Windows 8 comes with new Start Screen which shows different tiles of installed programs, system tools, etc to provide quick and easy access to your favorite programs.
If you have started using Windows 8 Consumer Preview build or planning to install it, here are some interesting tips and tricks for you to enjoy this new Start Screen in Windows 8.
1. How to Unpin (Remove) or Resize a Tile in Start Screen
If you don't like a tile in Start Screen and want to remove it from the screen, just right-click on it and click on "Unpin from Start" option in the bottom bar:
If its a 3rd party program tile, you can also uninstall it by clicking on "Uninstall" button.
You can also resize a rectangular tile by clicking on "Smaller" button. You can again make that tile large by clicking on "Larger" button.
2. How to Pin New Tiles in Start Screen
If you accidentally removed a tile and want to pin it back to Start Screen or if you want to add a new tile to Start Screen, move your mouse cursor to the extreme top-right corner. It'll show the new Charms bar, select "Search" option from it.
Alternatively, you can press "Ctrl+Tab" keys together to access Apps screen or right-click on Start Screen and click on "All apps" option in bottom bar.
It'll open the Apps page where you'll get a long list of lots of interesting apps. Right-click on an app which you want to pin to Start Screen and click on "Pin to Start" option in bottom bar:
That's it. It'll immediately add the app tile to Start Screen.
3. How to Move Tiles in Start Screen
Did you know you can also move the tiles in Start Screen using simple drag-n-drop? Take an example of the above mentioned "Command Prompt" tile which we added manually. We just dragged-n-dropped it at the beginning of Start Screen:
Isn't it simple?
4. How to Close Apps in Start Screen
You can close a running app by pressing Alt+F4 keys together. Or you can move mouse cursor to top-middle area of screen and the cursor will change into a hand shape. Now click and hold the cursor and drag-n-drop it to the bottom and it'll immediately close the app.
BONUS TIP: Did you know you can switch between Start Screen and Desktop by a simple press of "WIN" key?
Do you like the new Start Screen? Please let us know your opinion about Start Screen in your comment. Also feel free to share tips-n-tricks for Start Screen if you have found any...
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 8.
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Yvidhiatama
The new start screen is great! REALLY love it!
michel
i like the new metro syle.. First i used socialite that is amazing.. I hope will be good OS..
from metro app press Ctrl+esc to back to start screen
Eric
I like the new start screen, I just wish there were an easy way to search specifically for desktop files and apps like the old search bar in the old start menu. I feel like navigating to the programs and files I typically use has become much slower. But this is just a developer preview, I imagine they will have that fixed very soon.
GUGUITO
I hope they add "shut down" somewhere more visible. it took me about 1 minute to find it
and my wife is still looking for it since yesterday.
nipunb
I didn't like the new start screen, I just like the old desktop......
but the ribbon UI in explorer is just great......
Kyle
OMGOMGOMGOMG I LOVEEEEEEEE THE NEW START SCREEN!!!!!!!! thx for the post
Samar
it seems Windows 8 is beginning to look UGLY. Metro on desktops does not appear to be a good decision... MS - hire Vista designers
Nik
Wow, i hate it already!
Venkatesh
My 'Store' and 'Control Panel' icons are missing in the Start screen. I cannot find it in the search bar. The full control panel is available in 'Windows Explorer' but the Metro UI Control panel is missing. Can you help me to get them back, please?
Venkatesh
By the way, for searching we can simply start typing when we are in the Start screen. We need not pick the Search menu item from the list.