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[FIX] Internet Explorer Metro Tile Missing from Windows 8 Start Screen or Metro IE Doesn’t Start

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Lots of Windows 8 users have complained about a weird problem. Suddenly Internet Explorer metro tile disappears from Windows 8 Start Screen. A few other Windows 8 users have complained that when they try to launch Metro IE by clicking on its tile in Start Screen, it doesn’t open, actually nothing happens.

Both of these problems occur when you install another web browser such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, etc in Windows 8 and you set the new browser as default or it automatically sets itself as default web browser in Windows 8. As soon as a new browser is set as default, Windows 8 replaces Internet Explorer metro tile with the Desktop version of IE and IE metro tile disappears from Start Screen.

Windows_8_Start_Screen.png

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To fix this problem, simply set Internet Explorer as the default web browser again using following steps:

1. First if you are at Start Screen, go to Windows Desktop by clicking on Desktop tile or pressing WIN key.

2. Now launch Internet Explorer and select Tools -> Internet Options. Go to “Programs” tab and click on “Set associations” button.

3. Now check “Select all” option and click on Save button. At last click on OK button and it’ll fix the problem.

If the above mentioned method doesn’t work for you, set IE as default web browser using Control Panel -> Default Programs -> Set program access and computer defaults.

So you have to simply set Internet Explorer as default web browser in Windows and the metro tile of Internet Explorer will come back on Start Screen.

PS: Also keep in mind that the Metro version of IE only works when your screen resolution is set to at least 1024×768. So double check your screen resolution if IE doesn’t open when you click on its tile in Start Screen.

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Published in: Internet Explorer, Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

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Comments

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  1. Hm, I would not really call this a solution. 🙁 Nice way how to prevent users to have different default browser. 🙁

  3. Hi: when i start my windows 8 the Internet Explorer is starting automatically on windows log in some time in the metro screen or in the desktop anyone can help?

  4. Hi, IE is opening in start menu, but there is no address bar anymore. Just the IE icon. Has anyone had this problem?

  5. umm I tried that and it is still not there. I erased all the other browsers I had and set internet explorer as the default and did what you said above but still nothing x.x

  7. The first method did not work and when I go to “Set Program Access and Computer Defaults” I chose the “Internet Explorer” option, but when I press okay it ALWAYS restores my custom settings (I try to change video player, but it always resets to original) Please help.

  8. This is completely abusive and is against free competition. I had given up Ubuntu, when I bought my new PC with Windows 8, but more and more I feel like going back to Ubuntu.

    Internet Explorer is one of other programs. This is a trick to force users to set it as the default borwser. Some people use severall. Many people have all the major browsers at hand to do tests. To take it from the start screen and make that the only way to get it back is beyond abuse.

    I thought I was doing something wrong, but turns out it’s just bad corporative practice.

    Bad move from Microsoft. Shame on them.

  9. the Internet explorer tile that appeared wasn’t the one that was originally installed in the windows 8, the one that appeared was a plain IE tile that always opens in the desktop. My internet options are fine with opening IE, “Let IE decide” and the box unchecked. I also did your method with setting up the associations. I also set the IE program to default, using the method you told me Screen resolution is also fine.Please help me, the IE tile disappeared from my Start after using a program to remove a malware causing my PC to reboot. The tile doesn’t appear when I searched for it using start, but it open at the desktop. It only opens up in metro style when I use mail.

  11. This has been bugging me for days…i updates windows 8 and now I cant access metro ie app..every time i click the ie icon in the start menu it brings me to the desktop one…i have set ie to my default, set all associations and checked my screen resolution and still not back..I use to be able to access the IE metro app by using the search bar on the right hand side of the start screen and typing ie in the bar and it brought me to the metro app, but since updating windows 8 to 8.1 i cant do that anymore help its driving me INSANE!

  13. Hi
    I have windows8 and the desktop tile vanished. Instead, if I click the internet explorer tile, the desktop appears. How can I restore it? Thanks

  15. The only think that worked for me was the following steps:
    1. Uninstall all of the non IE browers
    2.. IE (Internet Explorer) tile reappeared
    3. Rebooted to ensure IE tile stays
    4. Then reinstalled other browers ensuring they are not set to default

    After days of investigating and following many help advisories, speaking and having Microsoft technician assistance to no avail, my steps finally worked.

    Unfortunately, there may not be a one fix-all solution for everyone. This may be the simplest way to fix the missing IE tile for some.

    FYI,
    Jose

  16. Sorry for the misspellings… my eyes are tired from trying to fix this and several other issues I have and am experiencing.

  17. Seems like Microsoft are shooting themselves in the foot with this. I want Firefox as my default browser, but occasionally I would like to use a metro browser, as MS is actively stopping me using the metro IE I’ll simply use the UC browser from now on when I want tablet style browsing, hopeful Firefox tablet mode will be more feature rich by the time it comes out of beta.

  18. I only have IE 11, this icon and control panel are missing from my start menu and apps screen.
    I can’t even look them up in the search engine. I am able to access both from my desktop but not from the start menu, can anyone help me with this issue?

  20. im using internet explorer 11 windows 8 and doesn’t let me save my homepage instead keeps opening a site I don’t even use. anyone knows how to fix it??

  21. ^^ I think its because of avg anti-virus. AVG has tied up with a Russian search engine and auto set all browsers home page to it. Try to uninstall it and switch to another anti-virus.

  23. Thanks Mate, had to use the second method but it worked.
    Weird bug as I have never installed or used a different browser but that’s the wonderful world of software I suppose.

    Sending positive vibes your way

  25. There is no internet explorer tile on my screen anywhere, even the task bar. So sorry I got windows 8.1 pro, should have stuck with 7.

  26. When trying to set internet explorer as my default browser, IE is not an option to choose. I actually find it in programs in other areas but when pulling up the window to choose default browser, it does not appear.

  28. This stinks. If the only way I can use IE metro it to make it the default than I will just not use it. MS shoots itself in the foot once again.

  29. Thank you so much!!! I have been trying to get the IE tile back for months and I finally got it back! I think the screen resolution helped me since I have tried the other default setting and it never worked. Thanks again for figuring out for me.

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