Microsoft's latest OS Windows 8 comes with a new Start Screen which shows live tiles of installed programs, system tools, etc to provide quick and easy access to your favorite programs.
If you have started using Windows 8 RTM 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), Uninstall 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:
You can also completely uninstall a tile by clicking on "Uninstall" button. If you want to restore a built-in app later, you can follow simple steps given here.
You can also resize a rectangular tile by clicking on "Smaller" button. You can again make that tile large by clicking on "Larger" button.
You can also turn off live previews of tiles using "Turn live tile off" option.
2. How to Pin (Add) 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.
Also Check:
- [Tip] Organize Windows 8 Start Screen Tiles in Groups and Name These Groups
- Run Metro Apps on Windows 8 Desktop, Add Minimize, Maximize and Close Buttons
PS: If you don't like the new Start Screen, you can skip or bypass it at startup using following tutorial:
How to Skip Metro Start Screen and Boot Directly into Desktop in Windows 8?
You can also check out following exclusive video showing how to use Windows 8 Start Screen like a pro:
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...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Windows 8
Edward
I just love the start screen IT is just GREAT!!
Unnamed
The new start screen is AMAZING! I'm totally INLOVE with the new metro look too! Everything in the new Windows is great!
sean micheals
I would like to have: 1. my old spash screen back 2. and the start menue back, while keeping windows 8, Can anyone place help me.
VG
^^ Check following:
http://www.askvg.com/get-start-button-orb-and-classic-start-menu-back-in-windows-8-using-classic-shell/
What do you mean by old splash screen?
Doug
Do you think these old foogies will get the hang of it!
Rick
Looks terrible... so much wasted space.
Metro was designed with tablets in mind not keyboard and mouse.
Windows is used in many businesses, they won't want metro enabled.
Microsoft is removing legacy code and other hacks to disable metro... just sticking it to the customer.
Mamalee
love new Start, just can't work out how to make a FB tile!
Peaches
I cannot believe they removed the start menu the tiles have made navigating through programs I want to use much slower. The tiles either take up more than the screen or so small they are difficult to see. You cannot even list them, they won't move into those positions. I really hate it. The calculator is ridiculously large and if you pin it to the side of the desktop not only is it unusable but you can't get rid of it either... I suppose if you are in love with your smart phone you will love windows 8 so far I find it very unfriendly to use compared to having one start screen now you have to navigate through at least two to get going if you have it password protected. I want the tiles to have the option to list instead of spread out but so far I don't believe that is an option ... so I totally hate it. Anyone know how to unpin an app from your desktop when you don't want to use it anymore? Or how to make the calculator small enough to be useful when you pin it to the desktop?
wai
I love the new lay out but im having a issue with the apps area, I cant seem to customize it like i did with the start menu. any idea on how to do this|?
Jim
I have the most strange problem. picz.ge/img/s2/1211/11/9/944336edec4f.png
Cant see those icons. Can anyone help?
VG
^^ Make sure the current system language is correct in your Windows. It seems a different locale is selected in your system.
faiza rahim
my tiles have all disappeared and I don't seem to have any apps any more either please can someone help
Richard Breed
Hi...you seem the one to write after a week of asking:
Why am I unable to Drop & Drag my tiles...on my new HP windows8 computer?
...I drag & drop...and it snaps back to it's original place...I have spent a week...searching for this answer.
Are you, my saint?
Chard
tamara
l accidentally removed picture tile and l did add it again but it is not showing same icon and when l click the any of tiles on start screen after 5 second its coming back the start screen. this is happining with evry tiles l have in start screen only tile is workin thats Desktop.l can not use any tiles on my start screen. could you please help me about it. Thank you.
VG
^^ You should try to use Reset PC option.
pandu
hello, i miss desktop icon in start . How to restore it ,plz any me
pandu
hello, i miss the destop icon in the start, how to restore it, help me
Cassie
My pin button has disappeared and now I cannot pin websites to the Start screen. I've used this feature for a few weeks and now it is gone. I must have inadvertently removed it, but can't figure out how to put it back. Also, when in IE or Chrome from Start screen, now my web searches occur in the desktop area instead of in Start. What have I done?
Dad
This thing is driving me crazy........today's issue is how to get a clock on screen when you hit the windows key. I know I can hit win-c, but everything else takes extra keystrokes, I'm hoping one damn thing will work well in this crazy UI. MS needs to hire a UI specialist!
kevin
The windows 8 home screen is a joke. Seriously, who designs this c**p and doesn't add a button to turn it off?! I've been sitting here for two hours trying to find out how to turn this s**t off and I'm about ready to chuck the computer out the window and buy a Mac. Common PC. I've been using your products since Windows 98 and this is the ugliest, slowest, most useless piece of s**t you've ever produced.
ldo
Your directions are flawed. NO "ALL APPS" doesn't appear as a selection under
2. How to Pin (Add) New Tiles in Start Screen
Mist
Thanks for helpful info. However, I don't HAVE a bottom bar and cannot pin an app. ???? Thanks
Peter
I have just invested in a upmarket windows 8 pro lap top. It is a complete marketing disaster. I expected to be able to use it to some useful office work - not a chance, the desk top is hidden, the tiles open applications that it is almost impossible to close without unplugging the machine - not in the least intuitive, no easy tutorials, does Microsoft really expect all its users to forget everthing that they have learned and just be inspired by this weird screen layout geared to allow easy surfing, music listening or watching videos - great for the pre school kids, but absolutely useless for anyone trying to do real work!
They really must try harder to make this usable, the only decent thing about the windows 8 pro version is that I can set up a virtual machine and reload XP.
If I had realised that it was going to be as peculiar as this I would have bought a Mac
Sarah
How I agree with Peter. Bought a new laptop for work. Unfortunately Windows 8 preinstalled. Nightmare if you want to work on your PC rather chat on Facebook or watch videos. Where are the instructions? How do you turn this stuff off? This may feel intuitive on a touch screen phone or tablet phone but it certainly doesn't on a laptop. Have spent half the morning trying to work out how to get rid of these apps which I do not want. Seems the Internet is full of people just trying to get rid of this. What a complete joke.
W8LOVER
All W8 Haters are idiots who cannot learn something new and deal with it.
jonathan
once I moved the tiles too much there is now a space between them that doesn't go away...wtf mad lame dudes fix fix