Windows 8.1 Archives - Page 32 of 35

Resize and move Modern apps with these useful hotkeys in Windows 8.1

Windows 7 introduced a number of hotkeys to change the size and position of desktop apps. Let me remind you those keyboard shortcuts:

Win + Up Arrow - maximize the active window
Win + Down Arrow - return the maximized window to the original size. If you press Win+Down once again, the window will be minimized .
Win + Left Arrow - snap the active window to the left edge of the Desktop.
Win + Right Arrow - snap the active window to the right edge of the Desktop.
This is very handy, right?
But do you know that Microsoft has added these features in Windows 8.1 for Modern apps too? Let's see how hotkeys can be used with Modern apps.

How to change the background image of the default Lock Screen and the login screen

As you might have observed, Windows 8.1 has two Lock Screens. One of them is your personalized lock screen, which you see when you lock your PC or tablet. The second one is the default Lock Screen. Every time you sign out, you see the default image with color stripes and the blue login screen behind it.

While you are able to customize your personal Lock Screen via PC Settings, Windows 8.1 provides no way to change the background image and color of the default Lock Screen.
I would like to share with you a simple way of changing the appearance of the default Lock screen.

How to restart Modern Apps in Windows 8.1

In the previous article, I said that I will explain why closing Modern apps has been made harder by Microsoft in Windows 8.1 compared to Windows 8. Well, the answer consists of 2 reasons: first, Microsoft really doesn't want you to close Modern apps. They have been saying that all along since Windows 8 - the OS will manage the closing of unused apps automatically for you. Inactive apps will be suspended when they are not in use and if you don't use them for a long enough period, they'll be closed automatically.

The second reason is that they introduced a new ability for Modern apps - to restart them quickly without going all the way through the procedure of closing them, returning to the Start screen and launching them again! Windows 8.1 brings a new hidden feature, which allows you to restart a Modern app! Let's discover this hidden secret feature right now!

How to really close Modern apps in Windows 8.1

With Windows 8.1, Microsoft has secretly changed the behavior of Modern apps when you close them. In Windows 8, when you dragged a Modern app from the top edge to the bottom edge of the screen, it got closed. But in Windows 8.1, when you do the same, you will be surprised - that the app does not get closed; it remains in the Task manager! Windows 8.1 keeps Modern apps in the "suspended" state when you close them. In addition, ~~Microsoft has also killed off all settings to tweak the close threshold for Modern apps as a result of which Winaero's CloseThreshold tool no longer has any effect~~ see how to reduce distance to drag close Metro apps and speed up closing in Windows 8.1. But it's not all bad news, you are still able to close apps completely with a mouse gesture or swipe. Let's see how.

Customize the date, time and other hidden settings of the Lock Screen in Windows 8.1

Do you know that the Lock Screen in Windows 8.1 has some settings that you can tweak, but they have no UI options? Well, there is good news for you: Winaero's Lock Screen Customizer, the excellent freeware tool is finally available to all Windows 8.1 users! Using the tool, you can change the following options:

How to move Libraries above This PC in Windows 8.1

If you compare ~~Windows~~ File Explorer in Windows 8 vs Windows 8.1, you will notice the following change: 'Computer' is renamed to 'This PC' and 'Libraries', which were above the Computer folder in Windows 8, are now below 'This PC'. Many users are not happy with this rearrangement, they consider it uncomfortable for daily usage of Libraries. Let's fix it in a moment!

FIX: Upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1 fails

If you are a Windows 8 user, you probably noticed the notification about upgrading to Windows 8.1 for free. You can upgrade in-place via the Windows Store.

However, the update might fail for some users. Here's what you have to do if you are affected by this issue.

How to create a shortcut to open Lock Screen settings in Windows 8.1

Here is yet another handy tip from Winaero. We're trying to save your time and improve the usability of Windows 8.1 for you, and today we will exclusively share with you how to create a shortcut which allows you to open the Lock Screen settings directly, with a single click. This can be extremely useful if you want to set up a Lock Screen slideshow or want to change the Lock Screen background image quickly.

Windows 8.1 system requirements and new features

Today is the day of the official release of Windows 8.1, you would have probably noticed that - the web is abuzz with all kinds of information related to the new OS. All Windows 8 users will be able to install it via the the built-in Store app. That's a very convenient way of distribution, definitely. If you are curious what the system requirements are for Windows 8.1, read this article. As a bonus, I'll post for you links to the evaluation versions of Windows 8.1 RTM.

Exclusive: Open the Start Screen personalization with a single click

Today I will share with you a nice exclusive tip. I have discovered a hidden secret feature of Windows 8.1 which allows you to open the Start Screen personalization options with one click. As you may have seen from first hand experience, opening the Start Screen personalization requires several steps. You must switch to the Start Screen, then open the Charms and click "Personalize". This involves too many clicks and if you frequently need to change personalization settings, it can get tedious. From now on, you will be able to create a special shortcut anywhere you want, e.g. right on your Desktop! Let's explore this useful feature.