Symptoms

Table of Contents: IntroductionIdentifying the Start Menu and shortcut keysIdentifying the Desktop and shortcut keysIdentifying the File Explorer application Introduction Getting up and running quickly after upgrading to a new operating system with a new layout and different options can be difficult. This guide covers the options available on Windows 10 and how you can quickly learn to locate and use them along with the relevant keyboard shortcuts. Note: Windows 10 has gone through several different revisions since it was released. The following information is relevant to the original release and the latest operating system release in 2021.

Cause

Identifying the Start Menu and shortcut keys Windows 10 in 2021 (Fig.1 Start Menu) 1Named Groups: Tiles are organized into Groups.2Live Tiles: Click a tile to open an app.3Start Button: Click here to open the Start Menu.4Apps List: List of all apps on the computer.5Power Button: Various options on shutting the computer down.6Settings: Open the system settings window.7Pictures: Open the Pictures Folder.8Documents: Open the Documents Folder.9Account: Click to switch to another account, lock the screen, or sign out.10Start Menu Basic Command Shortcuts CommandsKeyboard ShortcutsStart MenuWindows keyCopy a Folder or FileCtrl + CCut a Folder or FileCtrl + XPaste a Folder or FileCtrl + VCortana (Speech)Windows key + CCortana (Text)Windows key + SActions CenterWindows key + ATask ViewWindows key + TabClose AppAlt + F4Lock ComputerWindows key + LPrintCtrl + PFile ExplorerWindows key + ERun Dialog BoxWindows key + ROpen SettingsWindows key + IDevices PaneWindows key + KSharing PaneWindows key + HDisplay Options for second screenWindows key + PQuick Link MenuWindows key + X Windows 10 in 2019 (Fig.2 Start Menu) 1Named Groups: Tiles are organized into Groups.2Live Tiles: Click a tile to open an app.3Start Button: Click here to open the Start Menu.4All Apps: Open a list of all apps on the computer.5Power Button: Various options on shutting the computer down.6Settings: Open the system settings window.7File Explorer: File Manager Application.8Most Frequently Used Apps9Account: Click to switch to another account, lock the screen, or sign out. Basic Command Shortcuts CommandsKeyboard ShortcutsStart MenuWindows keyCopy a Folder or FileCtrl + CCut a Folder or FileCtrl + XPaste a Folder or FileCtrl + VCortana (Speech)Windows key + CCortana (Text)Windows key + SActions CenterWindows key + ATask ViewWindows key + TabClose AppAlt + F4Lock ComputerWindows key + LPrintCtrl + PFile ExplorerWindows key + ERun Dialog BoxWindows key + ROpen SettingsWindows key + IDevices PaneWindows key + KSharing PaneWindows key + HDisplay Options for second screenWindows key + PQuick Link MenuWindows key + X Show all | Hide all Start Menu To open the Start Menu: Click the Start button or press the Windows keyTo resize the App tile on the Start Menu: Right click on a tile, click size, and select a sizeTo rearrange Tiles: Tiles are organized into groups of related apps. Drag a tile to a new location in a group, or drag it between groups to start a new groupTo remove a Tile from the Start Menu: Right-click the tile and click Unpin from StartTo add a Tile to the Start Menu: Right-click the app and select Pin to StartTo stop updating an App's Live Tile: Right-click the app's tile and click Turn Live Tile offTo Search for Files or App's: Click within the Search field and type a keyword for the file or app. Search results are displayed in the menuTo rename Live Tile Groups: Click the Live Tile group's name and type in a new nameTo Lock your Computer: Click the Account button and select LockTo Sign out of Windows: Click the Account button and select Sign OutTo Switch Users: Click the Account button and select another user accountTo change Account settings: Click the Account button and select Change Account Settings Apps To Launch an App: Find and click the app's tile on the Start Menu, or select from the list in the Start Menu and select the app you want to openBrowse Different Apps: In the Apps list, click a letter header, then select another letter, to display all the apps that begin with that letterTo search for an App: Click within the Search field and type a keyword for the appTo view all installed Apps: Scroll down the list in the Start MenuTo Close an App: Click the Close button in the upper right-hand side corner of the app, or press Alt + F4To browse an Open App: Click the Task View button, or press the Windows key + Tab Note: Right-click an app and click Close to close it. To install an App: Install apps from the Windows Store, media such as DVDs or downloaded from the InternetTo Uninstall an App: Click the Start button and select Settings from the Start Menu. Click the System category and select Apps Á Features. Select the app that you want to uninstall and click the uninstall button Settings and Personalization To Personalize your PC: Click the Start button, select Settings from the Start Menu, and click the Personalization category from the Settings appChange Background: Choose integrated colors and pictures, or use your own. Select more than one picture to start a slide showChange Colors: Change Windows color and transparencyChange Lock Screen: Change the image that appears when the screen is lockedChange Start: Change what apps appear on the Start MenuChange Themes: Change Window's color scheme Back to Top Identifying the Desktop and shortcut keys Windows 10 in 2021 (Fig.3 Desktop) 1Cortana: Click to open Cortana to search for items.2Task View: Click to view all the open windows in Task View.3Pinned Program Icons: Click to open the program, rearrange icons by clicking and dragging.4Windows Taskbar: Point to the program icon on the taskbar and click a preview thumbnail to view the window.5Action Center: Displays your notifications and shortcuts on-screen.6Notification Area: The clock and other system icons are located here.7Show Desktop Button: Point or click here to make the open windows invisible. Desktop Command Shortcuts CommandsKeyboard ShortcutsDesktopWindows key + DMaximizeWindows key + Up Cursor ArrowMinimize or RestoreWindows key + Down Cursor ArrowSwitch between appsAlt + TabMinimize all windowsWindows key + MSnap app to leftWindows key + Left Cursor ArrowSnap app to rightWindows key + Right Cursor ArrowNew DesktopWindows key + Ctrl + DClose Current DesktopWindows key + Ctrl + F4Switch DesktopsWindows key + Ctrl + Left or Right Cursor Arrow Windows 10 in 2019 (Fig.4 Desktop) 1Cortana: Click to open Cortana to search for items.2Task View: Click to view all the open windows in Task View.3Program Icon: Click to open the program, rearrange icons by clicking and dragging.4Window Preview: Point to the program icon on the taskbar and click a preview thumbnail to view the window.5Action Center: Displays your notifications and shortcuts on-screen.6Notification Area: The clock and other system icons are located here.7Show Desktop Button: Point or click here to make the open windows invisible. Desktop Command Shortcuts CommandsKeyboard ShortcutsDesktopWindows key + DMaximizeWindows key + Up Cursor ArrowMinimize or RestoreWindows key + Down Cursor ArrowSwitch between appsAlt + TabMinimize all windowsWindows key + MSnap app to the leftWindows key + Left Cursor ArrowSnap app to the rightWindows key + Right Cursor ArrowNew DesktopWindows key + Ctrl + DClose Current DesktopWindows key + Ctrl + F4Switch DesktopsWindows key + Ctrl + Left or Right Cursor Arrow Desktop To Peek at Open Windows: Point to a program icon on the taskbar. Point at the resulting thumbnail preview to peek at the windowTo Minimize Other Windows: Press the Windows + the Home key together, or click and shake a windows title bar quickly from side to sideTo Compare Windows Side by Side: Click and drag a window's title bar to the right side of the screen and select a window thumbnail for the left side of the screen, or press either the windows key + the left cursor arrow or the windows key + the right cursor arrow keys togetherTo Maximize an Open Window: Click the window's Maximize window, or press the windows key + the up cursor arrow key togetherTo Switch Between Apps: Press Alt + Tab together to move quickly between open programs and windows on the desktop, or press the windows key + Tab to open Task View and select a window thumbnailTo Access Settings: Click the Start button and select Settings from the Start MenuTo Pin a Program to the Taskbar: Pin your favorite desktop apps to the taskbar so you can open them from within the desktop. Open the program that you want to pin, right click the program icon on the taskbar, and select Pin this program to the taskbar Action Center To Display Notifications: Click the Notifications icon on the taskbar, or swipe in from the right side of the screen on a touch screen, to open the Notification CenterCollapse Actions Center: Click Collapse to collapse the actions down to only the top row. The top row can be customized in the Settings app, so you can control which four actions are available when the list is collapsedAvailable actions include: All Settings: Opens the Settings appAirplane Mode: Toggling on turns off all radiosBattery Saver: Switches between battery save modes, dimming the screen and applying other settings to save powerBluetooth: Switch the Bluetooth radio on and offBrightness: Adjusts your screen's brightness between 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%Connect: Connects to wireless devices (For Example: Bluetooth)Location: Switch location services on and offNote: Opens a new note in Microsoft OneNoteQuiet Hours: A Do Not Disturb mode which blocks notifications from appearingRotation Lock: Locks portrait or landscape views in tabletTablet Mode: Switch tablet mode, which makes the computer act more like Windows 8 and includes full-screen apps, bigger touch targets, the Start Screen replaces the Start Menu, and so on.VPN: Displays VPN settings in the Settings AppWiFi: Switch Wi-Fi on and off (not used to find a network) Cortana Cortana allows you to search for apps, files or folders by typing in keywords, or saying the terms you are looking forYou can use Cortana's speech recognition by clicking the microphone button and saying the terms you are looking forTo open Cortana, click in the Cortana field to the right of the Start buttonCortana displays the results that are relevantYou can control your search results in Cortana's Notebook Back to Top

Resolution

Identifying the File Explorer application Windows 10 in 2021 (Fig.5 File Explorer) 1Address Bar: Displays the location of the folder that is currently open.2Title Bar: Click and drag to move the window.3Search Box: Enter keywords to search the folder.4Display Settings: Choose how you want to display the content within the File Explorer.5Navigation Pane: Provides quick navigation to folders and files, and enables you to browse to favorite locations. (For Example: Libraries, One Drive, This computer, and the network.)6Ribbon: Displays the buttons and menus for common commands. (Figure.6 Example of Menu Ribbon.) Windows 10 in 2019 (Fig.7 File Explorer) 1Address Bar: Displays the location of the folder that is currently open.2Title Bar: Click and drag to move the window.3Search Box: Enter keywords to search the folder.4Display Settings: Choose how you want the content within the File Explorer to be display.5Navigation Pane: Provides quick navigation to folders and files, and enables you to browse to favorite locations. (For example: Libraries, One Drive, This PC, and the network.)6Ribbon: Displays buttons and menus for common commands. Back to Top

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