Windows 101 - The Desktop
Windows 101: The Desktop
Now that you're familiar with the Windows interface, let's dive deeper into the Desktop. The Desktop is your main workspace, and understanding how it functions will help you stay organized and efficient.
What is the Desktop?
The Desktop is the first screen you see after logging into your computer. It serves as a workspace where you can place shortcuts to files, folders, and applications that you use frequently.
The Desktop is also where open program windows will appear. When you launch a program, its window will show up on the Desktop, where you can move and resize it as needed. This makes the Desktop the central area for managing everything you're working on at any given time.
Icons on the Desktop
The icons you see on the Desktop are shortcuts to files, folders, or applications. They are not the actual files themselves but links that give you quick access. These icons save time by providing direct access to frequently used tools.
To open any icon on the Desktop, you need to double-click it. This means pressing the left mouse button twice quickly. If the clicks are too slow, Windows won’t register it as a double-click, so a little practice might be needed to get used to it.
[picture] of the Desktop with icons labeled as shortcuts
Organizing the Desktop
It’s important to keep your Desktop organized to make it easier to find things. You can move icons around by clicking and dragging them into different spots. Some people prefer grouping similar icons together, while others keep everything in neat rows.
[gif] showing how to click and drag icons to organize the Desktop
Using the Desktop: Opening Programs
Now let’s walk through how to use a shortcut on the Desktop to open a program. For this example, we’ll use Google Chrome.
- Look for the Google Chrome icon on your Desktop. This icon is a shortcut to the Chrome web browser, which you can use to browse the internet.
- Once you’ve found it, double-click on the icon. Remember, that means pressing the left mouse button twice quickly.
- After double-clicking, Google Chrome will open in a new window on your Desktop. You can now use the browser to navigate the internet.
[gif] showing the Google Chrome icon being double-clicked and the program opening
Now that you know how to navigate and use the Desktop, you can easily open programs and organize your workspace. Next, we’ll take a closer look at the Taskbar and how it helps you manage open applications and windows.