How to Switch From the Start Menu to the Start Screen in Windows 10

Author: Brook Perry

Microsoft has recently launched its latest Windows 10 Operating System, which is perhaps not that a big news because of the other fact that Windows 10 has brought back the Start Menu.

You all are aware that Microsoft introduced Windows 8 without a Start Menu and faced severe criticism from PC users as they were not comfortable working in Windows without the traditional start menu. This even opened new markets for third-party Start menu replacements. However, the tablet users were comfortable using the touch-screen based Start screen for the navigation.

Apart from that Microsoft has left a provision in settings through which the user can switch between the Start Menu and Start Screen. In a PC, the Start Menu appears as default and in a tablet the Start Screen as the default. But in either of the devices, you can switch between the two.

Let's take a look on how do you switch between the two:

If the Start menu is the default option on your device, then to make the Start screen the default instead, perform the following steps:

  • Be on the desktop
  • Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of the screen
  • Select ‘Properties’
  • This will open the Start Menu properties window
  • Click the Start Menu tab
  • Deselect the check box for ‘Use the Start menu instead of the Start screen’
  • Click ‘OK’
  • Now a window will display reading ‘Change Start settings’
  • Click the option to ‘Sign out and change settings’
  • You will be signed out and brought back to the Lock screen
  • Now, head to the sign-in screen
  • Log in with your Windows account
  • You must get deposited at the desktop
  • Now simply click the Start button
  • This will transport you to the Start screen will find all tiles in it
  • To move back to the desktop, simply click the Desktop tile
  • If you wish to keep using the Start Screen, then also you require doing some more tweaks in the settings to make the screen more useful to you.

Perform the following options to manage the settings:

  • Return to the desktop
  • Right-click the taskbar
  • Select ‘Properties’
  • This will open the Start Menu properties window
  • Click the Navigation tab
  • Under the Start screen section, deselect the checkbox for

"When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start"

  • This will ensure that next time you log in to Windows, automatically the Start screen will appear as the first thing.

If you want to move back to the Start Menu from Start Screen, then perform the following steps:

  • Be at the desktop
  • Right-click the taskbar
  • Select ‘Properties’
  • This will open the Taskbar and Start Menu properties window
  • Click on Start menu tab
  • Select the check box that reads "Use the Start menu instead of the Start screen
  • Click ‘OK’
  • After this again, Windows will prompt you to sign out and change settings
  • Here you need to log back into Windows
  • Again you will be deposited at the desktop
  • Click the Start button and you will see the new menu in Windows 10

The new Start Menu of Windows 10 is a hybrid of the Windows 7 Start menu and Windows 8 Start Screen. The left side has the familiar menu column where appears the shortcuts to the applications and settings. The right side is in the screen format and it’s full of tiles to Windows apps.

Hence, the return of Start Menu was much desired and much expected. But, Microsoft took a leap ahead and brought to the combination of both worlds so that PC users as well as tablet, or hybrid users can equally feel comfortable with Windows 10.

About the Author: Brooke M. Perry is an ardent technician associated with Qresolve online computer support with wide experience of fixing issues with PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphone. With a strong track record of devising effective ways of online tech support and system security, she has so far helped thousands of users across the globe.