Customize Windows 8.1 Start Screen: A Complete Guide
Yes, you can customize the Windows 8.1 Start screen—change its background color, accent color, background image, tile sizes, and the arrangement of tiles. This guide walks you through every built-in option, plus a few tweaks that make the Start screen feel more like the classic Start menu.
Background and Purpose of the Start Screen
Windows 8.1 introduced the Start screen as a full-screen replacement for the traditional Start menu. It was designed for touch devices, with large tiles that show live information—weather, email, news—without opening an app. Many desktop users found the full-screen interface jarring, so Microsoft added several customization options in the 8.1 update to make it more familiar. Understanding what you can change helps you turn it from a jarring full-screen portal into a practical launcher that fits your workflow.
How to Change the Start Screen Background and Accent Color
The most visible customization is the background. Windows 8.1 offers a set of built-in background patterns and colors, and you can also use your own image.
- Open the Charms bar (swipe from the right edge or press Windows Key + C).
- Click Settings, then Personalization.
- Under Start screen, you’ll see a row of background thumbnails. Click one to preview it immediately.
- Below the backgrounds, pick an accent color—this affects tile backgrounds, links, and some app elements.
- To use your own photo, click Browse under the background thumbnails and select an image file (JPG, PNG, BMP).
Note that the background image is displayed with a slight blur and dark overlay to keep tiles readable. The accent color applies to the Start screen and also to the taskbar, window borders, and other system elements if you have “Show color on Start, taskbar, and action center� enabled (in Windows 8.1, this is controlled by the same accent picker).
Resizing, Rearranging, and Grouping Tiles
Tiles are the heart of the Start screen. You can resize them, move them, and organize them into named groups.
- Resize: Right-click a tile (or press and hold on touch) and select Resize. Choose from Small, Medium, Wide, or Large. Not all apps support all sizes—for example, a desktop shortcut only offers Small and Medium.
- Move: Drag a tile to a new position. On touch, press and hold, then drag. Other tiles will shift to make room.
- Create a group: Drag a tile to an empty area on the right until a vertical bar appears, then release. This creates a new group.
- Name a group: Right-click any empty space on the Start screen, then click Customize. Right-click a group’s title bar (the area above the group) and choose Name group. Type a name (e.g., “Work,� “Games�) and press Enter.
- Turn off live tiles: Right-click a tile and select Turn live tile off to stop it from updating. This can reduce distractions and save battery on laptops.
Using the “All Apps� View and Pinning More Items
Not every app is on the Start screen by default. To see everything, swipe up from the bottom (or click the arrow at the bottom-left corner of the Start screen) to open the All Apps view. From there, you can pin any app, control panel item, or folder to the Start screen:
- In All Apps, right-click an item and select Pin to Start.
- For desktop programs, you can also right-click the executable in File Explorer and choose Pin to Start.
- To pin a folder, right-click it in File Explorer and select Pin to Start—it will appear as a tile that opens that folder.
You can also pin websites using Internet Explorer: open the site, then use the Tools menu (gear icon) and select Add site to Start screen.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Customizing the Start screen is straightforward, but a few issues pop up:
- “Browse� button is grayed out: This happens when you’re using a custom theme that disables background changes. Switch to a standard Windows theme (Control Panel → Appearance → Themes) and try again.
- Changes don’t save after reboot: Make sure you’re not using a “high contrast� theme, which overrides Start screen colors. Also, some enterprise policies can lock personalization—check with your IT admin if you’re on a work computer.
- Tiles won’t resize: Some tiles, especially those from older desktop apps, only support Small and Medium sizes. That’s a limitation of the app, not your settings.
- Start screen is too cluttered: Use the “Customize� mode (right-click empty space) to select multiple tiles at once and move them as a group. You can also uninstall unused apps from the Start screen by right-clicking and choosing Uninstall.
Advanced Tweaks: Registry and Third-Party Tools
For power users, the registry offers a few extra options that aren’t in the Settings UI. For example, you can change the number of rows of tiles on the Start screen (on large monitors) by modifying the Layout_MaximumRowCount value under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Grid. However, editing the registry carries risk—back up your registry first, and exit all apps before making changes.
If you want a more traditional Start menu, several third-party utilities (like Classic Shell or Start8) can replace the Start screen entirely. These are not endorsed by Microsoft, but they are widely used. They work by intercepting the Windows key and Start button, so you can boot directly to the desktop and open a small, classic-style menu. Note that these tools are not officially supported, and they may not work after major Windows updates.
Comparison: Windows 8.1 vs Windows 10 Start Menu
Windows 10 brought back a hybrid Start menu that combines a resizable left column of pinned apps with a right side that can show live tiles. It offers more flexibility than Windows 8.1’s full-screen Start, but the core customization concepts—tile sizes, grouping, background color—are the same. If you’re comfortable with Windows 8.1’s Start screen, you’ll find Windows 10’s menu easier to manage. If you’re on Windows 8.1 and considering an upgrade, know that the Start screen can be bypassed entirely in Windows 10 by setting the desktop as the default when you sign in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the Start screen open on the desktop instead?
Yes. Right-click the taskbar, select Properties, go to the Navigation tab, and check “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start.� This makes the desktop appear instead of the Start screen after login, though pressing the Windows key still opens the Start screen.
How do I change the Start screen background to a custom image?
Open Settings → Personalization → Start screen, then click Browse and select your image file. The image will be scaled to fit, and you can adjust the “Background� dropdown to choose between “Fit,� “Fill,� “Stretch,� “Tile,� or “Center.�
Why can’t I resize some tiles?
Each app defines which tile sizes it supports. Desktop apps and shortcuts only offer Small and Medium. Modern (Metro) apps typically support all four sizes. If a tile’s resize option is grayed out, that’s a limitation of the app itself.
How do I remove a tile from the Start screen?
Right-click the tile and select Unpin from Start. This does not uninstall the app—it only removes the shortcut. To uninstall the app, right-click and choose Uninstall instead.
Can I change the Start screen layout on multiple monitors?
Yes. In the taskbar’s Navigation properties, you can set “Show Start on the display I’m using� or “Show Start on the active display.� Each monitor can have its own Start screen layout, and you can customize them independently.
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