About this tag
Live tiles were a signature visual element of Windows Phone and Windows 8/8.1, offering glanceable, dynamic updates on the Start screen. While Microsoft removed live tiles from Windows 11, the concept persists through third-party launchers like METROV, which recreate the Windows Phone 8.1 tile experience on Android. Community discussions on WindowsForum.com explore the nostalgia for live tiles, their role in Windows history, and how modern Windows 11 widgets attempt to fill the gap. Users also share tips for disabling live tiles in older Windows 10 builds. The tag covers the legacy, removal, and spiritual successors of live tiles across Microsoft platforms.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    METROV Launcher Brings Lumia Live Tiles to Android (Windows Phone 8.1 Look)

    Android users nostalgic for Windows Phone can now get a convincing Lumia-style experience through METROV, an Android launcher that recreates the Windows Phone 8.1 Start screen, live tiles, app list, and Action Center on modern devices such as Google’s Pixel 10 Pro. That is a small software story...
  2. WindowsForum AI

    METROV Brings Back the Lumia Tile Feeling on Android (Windows Phone Nostalgia)

    Windows Phone is not coming back, but its ghost keeps finding new hardware to haunt. The latest séance is METROV, an Android launcher that Windows Central readers are praising as the closest thing yet to the old Lumia feeling: tiles, motion, whitespace, and just enough restraint to make modern...
  3. WindowsForum AI

    Seven Windows Features Microsoft Removed (Live Tiles to Maps)

    Microsoft’s OS has been quietly slimming down: a clutch of once-promising Windows features have been deprecated or removed over the past few years, and a number of little-known tools that almost nobody used are now gone for good—some by stealth, others with a public notice. The tidy list that...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • bing maps cloud ai copilot cortana feature deprecation it admin live tiles my people onedrive security hardening steamvr timeline tips app voice access windows 10 windows 11 windows maps windows mixed reality windows update
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  4. WindowsForum AI

    Top 9 Essential Windows 11 Features and Customizations Users Still Want

    While Windows 11 is undoubtedly a modern, visually refreshed operating system with substantial improvements over its predecessors, many enthusiasts and everyday users alike remain vocal about a suite of crucial features and customizations they believe are missing or in need of refinement. After...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • battery management customization dark mode file explorer live tiles microsoft features os customization system settings taskbar tweaks tech industry trends ui improvements unsupported windows user control windows 11 windows 11 review windows community windows platform windows privacy windows update
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  5. WindowsForum AI

    Windows 8: The Revolutionary OS That Shaped Modern Touch Computing

    Few releases in Microsoft’s multi-decade march through operating system history have sparked as much debate, confusion, and—retrospectively—underrated admiration as Windows 8. When Microsoft launched its bold, famously divisive OS in 2012, it was greeted with a chorus of criticism from long-time...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • charms bar cloud integration file explorer gestures hybrid laptop live tiles microsoft microsoft store multi-touch computing operating system os evolution tablet touch-first design ui innovation windows 10 windows 11 windows 8 windows history
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  6. WindowsForum AI

    Top Third-Party Widgets for Customizing Your Windows 11 Desktop in 2025

    When Microsoft unveiled Windows 11, one of the most hyped features was its revamped widget system—an apparent spiritual successor to both Live Tiles and the much-loved Windows Gadgets from earlier eras. Pitched as dynamic, glanceable applets, Windows 11 widgets were designed to give users quick...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • desktop customization desktop enhancement gadgets live tiles performance optimization productivity tools rainmeter taskbar third-party apps widget compatibility widget launcher widgets windows 11 windows customization windows ecosystem windows features windows tips
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  7. WindowsForum AI

    Windows 11's Pinned Desktop Widgets: The Future of Personalization and Productivity

    With the next evolution of Windows 11 on the horizon, Microsoft is quietly reimagining desktop customization by enabling users to pin widgets directly onto their desktops—a significant departure from the current widget panel approach. This emerging feature, currently tucked away as an...
    • WindowsForum AI
    • Thread
    • desktop customization gadgets live tiles microsoft os customization os evolution pinning widgets productivity tools taskbar tech industry trends ui design upgrade user experience widgets windows 11 windows features windows insider windows tips
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows News
  8. Joey1394

    White theme in Windows 10

    I am running the White theme in Windows 10. Mind you inside the 1903 build, which is possible with the Insider Program. I was tired of trying to get all things white. I became a Insider. I have been stripping the menu from all the tiles for some time. Also, disable live-tiles too. The...
    • Joey1394
    • Thread
    • build 1903 customization insider program live tiles taskbar transparency themes user interface white theme winaero windows 10
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Desktop Customization
  9. S

    Windows Phone Adoption: App Gaps and Choosing the Right Model

    I'm an iPhone user. I've always loved the way WP looks though - the live tiles are the perfect solution to the problem of having a boring grid of icons (iPhone) and the absolute mess of non standard widgets (Android). But i'm still an iPhone user. I long for the day I can actually buy a...
    • Stephen Ferrari
    • Thread
    • app development app gap catalog consumer needs device selection emerging markets flagship iphone live tiles microsoft mid-range phones mobile apps mobile os nokia operating system smartphone smartphone market tech comparison user experience windows phone
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Hardware
  10. Saltgrass

    Windows 8 Problem with Bing Weather?

    On both of my Windows 8.1 systems, the MSN Weather app has decided it does not want to open correctly. The live tile works and the App appears to open, but the circling dots never stop. Possibly it is trying to get info from some source and is unable to do so. I have uninstalled and...
    • Saltgrass
    • Thread
    • application error appmodel runtime bing weather circling dots clean install error message event viewer live tiles msn weather performance issues reinstall software issues system issues troubleshooting user experience weather app windows 8.1
    • Replies: 3
    • Forum: Windows Software
  11. Chris Hartsfield

    Windows 10 Live Tiles missing on primary monitor

    In windows 10, on my dual monitor system, the start button on the right provides group of live tiles, but on the left screen there are no live tiles showing up. I see how to turn off the tiles on the right monitor, but not how to turn it on in the left (and maybe how to turn it back on on the...
  12. R

    Windows 8 Retro UI - Using Start Screen as a Desktop

    I found out that Retro UI is a good app as a start menu. The reason is that it allows you to still use the start screen if you want to and adds a task bar at the bottom of your start screen. So, you can use the start screen as an improved desktop. I could be wrong so please correct me if I am...
    • Ridhwan
    • Thread
    • app installation boot options cpu usage customization desktop live tiles memory usage resource management retroui shortcuts start menu start screen taskbar tech support user interface user preferences windows apps windows settings windows user experience
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  13. M

    Windows 8 Why do people hate the new start screen?

    As the title suggests, I'm wondering why you hate the start screen in Windows 8 so much, or why you think others do. Besides looking completely different, there are nothing but improvements on the back end in terms of search, live tiles and appearance. I honestly see no legitimate reason for...
    • Mitchell_A
    • Thread
    • change criticism interface learning curve live tiles opinion search start screen user experience windows 8
    • Replies: 42
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  14. kemical

    Windows 8 Windows Blue leaked. Tweaktown images..

    The web site Tweaktown is carrying an article showing leaked slides of Windows Blue. Whilst this isn't obviously an official first look it does give an idea of what to expect: Windows Blue build 9364 leaks out, multiple Live Tile sizes, same-width side-by-side apps on offer :: TweakTown
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • build 9364 leaked live tiles screenshots side-by-side apps tech news tweaktown user interface windows blue windows update
    • Replies: 13
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. J

    Windows 8 live tiles discussion

    Hey all, I have been having some frustration here and was hoping maybe someone could help me figure this out. Perhaps this is a simple issue but its obnoxious. I love windows 8 its very nice and the intergration of small UI apps combined with the regular windows apps makes it fun to do some...
    • jmcwhor1
    • Thread
    • app customization frustration help live tiles metro size adjustment user interface windows 8
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: The Water Cooler
  16. D

    Windows 8 Join Domain and Live Tiles stop working

    Trying Windows 8 at work and bought new Samsung 700t tablet. Windows 8 works fine with local user (linked to live id) and all our software including Symantec Endpoint 12.1.2. As soon as I join to domain (server 2008) and reboot the live tiles no longer function. Have total reset several times...
    • dmccahan
    • Thread
    • domain join domain policy endpoint management functionality gpo issues live id live tiles policy refresh reset restore point server 2008 symantec tablet troubleshooting windows 8 windows issues
    • Replies: 6
    • Forum: Windows Networking
  17. StefaNafetS

    Windows 8 [ Live tiles] how should they work?

    I just need a confirmation: 1)Does the photo tile show only the same 3-4 photos from your picture library even if you have tons of photos there? 2) does the Bing travel tile slideshowing the same destinations : Budapest, Rio, Paris all day 3) does the sport app and news app show the same photo...
  18. T

    Windows 8 Cpu app and windows media center app

    Well I put windows 8 on my first computer build. Its pretty fast but a learning curve. Going to give it a few months. But I was hoping for a windows media center metro live tile. Like the gadget in windows 7. Also is there a app to show the CPU temp yet? I have searched guess not. Could be nice...
  19. H

    Windows 8 Contact Tile randomise?

    Hey Guys, yesterday i installed Windows 8 Pro. Everything Okay. I synched my Facebook Friends with the Contact Live Tile and it is showing me the Profile Pictures. But there are only like 10-12 shuffeling, not all my Friends. Is there a Chance to get a Shuffle to the Contact Live Tile...
    • hennesch
    • Thread
    • app features contact tile facebook live tiles profile picture settings shuffle sync user interface windows 8
    • Replies: 5
    • Forum: Windows Software
  20. N

    Windows 8 Custom Live Tiles in Windows Phone Mango.. Completely Different Experience? Help!

    Hi! I was maybe too excited about upgrading to Windows 8 because my experience with Windows Phone 7 was very positive. One aspect I loved: the live tiles. They were easy to set up from within Apps, and they were very convenient. I'm not having the same experience in Windows 8... It's a little...
    • NewUser
    • Thread
    • app integration customization facebook guide live tiles notifications update user experience windows 8 windows phone
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Desktop Customization