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The right fix for a Windows 8 Start screen problem depends on the exact Windows version, symptom, and recent action. Missing tiles after a first sign-in, a blank Windows 8.1 screen tied to Group Policy, tiles freezing after a network-settings action, and a Bing app returning to Start are different documented issues—not one failure with one universal repair. First identify whether the device runs Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows RT, then match what you see to the cases below.
Before troubleshooting, note whether the problem affects the whole Start screen or just one app, whether tiles are missing, blank, or frozen, and what happened immediately beforehand. Microsoft’s support articles describe specific causes and remedies. A similar-looking symptom on a different version, or without the documented trigger, may need different support instructions.
Identify the Windows version and symptom first
Before changing settings or installing an update, note the Windows edition or version and what happened immediately before the problem began. Microsoft documents several specific Start screen and app failures, but the described fixes apply only to their matching scenarios.
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- Version: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows RT, or Windows RT 8.1. The relevant Microsoft articles do not treat these versions as interchangeable.
- What is affected: tiles missing, the whole Start screen blank, tiles or icons frozen, or one Store app failing to open.
- When it began: first logon, after a particular update, after copying or pasting network information in PC Settings, or after removing a Bing app.
- Other signs: whether Power or the user tile responds, whether only Bing apps are affected, and whether an installation displays error 0x80073cf9.
Use the comparison below to find the closest match. If none fits, do not assume one of these updates or workarounds will repair a different problem.
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| What you see | Documented context | Matching guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Most tiles are missing immediately after first sign-in | OEM Windows 8 or Windows RT device; only Desktop, File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Store may appear | Check the first-logon provisioning issue and update rollup 2836988 |
| Blank Start screen; no tiles after selecting the down arrow; Power or user tile does not respond | Windows 8.1 with one of two specified User Configuration policies | Check the policy-specific issue and Microsoft’s update guidance |
| Tiles freeze after copying or pasting network information | Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 after update rollup 2883200 | Log off and back on as a workaround; update 2919355 is the documented resolution |
| A Bing app returns to Start or cannot be installed | Windows 8.1 Bing apps after another Bing app was removed while Bing apps were running | Check the shared-content issue; a Bing tile marked with a small “x” may be repairable |
How to use the comparison
Start with the version and timing rather than choosing a fix based on one visual clue. “There are no app tiles listed” can describe a missing-tile first-logon problem, but a blank screen with an unresponsive Power button has a different documented context. Likewise, frozen tiles are not enough on their own to identify the network-settings issue: that case involves Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1, update rollup 2883200, and copying or pasting network information in PC Settings.
Record the sequence as specifically as you can: for example, “Windows RT, first logon, only four tiles” is more useful than “Start is broken.” If you are reporting the issue to an administrator or support technician, include the version, affected screen or app, any recent update or settings action, and any visible error number. These details help distinguish a documented match from a different problem that only looks similar.
Missing tiles after the first sign-in
Microsoft describes an OEM Windows 8 or Windows RT case in which the first Start screen shows only Desktop, File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Store. The explanation is a timing problem during setup: Windows Explorer can start before all in-box AppX packages have finished installing. In that situation, App check does not detect packages that were not yet installed, so their tiles are absent.
This is a first-logon provisioning issue, not a general explanation for every missing tile. The timing matters: Microsoft’s description concerns tiles absent on the first sign-in to an OEM device. If tiles disappeared later, or if the Start screen is blank rather than showing the four listed tiles, do not infer that the same provisioning problem is responsible.
What to do
- Confirm that the missing tiles appeared after the device’s first logon and that the device is Windows 8 or Windows RT. This is the scenario covered by the article, not a general fix for tiles that disappear later.
- Use Microsoft Support’s article “Missing Windows Store Apps tiles on first logon in Windows 8 and Windows RT” to verify the applicable guidance for the device.
- For that specific issue, Microsoft identifies Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 update rollup 2836988 as the fix. Follow Microsoft’s instructions for obtaining and installing the update; do not treat the rollup as a remedy for unrelated missing-tile causes.
The update number is a useful way to find the exact Microsoft guidance, but it is not a reason to install an update without checking applicability. Confirm that the device and symptom match the first-logon case and follow the instructions in Microsoft’s support article. The documented explanation is that packages had not finished installing when Explorer started; the article does not establish that this rollup fixes tiles missing for other reasons.
Blank Windows 8.1 Start screen and unresponsive controls
A blank Start screen can have more than one cause. Microsoft documents a particular Windows 8.1 issue associated with either of these User Configuration policies:
- “Remove common program groups from Start Menu”
- “Remove user’s folders from the Start Menu”
In this case, the Start screen may be blank, selecting the down arrow may show no app tiles, and the Power button or user tile may not respond. Microsoft says an update is available for the issue.
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The combination of signs matters. A blank screen by itself does not establish that either policy is involved. The more specific pattern is Windows 8.1 plus one of the named policy settings, with absent tiles when selecting the down arrow and an unresponsive Power button or user tile. If some of those details do not match, use version-specific support rather than assuming the policy issue explains the failure.
What to check
- Confirm that the device is running Windows 8.1 and that the symptoms match the policy-related case.
- If the device is managed by an organization, ask the administrator to check whether either listed User Configuration policy is enabled. Avoid changing a managed policy without the administrator’s guidance.
- Consult Microsoft Support’s article “‘File contents’ option is always selectable, Start screen becomes blank, or computer freezes when startup in Windows 8.1” for the update details. The documented remedy is tied to this issue; the available information does not establish that resetting the Start screen or changing unrelated settings will fix it.
When asking an administrator for help, provide the exact policy names and describe whether the Power button and user tile respond. This makes it easier to check the documented condition without casually changing settings that may be applied by an organization. Microsoft identifies an update for this issue, but the support article is the place to confirm the relevant update details and instructions.
Tiles freeze after a network-settings action
Microsoft documents a narrower Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 case: tiles or icons freeze after update rollup 2883200 when the user copies or pastes network information in Network in PC Settings. The update and the specific action are important clues; this is not evidence that the same fix applies to every frozen tile.
Check both parts of the sequence. First, determine whether the device is Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 and whether update rollup 2883200 is relevant. Then recall whether the freeze followed copying or pasting network information in the Network section of PC Settings. A freeze without that update-and-action history is not enough to identify this particular regression.
Workaround and resolution
- If the freeze followed that sequence, log off and then sign back on. Microsoft lists this as a workaround.
- For the documented resolution, Microsoft identifies update 2919355. Check Microsoft Support’s article “Icons or tiles freeze after you copy or paste network information in Network in Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2” for the applicable update instructions.
Keep the distinction between a workaround and a resolution clear: logging off and signing back on is the documented temporary step, while update 2919355 is the update Microsoft identifies as the resolution for this particular issue. Neither should be presented as a universal fix for any Start screen freeze. The article’s title references Windows Server 2012 R2 as well; follow its instructions for the relevant system rather than translating them to another Windows version.
A Bing app opens and immediately returns to Start
For a specific Windows 8.1 Bing app problem, Microsoft says that removing one Bing app while one or more other Bing apps are running can corrupt shared content used by the Bing apps that remain installed. An affected app may start and then return to Start without showing an error. A Bing app installation may also fail, sometimes with error 0x80073cf9.
This pattern is different from a Start screen where all tiles are missing or frozen. The described issue concerns Bing apps and shared content, with a particular sequence: one Bing app is removed while another Bing app, or multiple other Bing apps, are still running. If a non-Bing Store app fails, or the app problem did not follow that sequence, the documented Bing-app cause may not apply.
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What to do
- Check whether the problem began after removing a Bing app while another Bing app was still running, and whether the affected app is one of the Bing apps covered by Microsoft’s guidance.
- If an affected Bing tile has a small “x” in its lower-right corner, Microsoft says the app can be repaired. Follow the instructions in Microsoft Support’s “Bing apps cannot be opened or installed in Windows 8.1” article.
- Do not assume this shared-content cause explains every Store app that fails to launch or install. The documented cause applies to the described Bing app situation.
When checking the symptom, distinguish an app that briefly launches and returns to Start without an error from an installation that fails and may display 0x80073cf9. Both are described in the Bing-app support article, but neither alone proves that shared content was corrupted. The recent removal of a Bing app while other Bing apps were running is the key contextual clue.
The small “x” on the lower-right corner of an affected Bing tile is another specific sign: Microsoft says that app can be repaired. Use the instructions in the Bing-app support article rather than applying a generic Store-app repair procedure from a newer Windows version. If the tile has no “x,” or if the problem involves another app, the cited guidance does not establish that the same repair applies.
When none of these cases matches
These documented scenarios do not amount to a general Windows 8 Start screen repair procedure. A blank screen, missing tiles, or an app failure outside the described version and trigger could have a different cause. Look for support instructions that explicitly match the installed Windows version and device, and avoid applying an update or workaround solely because the symptom sounds similar.
In particular, Microsoft’s currently surfaced general blank-screen, clean-boot, and app-repair guidance covers Windows 10 and/or Windows 11. Those pages discuss procedures for those newer systems; they do not establish that the same steps are appropriate for Windows 8 or Windows 8.1. Check the version stated in a support article before following its instructions.
That distinction is important when searching for help. Instructions to change display connections or display modes, update graphics drivers, restart Explorer, use recovery options, perform a clean boot, or repair an app may appear on current Microsoft help pages for Windows 10 or Windows 11. Their presence in newer-system guidance does not make them Windows 8 instructions. Do not silently substitute a current Windows procedure for a version-specific one.
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Frequently asked questions
Why are only Desktop, File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Store showing after the first sign-in?
On an OEM Windows 8 or Windows RT device, Microsoft documents a provisioning-timing issue in which Explorer starts before all in-box AppX packages finish installing. App check may not detect packages that have not yet been installed, leaving their tiles missing. For this exact first-logon case, Microsoft identifies update rollup 2836988. It is not established as a fix for tiles that disappear later.
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Does update rollup 2836988 fix every missing-tile problem?
No. Microsoft ties that update to the first-logon Windows 8 and Windows RT provisioning issue. If the tiles were present before, disappeared later, or the device does not match the described case, check support instructions for the actual version and symptom instead.
What makes the blank Windows 8.1 screen a policy-related case?
The documented case involves either “Remove common program groups from Start Menu” or “Remove user’s folders from the Start Menu” in User Configuration. It may include no app tiles after selecting the down arrow and an unresponsive Power button or user tile. An administrator can check those settings on a managed device, then consult Microsoft’s article for the update guidance.
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If the device is Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 and the freeze followed update rollup 2883200 and copying or pasting network information in Network in PC Settings, log off and back on as a workaround. Microsoft identifies update 2919355 as the resolution for that scenario. A freeze without the trigger does not establish that this fix applies.
Why does a Bing app return to Start without an error?
In Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 case, removing one Bing app while other Bing apps are running can corrupt shared content used by the remaining Bing apps. An app may open and then return to Start without an error. A Bing app installation may also fail, sometimes with error 0x80073cf9. The cause is specific to the documented Bing-app scenario, not all Store apps.
What does the small “x” on a Bing tile mean?
For the Bing app issue covered by Microsoft, an affected tile with a small “x” in its lower-right corner may be repaired. Follow the directions in Microsoft Support’s “Bing apps cannot be opened or installed in Windows 8.1” article. Do not assume that the same repair applies to a tile without this sign or to a different app.
Can I use current Windows blank-screen or app-repair instructions on Windows 8?
Not on the basis of those pages alone. The general blank-screen, clean-boot, and app-repair guidance surfaced by Microsoft applies to Windows 10 and/or Windows 11. Check that a support article explicitly covers your installed version before following its steps.
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Is there one reset or repair that fixes all Windows 8 Start screen issues?
The Microsoft support cases described here are issue-specific, and they do not establish a universal Windows 8 repair. Match the version, symptom, and trigger first. If none matches, use support instructions for the exact Windows version and device instead of applying a similar-sounding workaround.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are only Desktop, File Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Store showing after the first sign-in?
On an OEM Windows 8 or Windows RT device, Microsoft documents a provisioning-timing issue in which Explorer starts before all in-box AppX packages finish installing. App check may not detect packages that have not yet been installed, leaving their tiles missing. For this exact first-logon case, Microsoft identifies update rollup 2836988; it is not established as a fix for tiles that disappear later.
Does update rollup 2836988 fix every missing-tile problem?
No. Microsoft ties that update to the first-logon Windows 8 and Windows RT provisioning issue. If the tiles were present before, disappeared later, or the device does not match the described case, check support instructions for the actual version and symptom instead.
What makes the blank Windows 8.1 screen a policy-related case?
The documented case involves either “Remove common program groups from Start Menu” or “Remove user’s folders from the Start Menu” in User Configuration. It may include no app tiles after selecting the down arrow and an unresponsive Power button or user tile. An administrator can check those settings on a managed device, then consult Microsoft’s article for the update guidance.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhat should I do if tiles freeze after changing network information?
If the device is Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 and the freeze followed update rollup 2883200 and copying or pasting network information in Network in PC Settings, log off and back on as a workaround. Microsoft identifies update 2919355 as the resolution for that scenario. A freeze without the trigger does not establish that this fix applies.
Why does a Bing app return to Start without an error?
In Microsoft’s Windows 8.1 case, removing one Bing app while other Bing apps are running can corrupt shared content used by the remaining Bing apps. An app may open and then return to Start without an error. A Bing app installation may also fail, sometimes with error 0x80073cf9. The cause is specific to the documented Bing-app scenario, not all Store apps.
What does the small “x” on a Bing tile mean?
For the Bing app issue covered by Microsoft, an affected tile with a small “x” in its lower-right corner may be repaired. Follow the directions in Microsoft Support’s “Bing apps cannot be opened or installed in Windows 8.1” article. Do not assume that the same repair applies to a tile without this sign or to a different app.
Can I use current Windows blank-screen or app-repair instructions on Windows 8?
Not on the basis of those pages alone. The general blank-screen, clean-boot, and app-repair guidance surfaced by Microsoft applies to Windows 10 and/or Windows 11. Check that a support article explicitly covers your installed version before following its steps.
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Is there one reset or repair that fixes all Windows 8 Start screen issues?
The Microsoft support cases described here are issue-specific, and they do not establish a universal Windows 8 repair. Match the version, symptom, and trigger first. If none matches, use support instructions for the exact Windows version and device instead of applying a similar-sounding workaround.
The Bottom Line
Match the symptom to the Windows version and trigger before applying a fix. Update rollup 2836988 concerns missing tiles on first logon in Windows 8 or Windows RT; the blank-screen case is tied to two Windows 8.1 policies; logoff/logon and update 2919355 apply to a specific post-2883200 tile freeze; and the Bing app repair applies to a narrow Windows 8.1 shared-content problem. If your situation does not match, use support instructions that explicitly cover your device and version.
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