Open apps and files

Start programs, switch between windows and find your folders.

Start a program

Open the start menu and choose the app you want. The taskbar shows your pinned and running programs. Clicking a running app brings its window to the front.

Windows + S opens the desktop search. It is a search of its own, not a shortcut to the settings.

Find your files

Windows + E opens the file manager. From there you reach your documents, downloads and other folders. The program is called Nautilus; you can use it like the file explorer you are used to. The sidebar lists the usual folders such as Documents, Downloads and Pictures.

Images open in the image viewer and PDFs in the PDF viewer. Choose other programs for these file types under Apps.

Set default apps

Open the settings with the gear icon and choose Apps. That is where you select default applications. Which programs are available depends on your installation.

Choose the terminal shell

Under Settings → Apps → Terminal shell, choose Bash, Fish or Zsh for new terminals. Sign out and back in once afterwards. Your existing terminal settings are kept. If a shell is missing, install it from the WinDoesNot Store. You can also choose Bash, Fish or Zsh in the installer.

Terminal greeting

When you open a terminal, the WinDoesNot wordmark, a slogan and a few facts about your system appear. If you do not like it, turn it off under Settings → Apps → Shell. You can turn it back on there.

Web apps

Netflix, YouTube, WhatsApp Web, ChatGPT or Claude open as their own window without browser bars and have an icon in the start menu. Read more under Choose programs in the installer.

When a guide mentions a terminal

Clipboard sharing with virtual machines

Under Settings → Apps, you can turn clipboard sharing with virtual machines on or off. This lets you copy text between WinDoesNot and a VM. If you work with passwords or other sensitive data, you can switch sharing off there immediately.

Windows + Q opens the Ghostty terminal. You do not need it to open your apps or change the wallpaper. Before running a command, read what it does, especially when it asks for your password.

Graphics app

The LACT-based Graphics app shows readings for AMD, NVIDIA and Intel graphics cards. You can control fans, power limit and clocks. Click the graphics icon in the taskbar for a popup with temperature, load, fan, power and memory. Double-click to open the Graphics app. Show or hide the icon under Settings → Apps. The app has its own icon in the start menu.