Windows Mobility Center
{{Short description|Component of Microsoft Windows}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Windows Mobility Center
| logo = Windows Mobility Center icon.png
| logo_size = x64px
| screenshot = Windows Mobility Center screenshot.png
| screenshot_size = 300px
| caption = The Windows Mobility Center application in Windows 11
| developer = Microsoft
| released = {{Start date and age|2006|11|30}}
| operating system = Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows 11
}}
Windows Mobility Center is a component of Microsoft Windows, introduced in Windows Vista, that centralizes information and settings most relevant to mobile computing.
History
A mobility center that displayed device settings pertinent to mobile devices was first shown during the Windows Hardware Engineering Conference of 2004. It was based on the Activity Center user interface design that originated with Microsoft's abandoned Windows "Neptune" project, and was slated for inclusion in Windows Vista, then known by its codename Longhorn.{{cite web
|url=http://winsupersite.com/article/product-review/winhec-2004-longhorn-prototypes-gallery |title=WinHEC 2004 'Longhorn' Prototypes Gallery |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |author-link= |date=October 6, 2010 |publisher=Penton Media |work=Supersite for Windows |access-date=June 1, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://windowsitpro.com/mobile/winhec-2004-microsoft-merges-tablet-pc-future-wider-mobile-computing-vision |title=WinHEC 2004: Microsoft Merges Tablet PC Future into Wider Mobile Computing Vision |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |author-link= |date=May 5, 2004 |publisher=Penton |work=Windows IT Pro |access-date=June 6, 2015}}
Overview
The Windows Mobility Center user interface consists of square tiles that each contain information and settings related to a component, such as audio settings, battery life and power schemes, display brightness, and wireless network strength and status. The tiles that appear within the interface depend on the hardware of the system and device drivers.{{cite web |url=http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-mobility-center#1TC=windows-vista |title=Using Windows Mobility Center |author=Microsoft |author-link=Microsoft |access-date=May 24, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.istartedsomething.com/uploads/WindowsMobilityCenter-OEMDeployment.pdf |title=Windows Mobility Center - Extensibility |last3=Pautz |first3=Mike |last2=Barker |first2=Guy |last1=Berntson |first1=Alec |date= July 2006 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 24, 2015}}
Windows Mobility Center is located in the Windows Control Panel and also be launched by pressing the {{Keypress|Win|X}} keys in Windows Vista and 7. By default, WMC is inaccessible on desktop computers, but this limitation can be bypassed if one modifies the Windows Registry.{{cite web |url=http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/220621-windows-mobility-center-enable-desktop-computer.html |title=How to Enable Windows Mobility Center on a Desktop Computer |last=Brink |first=Shawn |date=April 6, 2009 |publisher=Designer Media Ltd |work=Windows Vista Forums |access-date=May 24, 2015}}
Windows Mobility Center is extensible; original equipment manufacturers can customize the interface with additional tiles and company branding. Though not supported by Microsoft, it is possible for individual developers to create tiles for the interface as well.{{cite web |url=http://www.istartedsomething.com/20071221/extending-mobility-center-tile/ |title=Extending the Windows Mobility Center with third party tiles – Rafael releases 'Display Off' tile |last=Zheng |first=Long |date=December 21, 2007 |work=istartedsomething |access-date=May 24, 2015}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Windows Components}}