The Menu key—also called the Application key—opens a context menu from the keyboard, much like a right-click. The options depend on the item or screen area in focus; it does not open one fixed menu.
What is the Menu key?
The Menu key, also known as the Application key, is a key found on some Windows-oriented keyboards. It often shows an icon of a cursor hovering over a small menu. Its purpose is to let you open a context menu without clicking the right mouse button. Ubuntu’s desktop documentation describes its name, icon, and function.
A context menu contains actions relevant to the current context, such as a particular object or part of a window. Microsoft’s Win32 documentation on menus explains that these menus are tied to the area or object they apply to. Depending on the software, the menu may relate to the selected item or to the screen area where the cursor is positioned.
How to use it
- Choose the context: Select the item you want to act on, or position the cursor over the relevant screen area.
- Press the Menu key: The associated context menu should appear. Its options vary with the item, application, and operating system.
- Choose an action: Use the keyboard or mouse to select an available command.
Where is the Menu key?
On keyboards that include it, the Menu key is often near the lower-right corner, commonly next to Ctrl. Its exact position varies by manufacturer, and many compact or laptop keyboards omit a dedicated key. Some keyboards provide the Menu function through an Fn-key combination instead. Check the keyboard’s printed labels or documentation if you do not see a separate Menu key.
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How to open a context menu without the key
In Microsoft Word, Microsoft documents Shift+F10 as a way to open a context menu; the Windows Menu key is another documented method. See Microsoft’s Word keyboard-shortcut reference. This shortcut is confirmed here for Word, not as a guarantee for every application or operating system. Behavior elsewhere can vary.
For broader keyboard navigation, Microsoft’s previous-version keyboard-interface guidance also describes the Application key as a way to display the shortcut menu for a selected item.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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