INTERFACE™ TUTORIALS

How use the Windows Key

This page describes the use of the "Windows key" on the keyboard.

The Windows ^® key was introduced to the computer keyboard in 1995. Pressing that key corresponds to clicking the Windows ^® button on the Windows Taskbar. It is sometimes impossible to click the start button if is not visible or if the mouse cursor is not visible (for example if a DOS program is running in full screen mode). In these situations the Windows key can be used as an alternative. Pressing the Ctrl and Escape key at the same time (Ctrl+Esc) corresponds to clicking the Windows Start button. This displays the Windows Start menu and restores your desktop to the foreground. The start menu looks like this: