how do I disable full screen apps in windows 8

Anonymous
2013-02-13T23:14:09+00:00

For instance - I read a PDF file, and it fills my 24 inch monitor with 1 file. I really only need it to fill about a third of my screen so I can see the pdf while I create the Word file I am working on. I also want several browser windows, a power point window, and an excel window, all in WINDOWS, not in full screen. I NEVER do anything in fullscreen since it is so limiting.

Start with something simple - like PDF reader? How do I make it NOT be full screen, since I NEVER want it to be fullscreen?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Email and communications

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Anonymous
2013-03-06T17:58:53+00:00

Windows 8 has a built-in MS PDF reader, which always defaults to fullscreen, and cannot be changed. The "issue" here comes from the MS implementation of the Windows 8 Tiled apps.

Download an external app, like Adobe Reader, and open the PDF with that app, and you can open the PDF in a window just fine.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-13T22:26:30+00:00

    Believe me, if I could FIND Windows 7 software, I'd do the same thing!!  I can't stand Windows 8 and I can't imagine what the programmers were thinking when they decided to turn it into a giant smartphone! If you can tell me how and where I can find legitimate Windows 7 software, I'd be forever grateful. Thanks.

    Also, my problem with the Adobe Reader software (which I DID install fresh on this Windows 8 machine) is that when I click a link to a pdf file on Internet Explorer 11, it is opening that pdf file in the Windows 8 Tiles environment (full screen, black background, no title bar, no menu, etc), rather than in the browser (which is how I have it set in the reader's options) or in a separate window - WINDOW, not screen. I wonder if that's what Jon was trying to say. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thank again.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-13T09:21:18+00:00

    Windows 8 is going to be hated by so many people because of this...  

    Although I totally agree with you on forcing users to full screen, when there is plenty space available, I have NO DOUBT that Microsoft will find their path. I am just wondering whether they will do it in time.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-13T06:49:37+00:00

    Windows 8 is going to be hated by so many people because of this...

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-12-24T22:47:49+00:00

    Agree. I wasted whole afternoon trying to make it work, and I'm sorry for my lost time.

    Does MS think that I don't know how I want my screens to look like and that I'm incapable of resizing them to account to my needs?! Is that what they think about their users? That we are stupid, lazy and uneducated to make a proper working space? 

    So long, I'm going back to Win 7 also.

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