Desktop - Restore Missing Tile on Windows 8 Start Screen

How to Restore Missing "Desktop" Tile on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to restore the default Desktop app tile on the Start and Apps screen if missing in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: Desktop Tile on Start Screen in Windows 8

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Here's How:

1. Open the "Apps" screen, and look for the Desktop app. (see screenshot below)

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2. If the Desktop app is not there, then go to step 4 below.

3. If the Desktop app is listed, right click or press and hold on the Desktop app to check it, click/tap on Pin to Start, and go to step 11 below. (see screenshot below step 1)

4. Click/tap on the download button below to download the Desktop.zip file below.

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5. Save the .zip file to your desktop, and unblock the .zip file.

6. Open the .zip file, extract (drag and drop) the Desktop shortcut to your desktop.

7. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, copy and paste the path below into Run, and click/tap on OK.

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%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs​

8. Copy and paste the Desktop shortcut (step 6) into the Programs folder (step 7). (see screenshot below step 10)

9. If prompted, click/tap on Continue and Yes (UAC) to approve the copy. (see screenshot below)

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10. Right click or press and hold on the Desktop shortcut, and click/tap on Pin to Start. Close File Explorer. (see screenshot below)

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11. Open your Start screen, scroll all the way to the right until you see the Desktop tile, then drag and drop the tile to where or what group you like on your Start screen.





That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Create a "Show Desktop" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Change Your Desktop Background and Slide Show in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Go to Desktop or Start when You Sign in or Close Apps in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Boot Windows 8 Directly to Desktop using a Scheduled Task
• How to Restore Missing "Store" Tile on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Restore Modern Internet Explorer on Start and Apps Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Reset Your Start Screen to Default in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Fix and Restore PC settings and "Change PC settings" in Windows 8.1

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[Rakesh]

Thanks Sir for the useful detail

 

[donnyboy9]

Hi!

My problem is that the restored desktop tile has lost the look it previously had and is now just an ugly box. It will not let me re-size it any larger. Is there any way to get the original tile design back? Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Donny, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Did you use the download in the tutorial?

 

[donnyboy9]

Hi Brink, thanks for the reply.

Indeed I used your download, but still it results in the picture I uploaded. Any ideas?

 

[Brink]

Odd. It's acting the same as if you copied the Show Desktop shortcut from the %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch folder into the %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder.

Does the downloaded Desktop link look like the screenshot under step 10 when you copy it there?

 

[donnyboy9]

I think that's exactly what I did. This all started when I tried to find a way to attach the show desktop button to the taskbar.

To answer your question, yes it does look like in step 10 screenshot.

 

[Brink]

By default, there's a show desktop button on the far right side of your taskbar just to the right of the time/date. You don't see it until you click on it.

So you copied the "Show desktop" shortcut from your Quick Launch folder into the Programs folder from the tutorial?

If so, delete the "Show desktop" shortcut from the Programs folder, and try the tutorial with the download again.

Did you modify or do anything to the "Show desktop" shortcut in the Quick Launch folder?

 

[donnyboy9]

I found that I had placed another Show Desktop file in %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Application Shortcuts

After I deleted that one, and re-did your tutorial, the tile has gotten its background image back. I can now also re-size it to 'Wide', but for whatever reason, the 'Large' option is not available, as it was before all this started. I suppose that's good enough, unless you have an idea of what I can do to make it large again?

Also, I know about the desktop button to the right of the clock. Is there any way to modify it? Move it, make it bigger, give it an icon. I'd really like to have a show desktop button as in older windows.

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[Brink]

Unfortunately the Desktop tile can only be resized to Small, Medium, or Wide.

As far as I know, there's not a way to modify the Show Desktop button on the taskbar like that. If you like, you could add a Show Desktop shortcut to your taskbar though.

Show Desktop Shortcut - Create - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[donnyboy9]

Big thanks!

 

[Brink]

You're welcome.

 

[Barman58]

Thanks Shawn, Was a bit too enthusiastic with my pruning of start folders and lost the link It's all dancing effilumps now

 

[Brink]

LOL, oops.

 

[Memole18]

Thank you so much ..

 

[Brink]

Glad it could help Memole18, and welcome to Eight Forums.