How to close a window and return to desktop?

riotgrrrl

New Member
Messages
2
Once something opens, even from desktop, it doesn't have a little red x in the corner and there doesn't seem to be a way to close it and return to where I was before. I can only either hit the windows button and go back to the page with all the apps, or swipe it down and do the same. But say I'm on desktop, I've got the internet open and I open up my pictures and double click a picture to see it larger- it then fills the whole screen and there's no way to go back to my desktop and what I was doing by just CLOSING it, rather I have to go back to the app page and then click on deskptop. Is there a way round this?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Once something opens, even from desktop, it doesn't have a little red x in the corner and there doesn't seem to be a way to close it and return to where I was before. I can only either hit the windows button and go back to the page with all the apps, or swipe it down and do the same. But say I'm on desktop, I've got the internet open and I open up my pictures and double click a picture to see it larger- it then fills the whole screen and there's no way to go back to my desktop and what I was doing by just CLOSING it, rather I have to go back to the app page and then click on deskptop. Is there a way round this?
I think that what you are referring to is the difference between what happens when you open a "metro" app versus a "desktop app" from the metro start screen or from the metro all apps screen. Try the same thing with, say, Task Manager (in metro all apps if not on your metro start screen).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
Hello riotgrrrl. Welcome to the Eight Forums.

Win + D (desktop from any screen)
Alt + Tab (hold the Alt key and Tab > Tab > Tab between views)

Win + Tab > Tab > Tab to browse apps

You can also change how you open pictures using the desktop Windows Photo Viewer instead of the photos app.
It is not necessary to close a metro app.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7811-open-change-default-program-windows-8-a.html

You can also swipe from the left edge and select a thumbnail of an app (including the desktop app)
And run your pointer along the left edge, up and down, and select...

Also ... you can close an app with Alt - F4 or right clicking a left edge thumbnail and select to close.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
If ya wanna close a Metro app, move your Cusror up the the top Left Hand Corner, the most recent app will show as a small rectangle. To close it right click and choose "Close"

For the reverse, if you are IN an app and want to get back to the desktop, it's the same thing - Move the cursor up there, and you will see your desktop as a small rectangle. Just Click it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I think Win+D is your best bet. Alt+F4 gets you to the start page.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I think Win+D is your best bet. Alt+F4 gets you to the start page.

True, but Alt + F4 closes any app, desktop or metro,
and also offers to close or shut down Windows (when on the desktop...:party:)
The start screen is a good place to decide where and what you might want to do next.
Swiping left to right, hitting the desktop tile, or pressing d and selecting desktop from apps is not a difficult task. Win + E is a nice move as well.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus Tansformer Book Flip TP500LN
    CPU
    Intel i5-4210U
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce GT 840M
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    1TB Hybrid
    Mouse
    Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000
The OP explicitly asked to get back directly to the desktop. The pending apps I close from time to time with the task manager.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
The offers and suggestions are, I am sure, welcome. But, as whs reminds, the OP wants a way to automatically be returned to the desktop, after closing a modern App.
I don't think he has a particular problem with the photo app, either. He just used that as one app example.
As a modern menu user, I am trying to achieve the opposite. I want a way to always return to the modern screen automatically - whatever I close.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Associations...works

riotgrrrl said:
a little red x in the corner

Hmmm???? I've always noted it to be a white x in the corner.

Anyways, I concur with the majority. The solution...

Who's reachin' out to capture a moment
Everyone knows it's Win D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7-8 Dual Boot on a Commodore 64
The easiest way I've found to close metro apps/programs quickly (aside from ALT+F4) is to drag the mouse to the top of the screen where the metro app is opened until the cursor turns into a little hand icon. Then you hold the left mouse button down and drag it to the bottom of the screen until the grabbed window becomes smaller and greyed out and that indicates that the app/program will close.

Becomes a very quick motion on the desktop if you don't like having excess metro apps/programs running in the background.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro w/ Media Center 64bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Desktop/Lenovo Yoga 13
Once something opens, even from desktop, it doesn't have a little red x in the corner and there doesn't seem to be a way to close it and return to where I was before. I can only either hit the windows button and go back to the page with all the apps, or swipe it down and do the same. But say I'm on desktop, I've got the internet open and I open up my pictures and double click a picture to see it larger- it then fills the whole screen and there's no way to go back to my desktop and what I was doing by just CLOSING it, rather I have to go back to the app page and then click on desktop. Is there a way round this?

The offers and suggestions are, I am sure, welcome. But, as whs reminds, the OP wants a way to automatically be returned to the desktop, after closing a modern App. I don't think he has a particular problem with the photo app, either. He just used that as one app example. As a modern menu user, I am trying to achieve the opposite. I want a way to always return to the modern screen automatically - whatever I close.

I could be wrong but I think riotgrrrl is a she. Yes, she suggested that she was taken away from the desktop to an immersive photo app by clicking a link to a pic. If she was on the internet and clicked a pic that opened with Windows Photo Viewer, she would not be taken to an immersive app and none of these issues would exist.

There is no way to automatically be returned to the desktop from an immersive app.
The default is always the start screen by design from an immersive app.
The same with the desktop, closing on the desk will stay on the desk.
She asked about a way to close an immersive app that has no close button.
Like she said, she can swipe down, but that goes to the start screen. The only solutions are the ones offered.
Which is why the Windows Photo Viewer would be better if one wants to stay on the desktop.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
The easiest way I've found to close metro apps/programs quickly (aside from ALT+F4) is to drag the mouse to the top of the screen where the metro app is opened until the cursor turns into a little hand icon. Then you hold the left mouse button down and drag it to the bottom of the screen until the grabbed window becomes smaller and greyed out and that indicates that the app/program will close.

Becomes a very quick motion on the desktop if you don't like having excess metro apps/programs running in the background.

Yes. Swiping down from the top is a really easy way to close an immersive app, cough, cough... including the desktop app. (still running, only paged to memory)

It is a lot faster and easier than finding the little X marks the spot to close.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
....As a modern menu user, I am trying to achieve the opposite. I want a way to always return to the modern screen automatically - whatever I close.

Not automatic, not what you want davehc, but another way, besides all the others, to return to the start screen from the desktop is to swipe down or drag down the desktop from the top of the screen when you see a hand.

Even if there are programs running on the desktop,
they are paged to memory and returned as they were by restarting the desktop app.

I just swiped down to close the desktop (so to speak), with excel, notepad, task manager, and paint running.
They were all returned as they were before. (by Win + D) or other...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Thanks for the effort, mdmd. I am familiar with the various shortcuts back to the apps. (windows key for me - one finger!) It seems that, for the moment, there is no way to be returned to the modern start.
I a sense, it is no different, even shorter, than legacy OSs. There it was necessary to go through the start orb and program list. Now, at least, it is one click.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Oh, I see. I don't think Windows 8 can do that. That would be nice. But ya can't just "close" a Tile app. No "X" - You can only slide it around, or move to another tile. When you are in Metro, you stay in Metro. No mechanism to close a tile app and go back to Desktop. Of course, you can slide a tile left or right and open either another tile or the desktop, that's about it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I am not sure which post you are referring to, XweApopnX, but you most certainly can close an app! Read the posts! A single swipe from the top and it is gone. - Or did I misunderstand your post?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
I also would like to be able to close an app and return right where I left off on the desktop. I haven't figured out how to do this with most apps, but the photo viewer has a small white cross in the bottom right corner. When that is clicked I return right where I left off on the desktop before I clicked on the photo.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Back
Top