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Button behavior

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This topic describes the expected behavior of hardware buttons.

Required and optional buttons in Windows 10

Operating system/device Power Volume up/Volume down Start Back/search Camera Rotation lock
Windows 10 Mobile Required Required Required for phones that use a WVGA display. Optional for all other devices Required for phones that use a WVGA display. Optional for all other devices Optional Not supported
Windows 10 for desktop editions (Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education)/Tablets Required Required Optional Not supported Not supported Optional
Windows 10 for desktop editions/Other devices Required Required for devices with detachable keyboards. Optional for all other devices. Optional Not supported Not supported Optional

For more information about button requirements:

Button behavior in Windows 10

Single button behavior in Windows 10

Button Activity Windows 10 for desktop editions Windows 10 Mobile
Power Press and release Toggle On/Off Toggle On/Off
Power Press and hold Launch Shutdown Curtain Launch Shutdown Curtain
Power Long press and hold Hard shutdown Hardware reset
Search Press and release Not supported Launch Cortana (in enabled markets)/Search
Search Press and hold Not supported Launch Cortana or Search with Voice
Volume up Press and release Increment volume Increment volume
Volume up Press and hold Auto-repeat volume increment Auto-repeat volume increment
Volume down Press and release Decrement volume Decrement volume
Volume down Press and hold Auto-repeat volume decrement Auto-repeat volume decrement
Back Press and release Previous app page/close app Previous app page/close app
Back Press and hold Launch Task switcher Launch switcher UI
Start Toggle Start screen Show Start screen
Rotation lock Not supported Not supported (there is a UI option)
Camera focus Launch Camera application Handled by Camera app (focus)
Camera shutter Handled by Camera application Launch Camera app / take picture

Button combination behavior in Windows 10

As noted, some button combinations in Windows 10 apply to the Windows 10 button architecture or the Windows 8.1 button architecture. All other button combinations in Windows 10 apply to either button architecture. It is recommended to describe hardware buttons using the Windows 10 architecture.

Button combination Windows 10 for desktop editions Windows 10 Mobile
Start + Volume Up Toggle on-screen narrator Toggle on-screen narrator (provided that the corresponding ease-of-access setting is enabled)
Start + Volume Down Take screenshot Not supported
Start + Power Ctrl+Alt+Del (only if using Windows 8.1 button architecture) Not supported
Power + Volume Up Take screenshot (only if using Windows 10 button architecture) Take screenshot
Power + Volume Down Ctrl+Alt+Del (only if using Windows 10 button architecture) Launch the Windows Feedback app. Hardware reset (after 10 sec)

Button behavior in Windows 8.1

Single button behavior in Windows 8.1

Button Action Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Phone
Power Press and release Toggle On/Off Toggle On/Off
Power Press and hold Launch Shutdown Curtain Launch Shutdown Curtain
Power Long press and hold Hard shutdown Hardware reset
Search Press and release Not supported Launch Cortana
Search Press and hold Not supported Launch Cortana with Voice
Volume up Press and release Increment volume Increment volume
Volume up Press and hold Auto-repeat volume increment Auto-repeat volume increment
Volume down Press and release Decrement volume Decrement volume
Volume down Press and hold Auto-repeat volume decrement Auto-repeat volume decrement
Back Not supported Not supported
Start Toggle Start screen Toggle Start screen
Rotation lock Release: Lock rotation Lock rotation
Camera focus Not supported Not applicable
Camera shutter Not supported Not applicable

Button combination behavior in Windows 8.1

Button combination Windows 8.1 Windows 8.1 Phone
Start + Volume Up Toggle on-screen narrator Not supported
Start + Volume Down Take screenshot Not supported
Start + Power Ctrl+Alt+Del Not supported
Power + Volume Up Not supported Take screenshot
Power + Volume Down Not supported Hardware reset (after 10 sec)

Windows 10 button architecture
Minimum Hardware Requirements