Use Tablet Mode or Desktop Mode When Sign in to Windows 10

How to Use Tablet Mode or Desktop Mode When Sign in to Windows 10

Tablet mode is a special feature of Windows 10 that is designed to be used on convertibles and tablets. It adjusts the user interface of the OS to provide controls that work better with a touchscreen, without using a mouse and keyboard. Tablet mode changes the appearance of the Start menu, taskbar, Notification Center, and others portions of Windows 10. It is possible to specify which mode Windows 10 should enter when you sign in to your user account. 

In Tablet mode, Store apps open fullscreen. The taskbar stops showing the running apps. Instead, it shows the Start menu button, Cortana, Task View, and the Back button, which works similar to what we have on Android these days.

The Start menu also opens full screen. The app list doesn't appear visible by default on the left, and its overall look reminds of the Start screen of Windows 8.

There are some other adjustments Windows 10 does when in Tablet mode. For example, the context menus in File Explorer and other apps appear wide and touch friendly. Microsoft has documented aspects of Tablet mode in Windows 10 HERE.

Tablet mode will be turned on by default on tablets. On a convertible PC (laptop/tablet hybrid), detaching or attaching the keyboard will switch you by default in and out of tablet mode.

This post will show you how to automatically use tablet mode or desktop mode when you sign in to Windows 10.

To Use Tablet Mode or Desktop Mode When Sign in 

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Navigate to System > Tablet.
3. On the right, locate the option When I sign-in.
4. In the drop-down list, select either Always use tablet mode, Never use tablet mode (desktop mode), or Use the appropriate mode for my hardware (default).
5. When finished, you can close the Settings app.

Alternatively, you can manage this option in the Registry.

Set Default Mode in the Registry

1. Open the Registry Editor app.
2. Go to the following Registry key.
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell
   See how to go to a Registry key with one click.
3. On the right, modify or create a new 32-Bit DWORD value SignInMode.
   Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still create a 32-bit DWORD value.
4. Set it to one of the following values:
   • 0 = Use the appropriate mode for my hardware
   • 1 = Use desktop mode
   • 2 = Use tablet mode
5. You can now close the Registry editor app.

Finally, you can download these ready-to-use Registry files.

Set Tablet Mode or Desktop Mode When Sign in With a REG file

1. Download the following ZIP archive: Download ZIP archive.
2. Unblock the file.
3. Extract its contents to any folder. You can place the files directly to the Desktop.
4. To set to "Always use tablet mode", double click on the Use Tablet Mode When Sign In.reg file to merge it.
5. To enable "Never use tablet mode", double-click on the file Use Desktop Mode When Sign In.reg.
6. The file Use Appropriate Mode For Hardware When Sign In.reg will set the "Use the appropriate mode for my hardware" option.
7. You can now delete the downloaded files if you like.

That's it.