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<title>Windows shell</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows shell</span></span>

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</style><table class="infobox vevent"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above summary">Windows shell</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="Programmer" title="Programmer">Developer(s)</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="Operating_system" title="Operating system">Operating system</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Microsoft_Windows" title="Microsoft Windows">Microsoft Windows</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="Software_categories#Categorization_approaches" title="Software categories">Type</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Graphical_user_interface" title="Graphical user interface">Graphical user interface</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="Software_license" title="Software license">License</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="Proprietary_software" title="Proprietary software">Proprietary</a> <a href="Commercial_software" title="Commercial software">commercial software</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space: nowrap;">Website</th><td class="infobox-data"><span class="url"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/shell-entry">learn<wbr>.microsoft<wbr>.com<wbr>/en-us<wbr>/windows<wbr>/win32<wbr>/shell<wbr>/shell-entry</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table>

<p>The <b>Windows shell</b> is the <a href="Graphical_user_interface" title="Graphical user interface">graphical user interface</a> for the <a href="Microsoft_Windows" title="Microsoft Windows">Microsoft Windows</a> operating system. Its readily identifiable elements consist of the desktop, the taskbar, the <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a>, the task switcher and the <a href="AutoPlay" title="AutoPlay">AutoPlay</a> feature. On some versions of Windows, it also includes Flip 3D and the charms. In <a href="Windows_10" title="Windows 10">Windows 10</a>, the Windows Shell Experience Host interface drives visuals like the Start Menu, Action Center, Taskbar, and Task View/Timeline. However, the Windows shell also implements a shell <a href="Namespace" title="Namespace">namespace</a> that enables computer programs running on Windows to access the computer's resources via the hierarchy of shell objects. "Desktop" is the top object of the hierarchy; below it there are a number of files and folders stored on the disk, as well as a number of special folders whose contents are either virtual or dynamically created. <a href="Recycle_Bin_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="Recycle Bin (Windows)">Recycle Bin</a>, <a href="Features_new_to_Windows_7#Libraries" title="Features new to Windows 7">Libraries</a>, <a href="Control_Panel_(Windows)" title="Control Panel (Windows)">Control Panel</a>, <a href="My_Computer" class="mw-redirect" title="My Computer">This PC</a> and <a href="My_Network_Places" title="My Network Places">Network</a> are examples of such shell objects.

</p><p>The Windows shell, as it is known today, is an evolution of what began with <a href="Windows_95" title="Windows 95">Windows 95</a>, released in 1995. It is intimately identified with <a href="File_Explorer" title="File Explorer">File Explorer</a>, a Windows component that can browse the whole shell namespace.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Features">Features</h2></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Desktop">Desktop</h3></div>

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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="Desktop_metaphor" title="Desktop metaphor">Desktop metaphor</a></div>

<p>Windows Desktop is a full-screen <a href="Window_(computing)" title="Window (computing)">window</a> rendered behind all other windows. It hosts the user's <a href="Wallpaper_(computing)" title="Wallpaper (computing)">wallpaper</a> and an array of <a href="Computer_icon" class="mw-redirect" title="Computer icon">computer icons</a> representing:

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<ul><li><b>Files and folders</b>: Users and software may store <a href="Computer_file" title="Computer file">computer files</a> and <a href="Folder_(computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Folder (computing)">folders</a> on Windows desktop. Naturally, on a newly installed version of Windows, such items do not exist. Software installers commonly place files known as <a href="File_shortcut" class="mw-redirect" title="File shortcut">shortcuts</a> on the desktop, allowing users to launch installed software. Users may store personal documents on the desktop.</li>

<li><b>Special folders</b>: Apart from ordinary files and folders, <a href="Special_folder" title="Special folder">special folders</a> (also known as "shell folders") may appear on the desktop. Unlike ordinary folders, special folders do not point to an absolute location on a <a href="Hard_disk_drive" title="Hard disk drive">hard disk drive</a>. Rather, they may open a folder whose location differs from computer to computer (e.g. <a href="My_Documents" title="My Documents">Documents</a>), a virtual folder whose contents is an aggregate of several folders on disk (e.g. <a href="Recycle_Bin_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="Recycle Bin (Windows)">Recycle Bin</a> or <a href="Features_new_to_Windows_7#Libraries" title="Features new to Windows 7">Libraries</a>) or a folder window whose content is not files, but rather user interface elements rendered as icons for convenience (e.g. <a href="My_Network_Places" title="My Network Places">Network</a>). They may even open windows that do not resemble a folder at all (e.g. <a href="Control_Panel_(Windows)" title="Control Panel (Windows)">Control Panel</a>).</li></ul>

<p><a href="Windows_Vista" title="Windows Vista">Windows Vista</a> and Windows 7 (and the corresponding versions of Windows Server) allowed <a href="Windows_Desktop_Gadgets" title="Windows Desktop Gadgets">Windows Desktop Gadgets</a> to appear on the desktop.

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<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Taskbar">Taskbar</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="Taskbar" title="Taskbar">Taskbar</a></div>

<p>Windows taskbar is a <a href="Toolbar" title="Toolbar">toolbar</a>-like element that, by default, appears as a horizontal bar at the bottom of the desktop. It may be relocated to the top, left or right edges of the screen. Starting with <a href="Windows_98" title="Windows 98">Windows 98</a>, its size can be changed. The taskbar can be configured to stay on top of all applications or to collapse and hide when it is not used. Depending on the version of operating system installed, the following elements may appear on the taskbar respectively from left to right:

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<ul><li><b>Start button</b>: Provides access to the <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a>. Removed in <a href="Windows_8" title="Windows 8">Windows 8</a> (but can be added using third-party software), in favor of the Start charm (see below), only to be reinstated in <a href="Windows_8.1" title="Windows 8.1">Windows 8.1</a>. Pictured as a Windows logo.</li>

<li><b>Quick Links menu</b>: Added in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Invoked by right-clicking on the Start button, or pressing <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1249182868">

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</style><kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">X</kbd>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Grants access to several frequently used features of Windows, such as accessing the desktop, Settings, <a href="Windows_Command_Processor" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows Command Processor">Windows Command Processor</a>, <a href="Windows_Power_Shell" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows Power Shell">Windows Power Shell</a>, and <a href="File_Explorer" title="File Explorer">File Explorer</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>

<li><b>List of open windows</b>: Along the length of the taskbar, open windows are represented by their corresponding program icons. And once pinned, they will remain even after their respective windows are closed. Until Windows 7, the operating system displayed active windows as depressed buttons in this list. Starting with Windows 7, the icon for each open window is framed by a translucent box, and multiple open windows for the same program can be accessed by clicking the program's icon. When the open window icon is hovered over with the mouse, a preview of the open window is shown above the icon. However, the taskbar can be changed to function more as it does with older versions of Windows. Starting from Windows 7, the open windows icons can be configured to show the program icon only, referred to as "combining taskbar buttons", or give the program name alongside the program icon.</li>

<li><b>Shortcuts</b>: An update to <a href="Windows_95" title="Windows 95">Windows 95</a> and <a href="Windows_NT_4" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows NT 4">Windows NT 4</a> added a Quick Launch Bar that can hold file, program, and action shortcuts, including by default the "show desktop" command. Windows 7 <a href="Features_new_to_Windows_7#Taskbar" title="Features new to Windows 7">merged this area into the list of open windows</a> by adding "pinning" and "jump list" features.</li>

<li><b>Deskbands</b>: Toolbars provided by Windows or other programs for easier access to that program's functions; for more information, see <a href="Taskbar#Desktop_toolbars" title="Taskbar">Taskbar § Desktop toolbars</a></li>

<li><b>Notification area</b>: Allows programs to display icons representing their status as well as <a href="Pop-up_notification" title="Pop-up notification">pop-up notifications</a> associated with those icons. By default, Windows volume control, network status, <a href="Action_Center" title="Action Center">Action Center</a>, date and time are displayed in this area. Windows 11 combines the notification center and clock/calendar into one menu.</li>

<li><b>"Show desktop" button</b>: Allows users to access their desktops. It is moved from the left of the Taskbar as a Quick Launch shortcut to the rightmost side as its own dedicated hover button in <a href="Windows_7" title="Windows 7">Windows 7</a>. Not initially visible in Windows 8. Once the mouse cursor is hovered upon for a second, makes all windows transparent as long as the pointer stays over the button, thus showing the desktop without switching to it: this feature requiring Aero. Clicking the button dismisses all open windows and transfers the focus to the desktop. Clicking it again before selecting any other window reverts the action. This feature also available on Windows 8, 8.1, 10, and 11.</li>

<li><b>Task View</b>: A function in Windows 10 and 11 allowing the user to view and manage open windows and virtual desktops. The 1803 version includes the Timeline, adding the ability to view and open previously used apps over a certain period of time. Task View can be accessed by pressing the Task View button on the taskbar, or by pressing <a href="Windows_Key" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows Key">Windows Key</a>+Tab on the keyboard. Timeline was removed in Windows 11.</li>

<li><b>Cortana and Search</b>: User can utilize Microsoft's <a href="Cortana_(virtual_assistant)" title="Cortana (virtual assistant)">Cortana</a> Virtual Assistant, which enables internet searches, searches for apps and features on the PC, and searches for files and documents. Cortana can be accessed by clicking the search bar, pressing the microphone button, saying "Hey Cortana", or by pressing Windows Key+C on the keyboard. Searches can be initiated by also pressing the search bar, or by pressing Windows Key+Q on the keyboard.</li>

<li><b>Action Center</b>: Introduced in Windows 7, the Action Center gave notifications and tips on boosting computer performance and security. In Windows 10, the Action Center serves as a place for all notifications to reside, as well as the location of frequently used settings, such as screen brightness, wireless connectivity, <a href="VPN" class="mw-redirect" title="VPN">VPNs</a>, <a href="Bluetooth" title="Bluetooth">Bluetooth</a>, projector connections, and wireless display connections. Replacing the Charms from Windows 8, the Windows 10 Action Center can be accessed by pressing the speech bubble icon on the taskbar, pressing Windows Key+A on the keyboard, or, if using a touchscreen, swiping from the right. In Windows 11, the Action Center was removed in favor of the Quick Settings menu and the notification center. Windows Key + A now opens Quick Settings, while Windows Key + N opens the notification center.</li>

<li><b>Widgets</b>: Windows 11 introduced a "Widgets" feature which replaces the functionality of live tiles seen in the Windows 8 and 10 Start Menus. By signing in with a Microsoft Account, the user can personalize the information they wish to see in the Widgets panel, including weather, news, sports, calendar events, etc. Widgets are not a replacement for Desktop Gadgets found in Windows Vista and Windows 7.</li>

<li><b>Quick Settings</b>: A taskbar menu introduced in Windows 11 that unifies the functionality of Windows 10's Action Center and system tray icons. Network settings, battery, and sound settings can be accessed by clicking on the Quick Settings menu, as well as accessibility options, Bluetooth toggle, screen brightness, Focus Assist, and other features. Media playback controls are now housed in the Quick Settings menu instead of a hovering menu like in Windows 10.</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Task_switching">Task switching</h3></div>

<p>Task switcher is a feature present in <a href="Windows_3.0" title="Windows 3.0">Windows 3.0</a> and all subsequent versions of Windows. It allows a user to cycle through existing application windows by holding down the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd> key and tapping the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> key. Starting with Windows 95, as long as the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd> key is pressed, a list of active windows is displayed, allowing the user to cycle through the list by tapping the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> key. An alternative to this form of switching is using the mouse to click on a visible portion of an inactive window. However, <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> may be used to switch out of a full screen window. This is particularly useful in video games that lock, restrict or alter mouse interactions for the purpose of the game. Starting with Windows Vista, Windows Desktop is included in the list and can be activated this way.

</p><p>Windows 7 introduced Aero Flip (renamed Windows Flip in Windows 8). When the user holds down the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd> key, Aero Flip causes only the contents of the selected window to be displayed. The remaining windows are replaced with transparent glass-like sheets that give an impression where the inactive window is located.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Windows 8 introduced <a href="Metro-style_app" class="mw-redirect" title="Metro-style app">Metro-style apps</a>, which did not appear when <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> was pressed. (They have to be switched with their own dedicated task switcher, activated through the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> combination.) Windows 8.1 extended <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Alt</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> to manage the Metro-style apps as well.

</p><p>Windows 10 and 11 have a unified task switcher called <a href="Task_View_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="Task View (Windows)">Task View</a>, which manages not only application windows but virtual desktops as well.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

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<p>Flip 3D is a supplemental task switcher. It was introduced with Windows Vista and removed in Windows 8. It is invoked by holding down the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd> key and tapping the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> key. As long as the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd> key remains pressed, Windows displays all application windows, including the Desktop, in an <a href="Isometric_projection" title="Isometric projection">isometric view</a>, diagonally across the screen from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The active window at the time of pressing the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd> key is placed in front of the others. This view is maintained while <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd> key is held down. <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> and <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⇧ Shift</kbd>+<kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">Tab ↹</kbd> cycle through the open windows, so that the user can preview them. When the <kbd class="keyboard-key nowrap">⊞ Win</kbd> key is released, the Flip 3D view is dismissed and the selected window comes to the front and into focus.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Charms">Charms</h3></div>

<p>Windows 8 added a bar containing a set of five shortcuts known as the "charms", invoked by moving the <a href="Mouse_cursor" class="mw-redirect" title="Mouse cursor">mouse cursor</a> into the top or bottom right-hand corners of the screen, or by swiping from the right edge of a compatible touchpad or touch screen.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This feature was retained in 8.1.

</p><p><a href="Windows_10" title="Windows 10">Windows 10</a> removed the charms and moved the commands associated with them into the <a href="System_menu" class="mw-redirect" title="System menu">system menu</a> of each application.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> For users with touch screens, swiping from the right of the touch screen now shows <a href="Action_Center" title="Action Center">Action Center</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Removed_Start_Menu_Functions">Removed Start Menu Functions</h3></div>

<p>

</p>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a></div>

<p>Starting with Windows 95, all versions of Windows feature a form of <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a>, usually by this very same name. Depending on the version of Windows, the menu features the following:

</p>

<ul><li><b>Launching applications</b>: The menu's primary function is to present a list of <a href="File_shortcut" class="mw-redirect" title="File shortcut">shortcuts</a> for installed software, allowing users to launch them. Windows 8 and 10 utilize tiles in the start menu, allowing the user to display icons of different sizes, and arrange icons as the user chooses. Microsoft Store Metro-style apps can utilize live tiles, which are used to add visual effects and provide, for example, notifications for a specific app, such as Email notifications for Windows Mail.</li>

<li><b>Invoking special folders</b>: Until Windows 8, the Start menu was a mean of invoking special folders such as Computer, Network, Control Panel, etc. In Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, the only special folder that can be invoked from the Start screen is the desktop. Windows 10 restored this functionality.</li>

<li><b>Searching</b>: Starting with <a href="Windows_Vista" title="Windows Vista">Windows Vista</a>, searching for installed software, files and folders became a function of the Start menu. Windows 10 ended this tradition by moving the search into taskbar.</li>

<li><b>Managing power states</b>: <a href="Log_off" class="mw-redirect" title="Log off">Logging off</a> and <a href="Shutdown_(computing)" title="Shutdown (computing)">shutdown</a> has always been a function of the Start menu. In Windows 8, the shutdown function was moved out of the Start screen, only to be brought back in Windows 8.1 Update (in April 2014) with a sufficiently high screen resolution. Computer power states can also be managed by pressing Alt+F4 while focused on desktop, or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.</li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="AutoPlay">AutoPlay</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="AutoPlay" title="AutoPlay">AutoPlay</a></div>

<p>AutoPlay is a feature introduced in Windows XP that examines newly inserted removable media for content and displays a dialog containing options related to the type and content of that media. The possible choices are provided by installed software: it is thus not to be confused with the related <a href="AutoRun" title="AutoRun">AutoRun</a> feature, configured by a file on the media itself, although AutoRun is selectable as an AutoPlay option when both are enabled.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Relation_with_File_Explorer">Relation with File Explorer</h2></div>

<p><a href="File_Explorer" title="File Explorer">File Explorer</a> is a Windows component that can browse the shell namespace. In other words, it can browse disks, files and folders as a file manager would, but can also access Control Panel, dial-up network objects, and other elements introduced above. In addition, the <code>explorer.exe</code> executable, which is responsible for launching File Explorer, is also responsible for launching the taskbar, the Start menu and part of the desktop. However, the task switcher, the charms, or AutoPlay operate even when all instances of the <code>explorer.exe</code> process are closed, and other computer programs can still access the shell namespace without it. Initially called Windows Explorer, its name was changed to File Explorer beginning with Windows 8, although the program name remains <code>explorer.exe</code>.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="MS-DOS_Executive">MS-DOS Executive</h3></div>

<p>The first public demonstration of Windows, in 1983, had a simplistic shell called the Session Control Layer, which served as a constantly visible menu at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on Run would display a list of programs that one could launch, and clicking on Session Control would display a list of programs already running so one could switch between them.<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p><a href="Windows_1.0" title="Windows 1.0">Windows 1.0</a>, shipped in November 1985, introduced MS-DOS Executive, a simple file manager that differentiated between files and folders by bold type. It lacked support for icons, although this made the program somewhat faster than the file manager that came with <a href="Windows_3.0" title="Windows 3.0">Windows 3.0</a>. Programs could be launched by double-clicking on them. Files could be filtered for executable type, or by a user-selected wildcard, and the display mode could be toggled between full and compact descriptions. The file date column was not <a href="Year_2000_problem" title="Year 2000 problem">Y2K</a> compliant.

</p><p><a href="Windows_2.0" title="Windows 2.0">Windows 2.0</a> made no significant change to MS-DOS Executive.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Program_Manager">Program Manager</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Program_Manager" title="Program Manager">Program Manager</a></div>

<p><a href="Windows_3.0" title="Windows 3.0">Windows 3.0</a>, introduced in May 1990, shipped with a new shell called Program Manager. Based on Microsoft's work with <a href="OS/2" title="OS/2">OS/2</a> Desktop Manager, Program Manager sorted program shortcuts into groups. Unlike Desktop Manager, these groups were housed in a single window, in order to show off Microsoft's new <a href="Multiple-document_interface" title="Multiple-document interface">Multiple Document Interface</a>.

</p><p>Program Manager in <a href="Windows_3.1" title="Windows 3.1">Windows 3.1</a> introduced wrappable icon titles, along with the new Startup group, which Program Manager would check on launch and start any programs contained within.<sup id="cite_ref-12" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Program Manager was also ported to <a href="Windows_NT_3.1" title="Windows NT 3.1">Windows NT 3.1</a>, and was retained through <a href="Windows_NT_3.51" title="Windows NT 3.51">Windows NT 3.51</a>.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Start_menu">Start menu</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a></div>

<p><a href="Windows_95" title="Windows 95">Windows 95</a> introduced a new shell. The desktop became an interactive area that could contain files (including <a href="File_shortcut" class="mw-redirect" title="File shortcut">file shortcuts</a>), folders, and <a href="Special_folder" title="Special folder">special folders</a> such as <a href="Special_folder#Virtual_folders" title="Special folder">My Computer</a>, <a href="My_Network_Places" title="My Network Places">Network Neighborhood</a> and <a href="Recycle_Bin_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="Recycle Bin (Windows)">Recycle Bin</a>. <a href="Windows_Explorer" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows Explorer">Windows Explorer</a>, which replaced <a href="File_Manager_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="File Manager (Windows)">File Manager</a>, opened both ordinary and special folders. The <a href="Taskbar" title="Taskbar">taskbar</a> was introduced, which maintained buttons representing open windows, a digital clock, a notifications area for background processes and their notifications, and the Start button, which invoked the <a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a>. The Start menu contains links to settings, recently used files and, like its predecessor Program Manager, shortcuts and program groups.

</p><p>Program Manager is also included in Windows 95 for backward compatibility, in case the user disliked the new interface.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This is included with all versions of Windows up to and including Windows XP Service Pack 1. In SP2 and SP3, PROGMAN.EXE is just an icon library, and it was completely removed from Windows Vista in 2006.

</p><p>The new shell was also ported to Windows NT, initially released as the NewShell update for Windows NT 3.51 and then fully integrated into <a href="Windows_NT_4.0" title="Windows NT 4.0">Windows NT 4.0</a>.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Windows_Desktop_Update">Windows Desktop Update</h3></div>

<p>In early 1996, <a href="Netscape" title="Netscape">Netscape</a> announced that the next release of its browser, codenamed "Constellation", would completely integrate with Windows and add a new shell, codenamed "HomePort", which would present the same files and shortcuts no matter which machine a user logged into.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Microsoft started working on a similar Internet Explorer release, codenamed "<a href="Windows_Nashville" title="Windows Nashville">Nashville</a>". <a href="Internet_Explorer_4.0" class="mw-redirect" title="Internet Explorer 4.0">Internet Explorer 4.0</a> was redesigned and resulted in two products: the standalone Internet Explorer 4 and <a href="Windows_Desktop_Update" title="Windows Desktop Update">Windows Desktop Update</a>, which updated the shell with features such as <a href="Active_Desktop" title="Active Desktop">Active Desktop</a>, <a href="Active_Channel" title="Active Channel">Active Channels</a>, Web folders, desktop toolbars such as the Quick Launch bars, ability to minimize windows by clicking their button on the taskbar, HTML-based folder customization, single click launching, image thumbnails, folder infotips, web view in folders, <i>Back</i> and <i>Forward</i> navigation buttons, larger toolbar buttons with text labels, favorites, file attributes in Details view, and an address bar in Windows Explorer, among other features. It also introduced the <a href="My_Documents" title="My Documents">My Documents</a> shell folder.

</p><p>Future Windows releases, like Windows 95C (OSR 2.5) and <a href="Windows_98" title="Windows 98">Windows 98</a>, included Internet Explorer 4 and the features of the Windows Desktop Update already built in. Improvements were made in <a href="Windows_2000" title="Windows 2000">Windows 2000</a> and <a href="Windows_ME" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows ME">Windows ME</a>, such as personalized menus, ability to drag and sort menu items, sort by name function in menus, cascading Start menu special folders, customizable toolbars for Explorer, auto-complete in Windows Explorer address bar and Run box, displaying comments in file shortcuts as tooltips, advanced file type association features, extensible columns in Details view (IColumnProvider interface), icon overlays, places bar in common dialogs, high-color notification area icons and a search pane in Explorer.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Start_menu_and_taskbar_changes">Start menu and taskbar changes</h3></div>

<p><a href="Windows_XP" title="Windows XP">Windows XP</a> introduced a new Start Menu, with shortcuts to shell locations on the right and a list of most frequently used applications on the left. It also grouped taskbar buttons from the same program if the taskbar got too crowded, and hid notification icons if they had not been used for a while. For the first time, Windows XP hid most of the shell folders from the desktop by default, leaving only the Recycle Bin (although the user could get them back if they desired). Windows XP also introduced <a href="Features_new_to_Windows_XP#Other_shell_and_UI_improvements" title="Features new to Windows XP">numerous other shell enhancements</a>.

</p><p>In the early days of the <a href="Windows_longhorn" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows longhorn">Longhorn project</a>, an experimental sidebar, with plugins similar to taskbar plugins and a notifications history was built into the shell. However, <a href="Windows_Longhorn_Reset" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows Longhorn Reset">when Longhorn was reset</a> the integrated sidebar was discarded in favor of a separate executable file, <a href="Windows_sidebar" class="mw-redirect" title="Windows sidebar">sidebar.exe</a>, which provided Web-enabled gadgets, thus replacing Active Desktop.

</p><p><a href="Windows_Vista" title="Windows Vista">Windows Vista</a> introduced a searchable Start menu and live taskbar previews to the Windows shell. It also introduced a redesigned Alt-Tab switcher which included live previews, and <a href="Flip_3D" class="mw-redirect" title="Flip 3D">Flip 3D</a>, an application switcher that would rotate through application windows in a fashion similar to a <a href="Rolodex" title="Rolodex">Rolodex</a> when the user pressed the Win-Tab key combination. <a href="Windows_7" title="Windows 7">Windows 7</a> added 'pinned' shortcuts and 'jump lists' to the taskbar, and automatically grouped program windows into one icon (although this could be disabled).

</p><p><a href="Windows_Server_2008" title="Windows Server 2008">Windows Server 2008</a> introduced the possibility to have a Windows installation without the shell, which results in fewer <a href="Process_(computing)" title="Process (computing)">processes</a> loaded and running.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p><a href="Windows_8" title="Windows 8">Windows 8</a> removed Flip 3D in order to repurpose Win-Tab for displaying an application switcher sidebar containing live previews of active Windows Store apps for users without touchscreens.

</p><p><a href="Windows_10" title="Windows 10">Windows 10</a> added the possibility to have more than one virtual desktop, known as <a href="Task_View" title="Task View">Task View</a>, to group active program windows to their own virtual desktop. It is possible to navigate through these desktops using Ctrl+Win+Left or Right arrows, or by clicking on an icon in the taskbar, and creating them with Ctrl+Win+D. Win-Tab was repurposed to invoke an overview of all active windows and virtual desktops. Windows 10 also added <a href="Cortana_(software)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cortana (software)">Cortana</a> to the Start menu, to provide interaction with the shell through vocal commands. Newer versions of Windows 10 include recent <a href="Microsoft_Edge" title="Microsoft Edge">Microsoft Edge</a> tabs in the Alt-Tab menu, which can be disabled to only show open programs, as is the behavior in prior versions of the operating system.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Shell_replacements">Shell replacements</h2></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="List_of_alternative_shells_for_Windows" title="List of alternative shells for Windows">List of alternative shells for Windows</a></div>

<p>Windows supports the ability to replace the Windows shell with another program.<sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> A number of third party shells exist that can be used in place of the standard Windows shell.

</p>

<ul><li><a href="DOS_Shell" title="DOS Shell">DOS Shell</a></li>

<li><a href="Cmd.exe" title="Cmd.exe">Command Prompt</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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<li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.petri.co.il/understanding-windows-server-2008-core.htm">"Understanding Windows Server 2008 Server Core"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111025173458/http://www.petri.co.il/understanding-windows-server-2008-core.htm">Archived</a> from the original on October 25, 2011<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">October 30,</span> 2011</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576%28v=winembedded.5%29.aspx">"Windows XP Embedded: Different Shells for Different Users"</a>. <i>Microsoft Docs</i>. Microsoft. October 7, 2008. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130224050247/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576(v=WinEmbedded.5).aspx">Archived</a> from the original on February 24, 2013<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 18,</span> 2013</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

</ol></div></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>

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<div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikimedia Commons has media related to <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Microsoft_Windows_user_interface" class="extiw external" title="commons:Category:Microsoft Windows user interface">Microsoft Windows user interface</a></span>.</div></div>

</div>

<ul><li><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/shell-entry">"Windows Shell"</a>. <i>Windows App Development</i>. <a href="Microsoft" title="Microsoft">Microsoft</a>. January 7, 2021<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 1,</span> 2022</span> – via <a href="Microsoft_Docs" title="Microsoft Docs">Microsoft Docs</a>.</cite></li></ul>

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</style><div id="Microsoft_Windows_components875" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="List_of_Microsoft_Windows_components" title="List of Microsoft Windows components">Microsoft Windows components</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>

<li>Architecture

<li><a href="Booting_process_of_Windows" title="Booting process of Windows">Booting process</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_games_included_with_Windows" title="List of games included with Windows">Games</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Management<br>tools</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="App_Installer" title="App Installer">App Installer</a></li>

<li><a href="Cmd.exe" title="Cmd.exe">Command Prompt</a></li>

<li><a href="Control_Panel_(Windows)" title="Control Panel (Windows)">Control Panel</a></li>

<li><a href="Device_Manager" title="Device Manager">Device Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="DirectX_Diagnostic_Tool" title="DirectX Diagnostic Tool">DirectX Diagnostic Tool</a></li>

<li><a href="Disk_Cleanup" title="Disk Cleanup">Disk Cleanup</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Drive_Optimizer" title="Microsoft Drive Optimizer">Drive Optimizer</a></li>

<li><a href="Driver_Verifier" title="Driver Verifier">Driver Verifier</a></li>

<li><a href="Event_Viewer" title="Event Viewer">Event Viewer</a></li>

<li><a href="IExpress" title="IExpress">IExpress</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Management_Console" title="Microsoft Management Console">Management Console</a></li>

<li><a href="Netsh" title="Netsh">Netsh</a></li>

<li><a href="Performance_Monitor" title="Performance Monitor">Performance Monitor</a></li>

<li><a href="PowerShell" title="PowerShell">PowerShell</a></li>

<li><a href="Recovery_Console" title="Recovery Console">Recovery Console</a></li>

<li><a href="Resource_Monitor" title="Resource Monitor">Resource Monitor</a></li>

<li><a href="Settings_(Windows)" title="Settings (Windows)">Settings</a></li>

<li><a href="Sysprep" title="Sysprep">Sysprep</a></li>

<li><a href="MSConfig" title="MSConfig">System Configuration</a></li>

<li><a href="System_File_Checker" title="System File Checker">System File Checker</a></li>

<li><a href="System_Information_(Windows)" title="System Information (Windows)">System Information</a></li>

<li><a href="System_Policy_Editor" title="System Policy Editor">System Policy Editor</a></li>

<li><a href="System_Restore" title="System Restore">System Restore</a></li>

<li><a href="Task_Manager_(Windows)" title="Task Manager (Windows)">Task Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Error_Reporting" title="Windows Error Reporting">Windows Error Reporting</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Ink" title="Windows Ink">Windows Ink</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Installer" title="Windows Installer">Windows Installer</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Update" title="Windows Update">Windows Update</a>

<ul><li><a href="Windows_Insider" title="Windows Insider">Windows Insider</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Preinstallation_Environment#Windows_Recovery_Environment" title="Windows Preinstallation Environment">WinRE</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Application_software" title="Application software">Apps</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Microsoft_3D_Viewer" title="Microsoft 3D Viewer">3D Viewer</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Calculator" title="Windows Calculator">Calculator</a></li>

<li><a href="Calendar_(Windows)" title="Calendar (Windows)">Calendar</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Camera" title="Windows Camera">Camera</a></li>

<li><a href="Character_Map_(Windows)" title="Character Map (Windows)">Character Map</a></li>

<li><a href="City_Art_Search" title="City Art Search">City Art Search</a></li>

<li><a href="Clipchamp" title="Clipchamp">Clipchamp</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Clock" title="Windows Clock">Clock</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Intune" title="Microsoft Intune">Company Portal</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Copilot" title="Microsoft Copilot">Copilot</a></li>

<li><a href="Feedback_Hub" title="Feedback Hub">Feedback Hub</a></li>

<li><a href="Magnifier_(Windows)" title="Magnifier (Windows)">Magnifier</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Media_Player" title="Windows Media Player">Media Player</a>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Messaging" title="Microsoft Messaging">Messaging</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Mobility_Center" title="Windows Mobility Center">Mobility Center</a></li>

<li><a href="MSN#MSN_Money_app" title="MSN">Money</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Movies_%26_TV" title="Microsoft Movies & TV">Movies & TV</a></li>

<li><a href="Narrator_(Windows)" title="Narrator (Windows)">Narrator</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Notepad" title="Windows Notepad">Notepad</a></li>

<li><a href="OneDrive" title="OneDrive">OneDrive</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_OneNote" title="Microsoft OneNote">OneNote</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Paint" title="Microsoft Paint">Paint</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_PC_Manager" title="Microsoft PC Manager">PC Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="People_(Windows)" title="People (Windows)">People</a></li>

<li><a href="Phone_Link" title="Phone Link">Phone Link</a></li>

<li><a href="Photos_(Windows)" title="Photos (Windows)">Photos</a></li>

<li><a href="Quick_Assist" title="Quick Assist">Quick Assist</a></li>

<li><a href="Remote_Desktop_Connection" class="mw-redirect" title="Remote Desktop Connection">Remote Desktop Connection</a></li>

<li><a href="Snipping_Tool" title="Snipping Tool">Snipping Tool</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Speech_Recognition" title="Windows Speech Recognition">Speech Recognition</a></li>

<li><a href="Sticky_Notes" title="Sticky Notes">Sticky Notes</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Store" title="Microsoft Store">Store</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Terminal" title="Windows Terminal">Terminal</a></li>

<li><a href="Sound_Recorder_(Windows)" title="Sound Recorder (Windows)">Voice Recorder</a></li>

<li><a href="MSN#MSN_Weather_app" title="MSN">Weather</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Whiteboard" title="Microsoft Whiteboard">Whiteboard</a></li>

<li><a href="List_of_Remote_Desktop_Protocol_clients#Windows_App" title="List of Remote Desktop Protocol clients">Windows App</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Action_Center" title="Action Center">Action Center</a></li>

<li><a href="AutoPlay" title="AutoPlay">AutoPlay</a></li>

<li><a href="AutoRun" title="AutoRun">AutoRun</a></li>

<li><a href="ClearType" title="ClearType">ClearType</a></li>

<li><a href="File_Explorer" title="File Explorer">Explorer</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Search" title="Windows Search">Search</a>

<ul><li><a href="IFilter" title="IFilter">IFilter</a></li>

<li><a href="Indexing_Service" title="Indexing Service">Indexing Service</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Shell_namespace" title="Windows Shell namespace">Namespace</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_folder#Windows" title="Virtual folder">Saved search</a></li>

<li><a href="Special_folder" title="Special folder">Special folder</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="Start_menu" title="Start menu">Start menu</a></li>

<li><a href="Taskbar" title="Taskbar">Taskbar</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Spotlight" title="Windows Spotlight">Windows Spotlight</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_XP_visual_styles" title="Windows XP visual styles">Windows XP visual styles</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Windows_service" title="Windows service">Services</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<li><a href="Windows_Error_Reporting" title="Windows Error Reporting">Error Reporting</a></li>

<li><a href="Multimedia_Class_Scheduler_Service" title="Multimedia Class Scheduler Service">Multimedia Class Scheduler</a></li>

<li><a href="Service_Control_Manager" title="Service Control Manager">Service Control Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Shadow_Copy" title="Shadow Copy">Shadow Copy</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Task_Scheduler" title="Windows Task Scheduler">Task Scheduler</a></li>

<li><a href="Wireless_Zero_Configuration" title="Wireless Zero Configuration">Wireless Zero Configuration</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="File_system" title="File system">File systems</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<li><a href="ExFAT" title="ExFAT">exFAT</a></li>

<li><a href="NTFS_links" title="NTFS links">links</a></li>

<li><a href="NTFS_volume_mount_point" title="NTFS volume mount point">Mount Point</a></li>

<li><a href="NTFS_reparse_point" title="NTFS reparse point">Reparse point</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Server_(computing)" title="Server (computing)">Server</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Active_Directory" title="Active Directory">Active Directory</a></li>

<li><a href="Active_Directory_Rights_Management_Services" title="Active Directory Rights Management Services">Active DRM Services</a></li>

<li><a href="File_Replication_Service" title="File Replication Service">DFS Replication</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Distributed_Transaction_Coordinator" title="Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator">Distributed Transaction Coordinator</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_domain" title="Windows domain">Domains</a></li>

<li><a href="Folder_redirection" title="Folder redirection">Folder redirection</a></li>

<li><a href="Group_Policy" title="Group Policy">Group Policy</a></li>

<li><a href="Hyper-V" title="Hyper-V">Hyper-V</a></li>

<li><a href="Network_Access_Protection" title="Network Access Protection">Network Access Protection</a></li>

<li>Print Services for UNIX</li>

<li><a href="Remote_Desktop_Services" title="Remote Desktop Services">Remote Desktop Services</a></li>

<li><a href="Remote_Differential_Compression" title="Remote Differential Compression">Remote Differential Compression</a></li>

<li><a href="Remote_Installation_Services" title="Remote Installation Services">Remote Installation Services</a></li>

<li><a href="Roaming_user_profile" title="Roaming user profile">Roaming user profiles</a></li>

<li><a href="Server_Core" title="Server Core">Server Core</a></li>

<li><a href="SharePoint" title="SharePoint">SharePoint</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_System_Resource_Manager" title="Windows System Resource Manager">System Resource Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Deployment_Services" title="Windows Deployment Services">Windows Deployment Services</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Media_Services" title="Windows Media Services">Windows Media Services</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Software_architecture" title="Software architecture">Architecture</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Windows_Boot_Manager" title="Windows Boot Manager">Boot Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Console" title="Windows Console">Console</a></li>

<li><a href="Client/Server_Runtime_Subsystem" title="Client/Server Runtime Subsystem">CSRSS</a></li>

<li><a href="Desktop_Window_Manager" title="Desktop Window Manager">Desktop Window Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Enhanced_Write_Filter" title="Enhanced Write Filter">Enhanced Write Filter</a></li>

<li><a href="Graphics_Device_Interface" title="Graphics Device Interface">Graphics Device Interface</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Windows_library_files#Hardware_Abstraction_Layer" title="Microsoft Windows library files">Hardware Abstraction Layer</a></li>

<li><a href="I/O_request_packet" title="I/O request packet">I/O request packet</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Imaging_Format" title="Windows Imaging Format">Imaging Format</a></li>

<li><a href="Kernel_Transaction_Manager" title="Kernel Transaction Manager">Kernel Transaction Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Windows_library_files" title="Microsoft Windows library files">Library files</a></li>

<li><a href="Logical_Disk_Manager" title="Logical Disk Manager">Logical Disk Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Local_Security_Authority_Subsystem_Service" title="Local Security Authority Subsystem Service">LSASS</a></li>

<li><a href="MinWin" title="MinWin">MinWin</a></li>

<li><a href="NTLDR" title="NTLDR">NTLDR</a></li>

<li><a href="Ntoskrnl.exe" title="Ntoskrnl.exe">Ntoskrnl.exe</a></li>

<li><a href="Object_Manager" title="Object Manager">Object Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Open_XML_Paper_Specification" title="Open XML Paper Specification">Open XML Paper Specification</a></li>

<li><a href="Portable_Executable" title="Portable Executable">Portable Executable</a>

<li><a href="Windows_Registry" title="Windows Registry">Registry</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Resource_Protection" title="Windows Resource Protection">Resource Protection</a></li>

<li><a href="Security_Account_Manager" title="Security Account Manager">Security Account Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Server_Message_Block" title="Server Message Block">Server Message Block</a></li>

<li><a href="Shadow_Copy" title="Shadow Copy">Shadow Copy</a></li>

<li><a href="System_Idle_Process" title="System Idle Process">System Idle Process</a></li>

<li><a href="Winlogon" title="Winlogon">Winlogon</a></li>

<li><a href="WinUSB" title="WinUSB">WinUSB</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Security</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Security_and_Maintenance" title="Security and Maintenance">Security and Maintenance</a></li>

<li><a href="AppLocker" title="AppLocker">AppLocker</a></li>

<li><a href="BitLocker" title="BitLocker">BitLocker</a></li>

<li><a href="Credential_Guard" title="Credential Guard">Credential Guard</a></li>

<li><a href="Data_Execution_Prevention" class="mw-redirect" title="Data Execution Prevention">Data Execution Prevention</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Defender_Antivirus" title="Microsoft Defender Antivirus">Defender</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_family_features" title="Microsoft family features">Family features</a></li>

<li><a href="Kernel_Patch_Protection" title="Kernel Patch Protection">Kernel Patch Protection</a></li>

<li><a href="Mandatory_Integrity_Control" title="Mandatory Integrity Control">Mandatory Integrity Control</a></li>

<li><a href="Protected_Media_Path" title="Protected Media Path">Protected Media Path</a></li>

<li><a href="User_Account_Control" title="User Account Control">User Account Control</a></li>

<li><a href="User_Interface_Privilege_Isolation" title="User Interface Privilege Isolation">User Interface Privilege Isolation</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Firewall" title="Windows Firewall">Windows Firewall</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Compatibility</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="COMMAND.COM" title="COMMAND.COM">COMMAND.COM</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Subsystem_for_Linux" title="Windows Subsystem for Linux">Windows Subsystem for Linux</a></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="API" title="API">API</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Active_Scripting" title="Active Scripting">Active Scripting</a>

<ul><li><a href="JScript" title="JScript">JScript</a></li>

<li><a href="VBScript" title="VBScript">VBScript</a></li>

<ul><li><a href="ActiveX" title="ActiveX">ActiveX</a></li>

<li><a href="ActiveX_Document" title="ActiveX Document">ActiveX Document</a></li>

<li><a href="COM_Structured_Storage" title="COM Structured Storage">COM Structured storage</a></li>

<li><a href="OLE_Automation" title="OLE Automation">OLE Automation</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Transaction_Server" title="Microsoft Transaction Server">Transaction Server</a></li></ul></li>

<li><a href="DirectX" title="DirectX">DirectX</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Native_API" title="Windows Native API">Native</a></li>

<li><a href="Universal_Windows_Platform" title="Universal Windows Platform">Universal Windows Platform</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_API" title="Windows API">WinAPI</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Mixed_Reality" title="Windows Mixed Reality">Windows Mixed Reality</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Runtime" title="Windows Runtime">Windows Runtime</a></li>

<li><a href="WinUSB" title="WinUSB">WinUSB</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="Video_game" title="Video game">Games</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i><a href="Microsoft_Solitaire_Collection" title="Microsoft Solitaire Collection">Solitaire Collection</a></i></li>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Discontinued</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Games</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><i><a href="Full_Tilt!_Pinball#3D_Pinball_for_Windows_–_Space_Cadet" title="Full Tilt! Pinball">3D Pinball</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Chess_Titans" title="Chess Titans">Chess Titans</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Microsoft_FreeCell" title="Microsoft FreeCell">FreeCell</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Microsoft_Hearts" title="Microsoft Hearts">Hearts</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="InkBall" title="InkBall">InkBall</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Purble_Place" title="Purble Place">Purble Place</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Microsoft_Solitaire" title="Microsoft Solitaire">Solitaire</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Microsoft_Spider_Solitaire" title="Microsoft Spider Solitaire">Spider Solitaire</a></i></li>

<li><i><a href="Microsoft_Tinker" title="Microsoft Tinker">Tinker</a></i></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Apps</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="ActiveMovie" title="ActiveMovie">ActiveMovie</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Address_Book" title="Windows Address Book">Address Book</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Anytime_Upgrade" title="Windows Anytime Upgrade">Anytime Upgrade</a></li>

<li><a href="Backup_and_Restore" title="Backup and Restore">Backup and Restore</a></li>

<li><a href="Cardfile" title="Cardfile">Cardfile</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_CardSpace" title="Windows CardSpace">CardSpace</a></li>

<li><a href="CD_Player_(Windows)" title="CD Player (Windows)">CD Player</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Contacts" title="Windows Contacts">Contacts</a></li>

<li><a href="Cortana_(virtual_assistant)" title="Cortana (virtual assistant)">Cortana</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Desktop_Gadgets" title="Windows Desktop Gadgets">Desktop Gadgets</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Diagnostics" title="Microsoft Diagnostics">Diagnostics</a></li>

<li><a href="DriveSpace" title="DriveSpace">DriveSpace</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_DVD_Maker" title="Windows DVD Maker">DVD Maker</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Easy_Transfer" title="Windows Easy Transfer">Easy Transfer</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Edge_Legacy" title="Microsoft Edge Legacy">Edge Legacy</a></li>

<li><a href="MSN_Food_%26_Drink" class="mw-redirect" title="MSN Food & Drink">Food & Drink</a></li>

<li><a href="Groove_Music" title="Groove Music">Groove Music</a></li>

<li><a href="MSN_Health_%26_Fitness" class="mw-redirect" title="MSN Health & Fitness">Health & Fitness</a></li>

<li><a href="Help_and_Support_Center" class="mw-redirect" title="Help and Support Center">Help and Support Center</a></li>

<li><a href="HyperACCESS" title="HyperACCESS">HyperTerminal</a></li>

<li><a href="Imaging_for_Windows" title="Imaging for Windows">Imaging</a></li>

<li><a href="Internet_Explorer" title="Internet Explorer">Internet Explorer</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Journal" title="Windows Journal">Journal</a></li>

<li><a href="Make_Compatible" title="Make Compatible">Make Compatible</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Media_Center" title="Windows Media Center">Media Center</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Meeting_Space" title="Windows Meeting Space">Meeting Space</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Messaging" title="Windows Messaging">Messaging</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Messenger" title="Windows Messenger">Messenger</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Mobile_Device_Center" title="Windows Mobile Device Center">Mobile Device Center</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Movie_Maker" title="Windows Movie Maker">Movie Maker</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_NetMeeting" title="Microsoft NetMeeting">NetMeeting</a></li>

<li><a href="NTBackup" title="NTBackup">NTBackup</a></li>

<li><a href="Outlook_Express" title="Outlook Express">Outlook Express</a></li>

<li><a href="Paint_3D" title="Paint 3D">Paint 3D</a></li>

<li><a href="Phone_Companion" title="Phone Companion">Phone Companion</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Photo_Gallery" title="Windows Photo Gallery">Photo Gallery</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Photo_Viewer" title="Windows Photo Viewer">Photo Viewer</a></li>

<li><a href="Program_Manager" title="Program Manager">Program Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Skype" title="Skype">Skype</a></li>

<li><a href="MSN#Discontinued_apps" title="MSN">Sports</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Start" title="Microsoft Start">Start</a></li>

<li><a href="Problem_Steps_Recorder" class="mw-redirect" title="Problem Steps Recorder">Steps Recorder</a></li>

<li><a href="Syskey" title="Syskey">Syskey</a></li>

<li><a href="Travel_(Windows)" class="mw-redirect" title="Travel (Windows)">Travel</a></li>

<li><a href="WinHelp" title="WinHelp">WinHelp</a></li>

<li><a href="WordPad" title="WordPad">WordPad</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Write" title="Microsoft Write">Write</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Others</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="Desktop_Cleanup_Wizard" title="Desktop Cleanup Wizard">Desktop Cleanup Wizard</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_File_Protection" title="Windows File Protection">File Protection</a></li>

<li><a href="Games_for_Windows" title="Games for Windows">Games for Windows</a></li>

<li><a href="Interix" title="Interix">Interix</a></li>

<li><a href="Media_Control_Interface" title="Media Control Interface">Media Control Interface</a></li>

<li><a href="Next-Generation_Secure_Computing_Base" title="Next-Generation Secure Computing Base">Next-Generation Secure Computing Base</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_POSIX_subsystem" title="Microsoft POSIX subsystem">POSIX subsystem</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_ScanDisk" title="Microsoft ScanDisk">ScanDisk</a></li>

<li><a href="Video_for_Windows" title="Video for Windows">Video for Windows</a></li>

<li><a href="Virtual_DOS_machine" title="Virtual DOS machine">Virtual DOS machine</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_on_Windows" title="Windows on Windows">Windows on Windows</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_Services_for_UNIX" title="Windows Services for UNIX">Windows Services for UNIX</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_SideShow" title="Windows SideShow">Windows SideShow</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_System_Assessment_Tool" title="Windows System Assessment Tool">Windows System Assessment Tool</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_To_Go" title="Windows To Go">Windows To Go</a></li>

<li><a href="WinFS" title="WinFS">WinFS</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Spun off to<br><a href="Microsoft_Store" title="Microsoft Store">Microsoft Store</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em">

<ul><li><a href="DVD_Player_(Windows)" title="DVD Player (Windows)">DVD Player</a></li>

<li><a href="Windows_File_Manager" title="Windows File Manager">File Manager</a></li>

<li><a href="Hover!" title="Hover!">Hover!</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Mahjong" title="Microsoft Mahjong">Mahjong</a></li>

<li><a href="Microsoft_Minesweeper" title="Microsoft Minesweeper">Minesweeper</a></li></ul>

</div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div>

<ul><li><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Category"></span></span> Category</li>

</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div><div class="zim-footer">

This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2025-07-14" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Windows_shell&oldid=1300396542">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

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