Navigating the Windows 8 Start Screen

You can easily find an application's Start screen tile if you only have a small number of tiles on the screen. But the more apps you install, the wider your Start screen becomes, which forces you to move around the screen to find the apps you need. Windows 8 tablet users can quickly navigate the Start screen by swiping their fingers left and right. But traditional PC users can also move around the Start screen using a desktop with an external keyboard and mouse, or a laptop with its built-in keyboard and trackpad. This task explores the different ways you can navigate the Start screen using your trusty keyboard and mouse.

1 Use a laptop trackpad: Swipe your fingers up and down the trackpad, and you will move left and right on the Start screen. If horizontal scrolling is enabled on your trackpad, you can also swipe your fingers right and left to move right and left on the screen.

2 Use an external mouse: Move your mouse sideways to reach the left or right edges of the Start screen.

3 Use a mouse scroll wheel: Move the scroll wheel on your mouse up and down to move left and right on the Start screen.

4 Use right- and left-arrow keys: Press the right- and left-arrow keys to move right and left one column at a time on the Start screen.

5 Use up- and down-arrow keys: Press the down- and up-arrow keys on your keyboard to move down and up one tile at a time on the Start screen.

6 Use Home and End: Press Home to move to the first tile on the Start screen. Press End to move to the last tile on the Start screen.

7 Use Tab: Press Tab to move between the Start screen tiles and your profile name and picture in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Quick Fix

Accessing the Login Screen

At the initial Windows Lock screen, drag the screen up with your mouse or press any key to get to the login screen.