How to organize the Start screen in Windows 8

Being organized is a necessity when you are an IT consultant. You have to know where things are, so when you need them, you can find them. The same is true for the Windows 8 Start screen. If you can't find it, you can't use it. So here's how to organize the Start screen in Windows 8.

Here's a video on how to organize the tiles on the Windows 8 Start screen. The complete instructions are below.

How to pin tiles to the Start screen in Windows 8

Windows 8 Start screen with tiles and groups organized

Using a mouse

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Right-click the Start screen background to bring up the app commands.
3. Select All apps.
4. Scroll to and right-click the app tile you want to pin to the Start screen.
5. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, left-click Pin to Start.

Using a keyboard

1. Go to the Start screen.
   
2. Press the Windows logo key + Z to open the app commands.
3. Press Enter to select All apps.
4. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the app tile you want to pin to the Start screen.
5. Press the Application key to bring up the app commands.
6. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, use the arrow keys to navigate to Pin to Start and press Enter.

Using touch

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Swipe up from the bottom of the Start menu to bring up the app commands.
3. Select All apps.
4. Scroll to the app tile you want to pin to the Start screen and press and hold it to bring up the app commands.
5. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, tap Pin to Start.
   

How to unpin tiles from the Start screen in Windows 8

Using a mouse

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Scroll to and right-click the app tile you want to unpin from the Start screen.
3. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, left-click Unpin from Start.

Using a keyboard

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the app tile you want to unpin from the Start screen.
3. Press the Application key to bring up the app commands.
4. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, use the arrow keys to navigate to Unpin from Start and press Enter.

Using touch

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Scroll to the app tile you want to unpin from the Start screen and press and hold it to bring up the app commands.
3. On the app command bar at the bottom of the screen, tap Unpin from Start.

Moving tiles on the start screen in Windows 8

Using a mouse

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Click and hold the left mouse button on the tile you want to move and drag it to the location you want.

Using touch

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Press and hold the tile you want to move and drag it to the location you want.

Move groups on the start screen in Windows 8

Windows 8 Start screen zoomed out with tiles and groups organized

Using a mouse/keyboard

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Hold down the Control key (CTRL) on the keyboard while using the mouse wheel and zoom out to view all of the Start screen groups.
3. Press and hold the left mouse button on the group you want to move and drag it to the location you want.

Using touch

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Pinch two fingers on the screen and zoom out to view all of the Start screen groups.
3. Press the group you want to move and drag it to the location you want.
   

Rename groups on the start screen in Windows 8

Using a mouse/keyboard

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Hold down the Control key (CTRL) on the keyboard while using the mouse wheel and zoom out to view all of the Start screen groups.
3. Right-click on the group you want to rename and select Name group from the app command bar.
   

Using touch

1. Go to the Start screen.
2. Pinch two fingers on the screen and zoom out to view all of the Start screen groups.
3. Press and hold the group you want to rename and select Name group from the app command bar.

Other related articles:

How to create a shortcut on the Desktop and Start menu in Windows 8

How to create log-off restart and shutdown shortcuts on the Start screen in Windows 8