Many people often wonder what that funny looking key is on their keyboard with a little flag on it. It’s referred to as the  “Windows Key”, or “Windows Logo Key” or “Start Key” and you can use it to perform many shortcuts to help improve your productivity.

Pressing the Windows key by itself, brings up the start menu, and from there you can navigate up and down the start menu with your keyboard arrow keys, and press enter on the program you want to launch.  No more mousing around!

There are several other Windows key combinations you can perform as well, by holding down the Windows Key and pressing another key:

  • Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)
  • Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)
  • Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)
  • Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)
  • Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)
  • Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)
  • CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)
  • Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)
  • Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)
  • Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)