable amount of text. Your irritation is justified
edit: I guess a lot of folks are getting hung up on the wording of the title. It was not that hard to understand that OP meant "without using it as a modifier" or "what a non-power-user would think its function is". Especially if you actually read the post.
Thank you for your service. And yeah, I was just wondering if anyone used the windows key as a daily-driver to pop-up the start menu (which I guess some people do), but the amount of responses I’ve gotten that are “you can use it other ways which you literally said you use it” have gotten a tad exhausting.
I hit the windows key, type and hit enter to open programs a lot. I literally have no desktop icons showing, I don't like the look and taking my hands off the keyboard to click stuff takes longer anyways.
I also do windows + number to open/switch to pinned programs a lot.
Do I use the "super" key as the OS intended it ? As a Gnome user, absolutely yes ! All the time ! Do I use the Windows key as Microsoft intended it ? Also yes, because of Gnome.
I even swapped out for a custom “super” key that matches the font of my keyboard and lets the rgb shine through.
I don't ever use the start menu for anything. I can't be bothered to look through that mess.
Instead I press the windows key and type the first few letters of whatever I need, unless it's already stickied to the bar. It's fewer key presses than clicking through the start menu. I suppose that still counts as opening the start menu, even if I don't use the actual menu structure.
I also use the windows + arrow keys to toss windows around the multiple screens. It has a lot of other purposes, like creating extra desktops etc, which I admittedly never use.
It's a useful button for sure, but it does get a little overwhelming when combined with shift ctrl or alt . I can't possibly remember all the uses, but I have the most commonly used on muscle memory.
I would count pressing the winkey and use start to search and launch an application as using the start menu.
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.
Constantly, I don't use desktop icons so I am always pressing Win then typing the first 6 letters of the program that I want and hitting enter. I know wintab and winenter search programs exist, but for what I use it for the default one is fine and it is one less program constantly running in the background
Windows key + type to open whichever app i need to open that's not already pinned to my taskbar.
Shift + win + s to take a screenshot.
The Super key? Yes all the time to pull up the GNOME action menu and to use shortcuts. Super+E for file browser window, +B for browser, +T for terminal window I use often.
Yes definitely. Try pressing the Windows key and type the first few letters of the app name you're looking for, it's way way faster than mousing around clicking and scrolling through the Start Menu.
Also Windows key + E to open the file explorer gets used a lot. And windows key + L to lock the screen, I do that one a lot when walking away from the desktop at work.
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.
nope - but the start menu has been dogshit for years now, so I try to avoid start menu as much as possible- I use pinned icons and a few desktop shortcuts.
I mostly use win key fo:
Turns out, yes, everyone does use this key. A lot.
I use:
Win+R constantly
Win+E regularly
Win+D occasionally
Win+M never now that I WFH full time
I use it for shortcuts in my linux
Yeah, the mod key is my best friend with Sway, I literally can't avoid using it
Yes I do.
🪟 + ⬅️/➡️/⬇️/⬆️ snaps windows into tiles on your screen or maximize/minimizes them.
🪟 + shift + S is the shortcut for the ‘new’ snipping tool
Sure, 🪟 alone opens and closes the start menu, but when opens opened, your curser is already the search bar so if you want to quickly open an app, it’s just: 🪟, first few letters of the app, Enter
I don’t use it as much, but: Ctrl +🪟 + ⬅️/➡️ cycles you through virtual desktops
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.
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.
Start menu is helpful to execute programs quickly as many others have stated previously. Other useful thing with the start menu is that it automatically makes a fullscreen application lose focus. So I can just use the windows key to focus out of a fullscreen app and click on something else on the other monitor.
I use it to open the start menu a lot. Especially if I'm in a full screen application.
How else would you open a program?
I use it all the time in Linux and even when I unfortunately have to use Windows. Launching an app from just the keyboard is useful. And, like you said, as the modifier key for a number of shortcuts I use a lot.
I have 3 main use cases for the Windows key:
I don't think I ever use it for anything else. So yes, I do use it to bring up the start menu, but generally only to specifically bring up a command prompt window - all of my other commonly used programs are pinned to the taskbar so I can fire them up with a single click.
Ooh didn't know about windows + arrow keys. Super useful!
It's especially useful if you find a window is stuck off screen after disconnecting a monitor.
Use it constantly, as others have said windows -> type is the best way to use windows, and I do the same thing on my linux machines, actually a lot of the ones I use regularly are the same or similar in KDE (can't recall if it's out of the box or if I configured that)
CTL+windows+arrows to swap desktops (which have been in windows for a while now and I swear no one else uses), lots of ones around those are super useful. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec for reference.
That's out of the box. No configuration necessary. The default behaviour in Plasma when pressing the Windows key is to open the application menu where you can start typing to find what you want. In fact it's kind of a pain to disable that, and will sometimes re-enable itself randomly as I recently found out (I prefer WIN+D to open the app menu from my i3 days, and I work in an RDP connection to a windows machine where I would prefer to be able to just press WIN to open that menu and not KDEs menu.)
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.
Yeah I use it to open the start menu. I'm on windows 10 so I have my daily used programs pinned to the taskbar, my frequently used programs organized in sections of tiles on the start menu, and for everything else I either type to search for it in the start menu or just Win+R and use the run dialog if it's a system component.
Likely moving to Linux when Windows 10 ends support. I've got enough experience with 11 to know I couldn't stand using it regularly
Edit: and I didn't really talk about using it as a hotkey because of your OP, but for the record I use it like that all the time too. Win arrow for window sizing, win shift arrow for moving things between monitors, win R, E, L, D, win semicolon for the emoji keyboard, win number row to quickly launch taskbar pins, win tab for the lulz sometimes, win shift S for snipping tool when I don't need to use shareX instead for a local copy of the snip, etc.
GNOME Linux I use it regularly to switch between tasks/windows, as well as windows+arrow keys to snap windows to edges or minimize them.
Pretty sure however you’re using the windows key, that’s how it was intended to be used.
Win key + V in Windows 10/11 is a must if you copy and paste often.
It shows your clipboard history which is great.
Only downside is passwords and you copy from a password manager, for example. Be careful if sharing your screen with others or surrounded by others or just cautious of the fact that the password is there in plain text to anything in the OS.
Not many people seem to know about it but it’s extremely helpful especially when doing repetitive tasks.
Win key + L to lock.
I use it a lot
Definitely! Win-Tab (properly called Meta-Tab) is used to switch activities in KDE Plasma. With this simple key combination, I gain another 15 virtual desktops.
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.
Don't use windows?
🥺👉👈
You really are cute.
I use it as a modifier chorded with another key in Linux for a number of things, like switching workspaces, opening a terminal or browser window, resizing windows, existing the graphical environment, locking the system, toggling floating windows, starting application launchers, toggling a window's fullscreen state, or toggling playing music. I think that as a modifier key, it's fine. I don't have tapping it alone do anything, and in general, don't like single-key operations like that; ditto for F-key operations.
It sounds like one can disable the tap-Windows-key-alone behavior on Windows via the autohotkey macro software package:
https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=101812
Yes since I use a lot of windowed fullscreen programs and it's the easiest eay to access the taskbar when I need it.
It is my modifier key for any window management keybind. Using alt or control might overlap with other apps or games. For example, I do super+r to open my app launcher or super+w to close a window. It does not do anything on its own.
I had mostly the same keybinds when I used windows. Ofc I can't remember how I did them as it was a long time ago.
All the time, both on Windows and KDE Plasma. It's especially convenient for starting an app you don't have pinned to your taskbar, just press the Windows key and then type the name of the app.
I used to use Super to open the application selector menu thing (similar to the start menu on my system). But I recently tweaked my keyboard shortcuts to add a bunch of ones using Super for application switching and stuff, so rebound it to Super+w.
I do, I prefer it as my method to escape full screen, idk why but I like it more than alt tab
Also use it for searching start menu quickly, eg; win + "settings", enter to get to settings quickly
I use it to get to AppData folder pretty often too, win + r, "%appdata%", enter
Also maximising windows (win + up arrow), and snapping windows left/right (and transitioning between dual screens)
Last use I can think of is to record, win + g opens the game screen thing, which has a handy record feature (win + shift + r is a quick way to instantly start recording)
Usually only in an emergency when stuff freezes up and I can't use the mouse to control windows anymore.
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.
I just use the shortcut key combinations. I haven't used the start menu in ages since I end up just using the search bar instead.
You can just hit the key and start typing, same function.
I hide my taskbar and sometimes it gets funky and a little shy and doesn't pop up. Pressing the Windows key pops it back up.
Once in awhile on my home non-windows machine I use it to pop the menu out to turn off the computer. Completely mood based.
Rarely used it in Windows (though my last home Windows was xp, pre-2010).
Use it often in Debian offshoot (xubuntu) to bring up the menu. {And type three or four first letters of a program to bring up}
Irony is silly.
I actually remove the windows UI button from the taskbar because I only use the keyboard button to pull it up
I use it on my laptop running a Debian based distro with KDE because I like how I can open the start menu thing. But for some reason I don't do it on my desktop.
Often use it, especially windows key + shit + B to clear the GPU
WIN+SHIFT+S - to start snipping WIN+L- lock the computer WIN+R - run a program dialog
Pretty much the only things I use it for.
to shut down because its just windows, up, down, enter
all keyboard
also for the snipping tool
I use it with the arrow keys fairly often to snap apps to sections of the screen.
Some terrible keyboards put it where alt should be and those should be burned.
I use a "normal" keyboard with a MacBook. I've rebound LAlt to be CMD and the Win key to be Option (to better mimic the MacBook keyboard). So theoretically I am using the Win key A LOT, just not for the intended usage.
Hot key Moving a game from monitor to monitor is pretty much impossible otherwise I thought.
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.
Not here. I don't use Windows and so I rebind the Win key (or, Super) for some quick functions.
Win + L to lock the screen
Win + K to blank it
Win + C for my calculator app
Win + T (and Ctrl+Shift+T) for a Terminal
Win + Left/Right arrow to cycle to the previous/next desktop
Bonus fun, I rebind the Right Alt key to a Compose key for typing Latin-1 diacritics in non UTF-8 applications. (Plus, I can't remember the U-codes)
I have removed the key cap on my home keyboard. It's still possible to press but you won't accidentally fumble it when you hit ctl or alt.
Only if my window has gone missing and I need to winkey + arrow keys it somewhere to get it back.
Other than that, no.
I mean early days, most of us pulled it off or disabled it so we wouldn't hit it by accident while playing FPS games.
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
I use it as an additional modifier key, Super. I bind stuff to its modified keys in my window manager, but also emacs intercepts them before the window manager and I have some bindings that do more or less the same thing in both emacs and my window manager. The operating system has no "intentions" for how I am meant to use the Super key but this usage is within what the designers anticipated for certain.
The only time I used it is when I wanted to bring up emoji easier without copy and pasting them from a website. Otherwise I prefer to just click because I can't bother remembering all of the shortcuts. Since then I've changed the OS.
In most linux tiling managers it is used with directional keys to nav windows and desktops.
the super key is one of my most used keys.
All the time. For shortcuts and opening programs.
Hey buddy, do you want to try some of this GNU/Linux?
You really are cute.
I'll use it if alt tab isn't working to get me to another open program. But that's pretty much it.
I also have my most used programs pinned to the task bar. And that bar is vertical, thank you.
nope, never. not even on windows boxes