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.
this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024
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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.
nope - but the start menu has been dogshit for years now, so I try to avoid start menu as much as possible- I use pinned icons and a few desktop shortcuts.
I mostly use win key fo:
- win+D
- win+E
- win + arrow
- win+shift+S
- win+R
- ctrl+shift +win+B (dodgy usb-c port replicator needs to be slapped every now and again)
- win+L , i probly use that less than ctrl alt del to lock.
Win + L to lock
Win + D to minimise all windows
Win + arrow key to snap window to half a screen
Win +shift+s to get snapshots
Win +r to get to run command, generally for opening applications in safe mode
Win to quickly start search for apps or settings
I use it to open the start menu a lot. Especially if I'm in a full screen application.
Win key + L to lock.
I use it a lot
I hit the windows key, type and hit enter to open programs a lot. I literally have no desktop icons showing, I don't like the look and taking my hands off the keyboard to click stuff takes longer anyways.
I also do windows + number to open/switch to pinned programs a lot.
Yeah, of course! Some full screen programs, mostly games, will not let you tab out to the desktop, so i use the windows key to open the start menu which also pops up the taskbar so i can swap to something else.
Alt-escape should still work on these as well. Effectively minimises them.
Didn't know about alt+esc. I'll try that next time and see if it does the job. Thank you!
Edit: yup! This works without having to deal with the start menu.
The Super key? Yes all the time to pull up the GNOME action menu and to use shortcuts. Super+E for file browser window, +B for browser, +T for terminal window I use often.
Windows key + type to open whichever app i need to open that's not already pinned to my taskbar.
Shift + win + s to take a screenshot.
Often use it, especially windows key + shit + B to clear the GPU
Do I use the "super" key as the OS intended it ? As a Gnome user, absolutely yes ! All the time ! Do I use the Windows key as Microsoft intended it ? Also yes, because of Gnome.
I even swapped out for a custom “super” key that matches the font of my keyboard and lets the rgb shine through.
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.
Constantly, I don't use desktop icons so I am always pressing Win then typing the first 6 letters of the program that I want and hitting enter. I know wintab and winenter search programs exist, but for what I use it for the default one is fine and it is one less program constantly running in the background
Turns out, yes, everyone does use this key. A lot.
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.
I don't ever use the start menu for anything. I can't be bothered to look through that mess.
Instead I press the windows key and type the first few letters of whatever I need, unless it's already stickied to the bar. It's fewer key presses than clicking through the start menu. I suppose that still counts as opening the start menu, even if I don't use the actual menu structure.
I also use the windows + arrow keys to toss windows around the multiple screens. It has a lot of other purposes, like creating extra desktops etc, which I admittedly never use.
It's a useful button for sure, but it does get a little overwhelming when combined with shift ctrl or alt . I can't possibly remember all the uses, but I have the most commonly used on muscle memory.
I would count pressing the winkey and use start to search and launch an application as using the start menu.
but I got to wondering if anyone, ever actually uses it to access the start menu.
Yes definitely. Try pressing the Windows key and type the first few letters of the app name you're looking for, it's way way faster than mousing around clicking and scrolling through the Start Menu.
Also Windows key + E to open the file explorer gets used a lot. And windows key + L to lock the screen, I do that one a lot when walking away from the desktop at work.
Hell yes. I'm not taking the time go move my hand to the mouse, find the cursor with my eyes, move the mouse and then move hands back to type. That's asinine.
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.
Not here. I don't use Windows and so I rebind the Win key (or, Super) for some quick functions.
Win + L to lock the screen
Win + K to blank it
Win + C for my calculator app
Win + T (and Ctrl+Shift+T) for a Terminal
Win + Left/Right arrow to cycle to the previous/next desktop
Bonus fun, I rebind the Right Alt key to a Compose key for typing Latin-1 diacritics in non UTF-8 applications. (Plus, I can't remember the U-codes)
I use it for shortcuts in my linux
Yeah, the mod key is my best friend with Sway, I literally can't avoid using it
Yes I do.
🪟 + ⬅️/➡️/⬇️/⬆️ snaps windows into tiles on your screen or maximize/minimizes them.
🪟 + shift + S is the shortcut for the ‘new’ snipping tool
Sure, 🪟 alone opens and closes the start menu, but when opens opened, your curser is already the search bar so if you want to quickly open an app, it’s just: 🪟, first few letters of the app, Enter
I don’t use it as much, but: Ctrl +🪟 + ⬅️/➡️ cycles you through virtual desktops
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.