A guide on where the win key is on the keyboard , what it is for, what it means and in which key combinations it is used.
If you recently came across a guide where they talked about key combinations and you were instructed to press the win key on the keyboard and you found it difficult to locate it on your keyboard, don’t worry. I’m here to help you understand what the Win key is on your keyboard and why it’s called the Win key.
Index
- What is the Win key
- Where is the Win key on the keyboard
- What is the Win key on the keyboard for
What is the Win key
Unlike the other keys on the keyboard, the Win (Windows) key is represented by the Microsoft operating system logo (a window) and is located at the bottom left between the CTRL and ALT keys .
This key, present in all PC keyboards with Windows operating system, with the exception of those Macs that have the apple key (Command), appeared for the first time with the release of Windows 95 . Adding it with the menu key made the keyboards switch from 101/102 to 104/105 keys.
Where is the Win key on the keyboard
On computers with Microsoft operating system, there are 2 Windows keys:
- The first is located to the left of the keyboard, between the CTRLkey and the ALT key .
- The second located to the right of the keyboard, between the ALT GRkey and the Menu key (symbol of a sheet with index).
On laptops there is only the key on the left with the Windows logo symbol and in some cases it may be between the FN and ALT key .
What is the Win key on the keyboard for
The Win key not only has an advertising purpose, but was created to allow the user to perform a series of operations that can be activated through the different key combinations.
This key has over 23 functions and replaces the mouse in many operations. By clicking on it and releasing it, for example, you can open the Start menu (or Start menu) and start typing something to perform a search.
The key combinations that allow you to open applications or perform operations with the help of the Win key are many, let’s see them together:
- Win + F1[Opens Windows Help and Support]
- Win [Show or hide the Start screen]
- Win + B[Set focus in notification area]
- Win + C[Opens Cortana]
- Win + D[Show and hide the desktop]
- Win + E[Open File Explorer]
- Win + F[Opens Feedback HUB]
- Win + G[Bring running applications to the front]
- Win + H[Opens dictation with voice command]
- Win + I[Opens access to Settings]
- Win + K[Opens access to devices]
- Win + L[Lock your PC or switch user]
- Win + M[Minimize All Windows]
- Win + O[Lock device orientation]
- Win + P[Change how to use a second monitor / projector]
- Win + Q[Opens search access also within an app]
- Win + R[Open Run Dialog]
- Win + S[Opens the search charm to search Windows and the Web]
- Win + T[Switch between apps on the taskbar]
- Win + U[Opens Ease of Access Center]
- Win + V[View all copied items]
- Win + SHIFT + V[Scroll notifications in reverse order]
- Win + W[Capture full screen and use Microsoft Whiteboard]
- Win + X[Opens Quick Link menu]
- Win + Z[Show commands available in the app]
- Win + F + CTRL[Opens the computer search function]
- Win +,[Take a temporary look at the desktop]
- Win + PAUSE[Displays the System Properties dialog box]
- Win + CTRL + F[Search PC (if you are on a network)]
- Win + SHIFT + M[Restore minimized windows to desktop]
- Win + (NUMBER 1-9)[Opens the desktop and launches the app stuck on the taskbar in the position indicated by the number. If the app is already running, switch to that app.]
- Win + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)[Opens the desktop and starts a new instance of the app stuck on the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + CTRL + (NUMBER 1-9)[Opens the desktop and switches to the last active window of the app stuck on the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + ALT + (NUMBER 1-9)[Opens the desktop and opens the Jump List for the app pinned to the taskbar in the position indicated by the number]
- Win + CTRL + SHIFT + (NUMBER 1-9)[Opens the desktop and opens a new instance of the app that is in the specified location on the taskbar as administrator]
- Win + TAB[Switch between recently used apps (except desktop apps)]
- Win + CTRL + TAB[Scroll through recently used apps (except desktop apps)]
- Win + SHIFT + TAB[Scroll through recently used apps (except desktop apps) in reverse order]
- Win + CTRL + B[Switch to the app that displayed a message in the notification area]
- Win + UP ARROW[Enlarge the window]
- Win + DOWN ARROW[Remove current app from screen or minimize desktop window]
- Win + LEFT ARROW[Maximizes the app or desktop window on the left side of the screen]
- Win + RIGHT ARROW[Maximizes the app or desktop window to the right side of the screen]
- Win + HOME[Minimize everything except the active desktop window (restore all windows on the second hit)]
- Win + SHIFT + UP ARROW[Stretch the desktop window to the top and bottom of the screen]
- Win + SHIFT + DOWN ARROW[Restore / minimize active desktop windows vertically, keeping width]
- Win + SHIFT + LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW[Move an app or window on the desktop from one monitor to another]
- Win + SPACEBAR[Change input language and keyboard layout]
- Win + CTRL + SPACEBAR[Switch to a previously selected input]
- Win + ENTER[Opens Narrator there]
- Win + SHIFT +. [Scroll through open apps]
- Win +. [Scroll through open apps]
- Win + /[Start IME Reconversion]
- Win + ALT + ENTER[Opens Windows Media Center]
- Win + +/-[Zoom in or out]
