Quick Tip: Using the Quick Access Menu

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Most of us have probably gotten use to Windows 8′s new interfaces — and if we haven’t, we’ve probably downgraded by now. Today’s tip is for the mouse & keyboard users that have stuck around long enough to actually try and make Windows 8 a joy to use. Microsoft has included a somewhat hidden menu in Windows 8, (Okay, maybe not “hidden,” but it is still not very widely known) called the “quick access menu.” It’s accessible by simply hovering your mouse over the start button hot-corner and giving a right click.

The menu provides — as the name implies — quick access to many common system administration features and applications such as Device Manager, Control Panel, and the Command Prompt. Of those listed, I probably use the quick access menu to open up “Run” most frequently, because next easiest way (unless you have a shortcut on the desktop) is to open up the Charms bar and search for it. Also fairly useful is the “System” button, which you previously reached (in Windows 7) by right clicking “My Computer” in the start menu.