About this tag
The start screen tag on WindowsForum.com covers discussions about the tile-based user interface introduced in Windows 8 and carried into Windows 10 and Windows 11. Topics include customizing the start screen background, arranging app tiles into named groups, pinning shortcuts like msconfig as tiles, and troubleshooting login issues where the PIN option disappears. Users also debate design limitations, such as the lack of a four-column layout and poor default appearance, and share workarounds using third-party tools. Additionally, the tag includes a project that recreates the Windows 8 start screen as a Wayland shell for Linux, and a historical look at Microsoft's internal codename for the Windows 8 UI.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    Windows 8 “Modern Experience” Codename Explained: The Push That Split Users

    Microsoft veteran Raymond Chen said on June 1, 2026, that Windows 8’s internal placeholder for its new user interface was “the modern experience,” a plain development-era label used to distinguish it from Windows 7’s “classic experience” before abbreviations like MoSh, MoGo, MoSet, and MoCo...
  2. WindowsForum AI

    Win8DE: Windows 8 UI as a Wayland Shell for Linux

    If you thought Windows 8’s tile‑based “Metro” era was dead and buried, a small but ambitious open‑source project has other plans: Win8DE recreates the Windows 8 Start screen, lock screen and on‑screen display as a Wayland shell for Linux, and the result is equal parts nostalgia, design...
  3. B

    Windows 10 (Start) background.

    I want to add a background to my Full screen start window/Tiles window. Not lockscreen, not desktop. The start screen. Like in W8. Help. All i can change is colors.
    • Bombarder
    • Thread
    • background customization full screen start screen tiles user interface windows 10 windows 8
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Software
  4. Curious

    Windows 11 Information in The Start Screen

    Hello, This information is new in Windows 11. How I can eliminate this Information to appear in the Screen? Thank and best regards Curious
    • Curious
    • Thread
    • customization display options elimination information settings start screen user interface windows 11
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  5. M

    Windows 10 The “I forgot pin” option isn’t showing up on start screen.

    So I tried to login to my pc today, but my pin wouldn’t work. I used the same one that worked yesterday, but today it said incorrect pin. After some tries it said I had to restart to try again, but after restarting the “I forgot pin” option has disappeared from underneath the pin box. How can I...
    • Maxtb80
    • Thread
    • error message password reset pin security start screen troubleshooting user experience windows
    • Replies: 4
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  6. J

    Windows 10 Windows 10 Mobile Start Screen

    I have created a group of apps on my start screen. I want to give it a name. How do I give it a name that I choose? I have a Lumia 1520 with production build of W 10 M.
    • jtpcamp
    • Thread
    • app build customization group lumia 1520 mobile naming start screen user guide windows 10
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  7. Y

    Windows 10 Poor Start Screen Design. No option for 4 Columns on Start Screen?

    I'm very disappointed in the customization options in Windows 8-10. Firstly, users have to use third-party software to post their own tiles.. which is like using third-party software to make the modern equivalent of icons and shortcuts. No wonder normal users never liked the Start Screen which...
  8. M

    Windows 10 Pin msconfig as tile

    I tried to pin a desktop shortcut of msconfig system app as tile to the start metro screen but refuses to pin. It doesn't even exists 'Pin to Start screen' selection when i right click the shortcut. What should i do? I even copied the shortcut to the 'All Apps' folder and appeared on the left to...
  9. SteelRyder

    Windows 10 Can I Transfer The Start Screen When Upgrading to Windows 10?

    I have been hesitant to upgrade my wife's laptop from 8.1 to 10 because she exclusively uses the start screen (Aero, Metro, whatever its called). I did an upgrade for her a few months ago, but it wiped out all of the tiles that she had saved, so I had to revert back to 8.1. Is there a way to...
  10. M

    Windows 10 Install game as tile

    How can i install games from Microsoft store without been installed to All Programs Start window and instead to be installed as big tile in the start screen in windows 10?
    • Marios1441
    • Thread
    • customization desktop games gaming installation microsoft store start screen tiles user interface windows 10
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  11. Sp3ctre18

    Windows 8 Windows 8 Start Screen - natural function explained please?

    I figured I'd post here instead of Help and Support since I see that more as technical support, but I understand if this needs to be moved. When a feature looks messy and incomprehensible to me, I just don't use it if I have no real need, so I haven't used the Start screen AT ALL - I just go...
  12. kemical

    Windows 10 How to enable Windows 8.1 Start screen in Windows 10

    If you upgraded from Windows 8.1 and miss the old style Start screen you can enable it in Windows 10. Open the Start menu and click settings. Open the Personalisation tab: Look down the left hand side for 'Start' and click that. You'll then see some options relating to the Start menu and...
    • kemical
    • Thread
    • customization desktop personalization settings start menu start screen upgrade user guide windows 10 windows 8.1
    • Replies: 0
    • Forum: Windows Tutorials
  13. M

    Windows 10 Cannot see start screen

    I installed Windows 10 on Friday. The Windows symbol at bottom left of screen and the Windows key on keyboard do not work to access start screen. Is there another way to bring up the start screen?
    • mdjdevon
    • Thread
    • access installation keyboard settings start screen support symbols troubleshooting user interface windows 10
    • Replies: 8
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  14. old ira

    Windows 8 Start Screen Apps Empty on Windows 8.1: Issues with Main Account Access

    all of the files in windows 8.1 start screen are empty, when I click on any of them all I get is a empty box in the task bar. I have been into safe mode and every app on the start screen is empty. I am running an Asus republic of Gamers laptop with intel i7 2.4ghz, nvidia geforce gtx 880m gpu...
    • old ira
    • Thread
    • app asus empty files gaming gtx 880m hard drive intel laptop nvidia performance ram safe mode ssd start screen taskbar troubleshooting windows 8.1
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  15. D

    Windows 8 Windows Start Screen

    I have just bought a new computer with Windows 8.1 and I am confused and underwhelmed by 8.1. My main gripe is the totally uncontrollable start Screen. OK I can sort apps into groups and name the groups so that's a start. After getting apps into different groups I now set about sorting them...
    • djchapple
    • Thread
    • app management computer setup customization desktop frustration group apps interface new user randomization sorting start screen system settings tech support uncontrollable user experience windows windows 8.1
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  16. ShoobieStomper

    Windows 8 Backup & Restore Start Screen

    Hey, guys! Here is a simple way to backup and restore your Start screen. 1) Extract the .zip to your desktop. 2) Open START. 3) Right-click on BACKUP START and replace my username (ALEX) with yours. Repeat this step for RESTORE START. I wanted to add a variable so that you didn't have to do...
    • ShoobieStomper
    • Thread
    • backup customization data preservation desktop file explorer file management file operations file recovery guide maintenance navigation restore settings start menu start screen tips user interface username
    • Replies: 2
    • Forum: Windows Tutorials
  17. H

    Windows 8 Win 8.1 32 bit Question

    I have two windows 8.1 32 bit installations. One on a VM on a Windows Desktop, one on a Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2, 8 inch. The VM version shows the start screen with the blue background that I chose during setup and it shows the power button along side the search button in the upper right corner...
    • hawkeye62
    • Thread
    • desktop background differences lenovo yoga power button questions start screen tablet update virtual machine windows 8.1
    • Replies: 1
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  18. KyleTheChoux

    Windows 8 Which do you like better? Windows Vista or Windows 8/8.1?

    Okay so people hate Windows Vista and Windows 8. But I want to know which is actually better. Windows 8 and 8.1 is hated because of the Start Screen. But people hate Windows Vista because it was totally unstable and It was full of bugs. It also had some compatibility issues.
    • KyleTheChoux
    • Thread
    • bugs comparison compatibility operating system start screen system stability user opinions windows 8 windows 8.1 windows vista
    • Replies: 8
    • Forum: General Computing
  19. H

    Windows 8 Start Screen Tiles Re-arrange Themselves

    Sounds crazy, but the tiles keep re-arranging themselves. I spend time getting them arranged just the way I want and then when I return to the screen later, they have changed position. Any ideas? Thanks, Jim
    • hawkeye62
    • Thread
    • customization display issues rearrange software bugs start screen tiles troubleshooting user interface windows 10 windows settings
    • Replies: 22
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support
  20. davehc

    Windows 10 Bring on the next build.

    A confession. There is so little major difference, between Windows 8.1 and theTtechnet preview, that I have become rather disinterested in it. I am a dedicated and enthusiastic poster in discussion and help, where problems are encountered. Of late, on all the forums I visit, the posts on these...
    • davehc
    • Thread
    • boredom build community differences enthusiasm feedback flight level forum performance public release responding ssd start screen technet testing update users windows 10 windows 8.1
    • Replies: 19
    • Forum: Windows Help and Support