14 DAY TRIAL // In addition to many other changes, Windows 8.1 comes with a significantly enhanced Metro control panel that lets users set up their devices and configure the operating system without even closing the Modern UI.
There are several hidden gems in the PC settings screen, Microsoft says, so users should try to discover all of them in order to make the most of Windows 8.1.
Windows 8.1 was designed from the very beginning to boast more customization options than the core Windows 8 platform, so the settings screen has been revised to provide easier access to the main options on touch-capable devices.
The search settings screen for example has been designed to help users make the most of the newly developed Bing Smart Search that relies on Microsoft’s Bing search engine to look for information both online and offline.
“The default setting is a broad view that scans through all my files and folders, and also pulls from the web. But when I’m searching for a file I created and saved on my PC, I appreciate that I can turn off web search and keep the search confined to my own system. It’s a handy feature for keeping my data usage under control, too,” Anna Brinkmann explained in a blog post.
If there’s something that could really come in handy to experienced users, it’s the option to boot to desktop and skip the Start screen.
This can be easily accessed via the Taskbar and Navigation Properties screen by simply right-clicking the Taskbar and hitting the “Properties” option.
The same menu also groups options to show the Apps view automatically when launching the Start screen and enable the desktop background on the Start screen as well, in order to make the transition from the Modern UI to the desktop easier for beginners.