Windows key

Windows 95 used it to bring up the start menu and it then became a standard key on PC keyboards.

On computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, Ctrl+Esc performs the same function, in case the keyboard lacks this key.

Some keyboards during the Windows Vista and 7 era feature a circular bump surrounding the logo which distinguishes its feeling from the other buttons.

On Windows 8 tablet computers, hardware certification requirements initially mandated that the Windows key be centered on the bezel below the screen, except on a convertible laptop, where the button is allowed to be off-center in a tablet configuration.

[citation needed] The Unicode character U+229E ⊞ SQUARED PLUS resembles the look of the key, as of Windows 11[update].

For example, various Microsoft Office applications add shortcuts of their own: The Windows key can also be used on other operating systems, though it usually carries a different name in them.

X/Wayland (used on Linux and similar) use the keysym "Super"[22] for the Windows key(s), and toggles the MOD4 shift bit.

Plugging a Macintosh keyboard into a Windows (or Linux) machine does the reverse mapping and thus also swaps the locations.

On a PlayStation 3 console, pressing the Windows key performs the same action as the PS Button on the Sixaxis and DualShock 3, opening the XrossMediaBar.

Windows 11 features a design reflecting the current Windows and Microsoft logos, using four equally sized squares.
The previous Windows key (center) shipping with Windows 8 , Windows 8.1 , and Windows 10
The Windows key (center) with an orb surrounding the center-anchored Windows logo used for Windows Vista and Windows 7 . For Windows XP , the logo had no orb surrounding it and was off-center to the left.
The first Windows key (center) used by Windows 95
Tilde Exclamation mark At sign Number sign Dollar sign Percent sign Caret Ampersand Asterisk Parenthesis Parenthesis Underscore Plus sign Backspace Backtick 1 (number) 2 (number) 3 (number) 4 (number) 5 (number) 6 (number) 7 (number) 8 (number) 9 (number) 0 Hyphen-minus Equals sign Backspace Tab key Q W E R T Y U I O P Curly bracket Curly bracket Vertical bar Tab key Q W E R T Y U I O P Square bracket Square bracket Backslash Caps lock A S D F G H J K L Colon (punctuation) Quotation mark Enter key Caps lock A S D F G H J K L Semicolon Apostrophe Enter key Shift key Z X C V B N M Bracket Bracket Question mark Shift key Shift key Z X C V B N M Comma (punctuation) Full stop Slash (punctuation) Shift key Control key Windows key Alt key Space bar Alt key thumb Menu key Control key