Windows 8: Make Pinned Metro Website Tiles Open in Desktop IE

Customizing Pinned Website Behavior in Windows 8

Windows 8 introduced the feature of pinning websites directly to the Start Screen for quick access. However, these pinned sites initially launch using the Metro-style interface of Internet Explorer.

Switching to Desktop Internet Explorer

Users who prefer the traditional desktop version of Internet Explorer can easily modify this default behavior. The following steps outline how to ensure pinned websites open in the familiar desktop environment.

To begin, open Internet Explorer. Navigate to a website you wish to pin to the Start Screen if you haven't already.

Pinning and Configuration Process

Pin the website to your Start Screen by pressing the Windows key + P. Alternatively, you can access the pinning options through the Internet Explorer menu.

After pinning, right-click on the newly created tile on your Start Screen. A context menu will appear.

Adjusting Pin Settings

From the context menu, select "Pin to Start Screen" again. This time, a sub-menu will present two options: "Pin to Start" and "Open in new window".

Crucially, choose "Open in new window". This action configures the pinned tile to launch the website within the desktop version of Internet Explorer.

Verifying the Change

Test the functionality by clicking the pinned tile. The website should now open in the standard desktop Internet Explorer window, rather than the Metro interface.

This process can be repeated for any website you wish to access via the desktop version of the browser from your Windows 8 Start Screen.

By following these simple steps, users can tailor their Windows 8 experience to prioritize their preferred browsing environment.

Configuring Pinned Websites to Launch with the Desktop Version of Internet Explorer

The configuration settings utilized by Internet Explorer are managed via the Internet Options dialog box. Access to this dialog is available from the desktop application of IE. Begin by initiating the desktop version of Internet Explorer.

Subsequently, click the "Tools" button and then select "Internet Options" from the menu.

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Adjusting Program Settings

Navigate to the "Programs" tab within the Internet Options window.

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Locate and select the checkbox labeled "Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop." This action will modify how pinned websites behave.

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Confirm your changes by clicking the "OK" button. From this point forward, any links opened will utilize the non-immersive, or desktop, iteration of Internet Explorer.