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53-642: The Action Center replaces the charms in Windows 10. The Action Center was replaced with Quick Settings and the Notification Center in Windows 11 . Action Center allows for four quick settings, and in Windows 10 users can expand the view to show all of the quick settings. Notifications are sorted into categories by app, and users can swipe right to clear notifications. Action Center also supports actionable notifications starting with Windows 10 . In

106-552: A UWP app can run. UWP apps can be downloaded from Windows Store or can be sideloaded . The sideloading requirements were reduced significantly from Windows 8.x to 10, but the app must still be signed by a trusted digital certificate that chains to a root certificate . Metro-style apps are suspended when they are closed; suspended apps are terminated automatically as needed by a Windows app manager. Dynamic tiles, background components and contracts (interfaces for interacting with other apps) may require an app to be activated before

159-436: A contract with Microsoft that allows them to sideload their line-of-business Metro-style apps, circumventing Windows Store. Also, major web browser vendors are selectively exempted from this rule, they are allowed to circumvent Microsoft guidelines and Windows Store and run a Metro-style version of themselves if the user chooses to make their product the default web browser. Windows RT requires all installed apps to be from

212-513: A list of programs already running so one could switch between them. Windows 1.0 , 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 Windows 3.0 . Programs could be launched by double-clicking on them. Files could be filtered for executable type, or by

265-489: A search pane in Explorer. Windows XP 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

318-573: 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 Flip 3D , an application switcher that would rotate through application windows in a fashion similar to a Rolodex when the user pressed the Win-Tab key combination. Windows 7 added 'pinned' shortcuts and 'jump lists' to the taskbar, and automatically grouped program windows into one icon (although this could be disabled). Windows Server 2008 introduced

371-703: A single window, in order to show off Microsoft's new Multiple Document Interface. Program Manager in Windows 3.1 introduced wrappable icon titles, along with the new Startup group, which Program Manager would check on launch and start any programs contained within. Program Manager was also ported to Windows NT 3.1 , and was retained through Windows NT 3.51 . Windows 95 introduced a new shell. The desktop became an interactive area that could contain files (including file shortcuts ), folders, and special folders such as My Computer , Network Neighborhood and Recycle Bin . Windows Explorer , which replaced File Manager , opened both ordinary and special folders. The taskbar

424-711: A user starts it. Invoking an arbitrary Metro-style app or UWP app from the command line was first introduced in the Insider build 16226 of Windows 10, which was released on 21 June 2017. Traditionally, Windows software is developed using the Windows API . Software has access to the Windows API with no arbitrary restrictions. Developers were free to choose their own programming language and development tools . Metro-style apps can only be developed using Windows Runtime (WinRT). (Note that not every app using WinRT

477-512: A user-selected wildcard, and the display mode could be toggled between full and compact descriptions. The file date column was not Y2K compliant. Windows 2.0 made no significant change to MS-DOS Executive. Windows 3.0 , introduced in May 1990, shipped with a new shell called Program Manager. Based on Microsoft's work with OS/2 Desktop Manager, Program Manager sorted program shortcuts into groups. Unlike Desktop Manager, these groups were housed in

530-705: Is a file format used to distribute and install apps on Windows 8.x, 10, 11, Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 10 Mobile, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Hololens, and Windows 10 IoT Core. APPX was originally the only installation system allowed for UWP apps, replacing the XAP file format on Windows Phone 8.1 , in an attempt to unify the distribution of apps for Windows Phone and Windows 8. APPX files are only compatible with Windows Phone 8.1 and later versions, and with Windows 8 and later versions. The Windows Phone 8.x Marketplace allowed users to download APPX files to an SD Card and install them manually. In contrast, sideloading of UWP apps

583-426: Is a toolbar -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 Windows 98 , 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

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636-430: Is a Metro-style app.) A limited subset of WinRT is available for also conventional desktop apps. Calling a forbidden API disqualifies the app from appearing on Windows Store. Metro-style apps can only be developed using Microsoft's own development tools. According to Allen Bauer, Chief Scientist of Embarcadero Technologies , there are APIs that every computer program must call but Microsoft has forbidden them, except when

689-623: Is especially the case with video games. Apps designed for Windows 8.x look significantly different from those designed for Windows 10 and 11. UWP apps can also look almost identical to traditional desktop apps, using the same legacy UI controls from Windows versions dating back to Windows 95. These are legacy desktop apps that are converted to the UWP apps and distributed using the APPX file format. In Windows 10, most UWP apps, even those designed for Windows 8.x, are run in floating windows, and users can use

742-428: Is intimately identified with File Explorer , a Windows component that can browse the whole shell namespace. Windows Desktop is a full-screen window rendered behind all other windows. It hosts the user's wallpaper and an array of computer icons representing: Windows Vista and Windows 7 (and the corresponding versions of Windows Server) allowed Windows Desktop Gadgets to appear on the desktop. Windows taskbar

795-483: 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 Cortana to the Start menu, to provide interaction with the shell through vocal commands. Newer versions of Windows 10 include recent Microsoft Edge tabs in

848-419: 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. Recycle Bin , Libraries , Control Panel , This PC and Network are examples of such shell objects. The Windows shell, as it is known today, is an evolution of what began with Windows 95 , released in 1995. It

901-449: Is thus not to be confused with the related AutoRun feature, configured by a file on the media itself, although AutoRun is selectable as an AutoPlay option when both are enabled. File Explorer 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,

954-467: The ⊞ Win key is placed in front of the others. This view is maintained while ⊞ Win key is held down. Tab ↹ and ⇧ Shift + Tab ↹ cycle through the open windows, so that the user can preview them. When the ⊞ Win key is released, the Flip 3D view is dismissed and the selected window comes to the front and into focus. Windows 8 added a bar containing a set of five shortcuts known as

1007-418: The explorer.exe 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 explorer.exe process are closed, and other computer programs can still access the shell namespace without it. Initially called Windows Explorer, its name

1060-630: The AutoPlay feature. On some versions of Windows, it also includes Flip 3D and the charms. In Windows 10 , 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 namespace that enables computer programs running on Windows to access the computer's resources via the hierarchy of shell objects. "Desktop"

1113-679: The Microsoft Store , Microsoft's digital application storefront. Starting with Windows 10 , Microsoft initially used the term "Windows app" to describe Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. These were applications that could be installed from the Microsoft Store , previously known as the Windows Store . Initially, these apps were called "Trusted Windows Store apps," and later they were referred to as "Trusted Microsoft Store apps." Traditional programs designed to run on desktop computers were referred to as " desktop apps ." With

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1166-985: The My Documents shell folder. Future Windows releases, like Windows 95C (OSR 2.5) and Windows 98 , included Internet Explorer 4 and the features of the Windows Desktop Update already built in. Improvements were made in Windows 2000 and Windows ME , 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

1219-601: The Universal Windows Platform (UWP) 10 API for developing universal apps. Apps that take advantage of this platform are developed with Visual Studio 2015 or later. Older Metro-style apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 or for both (universal 8.1) need modifications to migrate to this platform. Universal apps no longer indicate having been written for a specific OS in their manifest; instead, they target one or more device families, e.g. desktop, mobile, console or Internet of Things (IoT). They react to

1272-400: The "charms", invoked by moving the mouse cursor 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. This feature was retained in 8.1. Windows 10 removed the charms and moved the commands associated with them into the system menu of each application. For users with touch screens, swiping from the right of

1325-602: The Actions Centers of Windows 10 Mobile and Windows 10, and Cortana would also be able to synchronize notifications from Android devices to the Windows 10 Action Center. Windows shell#Charms The Windows shell is the graphical user interface for the Microsoft Windows operating system. Its readily identifiable elements consist of the desktop, the taskbar, the Start menu , the task switcher and

1378-645: The Alt-Tab menu, which can be disabled to only show open programs, as is the behavior in prior versions of the operating system. Windows supports the ability to replace the Windows shell with another program. A number of third party shells exist that can be used in place of the standard Windows shell. Metro-style app Universal Windows Platform ( UWP ) apps (formerly named Windows Store apps , Metro-style apps and Modern apps ) are applications that can be used across all compatible Microsoft Windows devices. They are primarily purchased and downloaded via

1431-640: The Recycle Bin (although the user could get them back if they desired). Windows XP also introduced numerous other shell enhancements . In the early days of the Longhorn project , an experimental sidebar, with plugins similar to taskbar plugins and a notifications history was built into the shell. However, when Longhorn was reset the integrated sidebar was discarded in favor of a separate executable file, sidebar.exe , which provided Web-enabled gadgets, thus replacing Active Desktop. Windows Vista introduced

1484-504: The Windows Store, or be verified by Microsoft (most internal applications). Before Windows 8, programs were identified by their static computer icons . The Windows taskbar was responsible for representing every app that had a window while running. Metro-style apps, however, are identified by their "tiles" that can show their icon and also other dynamic contents. In addition, in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 RTM, they are not shown on

1537-463: The Windows taskbar and Task View to switch between both UWP apps and desktop apps. Windows 10 also introduced "Tablet Mode". This mode is by default disabled on desktop computers and enabled on tablet computers, but desktop users can switch it on or off manually. When the Tablet Mode is off, apps may have resizable windows and visible title bars. When the Tablet Mode is enabled, resizable apps use

1590-1098: The Windows taskbar when they run, but on a dedicated app switcher on the left side of the screen. Windows 8.1 Update added taskbar icons for Metro-style apps. There is no set limit on how many copies of desktop apps can run simultaneously. For example, one user may run as many copies of programs such as Windows Notepad , Paint or Firefox as long as the system resources can support. (Some desktop apps, such as Windows Media Player , have extra code that prevents spawning more than one instance.) However, in Windows 8, only one copy of Metro-style apps may run at any given time. True multi-instancing of these apps were not available until Windows 10 version 1803 (released in May 2018). UWP apps are designed by individuals or software companies which leads to apps having their own look and feel. However, UWP apps built specifically for Windows 10 and 11 typically appear and function differently than ones on older versions, as they use new UI controls that look different from those of previous versions of Windows. The exception to this are apps that use custom UI, which

1643-463: The app bar. In response to criticism from customers a title bar was added in Windows 8.1 , but was hidden unless users move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen. However, the Hamburger button on the title bar gives access to the charms. For most users, the only point of entry for Metro-style apps is the Windows Store . Enterprises operating a Windows domain infrastructure may enter into

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1696-441: The call comes from Microsoft's own Visual C++ runtime. UWP apps developed to work on smartphones , personal computers , video game consoles and HoloLens . They were initially called universal apps because they derived their platform flexibility from the universal apps API, first introduced in Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 . Visual Studio 2013 with Update 2 could be used to develop these apps. Windows 10 introduced

1749-513: The capabilities that become available to the device. A universal app may run on both a mobile phone and a tablet and provide a suitable experience. The universal app running on the mobile phone may start behaving the way it would on a tablet when the phone is connected to a monitor or a suitable docking station . UWP is an extension of Windows Runtime and has access to WinRT APIs, although whether UWP apps can take advantage of WinRT APIs depends on their programming language and its tooling. APPX

1802-454: The entire height of the screen but only part of its width. They have no title bar, system menu, window borders or control buttons. Command interfaces like scroll bars are usually hidden on start. Menus are located in the " settings charm ." Metro-style apps use the UI controls of Windows 8.x and typically follow Windows 8.x UI guidelines, such as horizontal scrolling and the inclusion of edge-UIs, like

1855-493: The list and can be activated this way. Windows 7 introduced Aero Flip (renamed Windows Flip in Windows 8). When the user holds down the Alt 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. Windows 8 introduced Metro-style apps , which did not appear when Alt + Tab ↹

1908-457: The list by tapping the Tab ↹ key. An alternative to this form of switching is using the mouse to click on a visible portion of an inactive window. However, Alt + Tab ↹ 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

1961-472: The mobile version, the user can swipe from the top to the bottom to invoke Action Center, and further features introduced in Windows Phone 8.1 include the ability to change simple settings such as volume controls. The new notifications area's design allows the user to for example change wireless networks, turn Bluetooth and Airplane Mode on or off, and access "Driving Mode" from four customisable boxes at

2014-477: 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. Microsoft started working on a similar Internet Explorer release, codenamed " Nashville ". Internet Explorer 4.0 was redesigned and resulted in two products: the standalone Internet Explorer 4 and Windows Desktop Update , which updated

2067-478: The possibility to have a Windows installation without the shell, which results in fewer processes loaded and running. Windows 8 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. Windows 10 added the possibility to have more than one virtual desktop, known as Task View , to group active program windows to their own virtual desktop. It

2120-468: The release of the Windows 10, version 1903 , there was a shift in the terminology. Microsoft began using the term "Apps" to refer to both UWP apps and desktop apps indiscriminately. This change aimed to unify the naming convention for all types of applications. Note that UWP is primarily used in Microsoft 's developer documentation to specifically refer to the platform itself. Microsoft also introduced

2173-579: The shell with features such as Active Desktop , Active Channels , 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, Back and Forward 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

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2226-409: The taskbar respectively from left to right: Task switcher is a feature present in Windows 3.0 and all subsequent versions of Windows. It allows a user to cycle through existing application windows by holding down the Alt key and tapping the Tab ↹ key. Starting with Windows 95, as long as the Alt key is pressed, a list of active windows is displayed, allowing the user to cycle through

2279-425: The term "Windows Runtime app" retrospectively to describe the precursors of UWP apps, as there was previously no clear and unambiguous name for them. UWP apps first became available under the name "Metro-style apps" in 2012 and were marketed with Windows 8 . In Windows 8.x, Metro-style apps do not run in a window . Instead, they either occupy the entire screen or are snapped to one side, in which case they occupy

2332-405: The top of the screen, while beneath these four horizontally placed boxes include recent text messages and social integration. On the desktop version, the user can invoke Action Center by clicking on its icon on the taskbar (at the lower right corner of the screen), or by swiping from the right. Microsoft announced at Microsoft Build 2016 that Cortana would be able to mirror notifications between

2385-546: The touch screen now shows Action Center . Starting with Windows 95, all versions of Windows feature a form of Start menu , usually by this very same name. Depending on the version of Windows, the menu features the following: 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

2438-499: The user disliked the new interface. 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. 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 Windows NT 4.0 . In early 1996, Netscape announced that

2491-412: The windowing system similar to that of Metro-style apps on Windows 8.x in that they are forced to either occupy the whole screen or be snapped to one side. UWP apps in Windows 10 can open in multiple windows. Microsoft Edge, Calculator, and Photos are examples of apps that allow this. Windows 10 v1803 (released in May 2018) added true multi-instancing capabilities, so that multiple independent copies of

2544-479: Was changed to File Explorer beginning with Windows 8, although the program name remains explorer.exe . 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

2597-458: Was introduced with Windows Vista and removed in Windows 8. It is invoked by holding down the ⊞ Win key and tapping the Tab ↹ key. As long as the ⊞ Win key remains pressed, Windows displays all application windows, including the Desktop, in an isometric view , diagonally across the screen from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The active window at the time of pressing

2650-430: 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 Start menu . The Start menu contains links to settings, recently used files and, like its predecessor Program Manager, shortcuts and program groups. Program Manager is also included in Windows 95 for backward compatibility, in case

2703-466: Was pressed. (They have to be switched with their own dedicated task switcher, activated through the ⊞ Win + Tab ↹ combination.) Windows 8.1 extended Alt + Tab ↹ to manage the Metro-style apps as well. Windows 10 and 11 have a unified task switcher called Task View , which manages not only application windows but virtual desktops as well. Flip 3D is a supplemental task switcher. It

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2756-525: Was prohibited on Windows 8.x, unless the user had a developers license or was in a business domain. Windows 10 version 1709 and Windows Server 2019 LTSC introduced a new installation package format called MSIX , which is intended to be a replacement for both the APPX format and the Windows Installer (.msi) desktop application installation format. MSIX is now the preferred way of distributing UWP apps. An open source project called MSIX Core

2809-476: Was started to provide MSIX support for Windows versions earlier than Windows 10 version 1709. Traditional Windows applications generally have the power to use and change their ecosystem however they want to. Windows user account rights, User Account Control and antivirus software attempt to keep this ability in check and notify the user when the app tries to use it, possibly for malicious purposes. UWP apps, however, are sandboxed and cannot permanently change

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