Solved My Windows Key doesn't work

Vince53

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604
Location
Chapala, Jalisco, Mexico
I had been using the Windows key to switch back and forth from Metro to desktop. When I am in Metro, pressing it does nothing, but it works everywhere else. I simply click on the desktop icon, so it's no big deal, but is there a solution?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Basically the Windows key switches between the current open window and the previous window. If there is no background application running then there is nothing to switch. Same with the Desktop, if its closed from the switch list nothing will happen if you press the Window Key. You can check your background apps by pressing Win + Tab Key .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68XP-UD4-B3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 8GB-DDR3-1600 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 650Ti Boost 2GB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung B2230
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB SATA III
    PSU
    Corsair TX 650m
    Case
    CM 690 Original
    Cooling
    Corsair H60
    Keyboard
    Logitech Standard USB
    Mouse
    Logitech Standard USB
Hokey Smokes, Folks, you're both right! All this time I had been using the Windows key to go back and forth, and it only worked because I had just been there. I went to desktop, used the Windows key to go to Metro (no problem) hit it again, and I was back on desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
:thumbsup:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68XP-UD4-B3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 8GB-DDR3-1600 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 650Ti Boost 2GB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung B2230
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB SATA III
    PSU
    Corsair TX 650m
    Case
    CM 690 Original
    Cooling
    Corsair H60
    Keyboard
    Logitech Standard USB
    Mouse
    Logitech Standard USB
Basically the Windows key switches between the current open window and the previous window. If there is no background application running then there is nothing to switch. Same with the Desktop, if its closed from the switch list nothing will happen if you press the Window Key. You can check your background apps by pressing Win + Tab Key .

Win + Tab wasn't working for me...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
If there aren't any apps running in background, then Win + Tab will not Work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68XP-UD4-B3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 8GB-DDR3-1600 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 650Ti Boost 2GB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung B2230
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB SATA III
    PSU
    Corsair TX 650m
    Case
    CM 690 Original
    Cooling
    Corsair H60
    Keyboard
    Logitech Standard USB
    Mouse
    Logitech Standard USB
Doesn't work when Desktop is running in the background.


Finally figured out you need at least two Metro applications running for it to work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
Yup you need two apps to switch between. Metro start menu is not an app ! :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500k
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68XP-UD4-B3
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance 8GB-DDR3-1600 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GTX 650Ti Boost 2GB
    Sound Card
    Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung B2230
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Western Digital Caviar Black 1.5 TB SATA III
    PSU
    Corsair TX 650m
    Case
    CM 690 Original
    Cooling
    Corsair H60
    Keyboard
    Logitech Standard USB
    Mouse
    Logitech Standard USB

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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