Introduction: Hidden Powers of the "Windows" Key on Your Keyboard. 8 Situations Where It Can Help You (+video Inside)
Here's how you can give an extra boost to your productivity with some really unknown shortcuts.
I found on different websites, various uses of the largely ignored
"Windows" key on our keyboard. Turned out there are quite some
useful shortcuts this key can offer.
I made a list of them and then decided to select the most useful and put them in a video. So, there you have it.
Hope you find it useful.
Spread the word, send this video to other friends and ask them
if they knew these shorcuts. Actually, I had no idea about them until 2 days ago after I discovered a blog post about this key and started to do some research about them.
It's quite a productivity booster, if you ask me.
So, start using them and tell me how you feel about it.
I found on different websites, various uses of the largely ignored
"Windows" key on our keyboard. Turned out there are quite some
useful shortcuts this key can offer.
I made a list of them and then decided to select the most useful and put them in a video. So, there you have it.
Hope you find it useful.
Spread the word, send this video to other friends and ask them
if they knew these shorcuts. Actually, I had no idea about them until 2 days ago after I discovered a blog post about this key and started to do some research about them.
It's quite a productivity booster, if you ask me.
So, start using them and tell me how you feel about it.
Step 1: The List of the Commands
Here's the list of the commands shown in the video:
(for the users with narrow bandwidth/dialup)
Press "Win key" : Opens Start Menu
Press "Win key+ E": Opens up Windows Explorer
Press "Win key+ R": Opens the Run command.
Press "Win key+ F": Opens up the Search Files window
Press "Win key+ D": Shows the Desktop
Press "Win key+ D" again: Brings up all the windows back
Press "Win key+ M": Minimizes all open windows
Press "Win key+ F1": Brings up the Help Menu
Press "Win key+ Pause/Break": Shows the System Properties box
;)
61 Comments
7 years ago
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12 years ago on Introduction
Wow. Being using Windows for over a decade now and this is really new to me. It's weird that all those OS-tips I have seen had never "revealed" these simple commands, thank you very much.
16 years ago on Introduction
Is there a Windows combo that will give me back 2:03 minutes of my life back?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
pres windows logo, then follow this guide https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation
14 years ago on Step 1
Check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_key#Shortcuts for them all!
14 years ago on Step 1
Win + L locks PC. Just found out.
15 years ago on Step 1
Win + M Minimizes, but Win + Shift + M opens them up again ;) Also, to piss people off at school hold Win + E or Win + F1 down on their computers.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Everybody holds down Windows + E while you go out of the room. Fun if you do it, but not if youre on the receiving end.
15 years ago on Step 1
win key + any of the numbers opens up the corresponding quicklaunch icon ie. the person who wrote that win key + 3 opens IE has that as their 3rd quick launch icon.... my 3rd one happens to be my documents and that is what is opened when I press win key + 3.
15 years ago on Step 1
win key+u opens accessibility options just noticed that you missed that good instructables and really cool!!!
16 years ago on Introduction
I found them on various sites. Some of them were stating different things. So, for example try out the combination "Win key + L" - On the site you linked here they say it locks Windows. Yet on other sites they say this command logs you off. At my computer it logs me off, actually it performs the "Switch User" command and brings up the User List. Other users said it locked up their Windows. And, would you really wanted to know about the "Win key + U" command? Because it brings up the utility manager, a control panel for helping those visually and hearing impaired. Or "Win key + B" - try it out, it focuses on the first icon in your systray. That's also a useless command. All I did was selecting them and putting them in a video. But, if you wish, I will edit this instructable and put a text list also. ;)
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Win+L locks your comp if you have you have your login password protected might be different on XP Home but I've only used it on pro.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
Win + B... damn. I could have used that last month when my wireless mouse ran outta juice. Instead I wasted 5 minutes of my life digging in the kitchen junk drawer. Hmm. we need an instructable on how best to dig through the kitchen junk drawer. loose thumbtacks buried in rubber bands and string is dangerous (or hilarious!)
16 years ago on Step 1
Winkey+3 opens internet explorer
16 years ago on Introduction
dont forget also Win+L makes you lock user/log out
16 years ago on Introduction
videos nice but i like something you put in a list because if you want something you can search it up instantly
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
I use them for up/down volume in Ubuntu.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
i use it to open a new terminal window in gnome
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
You use Ubuntu? So do I!! TGT
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
I use it on some of my computers too, and I got my old middle school to use edubuntu on their new dells they're getting!