Windows key

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Current Windows key (center) with four equal squares, reflecting the Windows 11 and modern Microsoft logos in use since 2021. Windows 11 key.jpg
Current Windows key (center) with four equal squares, reflecting the Windows 11 and modern Microsoft logos in use since 2021.
Windows 8 & 10 key with an isosceles trapezoid version of the Windows logo. Touche Windows 8 10.jpg
Windows 8 & 10 key with an isosceles trapezoid version of the Windows logo.
Windows Vista & 7 key with a centered logo within an orb.Windows XP used a similar logo without the orb and offset to the top left. CtrlWindowsAlt.jpg
Windows Vista & 7 key with a centered logo within an orb.Windows XP used a similar logo without the orb and offset to the top left.
Original Windows key used with Windows 95 & 98, with the logo offset to the top left. Ctl wndws alt.jpg
Original Windows key used with Windows 95 & 98, with the logo offset to the top left.

The Windows key (also known as the win,start, logo, flag or super [1] key) is a computer keyboard key originally introduced on Microsoft's Natural Keyboard in 1994. On Windows 95, it was used to open the start menu, and subsequently became standard on PC keyboards. In Microsoft Windows, Ctrl+Esc performs the same function, for keyboards which lack the key.

Contents

History and usage

The Windows key was introduced with Microsoft's Natural Keyboard in 1994. [2] The key was predated by the ⌘ Command key on Apple computers in the 1980s, and before that by the Super (or Meta ) key on Lisp/Unix workstation computers in the 1970s.

The addition of two Windows keys and a menu key marked a change from the traditional 101 or 102-key keyboard to a 104- or 105-key layout for PC keyboards. [3] One Windows key was placed between the left Ctrl and the left Alt and another, along with a menu key, was placed between the right Alt (or AltGr ) and the right Ctrl key.

Windows 95 required the key to be on a keyboard to qualify for the addition of the "Designed for Windows" logo, and used it to open the Start menu. The key was soon added by virtually all desktop keyboard manufacturers. The first laptop to bear the Windows key was the Gateway Solo. [4]

In laptops and other compact keyboards, it is common to have just one Windows key (usually on the left side). On Microsoft's Entertainment Desktop sets, designed for Windows Vista, the Windows key is in the middle of the keyboard, below all other keys, where the user's thumbs rests. Some keyboards during the Windows Vista and Windows 7 eras featured a circular bump surrounding the logo, distinguishing it tactility.

On Windows 8 tablet computers, hardware-certification requirements initially mandated that the Windows key be centered on the bezel, below the screen, except on a convertible laptop, where the button was allowed to be off-center in a tablet configuration. This requirement was relaxed in Windows 8.1, allowing the Windows key to be placed on any bezel or edge of the unit, though a central location along the bottom bezel was still preferred. [5]

Licensing

Microsoft regulates the appearance of the Windows key logo with a specially crafted license for keyboard manufacturers. With the introduction of a new Windows logo with Windows XP, the agreement was updated to require that the new design be adopted for all keyboards manufactured after 1 September 2003. [6] With the introduction of Windows Vista, Microsoft published guidelines for a new Windows Logo key that incorporated the Windows logo recessed in a chamfered lowered circle with a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 with respect to its background. [7]

In the Common Building Block Keyboard Specification, all CBB compliant keyboards were to comply with the Windows Vista Hardware Start Button specification beginning on 1 June 2007.[ citation needed ]

The Unicode character U+229E⊞ SQUARED PLUS () resembles the look of the key, as of Windows 11 .

Use within Windows

From Windows 95 to Windows 7, tapping the Windows key by itself traditionally revealed the Windows Taskbar (if hidden) and opened the Start menu. In Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, the key launches the Start screen but does not show the taskbar. However, this feature was added back in Windows 10.

Pressing the key in combination with other keys (i.e., as a modifier key) allows the invocation of many common functions. Holding down Ctrl+Esc is not a substitute for the Windows key itself in these combinations. Which Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given session depends on many factors, such as active accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software, such as IntelliType, and Group Policy, if applicable.

Below is a list of native shortcuts. The list is cumulative: unless otherwise noted, they were carried through to subsequent version of the operating system.

Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0

The following shortcuts are valid in Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0. [8] [9]

Windows 2000

Windows 2000 introduced the following:

Windows XP

Windows XP introduced the following:

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Windows XP Media Center Edition introduced:

Windows Vista

Windows Vista introduced the following:

Windows 7

Windows 7 introduced the following:

Windows 8

Windows 8 introduced the following:

Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 introduced the following:

Windows 10

Windows 10 introduced the following: [14]

Windows 11

Windows 11 introduced the following:

Microsoft Office

Various Microsoft Office applications introduced the following:

Using aftermarket scripts, users can also create custom shortcuts.

Use with other operating systems

The Windows key can also be used on other operating systems, though it usually carries a different name in them. Some cross-platform applications refer to the key as the OS key.

X/Wayland (used on Linux and similar) use the keysym "Super" [22] for the Windows key(s), and toggles the MOD4 shift bit. Most Unix desktop environments use it much like Windows, with Super activating a primary menu similar to the Windows Start menu, and in combination with character keys performing actions such as run-command, often with the shortcuts and actions the same as Windows for familiarity. A common action that is not shared with Windows is for the Super key to allow dragging a window around from any location without raising it.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into a macOS computer, the Windows key acts as the ⌘ Command. As Alt or AltGr acts as ⌥ Option, the physical locations of the keys that act as Command and Option are swapped. Plugging a Macintosh keyboard into a Windows (or Linux) machine does the reverse mapping and thus also swaps the Windows and Alt key locations.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into a computer running ChromeOS, the Windows key acts as the Search key. A standard ChromeOS keyboard has this key in the location where Caps Lock usually is.

If one plugs a Windows keyboard into an Xbox 360, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as the Guide button on Xbox 360 Controller or remote controls, opening the Xbox Guide. Holding down the Windows key and pressing M opens a pop up conversation window over gameplay, if an instant message conversation is in progress. On an Xbox One or Xbox Series S/X, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as pressing the Xbox button on the controller.

On a PlayStation 3 console, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as the PS Button on the Sixaxis and DualShock 3, opening the XrossMediaBar.

References

  1. ↑ "Ubuntu using Windows key(Super key) to Launch Gnome Main Menu - Ubuntu Sharing". Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Fisher, Lawrence M. (6 September 1994). "Microsoft Is Bringing Out Its First Computer Keyboard". The New York Times .
  3. ↑ Initially, 104-key keyboards were frequently called "Windows keyboards" but this denomination has become less and less used with time.
  4. ↑ DiCarlo, Lisa (14 August 1995). "Gateway aims to fly solo; high-end line optimized for Win 95, comes with extra cache". PC Week. 12 (32). Ziff-Davis: 6 – via Gale.
  5. ↑ "Windows Hardware Certification Requirements for Client and Server Systems". MSDN . Microsoft. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  6. ↑ Microsoft Corporation. "Microsoft Windows Logo Key Logo License Agreement Amendment". Archived from the original on 23 March 2006.
  7. ↑ "Windows Vista Hardware Start Button". Microsoft . Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Windows 95 Tips.txt File Contents". Support.microsoft.com. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Microsoft Windows shortcut keys". Computerhope.com. 1 April 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Keyboard shortcuts - Windows 8, Windows RT". Windows 8, RT Help. Microsoft . Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  11. ↑ Thurrot, Paul (26 June 2013). "Hands-On with Windows 8.1: Power User Menu". Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows. Penton . Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Chen, Raymond (14 January 2014). "How do I hit the Win+PrintScreen hotkey if my tablet doesn't have a PrtSc key?". The Old New Thing. Microsoft . Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Keyboard shortcuts Windows 8.1, Windows RT 8.1". Microsoft . Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Morris, Paul (31 July 2015). "New Windows 10 Keyboard Shortcuts [List]". Redmond Pie. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  15. ↑ "Windows 10 October 2018 Update: the 10 best new features". The Verge. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  16. ↑ "Make the most of your time with the new Windows 10 update". Microsoft. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  17. ↑ Lopez, Napier (10 June 2017). "Windows 10 now has an emoji shortcut (it's about time)". The Next Web. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "Use dictation to talk instead of type on your PC". Microsoft. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
  19. ↑ microsoft365.com or Microsoft 365 (app for Windows).
  20. ↑ "Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companion". Microsoft. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26227 (Canary Channel)". 30 May 2024.
  22. ↑ on earlier versions of Linux "Meta" was often used
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