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
    2013-07-25T12:10:29+00:00

    After wandering through all the nonsense trying to "disable" the full screen openings of .pdfs, I just went to "File Associations" and changed the association for .pdf from "Reader" to Adobe Acrobat.... Problem solved, the .pdfs open in acrobat like they are supposed to.

    Pat

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-13T17:29:38+00:00

    Full screen display is really a problem with metro apps. I have been asking this for a long time and MS seems not to understand that this discourages many from using Windows 8. Why should there not be the possibility to look at these apps in a window or full screen as before - seems to me they have forgotten what the name "Windows" really means to many of us.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-30T19:21:28+00:00

    After searching high and low this is the best advice I've gotten about switching out of the most annoying feature of adobe for Windows 8. I downloaded Start8 ($5). Most importantly, I set my files to be opened with Adobe Acrobat that opens in individual files (like in Windows 7). This way I avoid the annoying Adobe full screen **** that is only useful for touch screens!

    Thank you!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-06-22T08:11:21+00:00

    This is the stupidest Windows Ever!  What's the point when one can't multitask.  I am reverting to 7.

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