How to Open Context Menu and Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1
Information
The context menu or options bar (aka: app bar) for an app on the Start screen allows you to be able to Pin to Start, Unpin from Start, Pin to Taskbar, Unpin from Taskbar, Uninstall app, Resize tile on Start, or Turn live tile on/off on Start.
This tutorial will show you how to open the context menu or options bar for apps on the Start screen in both Start and Apps view in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update.
This tutorial will show you how to open the context menu or options bar for apps on the Start screen in both Start and Apps view in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update.
OPTION ONE
To Open Context Menu on Start Screen in Windows 8.1 Update
A) On a desktop PC (non-touchscreen), right click on a single app tile.
Tip
If you would like to select more than one app tile, press and hold the CTRL key and click on app tiles to select (check) or unselect (uncheck) them, release the CTRL key, then right click on one of the selected apps.
B) On a touchscreen, right click on a single app tile with a stylus pen (if supported).
2. You can now click on an option in the context menu you would like to perform on the selected app(s).
Note
To cancel and close the context menu, you can click/tap on an empty area on the Start or Apps screen.
Note
If the context menu doesn't appear when you right click on an app tile, then this is usually caused by using an incompatible custom theme that doesn't support the changes in Windows 8.1 Update.
See if changing your theme to one of the "Windows default themes" will allow the context menu to work properly on the Start screen in Windows 8.1 Update afterwards.
OPTION TWO
To Open Options Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1 and 8.1 Update
A) Press the spacebar key, and go to step 2 below.
OR
B) On a touchscreen, press and hold on a single app tile until the options bar opens at the bottom, and go to step 2 below.
OR
C) On a touchscreen, swipe up from the bottom or swipe down from the top of the screen to open the options bar at the bottom, tap on the Customize button in the options bar, and go to step 2 below. (see screenshots below)
2. You can now click/tap on one or more apps to select (check) or unselect (uncheck), and click/tap on an option in the options bar you would like to perform on the selected app(s).
Note
To cancel and close the options bar:
Note
A) On a desktop PC (non-touchscreen), click on an empty area on the Start or Apps screen.
B) On a touchscreen, click/tap twice on an empty area on the Start or Apps screen.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Open Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Open the "Apps" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
- How to Pin or Unpin Apps to Taskbar in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Pin or Unpin App, Folder, Library, or Drive on Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Uninstall Modern Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
- How to Resize Start Screen App Tiles to be Smaller or Larger in Windows 8 and 8.1
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