Windows 8 Consumer Preview is full of new things and guess what Start screen is my favorite addition to Windows 8. And in this blog post I am sharing a quick guide that includes new and old keyboard shortcuts that may help you get started with Windows 8 Start screen. So here we go –
Start screen- Initially Start screen runs automatically with Windows as it is explorer.
![Windows 8 Charms Windows 8 Charms](https://windowsvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Windows-8-Charms.jpg)
- Keyboard: Windows logo key
- Mouse: Point lower-left corner and click on Start thumbnail.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge.
The charms- Search, Share, Start, Devices, and Settings
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + C
- Mouse: Point lower-right or upper-right corner.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge.
Search charm: is used to find Apps, Windows Settings, Files – all from one place. And it begins searching for Apps by default as you start typing.
![Windows 8 Start screen - Search charm Windows 8 Start screen - Search charm](https://windowsvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Search-charm.jpg)
Search for Apps:
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + Q
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner, click on Search charm and then click Apps.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge, tap on Search charm and then tap Apps.
Search for Windows Settings:
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + W
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner, click on Search charm and then click Settings.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge, tap on Search charm and then tap Settings.
Search for Files:
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + F
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner, click on Search charm and then click Files.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge, tap on Search charm and then tap Files.
Share charm: allows you to share links, pictures to social networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn directly (Just like Windows Phone)
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + H
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner and click on Share charm.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge and tap on Share charm.
Start charm: takes you to Start screen or last running App
- Keyboard: Windows logo key
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner and click on Start charm.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge and tap on Start charm.
Devices charm: is a central place, helps you to send files, manage second screen (extended display), printers and more.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + K
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner and click on Devices charm.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge and tap on Devices charm.
Settings charm: has all basic tasks like shutting down your PC and controls like volume, screen brightness similar to old taskbar notification area.
![Windows 8 Start screen - Settings charm Windows 8 Start screen - Settings charm](https://windowsvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Settings-charm.jpg)
Besides Setting charm also shows current running App settings when you open without leaving the App you’re in.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + I
- Mouse: Point top-right or bottom-right corner and click on Settings charm.
- Touch: Swipe in from right edge and tap on Settings charm.
App Bar – Appears at the top and bottom of screen and shows common Save, Edit, and other commands as per the App you’re in.
![Windows 8 Start screen - App bar Windows 8 Start screen - App bar](https://windowsvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/App-bar.jpg)
It also shows All Apps command when you open on Start screen.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + Z
- Mouse: Right click in an open space (no text or images).
- Touch: Swipe up or down from either edge.
Switch between Apps – lets you jump from the App you’re in to previous one.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + Tab
- Mouse: Point top-left corner and click on a App thumbnail.
- Touch: Swipe in from left edge.
Snap Apps – allows you to keep two Apps side by side by sharing one-third of the screen, or expand it to two-thirds or full screen.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + . (period)
- Mouse: Point top-left corner, hold left-click on the App thumbnail and drag to left or right side of screen until a border appears then move separator to expand/change the shared screen area. Or righ-click on the App thumbnail and click Snap left or Snap right.
- Touch: Slide an App from left edge and move separator to expand/change the shared screen area.
Note: The screen resolution must be 1366 x 768 or higher to snap apps.
Pin to Start– Initially when you install a new app or program; the app is pinned automatically to Start. Or you can also pin an app, shortcut, system folders etc by right click on the item and click Pin to start.
- To unpin, just select the tile and use command Unpin from Start from App bar.
Close an App –
- Mouse: Point top-left corner, right click on the App thumbnail and click Close.
- Keyboard: Alt + F4
Show desktop –
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + D
- Mouse: Click on Desktop tile.
- Touch: Tap Desktop tile.
Quick Access Menu – As name suggests it provides quick access to some common places and administrative tools like Computer Management, Command Prompt, Search, Control Panel, Network Connections etc.
![Windows 8 - Quick Access Menu Windows 8 - Quick Access Menu](https://windowsvalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Quick-Access-Menu.jpg)
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + X
- Mouse: Point bottom-left corner and right click.
Take Screenshot – The old print screen is enhanced and automatically save screenshots in Pictures folder.
- Keyboard: Windows logo key + PrntScr (Print Screen)
This is it for the time being! I wish it may help to you to get familiar with the Start screen quickly.
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