What is the Start Menu?

Some of you surely installed applications and accessed some files or folders in your system that is easily available in the Start menu. On a Windows desktop, selecting Start in the bottom-left corner will normally bring up the Start menu. Let’s discuss all the necessary details about the start menu in Windows like its function, working, and structure.

What is the Start Menu?

Start Menu is a GUI element found in Windows OS. It works as a central hub for operating various programs. Start menu plays a very important role in the computer interface. It maintains a list of pinned and frequently used software or apps in the OS so that when you need software again the OS will open it for you without delay. In the early days, it came with the Windows 95 version and underwent numerous testing and updations. Nowadays you will see a start menu with highly interactive graphics and much more functions that can be used for efficiently operating the system.

Where is the Start menu?

You can access the start menu by simply pressing the start button which can be seen at the lower left side of the window. You can slightly customize it by changing the taskbar’s location. You can only see this start menu in the window’s version because it is not available in other OS.

Which versions of Windows, have the Start menu?

It seems to be a very funny question but you can see in all the versions of Windows, Microsoft has provided this start button in its operating system. The only version of Windows that doesn’t have a start menu is Windows 8 because it is created for the touch laptop and therefore no need to provide a start menu.

What is Accessible in the Start menu?

You can see both of the images belongs to the start menu but the only difference is in there window’s version. First one is belongs to window XP and other one belongs to window 7.

Window XP

In above image you can see start menu of Window XP. similarly you can see start menu of Window 7 in below given image. lets understand the options which are present in start menu.

Window 7

• Left pane: Any pinned application shortcuts or recently launched programs are displayed in the left pane. The recently run programs are arranged after one pinned program, which is divided by a line in the example above.
• Every program: Here you can see the list of all the program located at the left pane of the window.
• Search: If you having any trouble in finding program then you can use search option which is situated at under the “All Program” option.
• Right pane: In the right side, you can see the recently used program or files which includes Music, Control panel, Document etc.
• Shut down: At the end you can see a shut down button. It will turn off your whole system and it is located at the right pane. Here you can also change user and you can log off or sleep your computer temporarly.

Start Menu of Windows 10

In the below, image you can see the start menu of window 10 that has been changed a lot. Now it has been completely changed and have more colorful interface and userfriendly programs. Here you can see a tiles patter that is copy from window 8. You can access all of the application from the left pane.

How to Acccess Start Menu With the Keyboard

To navigate start menu through the keyboard, you can simply use tab key in the keyboard and it will show you a block type rectangular box on the program that you want to open. Just press enter when you get at the intented progam or function. Then you want to navigate in the folder just use the arrow keys to navigate there.

How to Close Start Menu?

It is very easiest task to do in your computer. You can simply just click anywhere outside the start menu then your start menu interface will be close. If you want to close start menu through the use of keyboard then just press Esc button.

Frequently Asked Questions on Start Menu – FAQs

How can i get out through start menu?

To close the Start menu, get the mouse pointer anywhere outside of it and click.

How to open start menu with keyboard?

Just press Ctrl+Esc and then your menu willl pop up.

Describe quick launch icon?

Quick launch icon is a best feature that can allow you to access recently or frequently used applications.