How to Run Windows Store (Modern, Metro) App in a Window on Desktop

1. Cross-Platform User Interface Issues in Windows 8/8.1
2. Simple Solution
3. Activation and Customization
4. Conclusion

1. Cross-Platform User Interface Issues in Windows 8/8.1

Being the first cross-platform OS by Microsoft, Windows 8 features many improvements targeting tablets. The new Metro UI is one of them. While mobile device users are generally happy with the interface, the PC version receives mixed or negative responses due to the focus shifted from productivity and multi-tasking towards modal application execution. Modern UI apps introduced in Windows 8 run full-screen and require a user to switch to the Start screen to launch them. Obviously, such behavior isn’t ideal for a desktop PC.

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2. Simple Solution

New feature in Actual Multiple Monitors fixes that by transforming Modern apps to conventional resizable windows on user’s desktop. This way, not only can the user work with multiple Modern apps simultaneously, but also can switch between normal desktop programs and Metro-style applications using habitual modus operandi.

A user can define the way Actual Multiple Monitors should treat Modern apps: open them full-screen or windowed, while the program automatically applies the choice to running apps. See examples below:

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3. Activation and Customization

To activate windowed mode for an active Modern app, press the Win-Shift-Alt-] hotkey combination (by default). To change this combination, go to the Hotkeys tab in the configuration window of Actual Multiple Monitors. Find the "Toggle windowed mode for a Modern app" action and set the desired combination.

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4. Conclusion

Using Actual Multiple Monitors, you can fix some Windows troubles, such a full-screen mode of Modern apps. Also you can improve your multi-monitor environment with many features, such as the multi-monitor taskbar, additional title buttons, and etc.