Where Is The Start Button On Windows 8 Desktop? | Quick Access Guide

On Windows 8, there isn’t a Start button on the desktop; in Windows 8.1 it sits at the far-left of the taskbar and opens the Start screen.

If you’re staring at the desktop and hunting for that familiar corner icon, here’s the deal: the first Windows 8 release removed the classic Start button. The Start screen took its place, and you open it with gestures, hot corners, or the Windows key. With the Windows 8.1 update, Microsoft brought back a visible button on the taskbar. Click it and you land on the tile-based Start screen; right-click it to open the power-user menu.

Start Button Location In Windows 8 And 8.1 Explained

Two similar-looking systems behave differently:

Windows 8 (original): No button on the taskbar. The Start screen is the hub. Use keyboard, mouse corners, or touch to open it.
Windows 8.1: A round Windows logo appears at the far-left of the taskbar on the desktop. Click to toggle the Start screen; right-click for the quick tools menu.

Not sure which one you have? Press Win+R, type winver, and press Enter. The dialog shows the exact version.

Quick Ways To Open The Start Screen

Even without a visible button, you have fast options that work across most PCs from that era:

Keyboard

Press Win: Opens the Start screen from anywhere.
Press Win+X (Windows 8.1): Opens the power-user menu (Device Manager, Power Options, Disk Management, and more).

Mouse

Windows 8: Move the pointer to the bottom-left corner until a tiny Start thumbnail appears, then click.
Windows 8.1: Click the Windows logo at the far-left of the taskbar.

Touch

Swipe in from the right edge to open Charms, then tap Start.
On some tablets, press the hardware Windows logo near the screen bezel.

Why Windows 8 Hid The Old Button

The design centered on full-screen tiles and the Charms bar. Search, settings, and device actions moved into edge gestures and keyboard shortcuts. The idea was simple: one Start screen for apps, search, and live updates. Desktop users missed the anchor in the lower-left corner, so Windows 8.1 restored a visible anchor while keeping the tile layout.

Right-Click Tools On The Start Button (Windows 8.1)

In Windows 8.1, the Start logo on the taskbar does double duty:

Left-click: Toggle between desktop and the Start screen.
Right-click: Open the “power-user” menu with links to apps and admin tools (Apps and Features, Power Options, Event Viewer, System, Device Manager, Network Connections, Disk Management, Command Prompt or PowerShell, Task Manager, Control Panel, File Explorer, Search, Run, Shut down).

This menu is a time saver for maintenance and troubleshooting. It also works with Win+X.

Open Start When The Mouse Corners Don’t Respond

If corner hotspots feel inconsistent, switch to reliable triggers:

Press Win to open Start immediately.
Press Win+C to open Charms, then tap Start.
On Windows 8.1, right-click the taskbar Start logo and choose what you need.

If the logo or Charms stop reacting, restart Explorer from Task Manager: Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Processes → Windows Explorer → Restart. This refreshes the shell without a full reboot.

Set Desktop-First Behavior (Windows 8.1)

Many users prefer to land on the desktop after signing in. You can switch the default:

Right-click the taskbar → Properties → Navigation tab.
Enable “When I sign in or close all apps, go to the desktop instead of Start.”
Optionally enable “Show the Apps view automatically when I go to Start.” to jump straight to an alphabetical list of apps.

Pin Everyday Apps To The Taskbar

Since the Start screen is full screen, pin staples to the taskbar for one-click access:

Open the app.
Right-click its icon on the taskbar → Pin this program to taskbar.

This mirrors the classic workflow and reduces trips to the tile grid.

Use Search Faster Than You Can Click

From the Start screen, just type a few letters and hit Enter. You can also use these quick filters:

Win+Q (Windows 8): app search; in 8.1 this launches a unified search.
Win+W: settings search (Windows 8).
Win+F: file search (Windows 8).

On Windows 8.1, the main Start search covers apps, files, and web content in one go.

Fix: Start Logo Missing In Windows 8.1

If you’ve updated to 8.1 but still don’t see the logo on the taskbar, try these steps:

Check taskbar position and auto-hide: Right-click the taskbar → make sure it’s docked at the bottom and not auto-hidden off-screen.
Switch to the desktop: Press Win+D. The logo only appears on the desktop, not over full-screen apps.
Apply pending updates: Open PC Settings → Update and recovery → run Windows Update.
Restart Explorer: Use Task Manager’s Restart on Windows Explorer as noted above.

Charms Still Matter On Touch PCs

Charms provide fast system access in both 8 and 8.1. Swipe from the right edge or press Win+C to open them, then pick Start, Search, Devices, Share, or Settings. On tablets, this feels natural and keeps your thumb work short.

Tile Tips That Save Time

Resize tiles: Right-click (or press-and-hold) a tile → choose a size that fits your layout.
Group tiles: Drag related tiles together and name the group for quick visual targets.
Pin the Desktop tile: If it’s missing on the Start screen, search for “Desktop,” then pin it for one-tap switching.

When The Windows Key Won’t Open Start

If Win stops opening Start, try a short checklist:

Test the key: Plug in another keyboard or try the Win key on an external one.
Toggle gaming features: Some keyboards have a Windows-lock switch; turn it off.
Restart Explorer: Use Task Manager as described earlier.
Scan for system file errors: Open an elevated Command Prompt and run sfc /scannow. Reboot when it finishes.

Classic Start Menu Alternatives

If you prefer a compact menu on the desktop itself, third-party tools (like Classic Shell back in the day) recreated that behavior. These tools aren’t required for finding the Start entry point on Windows 8/8.1, but they can mimic the older Windows 7 layout if that’s your daily habit.

Safety Notes For An Out-Of-Support System

Windows 8.1 is no longer supported. If the PC goes online, keep a careful eye on browser updates, anti-malware, and backups. If an upgrade isn’t possible, limit the attack surface: avoid running as an admin account, uninstall unneeded software, and consider light-duty offline tasks only. If you do move to a newer Windows version, the Start menu returns in a more familiar form, with the power-user menu still available via Win+X.

Handy Reference Links

Want a deeper tour of shortcuts or the Start button behavior in 8.1? See the official keyboard list and Microsoft’s guidance on the 8.1 Start experience. These pages open in a new tab and are worth bookmarking for later.

Ways To Open Start At A Glance

Method	How It Works	Available In
Keyboard	Press `Win` to toggle the Start screen	Windows 8 and 8.1
Mouse Corner	Bottom-left hot corner thumbnail, then click	Windows 8
Taskbar Icon	Click the Windows logo at far-left of taskbar	Windows 8.1
Right-Click Menu	Right-click the taskbar logo for quick tools	Windows 8.1
Charms	Open with `Win`+`C` or edge swipe; tap Start	Windows 8 and 8.1
Touch Hardware	Press the Windows logo on the bezel (on some tablets)	Varies by device

FAQ-Style Quick Answers (No Fluff)

Is The Button Missing On Purpose In The First Release?

Yes. The original design centered on a full-screen Start hub instead of a small menu, so the desktop corner icon was removed. That’s why the corner thumbnail and keyboard took center stage in Windows 8.

What Does The Taskbar Logo Do In 8.1?

Left-click toggles between desktop and the Start screen. Right-click opens shortcuts for system tools and shutdown options, which is handy on desktop PCs without touch.

Can I Skip The Tile Grid?

On 8.1, set the desktop-first option in the taskbar’s Navigation tab and show the Apps view when you press Start. That gives you an alphabetical list that behaves closer to a launcher.

Copy-Paste Checks You Might Need

If you’re setting up a PC and want fast checks or a quick repair, these two commands help:

winver

Opens the version dialog so you can confirm Windows 8 vs. 8.1.

sfc /scannow

Repairs system files if the shell feels unresponsive.

Bottom Line

On the first Windows 8 release, there’s no desktop Start icon; use the Windows key, Charms, or the bottom-left corner hotspot. On Windows 8.1, the Start logo lives at the far-left of the taskbar. Click to switch to the tile hub; right-click for quick tools. With a couple of tweaks—desktop-first and taskbar pins—you can keep a smooth, mouse-friendly flow without hunting for tiles.

References:
Keyboard shortcuts in Windows •
Windows 8.1 Start button behavior