Windows 8.1 - Customizing the Start Screen

Customizing the Start Screen - Working With Tiles

Microsoft placed on the Start Screen all of the tiles they felt you would need, most of them tied to programs that they have a vested interest in! They created a few groups of tiles to make it easier for you to find the tile you would like to use. They made the tiles different sizes, again based on some decision by a Microsoft committee. It is very easy for you to customize the Start Screen by moving tiles around, creating your own groups and resizing the tiles.

Creating a Tile Group:

When you press and hold, either using your finger on the screen or your mouse button, you can then drag the tile to the left or right and move it to another group or create a new group of tiles. When you drag your tile to the far right, to the right of any existing groups, and release your mouse or finger, a new group is formed. Once a new group is created you can name the group by clicking in the group name box located above and to the left of the newly established group.

Rearranging Tiles in a Group:

To rearrange a tile within a group use your mouse or finger to click/press and drag the tile around. Depending on the size of the tile, other tiles within the group might also be rearranged. If you are using your finger and are having trouble accomplishing this because the page scrolls and the tile does not move, briefly drag the tile up or down before dragging left or right.

Rearranging Tile Groups:

Whole groups of tiles can be moved to the left or right. Zoom out by either pinching your fingers on the screen or using Ctrl + - (minus) on the keyboard. You will then be able to move entire groups by holding and dragging using your fingers or the mouse.

Changing the Size of a Tile:

Most tiles can be resized to four sizes, small, medium, wide and large. Not all four sizes will be available for all tiles, and I don't know why that is, but you should have at least two sizes to choose from. To resize the tiles using a mouse, right click on the tile. If you have a touch screen, press and hold for about a second. When you release you will see a series of icons along the lower left of the screen. Click the one identified as Resize and you will see the choices for that tile. Once the tile is resized, other tiles may move to compensate for the resized tile.

You can resize multiple tiles at the same time. Once you have selected one tile using the directions above, continue clicking tiles until all you want to modify are selected. Use the Resize option at the bottom to choose a size for all the selected tiles.

Adding an App Tile to the Start Screen:

Microsoft supplied you with a group of tiles that they felt you should work with. Now that you see how easily you can move them around to better suit your style, you might also be interested in adding apps that are on your computer but not part of Microsoft's scheme. First you have to find the app. You can do this by swiping Up on the Start screen with your finger or click the down arrow on the Start Screen to see more apps. When you hold your finger on an app or right click on the app, a Pin To Start option will appear along the bottom of the screen. The app will appear in one of the groups, use the techniques described above to move the app to a different group or resize the tile.