Start Charming

3,142 downloads Updated: January 4, 2014 Freeware

3.5/5 5

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This lightweight application allows you to tame the interface of the Windows 8 Start menu in order to also view the desktop while launching applications

Start Charming is a handy application for the users who want to change the behavior of the Start Menu on their Windows 8 machines. Its main purpose is to display the list of installed apps in a window and allow you to select the ones you want to launch.

Since Windows 8 was launched, the removal of the omnipresent Start Menu has raised a lot of questions and complaints across the Windows users community. Among the issues were the absence of the Start button and the fact that that new menu covers the entire desktop.

Although Microsoft addressed the first problem by adding a button in the 8.1 version, the menu is still displayed in full screen mode without any option to change its behavior. This tool allows you to open the Start Screen in a smaller window which lets the user view a part of the desktop.

Basically, the application provides you with a downsized version of the Start Screen that can be launched by pressing the Windows key or clicking the Start button. The window provides the same functionality as the original, including the ability to change the shortcut size and position.

You can close the menu by clicking the desktop which makes it easier to go back to your previous activity. However, you cannot change the window size or position in order to adjust how much of the desktop is visible.

The main goal of Start Charming is to provide you with a user-friendly interface which is achieved by removing the immersive interface and displaying the running programs. Unfortunately, it is not able to run the Windows 8 apps in a window as many users might hope.

If opening the Start Screen in a window makes your work easier, Start Charming is a viable and easy to use tool. Moreover, it adds a tray icon that opens the Charms bar with one click instead of moving the mouse to the edge of the screen.