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Return to Windows shortcuts, Windows cheatsheet

Press the Win key + X keys and release.

The Win+X Quick Link menu is a pop-up menu from the Start button that includes shortcuts of common management, configuration, and other power user Windows tools.

Starting with Windows 10 build 15014, the Win+X flyout has been updated to say “Apps and Features” instead of “Programs and Features”.

The Windows-X menu provides a rich launch experience into the troubleshooting tools of Windows, including Windows Power Options, Windows Event Viewer, Windows System (also Win-Pause), Windows Device Manager, Windows Network Connections, Windows Disk Management, Windows Computer Management and Windows Command Prompts.

“Microsoft introduced the Win + X shortcut almost ten years ago when the company showed Windows 8. The Win + X menu is a convenient way to access some of the frequently used tools in Windows: Windows Command Prompt (now Windows Terminal,) Disk Management, Device Manager, Task Manager, File Explorer, shutdown commands, etc.” Fair Use Source: https://winaero.com/how-to-open-the-win-x-menu-in-windows-11

Windows + X Shortcuts

To use the following Windows shortcuts keep in mind that you have to press Windows Key + X, then release both keys and then press the appropriate key.

Windows + X + A = Starts PowerShell with administrative privileges Windows + X + E = Starts Explorer (same as Windows + E) Windows + X + F = Starts Apps & Features Windows + X + G = Starts Windows Computer Management (compmgmt.msc) Windows + X + I = Starts PowerShell in user mode Windowx + X + K = Starts Windows Disk Management (diskmgmt.msc) Windows + X + M = Starts Windows Device Manager (devmgmt.msc) Windows + X + N = Starts Windows Settings (formerly control.exe) Windows + X + O = Starts Windows Power & Sleep Windows + X + R = Starts Run dialog (same as Windows + R) Windows + X + S = Starts Windows Search Dialog Windows + X + T = Starts Windows Task Manager Windows + X + U = Starts Windows Shut down or Windows Sign out Windows + X + V = Starts Windows Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) Windows + X + W = Starts Windows Network Status Windows + X + Y = Starts Windows About

But there’s more …

If you press Windows + X + U then it goes even further. You then have the option to select Windows Disconnect, Windows Sign Out, Windows Shutdown or Windows Restart by pressing an additional key. It’s then a fourfold combination 😉

That means, you can now use the following combinations as you see fit:

Windows + X + U + D = Disconnect

Windows + X + U + I = Sign Out

Windows + X + U + U = Shutdown

Windows + X + U + R = Restart

Fair Use Source: https://sid-500.com/2018/08/21/windows-10-cheat-sheet-for-the-windows-x-keyboard-shortcuts

All the tools that WinX displays are taken from a dedicated folder that contains three folders-Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3. Each of these folders contains shortcuts to the power tools. You can access them by executing the path in File Explorer or Run prompt: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX.

Fair Use Source: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-the-winx-menu-and-how-to-open-it-in-windows-11

Fair Use Sources:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/inside/windows-x-menu
• https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1984-open-win-x-quick-link-menu-windows-10-a.html
• https://winaero.com/winx-menu-editor-for-windows-10-and-windows-8
• https://www.thewindowsclub.com/what-is-the-winx-menu-and-how-to-open-it-in-windows-11
• https://sid-500.com/2018/08/21/windows-10-cheat-sheet-for-the-windows-x-keyboard-shortcuts
• https://winaero.com/how-to-open-the-win-x-menu-in-windows-11