Solved Simple question: How do I go back to a previous screen?

Tirade

New Member
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2
I'm using 8 on a non-touch laptop. I generally like it, but the most frustrating thing to me is that I can't "go back" to a previous screen. For instance, I open an email attachment and it automatically goes into full screen viewing. When I'm done looking at the attachment, I have no idea how to go back to the previous email screen. So I have to go all the way back to the start screen, and then into my email to get to the previous page. I'm clearly doing it wrong. Help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8
Last edited by a moderator:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
You're quite welcome. :)

I was on my phone when I previously answered you. Now on my PC, I just noticed that the mouse pointer in upper left pops out the first open app and an outline of any others. If you slide the pointer down a little all mini screens will slide out on a black side bar. Windows key gets you to the Start Screen. Press again to return to your previous screen.

I use shortcut keys. They can be found here if you like. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2355-windows-8-keyboard-shortcut-keys-list.html

Hope that helps too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
I'm using 8 on a non-touch laptop. I generally like it, but the most frustrating thing to me is that I can't "go back" to a previous screen. For instance, I open an email attachment and it automatically goes into full screen viewing. When I'm done looking at the attachment, I have no idea how to go back to the previous email screen. So I have to go all the way back to the start screen, and then into my email to get to the previous page. I'm clearly doing it wrong. Help!

You can use Hippsie's method, or if you prefer a keyboard you can use the key combo that's worked for 20 years.. Alt-Tab or the new method (that only switches between Modern UI apps) WindowsKey+Tab.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
Thanks for the switcher info, Mystere. I forgot that one.

I'm guessing it's thanks to Shawn for adding the Switcher tutorial link in my first post. ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Strange - If I Alt+Tab I see the open program window thumbs - however if I move the cursor over the top left corner nothing shows.
(I have the switcher turned on in Settings).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 Pro - 64Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 8930
    Memory
    6GB
    Hard Drives
    WD 300GB, WD 500GB
You have to have Metro apps running to see anything in the upper left corner.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    CPU
    Intel i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77X-UD4 TH
    Memory
    16GB DDR3 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX 650
    Sound Card
    Onboard Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Auria 27" IPS + 2x Samsung 23"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440 + 2x 2048x1152
    Hard Drives
    Corsair m4 256GB, 2 WD 2TB drives
    Case
    Antec SOLO II
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
    Mouse
    Logitech MX
Thanks Mystere
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 Pro - 64Bit
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer 8930
    Memory
    6GB
    Hard Drives
    WD 300GB, WD 500GB
You have to have Metro apps running to see anything in the upper left corner.

This is true, but it will also show the desktop if opened, or any program running on the desktop at any window size. In other words a mini screen or "picture" or what's on the desktop, which is treated like a Microsoft Store (Metro) app. It is actually a portal of the Modern UI.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
I'm using 8 on a non-touch laptop. I generally like it, but the most frustrating thing to me is that I can't "go back" to a previous screen. For instance, I open an email attachment and it automatically goes into full screen viewing. When I'm done looking at the attachment, I have no idea how to go back to the previous email screen. So I have to go all the way back to the start screen, and then into my email to get to the previous page. I'm clearly doing it wrong. Help!
Put the mouse at the very top of the screen (away from the corners) and the pointer will change into a hand. Press and hold the left mouse button and drag the screen down. The page will shrink to a smaller image at the top of the screen but when your mouse gets near the bottom of the display the image will snap down to there, Let go of your LMB and you'll be back where you came from.

if that all sounds too complicated, just press Alt-F4 - which also closes that W8 App. :D

Update: As a variation of this, if you want to dock the screen on the left or right so you can keep the app and main screen both visible at the same time, you can drag the top of the screen down until the image shrinks, then continue to drag it to the left or right border of the screen, where it'll snap onto the side of the screen where you can keep an eye on this. You can adjust the snapped/main window ratio by then dragging the border between them, but it's only a very coarse adjustment and you can only snap ONE app to the side at any one time.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro (64 bit)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
    CPU
    Intel Core i7
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Native laptop display
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    256 GB OPAL SSD (System) and
    256 GB mSATA SSD (Data)
    Mouse
    trackpad & MS Arc Touch Mouse
    Internet Speed
    12 MB/1.5 MB ADSL2+
    Browser
    IE 10 and Firefox 20+
    Antivirus
    Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security (2013)
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