How to Select Multiple Tiles and Show Bottom App Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1?

Most of you might be aware of the new Update 1 for Windows 8.1 operating system which was released for public download a few days back.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 Available for Download

Update 1 brings many interesting features to Windows 8.1 such as new power and search buttons on Start Screen, pinning metro apps to Taskbar and titlebar with close/minimize buttons in metro apps.

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Another interesting feature included in this update is the addition of classic context menu on Start Screen. In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (without update 1), if you right-click on a tile in Start Screen, you get App bar or Options Bar at bottom containing various options such as pin, unpin, resize, etc. Actually this App bar was introduced for touch-enabled devices such as tablets but mouse users on Desktops/laptops found it a little bit annoying to use.

That’s why Microsoft replaced the App bar with old context menu in Update 1 for Windows 8.1. After installing Update 1, if you right-click on a tile, you get traditional context menu similar to Windows Explorer or Desktop.

Context_Menu_Start_Screen_Tile_Windows_81_Update.png

But there is an issue which has been faced by several Windows 8.1 users who have installed Update 1. Many users are complaining that they can’t select multiple tiles on Start Screen to move, unpin or resize them. Before installing Update 1, users were able to right-click on a tile and then left-click on other desired tiles to select multiple tiles. But now if they right-click on a tile and then left-click on another tile, Windows opens that program and doesn’t allow users to select multiple tiles.

Now the question comes, how to select multiple tiles in Windows 8.1 Update 1? Don’t worry! Here is a simple solution… Actually two solutions:

SOLUTION 1:

You can select multiple tiles by press and hold CTRL key and then left-click on desired tiles. It’ll allow you to select multiple tiles. Its the same method which is used to select multiple items in Windows Explorer or Desktop.

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Select_Multiple_Tiles_Windows_81_Start_Screen.png

Once you select multiple tiles, you can move them or right-click on a tile from the selection to access context menu options.

SOLUTION 2:

It seems Microsoft didn’t disable Bottom App Bar for Desktop users in Update 1. Instead the company just hid the bar which can be accessed using a simple trick.

Just press SPACE BAR on your keyboard and Windows will show the old App bar on bottom. Now you can click on other desired tiles to start multiple selection.

Show_Bottom_App_Bar_Windows_81_Start_Screen.png

Thanks to our reader “Vinay Godara” for sharing this trick…

PS: You can also use “Win+Z” keyboard shortcut to show App bar or Options bar at bottom.

The same methods can also be used on “All Apps” or “Apps View” page which can be accessed by clicking on small arrow icon on Start Screen or by pressing “Ctrl+Tab” keys together.

Also Check:

Hey Microsoft! Please Allow Users to Select and Remove Multiple Tiles at Once in Windows 10 Start Menu

Published in: 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.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. Suc,
    You must KEEP the control button while you are dragging the files or else the selection is lost!

  2. Thank you so much! This tip saved me hours of frustration.

    It’s sad to see that when Microsoft revamps a feature (even when based on public opinion), they don’t take into consideration those people who preferred it the way it was before and have problems coping with the change.

  3. I don’t need the Bottom App Bar back from my START screen (pressing spacebar worked for that, though!). I need it when I’m on some random website and would like to pin that website to my START screen. I used to be able to do this just fine. I would go to a website I wanted, right click, and 2 things would happen: 1) the Bottom App Bar would pop up (in which was the option to pin to my START screen), and 2) a big bar at the top would come up that showed all open tabs/websites. Now when I right click, neither of those happen, I just get the old windows menu tab… and it does not list as an option to pin that site on my START page. So my question is twofold. 1) can I get the old Bottom App Bar back that allows me to pin random websites to my START screen?, and 2) if I can’t, how am I to pin new websites to my START screen now?

    Thank you SO MUCH for your help! I’ve spent hours online tonight with no resolution to this problem. :/

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