[Forum FAQ] Go to Start Screen/Desktop when closing Windows Store App

Question

After install Windows 8.1 Update 1, you will notice these things set by default even on touchscreen laptops and desktops:
Windows 8.1 now boots directly to the desktop.
Closing Windows Store Apps and go to desktop instead of Start Screen.
Besides option “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” since Windows 8, another new option in Taskbar Properties “Show Windows Store app on taskbar” is used to control closing app behavior.
Features of "Show Windows Store app on taskbar" 
When the setting is checked, all of the Windows Store apps that are currently running will display on taskbar. You can easily switch between Windows Store apps and your desktop and its applications through the taskbar. For mouse users,
you can also access the taskbar within a Windows Store app. Just move the mouse cursor to the button of the screen, the taskbar pops up.
When the setting is unchecked,
Windows Store apps have no minimize button, only Close button
Windows Store apps that are open are not visible on Taskbar
Windows Store apps can still be pinned to the taskbar
How do these two options work for closing app behavior?
Modern app and Taskbar   setting
OFF
ON
Boot   to desktop setting
OFF
Close goes to Start
Close reveals the   app that was previously used, and eventually dead ends at the Desktop
ON
Close goes to desktop
Close reveals the   app that was previously used, and eventually dead ends at the Desktop
Know why “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” does not work when “Show Windows Store app on taskbar” is checked on
As MironV mentioned in the
thread, Windows 8.1 Update is designed to introduce a number of changes for mouse and keyboard users that would help them use and switch between Windows Store apps alongside their familiar desktop applications. A lot of these changes only made sense when
combined together, so they are toggled by one setting, which is “Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar.” This is usually enabled together with the first setting as a complimentary set of improvements for desktop users. When the setting is enabled, Windows
Store apps are intended to feel more like regular maximized applications living on the desktop, though they are full screen only. For example, when you launch apps from Start, they appear on the taskbar until they are closed. You can also minimize them or
switch between them by invoking the taskbar.
Please understand that unchecking the “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start" setting has no effect on close and minimize behavior when the “Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar” setting is checked, since
they are controlling two independent things. If you tend to use only one Windows Store app at a given time, it may seem like we’re not respecting the setting by going to the desktop.
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Answer 1

I don't know if I'm the only one, but on my desktop (using mouse and keyboard only) I like to have my Start screen as my main screen.  To ensure this I made sure to uncheck the "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop" box and
check the "Show Start on the display I'm using when I press the Windows Logo key" box. I also really like having the task bar appear at the bottom even when I'm using a modern app.  Based on the settings I've chosen (i.e., boxes I've checked or not checked),
I would expect to be taken back to the start screen and not the desktop whenever I close an app.  From what I've read from your response and from others in this thread, in order to accomplish this function (i.e., closing an app and going directly to the
start screen) I need to uncheck the "Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar" setting.  By doing this I get the functionality I was looking for when the apps are closed and I get sent to the start screen.  However, I am now not able to see the taskbar
when I'm in a modern app or when I'm on the start screen.  This seems counterintuitive/confusing as many have mentioned.  Not to mention it creates an additional step for users to get back to the Start screen.
All I want to do is (1) use my start screen as my main screen, (2) see the taskbar when running whatever app I'm using (e.g., modern), and (3) go back to my start screen (and not the desktop) when I close an app.  It would only make sense that I should
get these results if I leave the "Show Windows Store apps on the taskbar" box checked and the "When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start" box unchecked; but unfortunately this is NOT the case.  I really hope that
an update fixing this is coming sooner rather than later because this is really annoying.