Displaying the Start Menu Using the Keyboard

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 14, 2019)

The Start menu is the way in which you access many features, tools, and resources in Windows. Normally you display the Start menu by clicking the small Windows icon at the left side of the Taskbar. There are also ways you can display the Start menu using the keyboard, in case you don't want to take your hands off the keyboard. Either of these methods will work:

  • Press Ctrl+Esc
  • Click the keyboard key that has a Windows icon visible on it

You should note that the second method of displaying the Start menu only has meaning if you are using a Windows enhanced keyboard. Most keyboards provided with computer systems these days fall into this category, but if you are using an older system, you may not have such a key on the keyboard.

 This tip (10799) applies to Windows 7 and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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