Finding Your Way Around Windows
When it comes to finding your way around Windows 10, it’s all about learning the different parts of the desktop.
Use the Start Menu
All the software programs and utilities on your computer are accessed via the Windows Start menu. Your most frequently used programs and basic Windows tools are listed on the left side of the Start menu; your favorite programs are “pinned” as tiles to the right side. To open a specific program, just click the icon or tile.
- Click the Start button to open the Start menu.
- Favorite programs are “pinned” to the right of the main Start menu in resizable tiles. To launch an application, click an item with your mouse, or move to that item using the arrow keys and press Enter on your keyboard.
To display a list of all applications installed on your PC, click All Apps.
- Applications in the All Apps list are listed in alphabetical order, organized by letter; click an app to open it.
- Some apps are organized in folders by publisher or type of application; click a folder to view its contents.
Click Back to return to the main Start menu.
Use the Taskbar
The taskbar is that area at the bottom of the Windows desktop. Icons on the taskbar can represent frequently used programs, open programs, or open documents.
- To open an application from the taskbar, click the application’s icon.
- To search your computer for files and apps, or the Web for additional information, click within the Cortana search box (“Ask me anything”) and type your query.
- To view all open applications in thumbnail form, click the Task View button.
To open File Explorer (to manage the files on your computer), click the File Explorer icon.
- The far right side of the taskbar is called the notification area, and it displays icons for essential Windows operations. To view more details about any item displayed in this area, click that item’s icon.
- To open the Windows Action Center, which includes system notifications and key actions, click the Notifications icon.