Computer Basics

Opening applications

When you double-click a file, it will automatically open the default application for that file type. However, much of the time you'll open an application directly.

To open an application on a PC:

• Click the Start button, then select the desired application. If you don't see it, you can click All Programs to see a complete list. For convenience, commonly used applications may also have a shortcut on the taskbar or on the desktop.
  The Start menu

In Windows 8, there is no Start menu, so you'll usually open applications from the Start screen. To learn more, check out our lesson on Getting Started with Windows 8.

To open an application on a Mac:

• Click the application's icon on the Dock. If you don't see it, click the Spotlight icon in the top-right corner of the screen and type the name of the application.
  Opening iTunes from the Dock

If you are using OS X Lion or Mountain Lion, you can also click the Launchpad icon on the Dock to select an application.