Booting to the Desktop at Startup in Windows 8.1

Booting to the Desktop in Windows 8.1: Video

            This video lesson, titled “Booting to the Desktop at Startup,” discusses booting to the desktop in Windows 8.1. This video is from our complete Windows 8.1 tutorial, titled “Mastering Windows Made Easy v.8.1.”

Booting to the Desktop in Windows 8.1

            Starting in Windows 8.1, you now have the option of booting to the Desktop immediately after you sign-in to your computer. You can also display the Desktop instead of the Start screen after closing all apps on a screen. In order to do this, first open the “Desktop” app by clicking that tile within the Start screen.

            Within the Desktop, right-click the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen and then click the “Properties” command within the pop-up menu that appears. Doing that will display the “Taskbar and Navigation properties” dialog box onscreen. Click the “Navigation” tab at the top of the “Properties” dialog box.

            You can then check the “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” checkbox to enable booting to the desktop. Then click the “OK” button to set the new sign-in routine. You will then need to reboot your computer. When you sign-in to your computer after rebooting, you will then be taken directly to the Desktop instead of the Start screen.

Step by Step Instructions on Booting to the Desktop in Windows 8.1

1. Open the “Desktop” app, right-click the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen, and then click the “Properties” command within the pop-up menu that appears.
2. In the “Taskbar and Navigation properties” dialog box, click the “Navigation” tab at the top of the “Properties” dialog box and then check the “When I sign in or close all apps on a screen, go to the desktop instead of Start” checkbox to enable booting to the desktop.
3. Click the “OK” button to set the new sign-in routine and then reboot your computer.