Start Screen - Metro Apps - Change Number of Rows in Windows 8

How to Change Number of Apps Tile Rows on Start Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial 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 and Windows 8.1.

   Note

By default, Windows 8 and 8.1 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 in Windows 8 and 8.1 if your screen resolution is set to 1920 X 1200 or above, and available on Surface tablets. If not, then you will need to use OPTION TWO or OPTION THREE below instead.

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1. If you have not already, turn off "Make everything on your screen bigger".​

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2. Go to your Start screen.​

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3. While on your 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.​

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

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5. Do step 6 or 7 below for what you would like to do.​

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6. To "Show more tiles" on Start Screen​

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A) Move the Show more tiles slider to the right to say Yes, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​

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7. To Not "Show more tiles" on Start Screen​

NOTE: This is the default setting.​

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A) Move the Show more tiles slider to the left to say No, and go to step 8 below. (see screenshot below)​

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

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OPTION TWO

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

   Note

This option only works in Windows 8, and no longer works in Windows 8.1.

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1. If you have not already, turn off "Make everything on your screen bigger".​

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

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Change_Number_of_Apps_Tile_Rows_on_Start.vbs​

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3. Save the .vbs file to your Desktop.​

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

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5. If prompted, click/tap on Open.​

NOTE: If you like, you can stop getting the Open prompt by unblocking the downloaded .vbs file.​

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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.​

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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.​

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OPTION THREE

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

   Note

This option only works in Windows 8, and no longer works in Windows 8.1.

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1. If you have not already, turn off "Make everything on your screen bigger".​

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

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

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

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

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

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6. In the right pane of Grid, double click/tap on Layout_MaximumRowCount. (see screenshot above)​

NOTE: If you do not have the DWORD Layout_MaximumRowCount, then right click on an empty space in the right pane of Grid, click/tap on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value, then type Layout_MaximumRowCount and press Enter.​

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

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   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.

   Note

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• 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 5.

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[TABLE=class:-grid][TR][TD]
Screen Resolution (HxV)
[/TD]
[TD]
Default
[/TD]
[TD]
Max
[/TD]
[TD]
Min
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
800 x 600
[/TD]
[TD]
3
[/TD]
[TD]
3
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1024 x 768
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1152 x 864
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1280 x 720
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
4
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1280 x 900
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1280 x 960
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1280 x 1024
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1400 x 1050
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1440 x 900
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1600 x 900
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1680 x 1050
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1900 x 1080
[/TD]
[TD]
5
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1920 x 1080
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
1920 x 1200
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
7
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
2560 x 1920
[/TD]
[TD]
6
[/TD]
[TD]
10
[/TD]
[TD]
1
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

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8. Close regedit.​

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9. Sign out and in to apply.​

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10. 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.

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

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Restore_Default_Number_of_Apps_Rows.bat​

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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.​

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

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Open the "Start" Screen in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• Change Your Start and Sign in Screen Background and Color in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Start Screen Tile Icon and Name in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Pin or Unpin a App, Folder, or Drive on the "Start" Screen in Windows 8
• How to Pin and Unpin Websites from IE10 to Start Screen in Windows 8
• How to Name or Rename a Group of Apps on "Start" in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Resize App Tiles to be Smaller or Larger on "Start" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Organize Apps into Groups on "Start" in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Turn "Make everything on your screen bigger" On or Off in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Download a "Start" Screen Shortcut in Windows 8
• How to Change the DPI for Modern UI in Windows 8
• How to Sort Items on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1
• How to List Desktop Apps or Store Apps First on Your Apps Screen in Windows 8.1

 

[lmod]

My monitors are 1920 x 1200. This resolution will allow seven horizontal rows of start screen tiles, using the registry tweak detailed in Brinks tutorial. I had to add the "Layout_MaximumRowCount" value. I am running W8RTM x64.

 

[Brink]

Thank you lmod. Updated.

 

[superjose]

One thing: I have 1680 x 1050 (Didn't see it posted) and defaulted 6 rows...

 

[Brink]

Hello Jose,

1680 x 1050 added to note box.

 

[Ex_Brit]

I have Pro RTM & 1920 X 1080 res and the default number of rows is 6 anyway. As an exercise I tried adding that key for 7 rows - it failed to work.

I also noticed that it's futile tinkering with the other layout values as they revert to default after logging off and back in anyway.

An interesting exercise anyway. Attached is a pic of that part of regedit in RTM:

 

[Brink]

Hello Peter,

Thank you. Yeah, it's to bad the other layout values don't stick.

 

[Ex_Brit]

Yes, I could easily cope with them being just a tad smaller, however, I guess some would find them hard to read then.

 

[fabiotuccillo97]

1366x768

Yes, I could easily cope with them being just a tad smaller, however, I guess some would find them hard to read then.

And for my resolution? 1366x768? How can I increase rows?

 

[Brink]

Hello Fabio, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unfortunately at that resolution the min and max number of rows you can have are the same, and you would not be able to increase it.

 

[fabiotuccillo97]

Oh no!

Hello Fabio, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Unfortunately at that resolution the min and max number of rows you can have are the same, and you would not be able to increase it.

Thanks a lot. Another question: is there a metod to force increase resolution and then increase the rows?

 

[Brink]

Sorry, but not that I know of.

 

[diquercia]

I have a 1600x900 display with 4 rows only and I can't change it to 5. Adding a line in te registry doesn't do anything and when going to Tiles in settings, there is nohing to change the number of rows.
Any help is welcome

 

[Brink]

Hello Diquercia, and welcome to Eight Forums.

At 1600x900 you should have 5 rows of tiles by default. Did you install anything that affects the Start screen?

 

[diquercia]

Thank you for your answer. No, I didn't install anything, it was in 4 rows after installtion. I have to say that I upgraded from windows 7.

 

[Brink]

I'm not sure why you only have 4 instead of 5 rows. Every system I tested this on at 1600x900 had 5 rows. Possible something that carried over from Windows 7??

What brand and model # is your display/monitor or laptop, the brand and model # of your graphics card/chip, and how do you have them connected (ex: DVI, HDMI, VGA, etc....) ? We can see if others with the same have the same issue.

 

[diquercia]

I have an Asus zenbook UX31E, 13" screen, i7 é677M cpu, 4gb memory, interl hd graphics 3000, but my display is a generic pnp monitor???

 

[brunokitsune]

Hi all, my name is Bruno and I ask for your help.

I have a PC and a laptop, running Windows 8 in both. In the laptop (image #1) I have five rows available and on the desktop (image #2) and have more available.




The resolution is the same (1920x1080). I try to change the row number with the registry method, but with no luck. The message at the right part just do not show up.
The only difference between them is that on the laptop, the default zoom is 125% and the PC is 100% (both at 100% right now).

Is there anything that I could do to make both at the same size (I wish I can continue with the PC default).

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bruno, and welcome to Eight Forums.

I've noticed that some laptops have not always had the same amount of rows as desktop with the exact same screen resolution settings. I'm afraid that I don't know if there's anything that can be done though.

 

[scoop98]

A fix for the "not enough rows for the resolution because of screen size" problem.
I have a Samsung 9 13.3" with 1600x900 screen - it would only let me have FOUR rows - I want 5
I have a Surface RT It defaults to THREE rows.

Been searching for a couple of the weeks - found this on XDA forums (great site/ppl)

Just need to change/add one thing to reg

Well for any one that wants to know I found a way.
It is to do with scaling

see below for the reg tweak:

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/19209-dpi-change-modern-ui-windows-8-a.html


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Scaling]
"MonitorSize"="15"


---------------------------------------------------------------------------
worked for me - also works on RT device - change size to 12.1!