Win8 Start screen

The Windows 8 Start screen is a table of contents to the apps (programs), folders and contacts you use often. All items appear as "live tiles," which means they can display changing information from the applications in real time such as stock quotes or the weather. Sometimes they just cycle through images to entertain you. See live tiles, Win8 abc's, Win8 Apps screen, Win8 mouse tips and Win8 touch tips.

The Start Screen

Windows 8 boots into the Start screen, which you can rearrange to your liking. You can add and delete tiles, and depending on the type of tile, you can make it larger or smaller.

Retrieving the Start Screen
Windows 8 boots into the Start screen, and you can retrieve it again as follows.

Keyboard
Press Windows key (see Windows key).

Mouse
Point to lower left corner of screen and click.

Touch
From the right edge of the screen, swipe left.

Launching (Running) an App
You can launch an application multiple ways:

Keyboard
Type the app's name in the Start screen.

Mouse
Click a tile in the Start screen or an icon
in the Apps screen.
or
Display the Charms bar and select Search/Apps.

Touch
Tap a tile in the Start screen or an icon
in the Apps screen.
or
Display the Charms bar and select Search/Apps.

Resize and Rearrange the Tiles
Tile size may be adjustable by right clicking the tile or swiping straight down to display the menu. If the tile is adjustable, a Smaller or Larger option is displayed.

To relocate a tile on the Start screen, click or swipe straight down and drag it to a different location.

Pinning an App to the Start Screen
You can turn any icon in the Apps screen into a tile on the Start screen. Right click (or swipe down) the icon in the Apps screen and click Pin to Start from the menu that appears.

Pinning a Folder to the Start Screen
In Explorer, right click (or tap and hold) the folder icon and click (or tap) Pin to Start. See Win Explorer.

Remove a Tile and Uninstall an App
To remove a tile from the Start screen, right click (or swipe down) the tile and click Unpin from Start. To uninstall an application, go to the Apps screen and right click (or swipe down) the icon and click Uninstall. See Win8 abc's.

Start Screen Tiles and App Screen Icons

All items on the Start screen (top) display as "live tiles," and all items in the Apps screen (bottom) display as icons.

Start Screen Tiles and App Screen Icons

All items on the Start screen (top) display as "live tiles," and all items in the Apps screen (bottom) display as icons.