Tips&TricksUnlocking the secret of the Windows logo key: More than just a shortcut to Start

Unlocking the secret of the Windows logo key: More than just a shortcut to Start

Button with the Windows logo.
Button with the Windows logo.
Images source: © Adobe Stock | wachiwit

11:18 AM EST, January 26, 2024

The maiden operating system "Windows 95" revealed features such as a desktop concept, a taskbar, the Start menu, and application icons. These were all intended to ease navigation and the operation of a computer. The well-known key bearing the logo was originally designed to take us to the Start menu. Yet today, its functions have expanded beyond this original purpose.

Keyboard shortcuts to simplify your tasks

The key carrying the logo serves as an ingenious conduit to various computer functions. We're about to lay bare a handful of reliable tricks using this enigmatic key. By applying them you'll find improvements in efficiency, privacy protection, and most importantly, overall comfort during your work sessions.

Let's start with the keyboard shortcut "Windows + L". By simultaneously pressing these keys, your screen will lock, an ideal feature for securing your computer when you step away from your desk. Unlocking the screen simply requires re-entering your password. Another helpful shortcut is "Windows + arrow to the side", which enables you to partition your screen into multiple, simultaneously visible windows. This feature allows you to customize your screen's layout to your taste. However, this particular shortcut is only functional on computers running the Windows 10 software, rendering it inaccessible on older models.

The functions of the Windows key

Pressing the "Windows + E" combination will present you with a disk preview, a nifty tool that can shave seconds off fiddly window adjustments. The "Windows + A" command summons the action center, "Windows + H" invokes dictation, and "Windows + T" aids in toggling between applications on the taskbar.

Modern keyboards are equipped with thousands of shortcuts designed to enhance everyday computer interactions. Likely, you've accidentally struck an unexpected key combination causing an unfamiliar computer function to manifest, and perhaps even alarm you. The primary objective in such scenarios is to revert to the original state; in order to avoid unwittingly deleting vital files, or worse still, completely blocking access to the start screen. Should such an unfortunate event occur, seeking professional IT assistance to resolve your dilemma might be necessary.

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