What a laptop does and how to start it

A laptop is a portable computer that runs on battery power and connects to the internet through Wi-Fi or a cable. It has a built-in screen, keyboard, and trackpad (the touch surface below the keys that moves your cursor). To start using one, press the power button — usually on the side or back edge — and wait 30 seconds to two minutes for the screen to light up and show a login screen or home page.

Once the laptop is on, you will see the desktop: the main background screen where programs live. On Windows laptops, a taskbar runs along the bottom with a Start button on the left. On Mac laptops, a dock (a row of icons) sits at the bottom, and a menu bar runs across the top. Both systems work the same way: you click on programs to open them, and close them when you are done.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the power button to turn on the laptop, then wait for the login screen to appear before you can use it.
  • Use the trackpad or an external mouse to move the cursor and click on programs, files, and buttons on the screen.
  • The keyboard types text into documents, search boxes, and messages just like a typewriter, with extra keys for special functions.
  • Save your work regularly by pressing Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac) so you do not lose what you have typed.
  • Close programs by clicking the X button in the top corner, and shut down the laptop by clicking the power button or using the shutdown menu.

Using the trackpad and mouse to navigate

The trackpad is the flat, rectangular surface below the keyboard. Slide your finger across it to move the cursor (the arrow on screen) to where you want to click. Press down on the trackpad or tap it once to click. A two-finger tap or a two-button click opens a menu with extra options. If the trackpad feels awkward, you can plug in an external mouse instead — it works the same way but may feel more natural in your hand.

Clicking is how you select things: click once on a program icon to open it, click once on a file to select it, click once on a button to set up it. Double-clicking (two quick taps) opens files or programs. Right-clicking (pressing the right side of the trackpad or the right mouse button) shows a menu of things you can do with that item. Scrolling — moving two fingers up or down on the trackpad — moves the page up or down so you can see more content.

Typing and using the keyboard

The keyboard works like a typewriter: press a letter key and that letter appears on screen in whatever program you have open. The space bar adds spaces between words. The Shift key makes capital letters. The Backspace key (top right) deletes the character to the left of your cursor. The Delete key removes the character to the right. The Enter key (bottom right) moves to a new line or confirms an action.

Special keys do specific jobs. The Tab key moves to the next field in a form. The Caps Lock key (left side) locks all letters to capitals until you press it again. The arrow keys move your cursor left, right, up, or down without deleting anything. Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) copies text you have selected. Ctrl+V or Command+V pastes it elsewhere. Ctrl+Z or Command+Z undoes your last action if you make a mistake.

Opening and closing programs

Programs are applications that do specific jobs: a web browser lets you visit websites, a word processor lets you write documents, a photo viewer shows pictures. On Windows, click the Start button (bottom left) and type the name of the program you want. On Mac, click the Finder icon (bottom left of the dock) and type the program name in the search box. When you see the program in the results, click it to open it.

Once a program is open, you will see its window on screen with a title bar at the top. To close it, click the X button in the top right corner (Windows) or top left corner (Mac). If the program asks whether you want to save your work, click Yes if you want to keep what you typed, or No if you want to throw it away. Closing a program does not turn off the laptop — it just shuts down that one process.

Saving your work so you do not lose it

Saving means storing your work on the laptop's hard drive so it stays there even after you close the program. Most programs save automatically, but you should save manually too. Press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac) while you are working. The first time you save, a box will appear asking you to name the file and choose where to store it. Type a name like "My Letter" or "Budget 2024" and click Save.

After that, pressing Ctrl+S or Command+S saves your changes to the same file without asking again. If you want to save a copy with a different name, use File > Save As from the menu. Your files are usually stored in a folder called Documents or Downloads. You can find them by clicking the file manager icon (a folder) in the taskbar or dock, then clicking Documents or Downloads in the left sidebar.

Connecting to the internet and using a web browser

A web browser is a program that lets you visit websites. The most common ones are Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari (on Mac), and Firefox. Click the browser icon in the taskbar or dock to open it. You will see a search box at the top. Type what you want to find — a website name like "bbc.com" or a question like "how to cook rice" — and press Enter. The browser will show you results.

Click on a result to visit that website. Use the back arrow (top left) to return to the previous page. Use the forward arrow to go ahead if you went back. The address bar at the top shows the web address of the page you are on. If a website is slow to load, wait a few seconds or click the refresh button (a circular arrow) to reload it. Close the browser window when you are done, just like any other program.

Shutting down the laptop safely

When you are finished using the laptop, shut it down properly instead of just closing the lid. On Windows, click the Start button, then click the power icon, and select Shut down. On Mac, click the Apple menu (top left), then click Shut Down. The laptop will close any open programs, save your work, and turn off. Wait until the screen goes black and the lights stop blinking before you close the lid or move it.

If you plan to use the laptop again soon, you can put it to sleep instead of shutting it down. On Windows, click Start > Power > Sleep. On Mac, click Apple menu > Sleep. The screen goes dark and the laptop uses very little battery, but it wakes up when ready when you press a key or click the trackpad. Never force the laptop off by holding the power button unless it has frozen and will not respond — this can damage files.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if the laptop screen goes black and nothing happens?

First, check that the laptop is plugged in or has battery charge — look for a light on the power adapter or a battery icon on the screen. If it is plugged in and still black, hold the power button for 10 seconds to force it off, then press it again to turn it back on. If the screen stays black, the laptop may need repair.

How do I make the text bigger on the screen?

On Windows, right-click the desktop and select Display settings, then scroll down to Scale and layout and choose a larger percentage. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Settings, then Displays, and choose a larger resolution. You can also zoom into a single webpage by pressing Ctrl+Plus (Windows) or Command+Plus (Mac).

Can I connect a printer to my laptop?

Yes. Plug the printer into power and connect it to your laptop with a USB cable, or connect both to the same Wi-Fi network. The laptop will usually find the printer automatically. Open a document, click File > Print, select the printer from the list, and click Print. If the printer does not appear, visit the printer maker's website and read the driver software for your laptop model.

What is the difference between sleep and shutdown?

Sleep turns off the screen and uses almost no battery, but the laptop wakes up when ready when you press a key. Shutdown turns off the laptop completely and uses no battery, but takes 30 seconds to a minute to start up again. Use sleep if you will use the laptop again in a few hours, and shutdown if you will not use it for a day or longer.

How do I know if my laptop is running out of battery?

Look at the battery icon in the taskbar (Windows, bottom right) or menu bar (Mac, top right). It shows a percentage or a bar. When it reaches 20 percent or lower, plug in the power adapter. If you ignore the warning and the battery dies completely, the laptop will shut down without saving your work, so save often when you are unplugged.