How to Force Enable Snap Feature and Run Metro Apps on Low Screen Resolutions in Windows 8?

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Microsoft showed a new feature in Windows 8 demos videos, its called "Snap". You can actually run 2 Start Screen apps or one Start Screen app and one Desktop app side-by-side using this new Snap feature.

But this new feature requires high resolution PCs and if your computer doesn't support the requirements, this feature will not be enabled for you.

Similarly Windows 8 comes with new metro apps but you need at least 1024x768 screen resolution to run them. If you have a lower screen resolution system such as netbook (1024x600) and you try to open a metro app from Start Screen, you get following error message:

This app can't open

The screen resolution is too low for this app to run.
Change your screen resolution

No need to worry! Today we are going to share 2 small registry tricks which will help you in enabling Snap feature and running metro apps even if your computer system doesn't meet the hardware requirements and doesn't have higher screen resolution.

Windows_8_Snap_Feature.jpg

Method 1: Enable Snap Feature on Lower Screen Resolution

To enable this feature, simply follow these simple steps:

1. Press "WIN+R" key combination to launch RUN dialog box then type regedit and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor and go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\

2. Under ImmersiveShell key, create a new key AppPositioner.

3. Now select newly created key "AppPositioner" and in right-side pane, create a new DWORD AlwaysEnableLSSnapping and set its value to 1

Enable_Windows_8_Snap_Feature.png

That's it. Restart your system or restart Explorer and you'll be able to enjoy this cool new feature.

Thanks to our reader "Jaycee13" for sharing this trick...

PS: If you don't want to modify registry and want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it:

Download Registry Script

Method 2: Run Metro Apps on Lower Screen Resolution

To successfully run metro apps on lower screen resolution PC, simply follow these simple steps:

1. Press "WIN+R" key combination to launch RUN dialog box then type regedit and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.

2. Now press "Ctrl+F" keys and it'll open Find dialog box. You can also open it using "Edit -> Find" menu.

Now type following text in Find text box:

Display1_DownScalingSupported

Run_Metro_Apps_Low_Screen_Resolution_Windows_8.png

3. Click on "Find Next" button and it'll let you go to the first occurrence of the above mentioned registry key. Once you find a key with the name "Display1_DownScalingSupported", change its value from 0 to 1

4. Press F3 key and it'll let you go to the next occurrence of the text string. If you find more keys with the name "Display1_DownScalingSupported", change values of all of them from 0 to 1

5. Once finished, close Registry Editor and restart your system.

6. After reboot, right-click on Desktop and select "Screen Resolution" option. Now you should get 1024x768 option in the screen resolution list. Select it and apply the changes.

7. That's it. This trick will force Windows to think that your screen resolution is 1024x768 and you'll be able to run metro apps without any problem.





Posted by: | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 8


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