How to Change the Number of Apps Tile Rows on "Start" Screen in Windows 8

   Information

This will show you how to increase or reduce the number of default apps rows of tiles that are displayed on your Start screen in Windows 8.

   Note

By default, Windows 8 automatically detects what your current screen resolution is, and then automatically sets how many rows will be for the apps and other pinned items on the Metro Start screen based on the screen resolution size. This is usually only 3 to 5 rows by default.

For example: If you have a 1920 x 1080 (horizontal x vertical) screen resolution, then you would have 6 rows by default. You could either reduce the number of rows to a minimum of 1 row, or increase it up to a maximum of 6 rows for this screen resolution size.

See table under step 6 in OPTION THREE below for more on this.

EXAMPLE: Apps Rows Set from 5 to 6 on Start Screen
NOTE: This is with a 1900 x 1080 screen resolution.

OPTION ONE

Change Number of Apps Tile Rows on "Start" Screen using "Show More Tiles"

NOTE: This option is only available if your screen resolution is set to 1920 X 1200 or above. If not, then you will need to use OPTION TWO or OPTION THREE below instead.

1. Go to the Start screen.
NOTE: You could press the Windows key to do this.


2. While in the Start screen, open the Charms bar, and click/tap on the Settings charm. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You could also press the Windows + I keys while on the Start screen to open the Settings charm directly.

3. Click/tap on Tiles at the top of the right "Settings" flyout. (see screenshot below)

4. Do step 5 or 6 below for what you would like to do.

5. To "Show more tiles" on Start Screen

A) Move the Show more tiles slider to the right to say Yes, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

6. To Not "Show more tiles" on Start Screen
NOTE: This is the default setting.

A) Move the Show more tiles slider to the left to say No, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7. You can click/tap on a empty area of the Start screen to close the Tiles flyout.

OPTION TWO

To Change Number of Apps Tile Rows on "Start" Screen using VBScript File

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below.

Change_Number_of_Apps_Tile_Rows_on_Start.vbs

3. Save the .vbs file to your Desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the downloaded .vbs file to run it.

5. If prompted, click/tap on Open.
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Open prompt by unblocking the downloaded .vbs file.

6. Follow the instructions in the vbscript dialog pop-up boxes until finished. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You'll notice that the script will let you know what range you are able to set for your specific PC to help.

7. If this did not help, then also try changing the DPI scaling for the Start screen. It may take a bit of experimenting to find the scale that works best for you though.

OPTION THREE

To Change Number of Apps Tile Rows on "Start" Screen in Registry Editor

1. Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.


2. In Run, type regedit, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

4. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell\Grid

5. In the right pane of Grid, double click on Layout_MaximumRowCount. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: If you do not have the DWORD Layout_MaximumRowCount, then right click on a empty space in the right pane of Grid, click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value, then type Layout_MaximumRowCount and press Enter.


6. Using the table below as a guide, type in how many apps tile rows you want, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

   Note

The table below will give you the default and maximum number of apps tile rows you can usually set with your current screen resolution. Generally, the larger the vertical resolution the more app tile rows you are able to have.

• The minimum amount of apps tiles rows must be 1.
• The maximum amount of apps rows in the table below is determined by the value of the Layout_MaximumAvailableHeightCells DWORD in the same registry location from step 4.

Screen Resolution (HxV)	Default	Max	Min
800 x 600	3	3	1
1024 x 768	4	4	1
1152 x 864	5	5	1
1280 x 720	4	4	1
1280 x 900	5	5	1
1280 x 960	5	6	1
1280 x 1024	5	6	1
1440 x 900	5	5	1
1600 x 900	5	5	1
1680 x 1050	6	6	1
1900 x 1080	5	6	1
1920 x 1080	6	6	1
1920 x 1200	6	7	1
2560 x 1920	6	10	1

7. Close regedit.


8. Sign out and in to apply.

9. If this did not help, then also try changing the DPI scaling for the Start screen. It may take a bit of experimenting to find the scale that works best for you though.

OPTION FOUR

To Restore Default Number of Apps Tile Rows on Metro Start Screen

NOTE: This option will work no matter if you used OPTION ONE, OPTION TWO, or OPTION THREE above.

1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .bat file below, and run it.

Restore_Default_Number_of_Apps_Rows.bat

2. If prompted, click/tap on Run and Yes (UAC).
NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Run prompt by unblocking the downloaded .bat file.

3. You will now notice your screen flash as explorer is restarted to apply the registry changes.

That's it,
Shawn

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