By default, when you log in to Windows 8, the first thing you'll see is the new Metro-style Start screen with its fancy touch-friendly boxes. If you're on a tablet this is fine, but for those using a traditional PC, it might be impractical.
Fortunately, there are a couple of ways you can boot straight to the traditional Windows desktop instead of the Metro environment.
If you do a quick Google search for this, you'll find many posts recommending you write a script and use it to automate the login process. Although you'll only have to do this once, it's quite involved and your computer will always boot to the desktop without giving you a choice. Instead of showing you that, I'm going to tell you a quick method that presents you with the choice each time you boot.
The method
The easiest way to do this is to make use of a shortcut present in Windows 8, which launches the app in the top-left corner of your Metro desktop as you boot.
To boot straight to the desktop, you'll first have to move the Desktop tile to the top-left corner of your screen, as shown in the screenshot below.
Now, each time you log in, you can choose between the new Metro Start screen and the traditional desktop. If you want to boot to the classic desktop, press and hold down (this is important) the Enter key until you see it appear. It won't take more than a couple of seconds.
The good thing about this method is you can still boot to the Start screen if you want to. Just log in like you normally would by either clicking on the arrow or hitting Enter and you'll be taken right there.
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Comments 15
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Matteo Paparoni 11 July, 2012 14:43
Why would I want Windows 8 if without the Metro interface it looks just like Windows 7 but worse because there does not appear to be a start button?
anonymous 13 July, 2012 15:28
Pressing the Windows Key and E brings me right to my desktop.
khairul 16 August, 2012 15:19
Thanks providing this alternative, but in my view its usefulness is somewhat reduced by having to press keys in order to get to the desktop. After all, the normal procedure is simply a single click on 'Desktop' anyway ...
roblightbody 29 October, 2012 10:49
Great tip, thanks!
anonymous 21 December, 2012 19:26
This doesn't really boot directly to the Windows Classic desktop, it boots to Windows 8 desktop which provides an icon to click on to take you to the Windows Classic desktop. Seems like I might be splitting hairs but this should be clarified so it's better understood. Personally, I'd like to boot directly to the Windows XP classic desktop as it provides a run window as well as all listings and sub lists without having to stay with icons.
anonymous 25 April, 2013 11:16
It is much easier to just press Win+E or Win+D. You can also use a start button provider like Classic Shell. Another alternative is to make any desktop program auto start with logon.
anonymous 25 April, 2013 12:22
I would say it is much, much easier to just press the windows button :D
anonymous 25 April, 2013 12:33
I would say it is much easier .. MUCH easier to just forgo the entire waste of money and go with Linux.
anonymous 25 April, 2013 13:18
Easiest solution would be to install Classic Shell (freeware):
http://www.classicshell.net/
Works beautifully!
I'm using Classic Shell until I get the Leap Motion Controller (May 2013):
https://www.leapmotion.com/
That will give me 'Minority Report' like control without the smudge from touching the screen.
anonymous 25 April, 2013 14:35
Who cares? Has it gotten so bad, or have we gotten so lazy that we can't click on a tile or push a button to get to the desktop? Really?
anonymous 25 April, 2013 15:14
a mouse click is still faster... :(
Sandesh Damkondwar 25 April, 2013 15:35
This is not a core solution, it is just satisfaction. Think core and be satisfy, relying on script rather will be good solution.
Paul Lindblad 25 April, 2013 21:20
Windows 8 is a terrible operating system, and I feel bad for all the people that purchased, or got stuck with it on a new computer. That said, your idea is a terrible way to start the desktop as you have to press a button to get there. Booting to the desktop should be automatic and happen. The start menu should be what you press. That said, if you figure out a way to get rid of metro and bring back the start menu it would be really useful. Metro is not a start menu its crap on a stick.
anonymous 25 April, 2013 21:42
I like Windows 8 the way it is.
Stephen McQuarrie 26 April, 2013 02:27
I don't see what all the fuss is about on Windows 8 and why people want to mess with it and add options from old windows versions. I don't miss the "Start Button" or the old "Start Menu". Would you trade your wife in for a new one and then try to change her to how the ex wife was, you wouldn't!. Windows 8's Start Menu is sleek and easy to use, and very nice to look at. It takes less than a half of a tenth of a second to tap the "Windows Key" on my keyboard to close the "Start Screen" and go to the "Desktop". So why are some people wasting time trying to work out a way to boot Windows 8 straight into "Desktop" just to save that split second. How many man hours will it take just to find a way to do it? Even searching for a program is easier just by typing on the "Start Screen" you can even search within applications here as well, what can be easier, certainly not the old "Start Menu". "Windows 8" works well and is fantastically easy to use. I don't remember all this fuss and complaining when Windows XP was released. "Windows 8" is progress and this is good. Have people become that lazy with using gadgets everyday that do things for you, that they have become to lazy to learn new ways of doing stuff themselves!