Solved Getting Apps Screen when I try to go to Start Screen

As I understand it, when I it the Windows key or mouse-click lower left while in the desktop, it is supposed to take me to the Start Screen. Indeed, it did work this way for some time. However, now, when I do either, it takes me to the Apps Screen and I have to do something (one of several) to switch to the Start Screen. Once there, if I hit Windows key or click lower left repeatedly, it goes Start Screen -> Apps Screen -> Desktop -> Apps Screen -> Desktop, etc. I think this is wrong. It is certainly not what I want; but my searching has not run across any other mention of this behavior. I don't want it to go to the Apps Screen when I hit Windows key or click in lower left. I only want to go there if I specifically do something to get there from the Start screen. (E.g., little arrow, Ctrl-Tab) How do I get back to the Start Screen being the default choice between these two?

The behavior changed some time after I upgraded to Windows 8.1; but I am not sure if it was immediately after. I suspect not. I've only had the computer for a week, so I am still becoming accustomed to Windows 8. (Coming from XP and 7 and having read a lot of negative comments, I was expecting that I would hate Windows 8. As it turns out, I don't understand the presumed problems. The functionality of Windows 7 is still there. The Start Screen is actually nicer than the Start button - once you figure out how to configure it and get rid of all the junk.)

Try this:

Right click the taskbar and select properties.
Select the "Navigation" tab

Make sure you have item "Show the Apps view..etc" turned OFF

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/27583-start-screen-open-start-apps-view-windows-8-1-a.html

davehc said:

Try this:

Right click the taskbar and select properties.
Select the "Navigation" tab

Make sure you have item "Show the Apps view..etc" turned OFF

Click to expand...

Yup. That's all it took. Thanks.

I had not been into that Navigation menu before, so I wonder how that setting got switched. It is hard to believe that it would become the default when I upgraded to 8.1. Also strange that I could not compose a search string that would lead me to the navigation menu.

God (and MS) work in mysterious ways!