How to Select Multiple Tiles and Show Bottom App Bar on Start Screen in Windows 8.1 Update 1?

Most of you might be aware of the new Update 1 for Windows 8.1 operating system which was released for public download a few days back.

Update 1 brings many interesting features to Windows 8.1 such as new power and search buttons on Start Screen, pinning metro apps to Taskbar and titlebar with close/minimize buttons in metro apps.

Another interesting feature included in this update is the addition of classic context menu on Start Screen. In Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 (without update 1), if you right-click on a tile in Start Screen, you get App bar or Options Bar at bottom containing various options such as pin, unpin, resize, etc. Actually this App bar was introduced for touch-enabled devices such as tablets but mouse users on Desktops/laptops found it a little bit annoying to use.

That's why Microsoft replaced the App bar with old context menu in Update 1 for Windows 8.1. After installing Update 1, if you right-click on a tile, you get traditional context menu similar to Windows Explorer or Desktop.

But there is an issue which has been faced by several Windows 8.1 users who have installed Update 1. Many users are complaining that they can't select multiple tiles on Start Screen to move, unpin or resize them. Before installing Update 1, users were able to right-click on a tile and then left-click on other desired tiles to select multiple tiles. But now if they right-click on a tile and then left-click on another tile, Windows opens that program and doesn't allow users to select multiple tiles.

Now the question comes, how to select multiple tiles in Windows 8.1 Update 1? Don't worry! Here is a simple solution... Actually two solutions:

SOLUTION 1:

You can select multiple tiles by press and hold CTRL key and then left-click on desired tiles. It'll allow you to select multiple tiles. Its the same method which is used to select multiple items in Windows Explorer or Desktop.

Once you select multiple tiles, you can move them or right-click on a tile from the selection to access context menu options.

SOLUTION 2:

It seems Microsoft didn't disable Bottom App Bar for Desktop users in Update 1. Instead the company just hid the bar which can be accessed using a simple trick.

Just press SPACE BAR on your keyboard and Windows will show the old App bar on bottom. Now you can click on other desired tiles to start multiple selection.

Thanks to our reader "Vinay Godara" for sharing this trick...

PS: You can also use "Win+Z" keyboard shortcut to show App bar or Options bar at bottom.

The same methods can also be used on "All Apps" or "Apps View" page which can be accessed by clicking on small arrow icon on Start Screen or by pressing "Ctrl+Tab" keys together.

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