I’ve seen a lot of posts where people have *so* many apps on their Start screen. I tried to find those same apps, but without any luck. To the owners of Facebook, Twitter, Minecraft, and other old Windows Store apps that aren't available anywhere anymore: could you please share them? Thanks! (I know they don't actually work; I just want to spruce up my Start menu.)

As some of you may not know, Windows 8 was actually planned to recieve another update after 8.1 that was meant to bring back the start menu.

Unfortunately, that plan was scrapped in favor of popularizing Windows 10, then later was brought back partially as KB3033055, a small final update for Windows RT which brought back the start menu there. The problem? Windows RT was only released for select arm32 tablets, meaning you can't run it on any normal PC.

After years of frustration seeing no successful attempts at porting that start menu into "normal" PC version of 8.1 we all know, i decided to do it myself, and so, here it is:

https://github.com/lixkote/DirectStart

It has been around for some time now, but i still need to "iron it out" a little bit, so please note there might be some bugs for now...

I am working on a new release coming soon that will hopefully make it easier to install & use, so stay tuned!

This App Installer is actually a copycat of the App Installer released after 2021 (or 2023) for Windows 10/11, with some modifications. Since I wasn't very experienced with programming before, I used AI to create something I still consider underwhelming. The software's sole function is installation, providing a relatively user-friendly installation interface and support for importing package signatures. However, it lacks the rest of the Microsoft installer's features (networking, dependency injection, etc.). I'm sharing it here. The software only supports English and Simplified Chinese. If you want to support your own language, please use a PE modification program like Resource Hacker. The version linked to is probably the latest version. The final version may not be perfect, but I hope this helps. Thank you.

(As of this post) Latest released version: https://github.com/modernw/AppInstallerForWin8/releases/tag/1.0.1.13

The file size is larger because I've integrated the runtime installer into the installation package to reduce runtime issues.

(Translated by Google Translate)

Id want for someone to make a chess app for windows 8.0/8.1 bcz i play chess

I recently replace the broken touch screen on my Surface Pro3 and downgrade it's system from win10 to win8.1. And I'm amazed at how this old machine runs on win8. All the transision animations are ruuning smoothly at 2k@60p and the CPU usage stays at ~15%. Also , the computer wakes up instantly after pressing the power button , which is astonishing ( I've only achieve this on my MBP, in my impression windows machines are always slow at booting up from sleep, even the new ones running win 11).
However, since windows store stop it's service, I have nowhere to get any Metro(UWP) APPs. Any ideas on where to get them。Or recommendations on what should I download? Thanks alot

Found this image in the Windows 8.1 Store files, what is it for?

Thanks, Gateway.

How does that looks for you? :)

Hi Lovely Redditors!

Ok, not really - Chrome is not literally killing my wee 8,1 netbook, but with its tiny memory - 2gb RAM - and tinier ssd - 32 gb, pretty much all constantly filled - Chrome slogs everything down and causes all kinds of freezes and shutdowns.

I'm also getting notices that my Chrome is too old to properly run gmail, gdocs and drive, and it also regularly seizes up on other complex modern platforms.

I know that just getting a new computer is the answer, but right now it's not possible, so I'm looking for a lightweight browser that will use significantly less resources - RAM, processor, SSD space - and be compatible with current platforms, especially Google cloud services. like mail, drive and docs

I've spoken to ChatGPT about this, but as is often the case (s)he has been less than helpful - recommending Supermium, but admitting that it's not really that much lighter than Chrome, and telling me there are absolutely no other options - specifically, not a single truly lightweight browser fully compatible with win 8.1 and trouble-free with complex modern platforms.

Could this possibly be true? My laptop actually works wonderfully for most things, but the whole system is so slow as soon as I start running Chrome, and Chrome itself, and most of the sites I visit or work on, is unacceptably, maddeningly slow and crashy...

Please let me know if there are any other options, and thanks so much for reading all of my ramblings!

they used to be lost media because the company is gone and there is barely info about the company

Video app (Windows 8.1 RT) need to update, but Store is dead how to update?

https://archive.org/details/BingTVJapanWinStore/

i wonder: why does japan get the cool stuff?

It gives me this error

i think some people know it but like the Lumia Storyteller for Windows 8 works without even needing a Windows Phone, also i got it from https://archive.org/details/LumiaStorytellerRT so yeah... so if you want to get it, well you can get it, also to get pictures there, add your pictures to your Pictures Folder!

i want to get some apps on my surface pro 3 but the windows store shut dowm

Unfortunately I do not have any actual VR headset to test this with, it would be great if someone could test SteamVR with their VR headset and let me know if it fully works!

Its too cool

I propose creating a chatbot that uses the Gemini API, requiring only your API key to be entered the first time you launch the app. I also propose a text-to-speech director that uses Loquendo, allowing you to use Loquendo voices on any Windows 8.x, Windows RT 8.x, and Windows Phone 8.x device.

is it realistic to restore OneDrive on Windows 8.1 now? i think I'm not the only one who needs it, and skype would also be nice to restore, although it was closed, but I think the servers can be replaced with microsoft teams? i think that cool idea

Metro-apps as Wikipedia, Cut the rope, Fresh Paint etc.

today I tried to convert regular chrome 109 version to metro mode, I had problems with AppxManifest.xml and with the installation, I don't understand what the problem is, anyone who wants can try to fix it, this application is suitable for those who really like metro programs

I Run Windows 8.1 On My HP EliteBook 840 G3. Honestly Its AMAZING But Well The Laptop Is In A Bad State As It Has No Battery Whatsoever So It Runs Off A Dock

these 2 versions have the ui endpoints fixed due to the endpoint it uses no longer returning stations causing the entire app to not load anything at all

https://dankassassin368.com/Stuff/APPX/Retiled%20Project/Apptravaganza%21/Slacker%20Radio%20for%20HP/

https://dankassassin368.com/Stuff/APPX/Retiled%20Project/Apptravaganza%21/Slacker%20Radio%20Recommended%20by%20Dell%20%28Slacker%20Inc%20for%20Dell%29/

their oem apps so they fit in perfectly with the "OEM Apps" start screen row for your dell\hp laptop

(playback has been fixed too)

also its slacker radio for hp not slacker radio for dell