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 actually remove the windows UI button from the taskbar because I only use the keyboard button to pull it up
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
Plus Win+arrow keys to move a window around, maximize, or minimize it. I use it ALL THE TIME.
Can you edit these key bindings?
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.
I often use win+v for the clipboard history and win+shift+s for taking screenshots.
I had to google ctrl shift with dogs l, and…
It k8nd of makes sense: I bet the type of person who actually use this hockey is the same kind of person who reposts motivational corporate shite every 10 minutes.
win + ; for some fun ascii art
win + x brings up a useful alternate start menu
Also “win + - > or <-” to move a tile to left or right side.
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
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 desktopBonus 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)
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.
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
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 use it for shortcuts in my linux
Yeah, the mod key is my best friend with Sway, I literally can’t avoid using it
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.
to shut down because its just windows, up, down, enter
all keyboard
also for the snipping tool
Turns out, yes, everyone does use this key. A lot.
but I got to wondering if anyone, ever actually uses it to access the start menu.
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.
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.
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.
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.
