How to Boot to the Desktop & Skip Metro in Windows 8

Windows 8 always shows the Metro-style Start screen when you log in. You don’t have to click the Desktop tile every time you log in, you can boot straight to the desktop with this.

What to do:

Creating the Shortcut

1. Open Notepad and paste the following text into a newfile:


[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=Explorer.exe,3

[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop





2. Save the file with the .scf file extension.

Using the Task Scheduler

1. Open Task Scheduler Press Windows + R and type Control Panel, clicking System and Security, clicking Administrative Tools, and then double-clicking Task Scheduler.‌


2. Click the Task Scheduler Library folder at the left side of the Task Scheduler window once it appears.





3. Right-click and select Create New Task.




On the General tab, name the task something like Show Desktop.




4. Click over to the Triggers tab and use the New button to set a new trigger. In the New Trigger window, set the task to begin At log on and click OK.




Click over to the Actions tab and create a new action. Set the action to Start a program, use the Browse button to select the file you created, and click OK.




5. Click over to the Conditions tab and uncheck the "Start the task only if the computer is on AC power check box under Power".

If you don’t do this, your laptop won’t boot to the desktop if it’s running on battery power.