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.
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 1024x768. So double check your screen resolution if IE doesn't open when you click on its tile in Start Screen.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Internet Explorer, Troubleshooting, Windows 8
BlacMoon
My control panel also missed :(
how to fix it VG?
VG
^^ Make sure your screen resolution is set to at least 1024x768.
Sameer
It really works man!
ramil
Thanks..the set association worked for me and i got back the IE on start live tile
fslxx
great man..good info..keep it up
Javier Trevino
Thank you for this post! I really love the new Metro style browsing rather than the old standard way. I love how you can save pages as apps. Like Youtube, rather than it being saved in a bookmarks folder it's a tile I can click on directly from my Metro Homepage.. I love it!! Thank you Microsoft for making such a bold change IMO the right direction!
Sandy
@VG, works well with resolution 1280x800. Thanks!
Marlo Mitchell
Thanks, I was ready to give up on IE.
reg
this is REALLY REALLY BAD. if a web designer or developer wants to check their code in IE Metro, they're FORCED to have IE as default? does FTC know this?
Pablo
yes wtf is this?
Someone
I'm running Windows 8 Pro and the Metro Internet Explorer tile is missing. However, if I click on a link within a Windows 8 app (i.e. Cut the Rope), the Metro IE loads fine.
Someone
I have Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, and Maxthon installed on my computer.
VG
^^ Try to add it again from All Apps screen.
net
hi,
now i got IE tile back, but Chrome tile is gone (turned into desktop prog).. -.-
Omkar
Actually the IE tile didn't disappear but it appeared the way the it appears on desktop.
I followed the steps given by u. I got the metro tile back. :)
Thanx a lot :)
Daley
Thanks so much. Really helped
bailey
the tile is fine, but internet explorer still brings me to my desktop to open. I am trying to get the internet explorer that runs inside windows 8 back