Windows 8.1 Tips, Tricks and Tweaks

The Start button returns in Windows 8.1. Image: Vernon Chan, via Flickr.

It's a little over a week since Microsoft rolled out its Windows 8.1 refresh of the Windows 8 operating system so we've all had a chance to get to grips with the new features.

Download Windows 8.1

If you haven't downloaded and installed the Windows 8.1 update yet, you can do so from the Microsoft Store, accessible from the "Store" tile on the main Start screen. Be prepared for a time-consuming download and installation process, though. It's akin to reinstalling the operating system, although Windows does retain all your previous settings so you won't have to fanny about setting up email or reconnecting to your home or office Wi-Fi network.

Also note that if you have several devices running Windows 8, you'll have to go through this process for each device individually. Unfortunately, upgrading to Windows 8.1 on one device won't automatically update the others.

Return of the Start Button

The headline-grabbing element of the launch was the return of the Windows Start button that had been removed in the move from Windows 7 to Windows 8. However, the return of this feature was entirely cosmetic. Pressing the Start button in Windows 8.1 simply switches the computer from desktop to tile mode. Here's a pro-tip: A long press of the Start button also opens the more traditional settings/options menu -- that's fine for a touchscreen device but not overly helpful for those of us still using laptops or desktop PCs, where right-clicking the Start  button performs the same function.

Customize Tile Sizes

One of the niggles with Windows 8 was that you were stuck with two app tile sizes -- large or small -- and this turned the Start screen into a confusing mosaic of all your installed programs.  Windows 8.1 lets you resize each tile to your preferred size, so you can give more screen prominence to the feature you use regularly while demoting those that you don't often access. To resize an app tile on the Start screen, right-click the app and then select the "Resize" option in the bottom context menu. Choose "Wide," "Medium" or "Small" from the pull-down options list. Note that the small option is very small, about the same size as an app button on a mobile device. The medium size is a standard one-column button and the wide option gives you a double-column tile.

Boot in Desktop Mode

A major irritation with Windows 8 was that your computer would by default boot in Start screen mode and you'd then switch to Desktop mode by selecting the "Desktop" tile. In Windows 8.1, you can configure your device to boot in desktop mode from the get-go. Click to select the "Desktop" tile, and then right-click in any blank area on the taskbar at the bottom of the desktop screen. Select "Properties" from the jump menu, and then click the "Navigation" tab in the Properties dialog. Click to enable the "Go to the desktop instead of Start when I sign in" check box. Click "OK" and then restart the computer and you should see the desktop screen instead of the Start screen.

Our Verdict

Windows 8 hasn't proved popular and the minor tweaks and improvements in Windows 8.1 aren't likely to win hearts and minds. If you've already splashed out on Windows 8, then upgrading to 8.1 is free and worth doing to get access to the new features and improvements. If you're still running on Windows 7, upgrading to 8.1 can cost up to $200. You might consider waiting to see what comes next and skipping the whole Windows 8 phase (just as many people ignored Vista between XP and 7).