<P> In Common Building Block Keyboard Specification, all CBB compliant keyboards were to comply with the Windows Vista Hardware Start Button specification beginning in 2007 - 06 - 01 . </P> <P> On Windows 9x and Windows NT families of Windows operating system, tapping the Windows key by itself traditionally revealed Windows Taskbar (if not visible) and opened the Start menu . In Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, this key launches the Start menu but doesn't show the taskbar . However, this feature was added back into Windows 10 . </P> <P> Pressing the key in combination with other keys allows invoking many common functions through the keyboard . Holding down Ctrl + Esc will not substitute for the Windows key in these combinations . Which Windows key combinations ("shortcuts") are available and active in a given Windows session depends on many factors, such as accessibility options, the type of the session (regular or Terminal Services), the Windows version, the presence of specific software such as IntelliType and Group Policy if applicable . </P> <P> Below is a list of notable shortcuts . Unless otherwise noted, they are valid in the next version of Windows . </P>

You can return to the start screen in windows 8 by pressing the windows key on the computer keyboard