Start Screen Tile Positioning

Hello,
In short, is there a way to control where I place tiles on the start screen?  Like maybe a link that explains the apparent random nature of the tile placement "feature".  Is there a registry hack that turns that off, or sets the space
or in other ways controls that?
In long, I'm a consultant/developer with several clients using many different technologies.  So, I have a LOT of stuff installed.  I'd like to place 40 or so of my favorite apps on the start screen, but this auto snap "feature" makes
it hard to organize things so I'm not hunting all over the place.
So, I'd like to place them all around my start screen, grouped by their common use.  The name groups feature would be awesome, if I could put names somewhere other than the top of the start screen.
Thanks,
Greg

Figures!
So, if any of the Microsoft UI Engineers are listening.....
Get an Android anything, long press an app icon, drag it anywhere you want, and let go.  Hey! It stays right where you left it! That's pretty cool.
Then......
Get an Apple product (iPad, iPhone), long press an app icon, drag it anywhere you want, and let go.  Hey! It stays right where you left it!  That's pretty cool.
Now, if you're wondering why this behaves that way, it's because the user wants to organize their devices to the way they use them.  I can put all my map type apps in one corner and my game apps in another.  What a novel idea!
The user doesn't want to be TOLD how to organize their devices.

Similar Messages

  • Start Screen Tiles crashing

    After the Build 9879 update, some of my Start Screen tiles are crashing. PC Settings tile crashes. Reader tile crashes. Scan tile crashes. My intel display driver crashes.

    Try restart your PC and check whether these problems are being reproduced.
    Run Windows Update and install all updates.
    Make sure report all these issues using Feedback App.

  • Start screen tiles go dark

    Hello Nokia/ Microsoft THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW!! I am seriously done with windows phones and I am just about done with AT&T!! I am on my 3rd Lumia 1520 in 2 months and all 3 had start screen tiles that inexplicably went black!! Then the phone crashes, and apps crash. I am so done!! No one at AT&T or Nokia can tell me what is going on!! First they said I had a corrupt SD card. Then they said my files on OneDrive are infected. Then I was told it was a faulty 3rd party app. Every time I did what I was told, and the black tiles came back.I have done several hard resets. Nokia said I needed to download their software recovery tool. Well that's what killed my second 1520 and the local AT&T Support Center couldn't figure out what to do and so they gave me my third 1520. My phone has basically been rendered ineffective!! For fear of causing the phone to freak again, since we don't know what is causing the problem, I cant access my files, music, photos or videos on OneDrive. I can't download 3rd party apps. Today I actually witnessed the tiles going black, right after I allowed an update to the AT&T Address Book App: AT&T told me all ATT Nokia apps were safe to use!! I immediately uninstalled the app; deleted and reinstalled the black tiles, and they have been working fine for 18 hrs.

    Make sure you haven't accidentally activated the high contrast mode and then backed-up this setting to your live account. This would cause the high contrast mode to restore every time you setup your live account on a new device. High contrast mode can be accessed under Settings > ease of access > High contrast. Good luck!

  • Make start screen tiles open new window by default?

    let me preface this by saying "I like the windows 8 start screen and I don't miss the start menu."
    but.
    the default behavior for start screen tiles seems to be "take me to the open instance of this application."
    if I click the notepad tile to open notepad, it opens notepad. if I click the tile again, it takes me to that notepad I just opened the first time I clicked the tile. if I want to open two instances of notepad, I have to right-click the tile and then
    choose "open new window," which may or may not be on the complete opposite corner of the screen from my notepad tile.
    for what it's worth, this was not the behavior in the old start menu.
    is there a registry hack or group policy I can put in to say "start tiles always open a new instance of desktop apps"? I use two monitors and have a lot of things open. sometimes I might not even remember that I have notepad (or remote
    desktop, or excel, or powershell) running until I've already clicked the tile "again" instead of right-clicking and choosing "open in new window." this may seem like a minor thing, but it just seems like something I should have a *choice*
    on.
     the unfortunate flip side of this is that the new dual-monitor taskbar does what exactly what I want the start screen to do, but what I DON'T want the taskbar to do. that is, if I:
    A. have a outlook pinned to the taskbar on my primary monitor
    B. have outlook open on my second monitor
    C. click the pinned outlook icon on the first monitor
    windows opens a new instance of outlook instead of just taking me to the open instance. and as if to twist the knife and say "i'm doing this wrong on purpose," it opens this new instance on the second monitor, right in front of the first
    instance.
    so the start screen knows if outlook is open on either monitor, but the taskbar on monitor1 doesn't know/care if outlook is open on monitor2.
    (any of this addressed in 8.1?)

    For those domain administrators need to push this to multiple users, but don't want to change the registry setting on each and every users (could be hundreds, or even thousands of them), here is a GPO template I made so you can push the registry change
    to selected domain users and groups.
    Just paste the following into an ADM file (i.e. AlwaysLaunch.adm) and then create a new GPO and import it under
    Administrative Templates, then apply the GPO to the domain users and groups that you want to apply this behavior to.
    CLASS USER
    CATEGORY !!CustomBehavior
     KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Launcher"
     POLICY !!AlwaysLaunchNewInstance
      EXPLAIN !!AlwaysLaunchNewInstanceHelp
      PART !!AlwaysLaunchNewInstance DROPDOWNLIST REQUIRED
       KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Launcher"
       VALUENAME "DesktopAppsAlwaysLaunchNewInstance"
       ITEMLIST
        NAME !!Disabled VALUE NUMERIC 0
        NAME !!Enabled VALUE NUMERIC 1 DEFAULT
       END ITEMLIST
      END PART
     END POLICY
    END CATEGORY
    [strings]
    CustomBehavior="Custom Behavior Settings"
    AlwaysLaunchNewInstance="Always Launch New Instance When Running An App"
    Enabled="Enabled"
    Disabled="Disabled"
    ; explains
    AlwaysLaunchNewInstanceHelp="When running a new application, normally it will go to an existing one if it is already open.  Most of the time this is undesirable, and you want a new instance to run."

  • How do I make web shortcuts into start screen tiles that can be pushed to all users profile on a computer in Windows 8.1 enterprise?

    We are trying to roll out Windows 8.1 Enterpise in our school system (K-12).
    The focus of this question is how do we take an internet web based shortcut and make it into a screen tile (on the start screen) which will appear for any user's start screen that logs on to the computer?
    The details:
    We came upon a great paper that's entitled "Customize Windows 8.1 Start Screens by Using Group Policy".
    By applying this paper we were able to accomplish our first goal: Lock down the start screen so no user could change it. We accomplished this by using the Start Screen Layout policy setting laid out in the paper.
    Our second goal: to customize the start screen is only half way met. We can set up the start screen the way we want and then export the .xml file. We are able to "reimport" the .xml file when the new user logs in. The installed programs
    will appear on the Start Screen but not the internet based web shortcuts that were on the inital setup start screen.
    (FYI - tried creating these tiles by running the start screen internet explorer app to the intended address and pinning them to the start screen. At this time trying to figure if there is a place to put desktop internet short cuts into a directory to make
    them appear on the Start Screen).
    We can see that the directory: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs is a place for program files to appear on the start screen. Is there a location web based shortcuts can be placed to cause them to automatically appear on the start
    screen for every user as well? If not how do we accomplish getting these into tiles for every user logging in?
    Sorry for the lengthy explanation. Hopefully it gets our question answered and helps others out there in the same boat!

    Karen-
    Results: Did not work. The web based shortcuts did not appear.
    Below is the steps taken with your tips incorporated. (Again it's lengthy sorry about that, but anyone can recreate what was done here. Maybe someone can see something left out by doing/reviewing it).
    Here is what was done:
    1. Installed a fresh install of Windows 8.1 enterprise on a pc. No updates were ran.
    2. During setup created the admin account.
    3. Logged into the account a simple start screen was arranged and setup by:
    Starting desktop Internet Explorer. Going to Technet's website. Clicked tools and then selecting "Add site to Apps" from the drop down menu. Went to Apps screen, right clicked and pinned it to start screen. Repeated this procedure with an
    educational web based site.
    Right clicked a few provisioned apps and unpinned them from the start screen.
    Made a few groups and labeled them. Web based shortcuts were arranged with one provisioned app in that particular group.
    4. Opened a Powershell, right clicked it and ran as administrator. Typed the following:
    export-startlayout -path C:\Users\Public\Master.xml -as xml
    (Master is the name chosen for this test .xml file and was put in a location all users would have privelages to access it).
    5. Opened the command prompt and right clicked and "ran as administrator", typed in gpedit.
    6. In the Local Group Policy under User Configuration, under Start Menu and Taskbar I choose the Start Screen Layout.
    7. Enabled the policy and typed in: C:\Users\Public\Master.xml for the Start Layout File.
    8. Opened computer management, under Local Users and Groups I chose Users, right clicked in the middle screen and created a new user called Alpha.
    9. Logged out of the inital account and logged into newly created Alpha account.
    10. When the Alpha account logged in the start screen came up with everything changed in the inital account but no web based shortcuts were found on the start screen or App view.

  • Start screen tile

    Hi all, I am running out of idea about a problem I have.
    I am migrating a computer from Windows 7 SP1 to Windows 8.1 Update using ConfigMgr 2012 R2 and USMT 6.3.
    During the deployment of any Windows 8.1 Update image I am forcing the Start Screen display using the Import-StartLayout command with a custom layout I have made.
    After running the restore state, I log onto the computer and I have some tile, other than the one from my custom layout, that are displayed on the start screen.
    But this only happen when doing a USMT (hardlink) save and restore. When deploying the Windows 8.1 Update image alone, there is no such behavior.
    My question, is there a way to track what or when tiles are pinned to the start screen?
    Or any idea about where should I look tofind an answer to my problem?
    Thank you!
    Mathieu

    I forgot to mentioned that I was using custom migration file and that I was excluding the start menu.
    I did found something but I would like to confirm that someone else is having the same behavior.
    1st test:
    I took a wim file from a Windows 8.1 ISO that I had and deployed the OS on a VM using a simple task sequence.
    I restored the file backed up using USMT from my Windows 7 computer by running manually the command-line.
    The result was that I had no unwanted pinned item on my start menu
    2nd test:
    I took my custom Windows 8.1wim (that include all the updates) file and deployed it using the same simple task sequence.
    I ran USMT manually to restore the files.
    There was unwanted tile pinned on my desktop.
    3rd test:
    I took the wim file from the ISO (the one in my 1st test) and deployed it using the ame task sequence.
    I ran USMT to recover the files, still nothing unwanted on the start screen.
    I installed all the updates available and ran USMT again, still nothing on the start screen.
    I then installed the KB2919355 and ran USMT again, the unwanted tiles where there.
    I confirmed the issue by deploying a wim file took from MVLS, that included Update 1, and I had the same behavior. After running USMT, tiles where pined to my start screen.
    I will probably ask open a case but still, if anyone could try this and could give me the result that would be really appreciated.
    Mathieu

  • Customize Windows 8 start screen for sysprepped image deployment.

    I am attempting to customize the start screen of a windows 8 Pro image for deployment. I have been searching and reading different threads well as technet articles but I have not found anything that works or is not completely documented.
    I have tried the three methods outlined in the technet about customizing the start screen with no luck. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134269.aspx
    The CopyProfile option does not work. Even after enabling the administrator account in audit mode the start screen tiles are not saved after sysprepping.
    Copying the AppFolderLayout.bin file or appsFolder.itemdata-ms to the default user profile does not work. The file is overwritten during the oobe process. I have added these files after sysprepping the image. They are overwritten in the default user
    profile during oobe before the new user is created.
    Using the StartTiles section of unattend would be the best option that will require fewer manual steps but only seems to be able to add new tiles. I cannot remove tiles or change order with StartTiles.
    My unattend.xml file is here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10327232/unattend.xml
    If anyone has a method that works for them please let me know. Especially if this can be automated using unattend.xml

    Copying the AppFolderLayout.bin file or appsFolder.itemdata-ms to the default user profile does not work.
    I think Niall's procedure sounds a bit more complicated than that.   ; )
    http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?/topic/8101-using-system-center-2012-configuration-manager-part-13-deploying-windows-8-x64-with-custom-start-screen/
    Also, regarding removal specifically, did you see Antony Mann's reference to the PowerShell DISM module?
    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w8itproinstall/thread/cbe566f9-fe40-4344-9e7d-1dbf72178429#a59888a6-5196-47b9-91c0-9ddba6a26384
    Other good references available then via
    (Bing search for
        RemoveAppxProvisionedPackage
    HTH
    Robert Aldwinckle

  • Merging the task bar and the Start Screen area

    Follow-up for:
    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/dbb2102f-00b7-47ca-88f2-4f88cd9d3409/followup-starting-launching-and-switching-?forum=WinPreview2014Feedback&prof=required
    +
    http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/dd12fecb-f23d-4ed5-8dad-9a1efe264678/followup-enhancing-multitasking-in-windows-10-with-the-cloud?forum=WinPreview2014Feedback
    Can see the Start Screen more or less works as the Start Screen in Windows 8. However, the coupling features needs to be there. It's a mess.
    And there is still the ambiguity between the Taskbar (= Start) and the Start Screen (= Start). It's the same thing, pinning.
    And they should relate to desktop virtualization.
    May be you could have the icons on the current task bar flow with the start screen area? Work the coloring - and the "ease out" of the menu. So it would seem the task bar is just extending into a bigger area. Then as a user you
    could put the pins used on a daily basis at the very bottom. And the ones used weekly on the Start Screen for instance.
    Additionally,  grouping of pins is needed. That was a nice feature on the Start Screen. And it should be available on the task bar for pins as well - now that the task bar and the Start Screen should be more or less merged as in this
    proposition.

    I agree. I think the Start Menu tiles should function EXACTLY the same as the Start Screen tiles, which includes the arrangement options in groups as well as the ability to multi-select/pin/move/unpin tiles.
    I would also add that I'd like an option to hide the search and task-switcher buttons from the taskbar. Task switcher is redundant considering you can also swipe and keyboard-shortcut that feature. Search is accessible from Start Menu, although
    I understand that once Cortana is enabled via Search button that might change my opinion of its usefulness there.

  • Snipping tool used with PDF's and the start screen.

    The way the snipping tool operates in W10 is infinitely better than W8.1 (which was messy to capture a snip from a pdf for example)
    Good improvement.

    I agree. I think the Start Menu tiles should function EXACTLY the same as the Start Screen tiles, which includes the arrangement options in groups as well as the ability to multi-select/pin/move/unpin tiles.
    I would also add that I'd like an option to hide the search and task-switcher buttons from the taskbar. Task switcher is redundant considering you can also swipe and keyboard-shortcut that feature. Search is accessible from Start Menu, although
    I understand that once Cortana is enabled via Search button that might change my opinion of its usefulness there.

  • Removing HP registration tile from start screen in Windows 8.1

    I registered my new laptop with HP. I try to delete the HP registration tile from the start screen and I cannot complete the directions as I never get an option to unpin the tile from start. Help would be appreciated.... DD

    Hi, I just uninstalled that tile from a Windows 8.1 computer. Here's how I did it:
    Right-click the tile.
    In the options bar that pops up at the bottom of the screen, click the Uninstall icon (the graphic looks like a garbage can).
    In the list of options that pops-up, click Uninstall.
    Hope that helps! Post again if you have any more questions.
    ~Lil.Liebe
    Clicking the white KUDOS THUMBS UP on the right is a way to say thanks!
    Click Accept as Solution on a reply that solves your issue to help others in search of answers.

  • Custom Start Screen - removing SOME tiles

    Hi,
    I have a method of customising the Start Screen, but it involves using a powershell command, which removes all provisioned apps. Then, when a new user first logs in, they essentially get 0 tiles on the Start Screen.
    I now need to create a sysprep image, where they are only left with the Mail, Calendar, People and Internet Explorer tile. What is the best way to achieve this?
    Many thanks.

    Hi,
    You do need to use the command AppxPackage to remove provisioned app. To remove store app one by one, you can use the command like:
    Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackageName MyAppxPkg
    Also can be realized at command prompt:
    DISM.exe /Online /Remove-ProvisionedAppxPackage /PackageName:microsoft.app1_1.0.0.0_neutral_en-us_ac4zc6fex2zjp
    Please refer to the link below for more details:
    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh852635.aspx#RemoveApps
    Roger Lu
    TechNet Community Support

  • Is it possible to change the CATEGORY TITLE font color and/or size of each tile group in start screen, when the tiles are sorted by CATEGORY?

    TIA.

    Q.  Is it possible to change the CATEGORY TITLE font color and/or size of each tile group in start screen, when the tiles are sorted by CATEGORY?
    A.  No
    Carey Frisch

  • How do you either set "Show More Tiles" or Start Screen rows via command line or script for Windows 8.1?

    Is there a method to change the Start Screens number of rows (similar to Windows 8.0's use of the Explorer\Scaling\MonitorSize in registry). Possibly by forcing the switch for "Show More Tiles" via script etc? This is to enable the device with
    Windows 8.1 to be built using a deployment methodology like SCCM and have the Tiles correctly configured as required for a standard look and feel across devices. I do not know why all these switches are not represented in either WMI or the registry to enable
    the customization of look and feel out of the box for enterprise deployments.
    Thanks for any assistance possible.

    Hi,
    You can try steps in this article.
    How to Change Number of Apps Tile Rows on "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
    http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2690-start-screen-metro-apps-change-number-rows-windows-8-a.html
    This response contains a reference to a third party World Wide Web site. Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. Microsoft does not control these sites and has not tested any software or information found on these sites; therefore,
    Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. There are inherent dangers in the use of any software found on the Internet, and Microsoft cautions you to make sure that you
    completely understand the risk before retrieving any software from the Internet.
    Hope this could be helpful.
    Kate Li
    TechNet Community Support

  • KB3000850 Breaks Start Screen Layout Tiles

    Hi All,
    I have a problem which is a direct cause of KB3000850, this affects both 64bit and 32bit variants.
    We use GPO to apply a start screen layout xml file to our users.
    On a PC without KB3000850 it works fine, however if you install this update it breaks the layout.
    I've read online a couple of other instances of this, but no concrete fix.
    Any ideas?
    Thanks
    Andy
    PS - incidentally, this issue is reintroduced by the December Rollup KB3013769

    Hi,
    Just in case anyone trips over this post after having this issue and not finding the answer.
    Here it is, it took a paid support call to MS but the answer is......... it's by design.
    The key part here is Windows 8.1 Professional vs Windows 8.1 Enterprise
    Prior to these updates, the policy to apply start screen layout via policy worked on Professional and Enterprise.
    The fact it did work on Processional was a BUG, it was ONLY intended to work in Enterprise.
    The update rollups fix the bug, and hence break a previously working solution for 8.1 Professional users.
    The fixes are either the workaround I noted above (copying in file) or changing to 8.1 Enterprise.
    Just an additional note on my workaround, if you are using a login script to copy the file, do it is a logoff script instead. The reason is that if you have it as a login script and a brand new user logs in, the profile creation process has a bit of a fit
    as you have copied in part of a profile, so instead of seeing the 'Hi...... We're setting things up for you.....' part, the PC just sits for about 5-10 mins and then eventually logs in.
    If you set it to a logoff script then the login processes normally, even for brand new users, and the file copies without a hitch on logoff. It takes an extra login for brand new users to see the screen layout but hey, its better than a 10min first login.
    So, no fix from MS, as the fix is the reason for the break in functionality.
    Yes, by the letter of the policy it is correct, but we have been robbed of a perfectly working piece of functionality that some people may have been using extensively.
    Thanks

  • Internet Explorer immediately launches when try to open the desktop from the Start screen

    When I log onto my computer, instead of the Start screen opening, the Desktop opens, AND when the Desktop opens, Internet Explorer immediately launches there. 
    Other times, when I log-on, my computer will open on the Start screen, but then immediately launches Internet Explorer on the Start screen.  I didn't click any Internet Explorer icons."
    Also, when I am doing something on the Start screen and decide I want to go to the Desktop and I click the "Desktop tile" it switches me to the Desktop and launches Internet Explorer.  Again, I didn't click the Internet Explorer tile.
    (I just wanted to go to the blank Desktop.)
    There is something telling my computer to always open Internet Explorer first.  When I tried a warm boot, the problem went away momentarily, but returned after a few days"

    Hi,
    What is your current situation?
    Have you checked the suggestions by Robert?
    When opening PC the start menu will automatically start Internet Explorer in APP mode, and if we set Internet Explorer to open in desktop mode, then it will automatically open under desktop when start?
    As we have no Internet Explorer in startup configured, so it won't start by itself. We may try to replace Internet Explorer item's position on the start menu with a different APP, then check what happens(drag and drop the desktop icon on the place of the
    Internet Explorer);
    Is the MSN webpage your home page here? If not, then there might be some application on the startup automatically launches this page, we may take a try to disable one at a time to check; and if this is your default home page, try to replace it with another
    one, then change it back.
    From the last response of
    this thread , it seems this is more related with the webpage than the browser?
    Best regards
    Michael Shao
    TechNet Community Support

Maybe you are looking for