Ask Lemmy

I use it all the time in Linux and even when I unfortunately have to use Windows. Launching an app from just the keyboard is useful. And, like you said, as the modifier key for a number of shortcuts I use a lot.

I have 3 main use cases for the Windows key:

1. Bring up the start menu and immediately type "cmd" + Enter to bring up a command prompt
2. Windows + L to lock the computer when I step away
3. Windows + arrow keys to move windows around on the screen and "dock" them to the sides of the screen (although this hasn't been consistently working for me more recently)

I don't think I ever use it for anything else. So yes, I do use it to bring up the start menu, but generally only to specifically bring up a command prompt window - all of my other commonly used programs are pinned to the taskbar so I can fire them up with a single click.

Use it constantly, as others have said windows -> type is the best way to use windows, and I do the same thing on my linux machines, actually a lot of the ones I use regularly are the same or similar in KDE (can't recall if it's out of the box or if I configured that)

CTL+windows+arrows to swap desktops (which have been in windows for a while now and I swear no one else uses), lots of ones around those are super useful. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows-dcc61a57-8ff0-cffe-9796-cb9706c75eec for reference.

Win key + V in Windows 10/11 is a must if you copy and paste often.

It shows your clipboard history which is great.

Only downside is passwords and you copy from a password manager, for example. Be careful if sharing your screen with others or surrounded by others or just cautious of the fact that the password is there in plain text to anything in the OS.

Not many people seem to know about it but it’s extremely helpful especially when doing repetitive tasks.

Windows Key + a lot of other keys are super useful shortcuts.

But I don't even use the start menu at all. It's rather pointless these days and also full of garbage.

Pretty sure however you’re using the windows key, that’s how it was intended to be used.

Yeah I use it to open the start menu. I'm on windows 10 so I have my daily used programs pinned to the taskbar, my frequently used programs organized in sections of tiles on the start menu, and for everything else I either type to search for it in the start menu or just Win+R and use the run dialog if it's a system component.

Likely moving to Linux when Windows 10 ends support. I've got enough experience with 11 to know I couldn't stand using it regularly

Edit: and I didn't really talk about using it as a hotkey because of your OP, but for the record I use it like that all the time too. Win arrow for window sizing, win shift arrow for moving things between monitors, win R, E, L, D, win semicolon for the emoji keyboard, win number row to quickly launch taskbar pins, win tab for the lulz sometimes, win shift S for snipping tool when I don't need to use shareX instead for a local copy of the snip, etc.

It is my modifier key for any window management keybind. Using alt or control might overlap with other apps or games. For example, I do super+r to open my app launcher or super+w to close a window. It does not do anything on its own.

I had mostly the same keybinds when I used windows. Ofc I can't remember how I did them as it was a long time ago.

All the time, both on Windows and KDE Plasma. It's especially convenient for starting an app you don't have pinned to your taskbar, just press the Windows key and then type the name of the app.

Definitely! Win-Tab (properly called Meta-Tab) is used to switch activities in KDE Plasma. With this simple key combination, I gain another 15 virtual desktops.

Yes since I use a lot of windowed fullscreen programs and it's the easiest eay to access the taskbar when I need it.

GNOME Linux I use it regularly to switch between tasks/windows, as well as windows+arrow keys to snap windows to edges or minimize them.

Well once upon a time xp through 7 at least clicking start menu and starting to type the name of an app worked really well rather than resulting in some weird as web search opened in edge searching for no reason for what you had typed. I'm 100% sure there is some 3rd party launcher that still works as well as the start menu did before they ruined it. If I still used it I would probably install that.

The App menu in Cinnamon (Linux Mint) Also has the same binding and like older windows actually works well too.

Win key + L to lock.

I use it a lot

Also if anyone comes here and posts “dOnT uSe wINdoWs,” you really are cute.

Don't use windows?

🥺👉👈

I use it as a modifier chorded with another key in Linux for a number of things, like switching workspaces, opening a terminal or browser window, resizing windows, existing the graphical environment, locking the system, toggling floating windows, starting application launchers, toggling a window's fullscreen state, or toggling playing music. I think that as a modifier key, it's fine. I don't have tapping it alone do anything, and in general, don't like single-key operations like that; ditto for F-key operations.

It sounds like one can disable the tap-Windows-key-alone behavior on Windows via the autohotkey macro software package:

https://www.autohotkey.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=101812

The purpose of the windows key is its the thing you press when the program freezes and alt+tab doesn't work.

I used to use Super to open the application selector menu thing (similar to the start menu on my system). But I recently tweaked my keyboard shortcuts to add a bunch of ones using Super for application switching and stuff, so rebound it to Super+w.

to shut down because its just windows, up, down, enter

all keyboard

also for the snipping tool

Often use it, especially windows key + shit + B to clear the GPU

With Internet searching disabled, the start menu is decent enough as a quick launcher and so I find myself hitting the Windows key quite often for that purpose.

On Linux there are better launchers that I'm too lazy to set up so still just hit Super and use the Application Launcher to find and run programs.

I use it on my laptop running a Debian based distro with KDE because I like how I can open the start menu thing. But for some reason I don't do it on my desktop.

I actually remove the windows UI button from the taskbar because I only use the keyboard button to pull it up

WIN+SHIFT+S - to start snipping WIN+L- lock the computer WIN+R - run a program dialog

Pretty much the only things I use it for.

Usually only in an emergency when stuff freezes up and I can't use the mouse to control windows anymore.

I do, I prefer it as my method to escape full screen, idk why but I like it more than alt tab

Also use it for searching start menu quickly, eg; win + "settings", enter to get to settings quickly

I use it to get to AppData folder pretty often too, win + r, "%appdata%", enter

Also maximising windows (win + up arrow), and snapping windows left/right (and transitioning between dual screens)

Last use I can think of is to record, win + g opens the game screen thing, which has a handy record feature (win + shift + r is a quick way to instantly start recording)

Rarely used it in Windows (though my last home Windows was xp, pre-2010).

Use it often in Debian offshoot (xubuntu) to bring up the menu. {And type three or four first letters of a program to bring up}

Irony is silly.

I hide my taskbar and sometimes it gets funky and a little shy and doesn't pop up. Pressing the Windows key pops it back up.

Once in awhile on my home non-windows machine I use it to pop the menu out to turn off the computer. Completely mood based.

I just use the shortcut key combinations. I haven't used the start menu in ages since I end up just using the search bar instead.