Display App list instead of tiles on the Windows 8.1 Start Screen

The Start Menu as we knew it may never be coming back to Windows, Microsoft is returning some aspects of the traditional Start Menu in Windows 8.1. Hidden away in Taskbar and Navigation properties are new settings that will allow users to customize the full-screen Start Screen.  Users will now be able to enable a new app list view to display by default instead of the large tiles of Windows 8 when the Start Screen is displayed.

Applications are displayed in folders, similar to the traditional Start Menu but with all folders expanded and full-screen. Microsoft also included a additional setting that displays your desktop apps before your full-screen Windows Store Metro apps. 

To enable these new features follow these steps:

1. While viewing the Desktop, right click on the Taskbar and select Properties.
2. Click on the Navigation tab of Taskbar and Navigation properties.
3. Under the Start screen section, check the box for "Show the Apps view automatically when I go to Start."
   
   
4. Check "List desktop apps first in the Apps view when it's sorted by category" to make sure your traditional Windows desktop apps get priority over the new Windows Store apps. 
5. Click OK and your changes are effective immediately.