Taskbar and Start Menu
The Taskbar and Start Menu are your control centre on a Windows computer. You use them to open programs, switch between tasks, and shut down the computer.
The Taskbar
The Taskbar sits at the very bottom of your screen. It always stays visible, even when a program is open. Every program you open appears as a button on the Taskbar so you can switch between them easily.
⊞ Start
🔍 Search
📝 Notepad
🌐 Browser
📁 Files
🔊 🌐 🔋
10:45 AM
10:45 AM
The blue button (Notepad) is the active/open program right now.
The Start Menu
Click the Start button (⊞) to open the Start Menu. It shows all your installed programs, recent files, and important options like Settings and Shut Down.
⊞ Start Menu
Notepad
Paint
Calculator
Settings
File Explorer
🔴 Shut Down
🔁 Restart
💤 Sleep
System Tray (Bottom Right)
The bottom-right corner of the Taskbar is called the System Tray. It shows small icons for Wi-Fi, sound volume, battery level, and the time. Click any icon to quickly change that setting.
💡 Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open and close the Start Menu without using the mouse.
Quick Exercise
Q1. Where is the Taskbar located on the screen?
✅ At the bottom of the screen. It stays visible at all times.
Q2. How do you open the Start Menu?
✅ Click the Start button (⊞) or press the Windows key on the keyboard.
Q3. Where do you look to check your battery level or Wi-Fi signal?
✅ In the System Tray at the bottom-right corner of the Taskbar.
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