How to Use the Windows 10 Start Menu

Using the Start Menu

1. Open the Start Menu. There are two ways to access the Start Menu: from the desktop or from the keyboard.

   1. Click the Start
      button at the bottom-left corner of your screen. It's a white Windows icon. When you hover over it, its color changes to your set accent color.
   2. Press the ⊞ Win (Windows logo) keyboard key. It's usually located on the bottom row of your keyboard.
   3. When you click/tap the Start button or hit the Windows key, the Start Menu pops up. You will see two panes. The left pane contains the menu-based list of folders, applications shortcuts, settings, and functions familiar to Windows 7 users. The right pane contains the finger-friendly screen full of tiles (similar to the Start Screen in Windows 8) where you can access Windows apps.

2. Work with the menu column on left pane of the Start Menu. The left pane is divided into three general areas.

   1. On the top is the User Account section where you can find the active user account name and picture. Click/tap on this and you can lock the screen, sign out from the account, or change the account settings.
   2. Below the User Account section is a list of shortcuts to folders, programs, or apps that you configured to be placed on the Start Menu and those that you frequently use or have recently used. Clicking/tapping on the shortcut will open the folder or launch the application.
   3. Below this is the shortcut to 'File Explorer.' Clicking/tapping on this will open the File Explorer window.
   4. Next is the 'Settings' shortcut. Clicking/tapping on this will open the Settings menu in a different window. From the Settings menu, you can personalize your desktop, manage wired and wireless devices, set time and language, set privacy options, update Windows, among others.
   5. Below 'Settings' is the 'Power' button where you can shut down, restart, or hibernate your device.
   6. At the bottom is the 'All Apps' button. Clicking/tapping on 'All Apps' will expand the directory tree. All programs and apps installed in your computer will be listed in alphabetical order, and you can launch the app or program by clicking/tapping on it.

3. Work with the tiles on the right pane of the Start Menu. On the right pane are 'tiles' (tablet-style icons) that are shortcuts to folders or apps (usually Windows Store apps or built-in Windows apps). Clicking/tapping on a tile launches the app. Some of these tiles are 'live' tiles, some are 'static' tiles. Live tiles continuously display updated information from the app (weather updates, latest news, stock market movement, etc.). Static tiles are just app shortcuts.